Let us begin this sermon with a prayer. Let us pray:

“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
And kindle in us the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created
And you shall renew the face of the earth.
O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit
Did instruct the hearts of the faithful,
Grant that by the same Holy Spirit
We may be truly wise and ever enjoy his consolations. Amen.

We believe in the Holy Spirit. We baptize our people in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The word John uses to define the Holy Spirit is Paraclete—the one called along side another.

The Holy Spirit is like a witness who takes the stand for a friend. The Holy Spirit is like an attorney who defends her client in court. The Holy Spirit is like a specialis…