THE WEEK OF ASCENSION - WEDNESDAY

LESSON: ROMANS 15:13-21

“When the Counsellor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father …” John 15:26

So that we do not become despondent and lose heart, Christ here assures us that He will send us a Counsellor or Comforter, and a very unique one at that, one who is almighty. He here calls the Holy Spirit a Counsellor or Comforter.

Although our sins and the fear of death at times make us fell, timid, and rather crestfallen, the Spirit comes to us and touches our heart and says, “Wake up and get into things!” He inspires us with courage, speaking to us in a friendly and comforting manner, so that we do not despair in the face of death but rush into the fray as though we had ten necks to risk and say, “Although I do have sins, they are no longer of any real account for me; and even if I had still more of them and they made a common assault on me, I still have the confidence that they can no longer harm me.”

Not that we should no longer be sensible of our sins, for the flesh must be sensible of them. But the Spirit overcomes and suppresses timidity and fear and guides us safely through such experiences, as He has the power to do. Jesus also says of the Spirit here, “I will send Him to you from the Father.” “The Father is the initial person; I am the Son, and the Holy Spirit comes from us.”

These three Persons are one entity and essence, of equal power and might, as He explains even better in the words that follow.

SL 11:995 (7-8)

PRAYER: Let us always enjoy the comfort, consolation, and power of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom You, Lord Jesus, send us from the Father in Your name and for Your sake. Amen.

Editor’s note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today’s sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 3:244-254.