Tag Archives: Holy Spirit

The third person of the Trinity and the work of G*d in this world – it is the Holy Spirit that builds faith

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on April 29, 2015
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Holy Spirit – Rev. David J. Schreffler

April 29, 2015 – “H” is for Holy Spirit

“I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins and the resurrection of the body…” Apostle’s Creed

“I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has calls me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith, Daily in this Christian church the Holy Spirit abundantly forgives all sins – mine and those of all believers. On the last day the Holy Spirit will raise me and all the dead and will give to me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true.” Martin Luther’s explanation to the third article of the Apostle’s Creed

We have several accounts of the giving of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. In the Gospel of John, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to the disciples in his appearance to them: “Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.” And after he said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyoneʼs sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyoneʼs sins, they are retained.” (John 20:19 – 23)

And in the book of Acts:
“Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting. And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:1 – 4)

As Martin Luther explains, we believe that the Holy Spirit is a gift from G*d – it is something that comes from G*d at various and unpredictable times in our day, and in our lives. We need to tune ourselves into the presence of the Spirit in our lives – looking for it, expecting it, knowing it for what it is. This is hard since we have so many distractions in our lives. So living as if we expect the spirit allows us to see it more often, and miss it less. It is like tuning your car radio. When you find the right station, you lock it in. As such, when you find the Spirit in your life, lock it in, tune into it, and focus your life on it. Then, when it comes around again, you will hear it more readily and not miss it as often.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on April 28, 2015
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G*d – Rev. David J. Schreffler

April 28, 2015 – “G” is for G*d

“I believe in G*d the Father almighty, creator of Heaven and Earth.” Apostle’s Creed

“In the beginning, when G*d created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from G*d swept over the face of the waters. Then G*d said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And G*d saw that the light was good; and G*d separated the light from the darkness. G*d called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.” Genesis 1:1-5

What we know of G*d is very limited. We have the G*d of revelation and the G*d of mystery. The G*d of revelation is those parts of G*d that have been revealed to us in creation, revealed to us in the works of G*d, and revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Everything else we want to know about G*d remains a mystery. Albert Einstein is famously quoted as saying “I want to know the mind of G*d. Everything else is just detail.” Believe me, it isn’t only Einstein who would like to know more about G*d, it is all of the martyrs and the believers down the many generations of time. But, would it do us any good to know more about G*d? Who wants to know G*d to his or her complete and fullest sense? If we knew G*d completely, I believe it would allow contempt to creep into our relationships with G*d. It is beneficial to all of us that G*d remain the mystery that G*d remains to be.

In March, I wrote a devotion about Big Foot. I said in that devotion that it is easier “Not” to believe in Big Foot than to believe in Big Foot – because we have so little to base our beliefs, except for sightings by many people over the years. And yet, there are so many people who believe in Big Foot. Big Foot has done nothing – did not create anything, did not work out redemption for anyone – Big Foot is only known through lore. Now translate that understanding to believing in G*d. It is easier not to believe in G*d because G*d has made so little known to humanity. So, it takes faith – (see my devotion from yesterday) – and it takes the work of the Holy Spirit – my devotion for tomorrow.

Just a final note, many ask and wonder why I spell out the name of G*d with an asterisk. Here is my explanation “why”: I decided a few months ago that whenever I spell out the name of G*d I would abbreviate the name either as Gd or G*d out of respect for the name of G*d – like the ancient writers of the Hebrew bible named G*d as YHWH. It is my own devotional exercise for the name of G*d since it is so easy to misuse this name.

Pastor Dave