“THE LORD AND GIVER OF LIFE COMFORTS YOU”
Saint John 15:26 - 16:4
Exaudi: 16 May Anno Domini 2021
Fr Jay Watson, SSP
Do you feel comfort? Maybe not. Maybe all you “feel” is discomfort, pain, sadness, and loss. While feelings and emotions are part of being human—fallen—sinful, feelings can be good and sanctified. Feelings of joy when receiving The Word of God; feelings of thankfulness when receiving the good gifts of food, clothing, house, home, spouse, children, etc. But with God, feelings are dangerous and most times misleading. Feelings are fickle and can be manipulated by both sinful nature and demonic interference. Don’t trust your feelings. Your emotions were not nailed to the cross to pay for you sin.
You trust in The Word of God. Period. The Holy Scriptures speak to you. You need to read them more during the week…if you believe they are The very Word of God…if you believe in God. You need to be here to hear The Word publicly proclaimed, trumpeted, sung, read, and explicated. You need to believe that the sermon is not my words but Jesus’ Words.
God does not lie. The Lord does not lie to you.
“But when The Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto you from the Father…” Jesus, God the 2nd Person, truth enfleshed, has spoken. It is! He has sent to you, not just the “12,” The Comforter. That Comforter is NOT an emotion or feeling. That comforting Person is God The Holy Ghost, the 3rd Person of the Blessed and Holy Trinity.
Do you believe The Holy Spirit has been sent to you to comfort you? You do believe. You did confess The Church’s Creed, Christ’s Creed, “I believe in The Holy Ghost, The Lord and Giver of Life!” And since you believe and confess that Jesus IS LIFE—The Light of Men—you thus believe and confess that The Holy Ghost has/does/and always will GIVE you Jesus, your Savior!
“He will testify of Me” says The Lord. The Holy Ghost is “seen” in the Person and Work of Christ. The Holy Ghost is “seen” in The Office of The Holy Ministry when it administers and delivers The Scriptures (GOSPEL predominating) and The Sacraments (Scriptures attached to earthly elements—ALL GOSPEL)!
I speak these things to you, to all of you, that you are not offended. Be not afraid of those that can kill your body but can never harm your soul—nor your Resurrected perfect and glorified body!
You will be put out, expelled, banned, from the popular and “successful” meeting places. The haters of God want you marginalized, ghettoized, and eventually imprisoned and killed. You are told these things so that you know, are forewarned, and are ready with you bold and faithful confession of Jesus as Lord and God; of Jesus as the only way to The Father; of Jesus as your Law-keeping obedient scapegoat and your atoning, life giving, blood sacrifice—The Lamb of God—in your place!
The joyous Easter Season is coming to an end.
The blessed Easter Season NEVER comes to an end. He is risen, He is risen indeed, Hallelujah!
You believe, teach, and confess, these truths about THE TRUTH because the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Truth and has come to dwell in you and your temple. You are + Baptized.
Christ was with the “12.” Christ the Resurrected God/Man is still with the “12” for they are now with Him and all the Saints in the Church expectant/waiting/triumphant.
Christ is with you. Your emotions, sensitivities, and “feelings” may not experience it, but The Word of God declares it. The Holy Spirit gives it and certifies it.
The Word is on + you, in you, and with you.
The Reformer’s commentary on the 3rd Article of the shorter Creed (your own Baptismal declaration): “The Holy Ghost has called you by The Gospel, enlightened you with His gifts, sanctified and kept you in the true faith…in which Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all sins to you and all believers, and will at the last day raise you up and all the dead, and give unto you and all believers in Christ, eternal life. This is most certainly true.” [SC II.3]
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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