June 9, 2019 – Pentecost Text: John 14:23-31
Dear Friends in Christ,
Who do you go to for counsel? As you know I am pretty self-assured person,
but there are areas of life I need some advice. When I bought my first car I talked
with my parents who had the experience and then I took them along. It was high-
pressure, with the salesman blocking our path to the door and my dad got a
headache but thanks to my parents the deal was pretty good. Two years ago we
leased a vehicle for the first time. I had lunch with a college friend who counseled
me on how to go about it. He is also on the ready when we turn it in next year.
Parents and friends are just some of the people who counsel us. You may
also seek out a Pastor or therapist or boss or coach or teacher. How many times do
you seek the help of the ultimate Counselor – the Holy Spirit? We don’t always
understand His work. He appears in Scripture as a dove and tongues of fire and a
loud, rushing wind and a quiet whisper. Will the real Holy Spirit please stand up?
Our text gives us help. The Greek word is paraklaytos, which literally means
“one who is called to and stands by one’s side.” In our text it is translated as
“helper.” I like the NIV translation, which is “Counselor.” It is Pentecost and we
ask…
“WHO CAN COUNSEL YOU BEST?”
What does a good counselor do? They listen and sometimes like with Nathan
and King David they confront us. We have all been counseled to repent, to make
right a wrong and to own up to our problems. This is also the work of the Holy
Spirit. He uses the Word of God to let us know about our secret and not-so-secret sins. This is not an easy job for our Counselor. We can be hardheaded and we don’t
want to acknowledge our guilt and our weaknesses.
Pastor Eldon Weisheit tells of the time he was doing a children’s sermon and
he help up words like “short”, “tall”, “smart”, “popular”, “handsome.” He then asked
the children to raise their hands if they thought these words applied to them. Most
raised their hands on at least a couple of them. Then he held up the word “sinner”
and waited . . . and waited . . . and waited, until finally one youngster in the front row
took hold of his little brother’s hand and lifted it high in the air.
Aren’t we like that little shaver? Ready to lift someone else’s arm up as a
sinful person? Do you ever think the problem might be you? The best counselors in
our life confront us with the truth in love. They are honest but compassionate. This
is the Holy Spirit. He is concerned about our welfare and He does not want us hiding
from the sin that harms us.
The Holy Spirit does not just convict of us of our sin – thank God. This is not
His most important job. His main priority is to comfort us with the Gospel, the Good
News of our forgiveness in Christ.
The Spirit convicts us to lead us to repentance. We all know what that looks
like, don’t we? We are told we should apologize or tell someone we are sorry. We
might do it a little hesitantly, but we do it and prayerfully feel better after. Our
Counselor reminds us we are poor, miserable sinners but this leads us to the great
joy that God still loves us and we are His children. How wonderful that is.
Daily the Holy Spirit speaks to us through the Scriptures. Daily we are
reminded of the promises of our Baptism. Daily he reminds us of Christ’s
death on the cross so that we can be forgiven. We then can pass that forgiveness on to others.
Someone close to us can hear it from our lips, a wife or husband, son or daughter,
brother or sister or Christian friend.
There was an older Pastor who grew up on a large vegetable farm in Ohio.
All the family worked there, aunts and uncles, grandparents, cousins. They had a
beautiful tradition that kept division at a minimum. Each Communion Sunday
before going to worship they would hold hands around their large kitchen table and
starting with the oldest down to the youngest they would ask forgiveness for any
hurtful words or sinful actions committed during the week. Then each would say, “I
forgive you in Jesus’ name.” Then it was on to church to receive with great joy the
body and blood of their Savior and to sit at the feet of their divine Counselor, the
Holy Spirit.
Who Can Counsel You Best? While you may get wonderful advice from a
trusted confidante, it is still coming from an imperfect human being. Also, our
human counselors may not always be available. The Holy Spirit is there for us at all
times. Call on Him to lead you. Call on Him for direction. Call on Him for that
problem that weighs on your mind. He will provide the answer as He makes you
spiritually aware of where you need to be or what you need to do.
Our Divine Counselor works powerfully in our lives to become the holy
people that the Holy Spirit calls us to be.
Amen.

June 2, 2019 Text: Revelation 22:12-20
Dear Friends in Christ,
It is vital for all forms of life. It affects our metabolism and respiration.
Depending on body size, 55-78% of our bodies are made up of this. We need 1-2
gallons of this to sustain bodily functions on a daily basis. 19% of this is found in
our foods. We use it for transportation and power and 70% of the fresh kind is used
in agriculture. This morning you took a shower in it, washed your teeth with it and
drank it down in your coffee, OJ, or hot chocolate. It might be a little hard to talk
about with all the precipitation we’ve had, but talk about it we shall. By now, you
have the answer . . . it is water . . . cool, clear, water.
This morning’s text is from John’s Book of Revelation and while I have
parishioners tell me they don’t always understand the whole book, today’s message
about water is one we can understand. We need it. God provides it.
“COOL, CLEAR, WATER”
How many of you know Leonard Slye? Leonard was part of a singing group
in the 1930’s named “Sons of the Pioneers.” A member of that group, Bob Nolan,
wrote a song in 1936 about a man, his mule Dan, and a mirage in the desert. That
song was titled, “Cool, Clear Water.” That song has been so popular over the years
that it has been recorded by Bing Crosby, Burl Ives, Tom Jones, Johnny Cash, and
Fleetwood Mac.
In the song the man and his mule need water. They are in the desert and
they are parched. Do you ever feel that way? Our thirst is usually a short duration.
Have we ever suffered from deadly thirst? We say things like, “I’m gonna die, if I
don’t get some water” or “My mouth is so dry, I can barely talk.” We are good at
drama, aren’t we? But have we really been that close to withering away because of
our lack of liquid hydration?
Sometimes we try to quench our thirst with the wrong things. A few are
mentioned in our text. “Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually
immoral and the murderers and idolaters and everyone who loves and practices
falsehood.” (v. 15) We may spend a lifetime trying to quench our thirst and we
continually turn on the wrong faucet.
For our thirst we need, cool, clear water. The water offered in verse 17, “Let
the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without
price.” This water Jesus makes available from a very deep well – the reward he
earned by His death and resurrection. This water is fresh and wholesome, for
everything that Jesus offers is the highest and the best. In this case the water is the
coolest and the clearest.
Jesus offered this water to the Samaritan woman in John 4. We have drunk
deeply of this water when it was poured on our body and soul at Baptism.
This is water that Jesus offers freely to all. It is as near to us as His Holy
Word, which proclaims to us the saving work of Christ. It is offered regularly with
the bread and wine, body and blood of the Holy Supper. This Word and this
Sacrament quench our thirst, keep us alive and sustain us as God’s people until Jesus
comes again.
Earlier I asked if you knew Leonard Slye? Well . . . How about we try the
name he changed to when he left the “Sons of the Pioneers” and became an actor in
the movies . . . Roy Rogers. Aah, you say, I know that name. Do you also remember
his television show? Once he had corralled the bad guys he would sing the song,
“Happy Trails.” Life isn’t always going to be happy trails. You have experienced
enough saddle sores and dust in the face to feel dehydrated and lost.
Our Lord doesn’t leave you there imagining an oasis in a desert drear. He
provides it now with his hydrating love and mercy and grace. He showers His
forgiveness into every crevice of your body so that sin can no longer cling to you.
When feeling like a dried up well, Jesus primes the pump so that the water of life
will engulf you. Man, that feels good.
There are blessings for the people of God, who make their way through this
life until the their Lord comes again, well-supplied with the cool, clear water of life.
Amen.