The Week of Pentecost – Wednesday

The Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send you in My name, He shall teach you all things. – John 14:26.

What is this Holy Ghost, who was poured out so miraculously upon the disciples of Jesus, and who gathered so glorious a congregation from among the Jews?  Is this Holy Ghost just some spiritual state and power of the human mind, wrought and effected by God?  When it is said that the Holy Ghost was poured out, and that He did these wonderful things, does this mean that He really is God Himself? Yes, indeed!  The Holy Ghost is God, the living and eternal God Himself.  Jesus said to His disciples on the night before His death: “The Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send you in My name, He shall teach you all things” (John 14:26). 

If the Father sends the Holy Ghost in the name of the Son, then, evidently, the Holy Ghost, who is God, is not the same Person as the Father and the Son.  The Holy Ghost is the third Person of the Holy Trinity, true God with the Father and the Son.  Hence the Holy Ghost is God.  We Christians are baptized into the name of this Triune God: “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19).

He is the gracious and merciful God who, through the Gospel, has called us poor miserable sinners to Christ, enlightened us so that we are brought to believe in our Savior, come to Him, are justified by God through that vicarious atonement by Christ for us and for the whole world, and are saved from the curse of the Law and the everlasting punishment we deserve for our sins.  This dear Holy Ghost, with great long-suffering, working through God’s Word, sanctifies and keeps us in the true faith to our end.  Scripture says that they, in whom the Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost, dwells, “are the temple of God” (I Corinthians 3:16); they are the children of God (Romans 8:14); they have been brought out from “under the Law” (Galatians 5:18) and into His saving “grace” (Ephesians 2:8).  To this end, the Father sends the Holy Spirit in the name of the Son, who has reconciled us to God and brought about “peace” between God and us (Romans 5:1).

The Holy Ghost teaches us to believe in Christ, our Savior, and so to become God’s dear children, whom God will take to heaven. Through the Word, the Holy Ghost makes us “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 3:15).  O Christian, know, honor, praise, and love the Holy Ghost, and abide with His Word, by means of which He keeps you in the true faith and brings you to heaven.

PRAYER – God, the Holy Ghost, who is true God with the Father and the Son, and who does show me like compassion with the Father and the Son, forsake me not, but continue to give me of Thy strength through Thy Word of truth and grace, that I may steadfastly keep clinging to my Savior in true faith, and overcome all temptations of the devil, the world, and my flesh, and obtain and enjoy the gift of life everlasting, even now and forevermore.  Amen.

Grant our hearts in fullest measure, wisdom, counsel, purity;

that they ever may be seeking, only that which pleaseth Thee.

Let Thy knowledge spread and grow, working errors’ overthrow.

—

If our soul can find no comfort; if despondency grows strong;

and the heart cries out in anguish: “O my God, how long, how long?”

Comfort then our aching breast; grant it comfort, patience, rest.

(Hymn 226, st. 2 and 6; TLH)