Title: The Lord will gather you home … in Christ you are saved!
Text: Luke 13:22-30
29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
The story is told of a new bank president who met with his predecessor and said, "I would like to know what have been the keys to your success." The older gentleman looked at him and replied, "Young man, I can sum it up in two words: Good decisions." To that the young man responded, "I thank you immensely for that advice, sir, but how does one come to know which are the good decisions?" "One word, young man," replied the sage. "Experience." "That's all well and good," said the younger, "but how does one get experience?" "Two words," said the elder. "Bad decisions."
Today In The Word, November, 1989, p.23.
When you think of the bad decisions you’ve made in your life and how you might approach those decisions now from the experience you’ve gained, it is comforting to know that even though you remain dead in your sin, Christ has made you alive and:
The Lord will gather you home … in Christ you are saved!
22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.
As we’ve discussed over the last few months, Jesus was resolute on His way towards Jerusalem. He was not running there but was diligently going on about His business to get there. Along the way He did what He loved to do … teach!
As was the case with Jesus and His teaching and what happens often when teaching through the Bible, questions come to mind. Such was the case here. As Jesus went about His business someone in the crowd of followers who had been accompanying him says:
23 … “Lord, will those who are saved be few?”
Seems like a reasonable question. Who will be saved and how will it be determined? Again, as has been the case before, Jesus uses this question to answer and teach. The question might have been asked differently though, not so much, “will those saved be few”? But, will I be among them? This is how Jesus answers this important question.
And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
To those who see salvation as a cooperative act, it might seem to them that this work of striving is the work they do to enter in through this narrow door. Christ is the door of entrance and we can know this from the epistle of St. John the 10th chapter where Jesus says in verse 9:
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
Those who enter in do so by faith in Christ. Those who cannot enter have been trying to make their own way and the key they’ve been trying to use to unlock will not open the door because the key is faith in God’s only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Himself.
So Jesus gives this example in illustration:
25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’
What a harsh reality. The door will not open. No pleading, no solution, a bad decision that has no happy ending … though the experience learned is written in the bible for our learning … at the time of judgment some will be excluded for lack of making use of it. The Word of God and the working of the Holy Spirit have been active … but rejected.
Some here at Peace reject God’s gift too. They make little attempt to hear God’s word and reject His gift of faith in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. How sad to think that they too might hear, “I do not know where you come from.” To all who reject the gift of faith might not the cry be:
26 … ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’
The riches of temporal blessing and success or mere apathy blind the way to the cross for many.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer said:
The figure of (Jesus) the Crucified invalidates all thought which takes success for its standard.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Because as George MacDonald said:
"In whatever man does without God, he must fail miserably or succeed more miserably"
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Integrity Crisis, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991, p. 42.
Don’t you see that whatever you do as a means to find justification in work, acts of love and caring, success in life, charity are nothing that can open the door to eternal life.
28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.
Those who hear Jesus hear the words of eternal life. Faith is created and the Kingdom is theirs. Those who in their sinfulness look to other means to open the door to salvation, apart from the means of grace of word and sacrament that God has ordained, will find the door locked and they themselves cast out.
Sobering to think about? You come to church … but only go through the motions and fail to trust the promises of God. Some have even stopped coming at all, thinking life too short or their life’s too busy for making time on Saturday or Sunday to be in worship. Especially, in the summer when the weather is so nice, like last weekend, and I too was even tempted to stay home and get a jump on the work I needed to do around the house. But Monica and I went to St. Augustine in Troy for their 11:00 am service to see my friend Paul and Pastor Paul Monson. Pastor Monson was on vacation but I had the joy of hearing his father Pastor Emeritus John Monson preach.
All the Emeriti pastors always bring a great message, as I’m sure you all heard here last week yourselves with Pastor Merrell handling the duties. But, I noticed at St. Augustine just as here at Peace, there seems to be a drop off in attendance during the summer months. Some, go away to the cottage, some attend elsewhere … if out of town, some get drawn away into the joys of summer and some … just lose interest and don’t come at all. Sad but true, and to some, who’ve been given the gift of faith by the working of the Holy Spirit will find no faith at all, in that day because it has died to the ways of the world.
