The Holy Spirit's Work on You

Verse for the week: “O Lord, what is man that you regard him,
    or the son of man that you think of him?”  Psalm 144.3

Prayer for the week: Dear heavenly Father, you speak to us through the Holy Scriptures. Grant that we may hear, read, respect, learn, and swallow them in such a way that the overwhelming glory and enduring benefit and comfort of the Word will help us grasp and hold the blessed hope of everlasting life, given us through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: John 16.5-15 (Shortly before they betray and forsake him, Jesus declares to his disciples the promise of his Holy Spirit’s work.)

“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. ⁵ But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ ⁶ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. ⁷ Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸ And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; ¹⁰ concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; ¹¹ concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

¹² “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, all that is mine is sin, selfishness, and unbelief. To you belong forgiveness, righteousness, and judgment… and by the work of your Son and your Spirit the great exchange takes place: what’s mine becomes yours and what’s yours becomes mine. Thank you, thank you. Keep me and your whole church in this truth; in Jesus’ name I ask this. Amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a little fun that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1YBYrJ8Hzg&ab_channel=MartijndeGroot

“Thy kingdom come…”

What does this mean?  God’s kingdom comes indeed without our praying for it, but we ask in this petition that it may come also to us.

When does this happen?  God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us his Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe his holy Word and live a godly life on earth now and in heaven forever. (from The Small Catechism, Martin Luther)

Benediction: For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.   Psalm 149.4

 

*This is now our congregation’s 99^th year in the Word. In 2025, we are reading from Genesis to Revelation, with a few interludes along the way.