Sermon September 28, 2025
“The Trinity: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”
For years, I always thought that I knew what the trinity was all about. We
know that it was the Father who created the World. In Genesis we find
That God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was barren and
under a roaring ocean covered with darkness. God the Father commanded
light to shine, and he separated light from darkness and called the light
“Day” and the darkness “night.” On the second day, God commanded a
dome to separate the water above from the water below. Above he called it
Sky of Heaven and below was water. On the third day God made the
waters come together so there was dry ground which he called Land and
the water he called Ocean. He commanded the earth to produce all kinds
of plants, fruit trees and grains. On the fourth day, God put lights in the sky
to separate day from night and to show the time for seasons and years.
The brighter one, Sun ruled the day, and the other one ruled the night and
he put the stars in the sky. On the fifth day, he commanded the ocean to
be full of living creatures and birds to fly above the earth. On the sixth day,
He commanded the earth to give life to all kinds of animals and reptiles and
then He made humans to rule over all the living creatures. On the seventh
day God rested.
Now we all know that it wasn’t long before humans were already
sinning. First Adam and Eve, Cain murders Abel and the Earth was
covered with people. God saw how evil the people were and he planned
on sending a flood. Throughout the Old Testament we find God helping his
people and then being sorry he ever made them. In several places
prophets predict the coming of a savior. This leads us into the New
Testament where Jesus is born and tries to teach the people and to live his
life as an example for us. Jesus the second part of the Trinity. Jesus’
arrival is similar to His parable about a landowner who rented out his
vineyard and then left the country. When it was harvest time, he sent his
servants to get his share of the grapes. But one servant was beat up,
another one was killed and a third was stoned to death. So finally, the
owner sent his own son because he thought they would respect him. But
they thought if they killed him and they would have the vineyard for
themselves. When the chief priests and Pharisees heard this story, they
knew Jesus was speaking about them. Jesus continued to teach using
parables until his death. After Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus met the 11
disciples and told them to go to the people of all nations and make them my
disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you
always, even until the end of the world.
In the book of Acts, On the day of Pentecost all the Lord’s followers
were together. Suddenly there was a noise from heaven like the sound of a
mighty wind. Then they saw fiery tongues which settled on each person
there. The Holy Spirit took control of everyone, and they began speaking in
whatever languages the Spirit let them speak. Was this the first time the
Holy Spirit, the third part of the Trinity, came to us? NO!!!! When did
the Holy Spirit actually appear? In the book of Genesis 1: 1-2 In the
beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was barren
with no form of life; it was under a roaring ocean covered with darkness.
But the Spirit of God was moving over the water. The Holy Spirit has
been with us from the very beginning. The Holy Spirit has many other
names in the Bible: Spirit of God, Spirit of wisdom, Spirit of the Lord, The
Comfortor, Holy Ghost and many others. The Holy Spirit has appeared to
us numerous times and in many different forms. Let’s just look at some of
times he has appeared to his followers.
In 1 Kings 19:11-12 The Lord appeared to Eiljah- “Go out and stand on the
mountain,” the Lord replied, I want you to see me when I pass by.” All at
once, a strong wind shook the mountain and shattered the rocks. But the
Lord was not in the wind. Next, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was
not in the earthquake. Then there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the
fire. Finally, there was a gentle breeze, and Elijah heard it.”
In Ezekiel 37: 9,10,14 Was in the valley of dry bones and God told Ezekiel
to say: Dry bones, listen to what the Lord is saying to you, and once again
you will live…..Then I heard a rattling noise. The bones were coming
together! I saw muscles and skin cover the bones, but they had no life in
them. The Lord said: Ezekiel, now say to the wind, “The Lord God
commands you to blow from every direction and to breathe life into these
dead bodies, so they can live again…..My Spirit will give you breath, and
you will live again. I will bring you home, and you will know that I have kept
my promise.”
In Matthew 3:15-16 When Jesus came to John to be baptized, John
objected and said, “I ought to be baptized by you”. Jesus said this is what
must be done because God wants us to do it. Jesus was baptized. And
as soon as he came out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw the Spirit
of God coming down on him like a dove. Then a voice from heaven said,
“This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him.”
When Jesus was sending his disciples out into the world to teach in
Matthew 10:20 He said, “At that time you will be given the words to say. But
you will not really be the one speaking. The Spirit from your Father will tell
you what to say.”
In John 3:5 Nicodemus comes to question Jesus and Jesus says, “I tell you
for certain that before you can get into God’s kingdom, you must be born
not only by water, but by the Spirit. Humans give life to their children. Yet
only God’s Spirit can change you into a child of God. Don’t be surprised
when I say that you must be born from above. Only God’s Spirit gives new
life. The Spirit is like the wind that blows wherever it wants to. You can
hear the wind, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is
going.”
In John 7: 37-38 Jesus stood up and shouted, “If you are thirsty, come to
me and drink! Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing
from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say.” Jesus was talking about
the Hoy Spirit, who would be given to everyone who had faith in him.
In Romans 5: 3-5 We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps
us to endure. And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope that
will never disappoint us. All of this happens because God has given us the
Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with his love.
Galatians 4:6 Now that we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his
Son into our hearts. And his Spirit tells us that God is our Father.
There are many more examples of the Holy Spirit at work in the Bible. But
there was one lesson that I would like to share with you. I have 47 cousins
and have lost several over the years. I lost one of my favorite cousin,
Eddy, this past January. When Eddy was 24 he came and visited Chuck
and I for a few weeks. Every time we went to Holland for a visit, Eddy,
would pick a day and have something special planned for us. Eddy was a
Chef. One year, he invited Chuck and I for lunch at his restaurant along
with his wife Fenna, son, and cousins Aida, Eibert, Nadja. After lunch,
most of my living aunts and uncles came and we were driven in a trolley
car by 4 horses to my grandfather’s house, now the home of my Uncle
Henk. They told family stories about my father and mother. Later we rode
back to the restaurant and Eddy had prepared dinner for all of them and
more cousins came as well, more than 60 people. This is just one of many
times, Eddy did something special for Chuck and I. When he became very
ill, I made and sent him a prayer shawl and put him on our prayer list. He
in turn sent me Corrie ten Boom’s book of daily reflections. Corrie and her
entire family were sent to a concentration Camp during WWII for hiding
Jews in their home. She alone survived. Each morning, I spend time
thinking of Eddy and thank God that before dying Eddy proclaimed Jesus
as his Savior.
One day Corrie wrote, When I am talking to a new child of God, I
avoid telling him what he should or should not do in his life. These
decisions are better left to the Holy Spirit. Thank you, Lord, for saying that
when we bring someone to you, we know that you will take over his
guidance for us.
Another day, she wrote, The Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus. So, when
you are filled with the Holy Spirit you speak about our Lord and live to his
honor. Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you are willing to fill us again and again
with the Holy Spirit and that the fruit and the gifts are available to us. How
we need them and how the world around us needs us.
I know from Psalms that there is no place I can go to hide from the
Father, I know, Jesus loves us and will never leave. I know the Holy Spirit
will come and help us to live out our faith and always be with us.
So I ask the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit to fill my Cup, fill it up and make me whole. Amen
by Gerda Krogslund