But Christ still comforts:
29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
The truth is that some will not enter because of lack of faith. Jesus tells the people that the door is opened by faith and He is that door. Trust in him is the key and it is the gift of faith which you can not earn but is a gift that is given freely by God’s Spirit so that you and all who believe can enter in.
Pastor Matt Harrison in his sermon at the National Youth Gathering referenced Martin Luther when he said:
Ill.
Luther says that all of us come to church as poor, miserable sinners with an empty sack. We have nothing to give God. We confess our sins and receive forgiveness – in the blessed absolution, a gift from God, which we put in our sack. Over and over in the service we receive gifts: grace, mercy, love, the Word of God … A multitude of blessings! All of these gifts go in our sacks. We leave the service with a sack over-flowing with good gifts from God. We take our gifts home, and we share all the goodies we received with our neighbor!
God gives His gifts to you. He forgives you. He blesses you and you receive His gifts from his word and through His sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. This He freely gives … to you. And He calls you to come, as you are to His house because you are His child and He wishes to bless … you.
God’s grace is nothing you deserve; it is nothing you can earn; and it is only received by faith in the finished work of Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. And you have been given that gift of faith in Christ and you receive His forgiveness in Christ and you are His Child in Christ and you will enter through the door that is Christ Jesus … because of His call and work in you.
The Lord will gather you home … because, in Christ, you are saved!
As the sermon Hymn, so beautifully reminds us to:
Listen God is calling; Through His word inviting.
Offering forgiveness, comfort and joy!
To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence, without fault and with great joy - the benediction from All God’s People Sing says in comfort to us.
To which the congregation responds:
To the only God, our Savior, be glory, majesty, power and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forever more.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be and abide with you all now and forever.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Monday, August 26, 2013
Sermon Aug. 10-11, 2013
Title: Christ removes all fear through trust in Him!
Text: Luke 12:22-34
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin. Once, as he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted by a shout from a heckler in the audience. "You were one of Stalin's colleagues. Why didn't you stop him?""Who said that?" roared Khrushchev. An agonizing silence followed as nobody in the room dared move a muscle. Then Khrushchev replied quietly, "Now you know why."
Today in the Word, July 13, 1993.
We have all had to deal with fear in our life, some real and some imagined but we can all have joy and be comforted that:
Christ removes all fear through trust in Him!
22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
Sounds good! If you are well fed and clothed you have little for the devil to use to torment and bring anxiety over. As Jesus talks to His disciples in particular the bigger picture of His warning is applied to all people generally.
The examples that Jesus give are common to our everyday lives.
24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
Ill.
The week of VBS I built a bird feeder. My wife’s friend Laurie had her husband make this for her out of two pressure treated 4x4. The design is simple and uses a 10” lag screw drilled through 4x4s cut at 4 foot lengths crossed at the center and set a lot the vertical 8’ 4x4 that is placed into a post holder spike that keeps the whole thing vertical. It’s a simple design that I copied and constructed in my backyard allowing 4-6 feeders to draw and large number and variety of birds from Chickadees, to Blue Jays and Hummingbirds to feed. We even had a Wood Pecker.
I bought a variety of seed and suet cakes and as things got depleted I would rush to get the feeders filled again … thinking that if I didn’t get them filled that the birds might go hungry …
The reality of these birds being fed by me is nothing more than a convenience that God is using to allow me to enjoy these creatures of His creation. The birds are fed by God’s design whether from food provided by my feeder or the natural food that they find in their habitat as they fly from place to place.
Jesus reminds the disciples and you as well when He says:
25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?
Ill.
The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety!
George Muller Massena, one of Napoleon's generals, suddenly appeared with 18,000 soldiers before an Austrian town which had no means of defending itself. The town council met certain that capitulation was the only answer. The old dean of the church reminded the council that it was Easter, and begged them to hold services as usual and to leave the trouble in God's hands. They followed his advice. The dean went to the church and rang the bells to announce the service. The French soldiers heard the church bells ring and concluded that the Austrian army had come to rescue the town. They broke camp, and before the bells had ceased ringing, vanished.
