A WORD FROM PASTOR HANK:
“Feathers and All”
by Pastor Don Ginkel
Grace and peace to all in the blessed Name of Christ our Lord!
Recently I came across this article I had saved on my computer by Pastor Don Ginkel, who serves a LCMS congregation in Denver, Colorado area, and also is a well-known writer of Bible Studies and other articles. I felt his words were too good not to share this Wednesday, titled “Feathers and All”:
Before we become Christians the Bible says we are dead people. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins” [Ephesians 2:]). A dead man cannot do anything. A dead man cannot walk, talk, breath, or carry on a conversation. A dead person doesn’t decide to become alive. A dead man doesn’t decide to get up out of his casket and walk away. A dead man remains dead. Everything must be done for him. Before you became a Christian you were dead. You couldn’t do a thing. You couldn’t believe. You couldn’t follow Jesus.
When I was born into this world I was dead for a few weeks. Then I was baptized and the Holy Spirit came into me and I believed. No one asked me if I wanted to receive the Holy Spirit. I was dead. I didn’t even care. But God cared, and the Holy Spirit came and made me a believer. “Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit’” John 3:5]. That was God’s gift to me. Many years ago someone asked me, “Well, how much of the Holy Spirit did you get when you were baptized?” I got the impression for a while that the Holy Spirit came on the installment plan and maybe I got just the first installment. Martin Luther once used a little illustration in answer to the question. He said, “When you are baptized and you become a Christian you get the entire Holy Spirit, feathers and all!”
Someone said, “Well, I just don’t feel like I’ve got the Holy Spirit. It would seem to me that I should feel something.” The Bible tells me that the Holy Spirit enters into my life when I become a Christian, but I’ve never “felt” Him or “seen” Him nor will I ever until I get to Heaven. I suspect that when some Christians say they have felt the Spirit what they have really felt are some of the great gifts the Spirit gives to them.
But there is more. The Holy Spirit (feathers and all!) lives in you and comforts you concerning your sins. “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate (a teacher, an assistant, a helper, a comforter, and a friend, especially a legal friend) to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you (in a very intimate and personal way)” [John 14:16-17]. The Holy Spirit comforts you with the knowledge that Jesus Christ has paid for every one of your sins. The Spirit reminds you that God will never forsake you. Without the Spirit you wouldn’t have a comfortable day in your life. You wouldn’t have any purpose. You need and have the Comforter! He remains free at no extra charge. He is God’s gift to you.
Holy Spirit, truth divine. Shine upon these eyes of mine;
Send Your radiance from above, Let me know the Savior’s love.
Thank You, dear Spirit of God, Thank You! Amen!
I couldn’t have said it better!
Pr. Hank Hollar
