Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Old Testament Lesson just read, from Numbers 11. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Given the horrible effects of mind-altering and mind-numbing drugs, including alcohol, we generally have a very negative view of people being “UNDER THE INFLUENCE.” In fact, driving under the influence is a very dangerous and serious offense, which brings with it huge troubles.
- Likewise, since we are people who embrace responsibility and have complex tasks to complete with precision, we look at being “UNDER THE INFLUENCE” as a detriment to accomplishing our work and succeeding in life. There may be times and occasions for imbibing in moderation, but being under the influence is debilitating.
- We also generally look askance at people who have fallen “UNDER THE INFLUENCE” of other people, or of weird philosophies, or of “religion,” or even of political movements. To be so afflicted, in our mind, is to lose control of your rational and discriminating capabilities. This is to lose control and proper sentience.
- When it comes to our spiritual lives – and the strong inter-connections with our minds – we are generally wary and fearful of “trusting” someone else and losing control. We’ve all had experiences with religious fanatics, and are aware of the alternative reality that some religions promote and engender.
- However, we might also consider the effects of sin on human “being” and thinking and perception. The Scripture is certainly clear that all human beings are born “UNDER THE INFLUENCE” of sin – and all of the distortion, ignorance, and evil that this entails.
- So perhaps the alternative described and offered in all of our Scripture Lessons for this morning should be considered preferable, especially since it comes from God, the Spirit of the Lord. And while many cautions are certainly warranted, the Scripture is clear that we need a corrective to the influence of sin – and this is the presence and influence of the Holy Spirit of God.
- So the question to consider this morning is this: Am I willing to be “UNDER THE INFLUENCE” of the Holy Spirit of God? We see in our texts that:
I. God’s Spirit Is Poured Into Believers
Gospel: “Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ Now this He said about the Spirit, Whom those who believed in Him were to receive.”
Statement: So this is part of being a believer and a child of God – this infusion of the Holy Spirit. Note that it is not optional, or dependent upon our desire or anything that we do: it is simply given, poured out upon, all who believe in Jesus.
Application: Are we aware of this “influence” within us? Those of us who were baptized as infants received the Holy Spirit through this precious Sacrament. Peter indicates that the promise connected to Holy Baptism is “the forgiveness of sins . . . and the gift of the Holy Spirit.” [Acts 2:38,39] We have had these blessings from infancy, and perhaps take the presence of the Holy Spirit as part of our normal experience. And perhaps this is not that bad – so long as “living water” is flowing out of our hearts. That is, so long as faith and love are at the core of our being, we can be certain that we are “UNDER THE INFLUENCE” of the Holy Spirit of God – and this is a good thing!
Transition: There is, of course, much more to being “UNDER THE INFLUENCE” of the Spirit of God:
II. The Presence Of God’s Spirit Evokes Prophesying – The Speaking Of God’s Word, And Praising God
A. It Stimulates Preaching And Teaching God’s Mighty Works
Epistle: “We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
B. These Mighty Works Of God Center In His Work Of Redemption And Salvation In Christ Jesus
Epistle: “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Statement: Peter went on in his sermon to preach about Jesus, His miracles, His compassion, His suffering and death for our sins, and His resurrection. This is the “living water” that flows from our hearts when we are “UNDER THE INFLUENCE” of the Holy Spirit of God! This is not a bad thing but a very good thing. And notice – being “UNDER THE INFLUENCE” did not detract one iota from Peter’s intelligence, sentience, wisdom, knowledge, his reliance on and submission to God’s Word, or his ability to communicate clearly and effectively. No, being “UNDER THE INFLUENCE” of the Spirit of God does not diminish our awareness, our abilities, or our effectiveness – but rather enhances and improves all of our most important functions!
Application: So let us consider that this is not something for us to resist, or diminish, or discount! Rather, it is the gift of God, and a very blessed and important gift for us to recognize, utilize, and give thanks to God for!
Transition: For we certainly see in our text that:
III. The Gift Of God’s Holy Spirit Is A Great Blessing To God’s People
A. We Should All Pray That All Of God’s People Have Fullness Of His Spirit
Text: “Moses said, ‘Would that all of God’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit on them!”
B. For The Gift Of The Holy Spirit Does Absolutely No Harm To God’s People
Text: “Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, ‘My lord Moses, stop them.’ But Moses said to him, ‘Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets.’”
1. The presence, ministry, and gifts of the Holy Spirit do not upset God’s order for the church, His will as to how authority in the various offices of the church is to be, but rather buttresses the ministry of Word and Sacrament
Text: “Would that all of the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit on them.”
2. There is no spiritual reason for jealousy in regard to the indwelling gift of God’s Spirit
Text: “Are you jealous for my sake?” [forget about it!]
Statement: Certainly we are to be cautious about all of this, for whenever God gives some good gift to His people, the evil one fabricates counterfeit phenomena. It is the same with the Holy Spirit and being under His influence. But in the case of the counterfeits, there is loss of sentience, loss of focus on Christ and His redemption, loss in giving praise to God, and rejection of the authority of God’s Word – and an increase of spiritual ignorance, of human pride, and preoccupation with supposedly “glorious” signs of a person’s personal power. And the counterfeits always oppose the “order” of God within the church; the evil one always tries to undercut the authority of Christ’s under-shepherds, the ministers of His Word and Sacraments, and they refuse to submit to God’s Word, the Holy Scripture.
Application: But the gift of the Spirit of God also enables discernment among His true children of faith, so that the wolves and false apostles and antichrists are always ultimately identified – and thrust out of the fellowship of the true church of Jesus Christ. So we are bold to pray that all of God’s people would receive and fully utilize the gifts of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, that each of us would be “UNDER THE INFLUENCE” of the Holy Spirit at all times! This is good for us individually, and also corporately, for as the Scripture asserts: “To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
Conclusion: It is certain that we do not encourage anyone to be “UNDER THE INFLUENCE” of alcohol, mind altering drugs, or any evil. Likewise, we warn people not to remain “UNDER THE INFLUENCE” of the sin and evil that has corrupted our sinful nature.
To this end we urge all Christians to be “UNDER THE INFLUENCE” of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, which all believers receive! We pray that it would indeed be “rivers of living water flowing out of the heart” of all God’s people of faith.
So we pray that all would speak of the mighty and wondrous works of God, especially those wrought by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in His suffering, death, and resurrection! In this we rejoice – with no jealousy whatsoever – for we are witnessing more of the power and work of God!
Remember – you already have this gift from God through your baptism. Remember, it is the gift of God, given by His will, not manipulated by us. Thanks and praise be to God, that it is given for the common good! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.