Source Unknown.
Christ removes all fear through trust in Him!
You fear as I do it is a natural part of who we are as sinners. Why do we concern ourselves with that which we cannot control? For many, when young, it involves boyfriends, girlfriends and marriage. Why not me, why not now, does God not hear my prayers? Anxiety, worry, concern and sadness all come into your thoughts day and night and you let these thoughts, at times, suck the joy out of our daily existence. Especially when friends and family seem to have all these things fall right in place.
Lord! Don’t you care? This might be the common plea, out of frustration and worry. Always the bridesmaid … but never the bride, or so she thought.
Adrianne Dorr who is managing editor of the Lutheran Witness thought so too. In her late 20’s, she began doubting if marriage would be for her. Or as she laments:
Ill.
“Sometimes, when you’re single, you doubt the Lord’s goodness. You forget that there is a difference between being alone and being lonely. You pray fervently for a pious spouse. And then you stop praying, sure that the Lord’s good gift of marriage is not for you.”
“You resign yourself to a life you didn't imagine, one you didn't want. And then, in His perfect time and in His perfect way, the Lord gives you the perfect gift. And, in this case, that gift was a 6’2 Lutheran dairy farmer, one who had been praying and waiting himself. And when that happens, you just can’t help but kick your heels up a little. Because when the Lord does something, He does it well. When He sees you through all broken hearts, all the tearful calls to your mother, all the whining to your sisters and your best friend, all the sighs, all the Valentine’s Days, He does it in style.”
“Because His plan is always good and perfect and best.
Despite the evidence.
Despite proof of the opposite.
Despite your feelings
And you wonder why you ever doubted.”
http://letitstet.wordpress.com/2013/08/02/the-lords-goodness/
27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
There is only one thing which should be the object of anxious search and that is the kingdom of God.
To be a member of this kingdom, to have and keep true faith in the heart, through which such membership is insured, that is the one fact which should give every Christian his chief concern, on account of which he daily prays the Second Petition – Thy kingdom come!
All the other things that are necessary for the sustaining of life are added without worry or care, by the providence of God.
P.E. Kretzmann, pg. 336
Christ removes all fear through trust in Him!
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Jesus Christ has given you the Kingdom in Him. From the “little flock” of the disciples and through simple means of the word of promise God gives the Kingdom to those whom He desires to. So Christ tells them:
33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The desires of the heart towards God in faith cannot be destroyed. Giving to the needs of others and not being consumed with the things of this world opens the treasure of heaven, Jesus Christ, by faith. No thief can take that away because you are in the hands of Christ Jesus as He promises in John 10:28:
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand
Christ removes all fear through trust in Him!
Though the world at times tries to keep you quiet in fear, as Nikita Khrushchev did to those who questioned him, God has set you free of that fear by faith in the finished work of His Son who calls to His side, covers you with His righteousness and comforts you with the Good News that the Kingdom of Heaven is yours – in Christ!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Text: Luke 12:22-34
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
During his years as premier of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev denounced many of the policies and atrocities of Joseph Stalin. Once, as he censured Stalin in a public meeting, Khrushchev was interrupted by a shout from a heckler in the audience. "You were one of Stalin's colleagues. Why didn't you stop him?""Who said that?" roared Khrushchev. An agonizing silence followed as nobody in the room dared move a muscle. Then Khrushchev replied quietly, "Now you know why."
Today in the Word, July 13, 1993.
We have all had to deal with fear in our life, some real and some imagined but we can all have joy and be comforted that:
Christ removes all fear through trust in Him!
22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
Sounds good! If you are well fed and clothed you have little for the devil to use to torment and bring anxiety over. As Jesus talks to His disciples in particular the bigger picture of His warning is applied to all people generally.
The examples that Jesus give are common to our everyday lives.
24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
Ill.
The week of VBS I built a bird feeder. My wife’s friend Laurie had her husband make this for her out of two pressure treated 4x4. The design is simple and uses a 10” lag screw drilled through 4x4s cut at 4 foot lengths crossed at the center and set a lot the vertical 8’ 4x4 that is placed into a post holder spike that keeps the whole thing vertical. It’s a simple design that I copied and constructed in my backyard allowing 4-6 feeders to draw and large number and variety of birds from Chickadees, to Blue Jays and Hummingbirds to feed. We even had a Wood Pecker.
I bought a variety of seed and suet cakes and as things got depleted I would rush to get the feeders filled again … thinking that if I didn’t get them filled that the birds might go hungry …
The reality of these birds being fed by me is nothing more than a convenience that God is using to allow me to enjoy these creatures of His creation. The birds are fed by God’s design whether from food provided by my feeder or the natural food that they find in their habitat as they fly from place to place.
Jesus reminds the disciples and you as well when He says:
25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?
Ill.
The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety!
George Muller Massena, one of Napoleon's generals, suddenly appeared with 18,000 soldiers before an Austrian town which had no means of defending itself. The town council met certain that capitulation was the only answer. The old dean of the church reminded the council that it was Easter, and begged them to hold services as usual and to leave the trouble in God's hands. They followed his advice. The dean went to the church and rang the bells to announce the service. The French soldiers heard the church bells ring and concluded that the Austrian army had come to rescue the town. They broke camp, and before the bells had ceased ringing, vanished.
Source Unknown.
Christ removes all fear through trust in Him!
You fear as I do it is a natural part of who we are as sinners. Why do we concern ourselves with that which we cannot control? For many, when young, it involves boyfriends, girlfriends and marriage. Why not me, why not now, does God not hear my prayers? Anxiety, worry, concern and sadness all come into your thoughts day and night and you let these thoughts, at times, suck the joy out of our daily existence. Especially when friends and family seem to have all these things fall right in place.
Lord! Don’t you care? This might be the common plea, out of frustration and worry. Always the bridesmaid … but never the bride, or so she thought.
Adrianne Dorr who is managing editor of the Lutheran Witness thought so too. In her late 20’s, she began doubting if marriage would be for her. Or as she laments:
Ill.
“Sometimes, when you’re single, you doubt the Lord’s goodness. You forget that there is a difference between being alone and being lonely. You pray fervently for a pious spouse. And then you stop praying, sure that the Lord’s good gift of marriage is not for you.”
“You resign yourself to a life you didn't imagine, one you didn't want. And then, in His perfect time and in His perfect way, the Lord gives you the perfect gift. And, in this case, that gift was a 6’2 Lutheran dairy farmer, one who had been praying and waiting himself. And when that happens, you just can’t help but kick your heels up a little. Because when the Lord does something, He does it well. When He sees you through all broken hearts, all the tearful calls to your mother, all the whining to your sisters and your best friend, all the sighs, all the Valentine’s Days, He does it in style.”
“Because His plan is always good and perfect and best.
Despite the evidence.
Despite proof of the opposite.
Despite your feelings
And you wonder why you ever doubted.”
http://letitstet.wordpress.com/2013/08/02/the-lords-goodness/
27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
There is only one thing which should be the object of anxious search and that is the kingdom of God.
To be a member of this kingdom, to have and keep true faith in the heart, through which such membership is insured, that is the one fact which should give every Christian his chief concern, on account of which he daily prays the Second Petition – Thy kingdom come!
All the other things that are necessary for the sustaining of life are added without worry or care, by the providence of God.
P.E. Kretzmann, pg. 336
Christ removes all fear through trust in Him!
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Jesus Christ has given you the Kingdom in Him. From the “little flock” of the disciples and through simple means of the word of promise God gives the Kingdom to those whom He desires to. So Christ tells them:
33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The desires of the heart towards God in faith cannot be destroyed. Giving to the needs of others and not being consumed with the things of this world opens the treasure of heaven, Jesus Christ, by faith. No thief can take that away because you are in the hands of Christ Jesus as He promises in John 10:28:
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand
Christ removes all fear through trust in Him!
Though the world at times tries to keep you quiet in fear, as Nikita Khrushchev did to those who questioned him, God has set you free of that fear by faith in the finished work of His Son who calls to His side, covers you with His righteousness and comforts you with the Good News that the Kingdom of Heaven is yours – in Christ!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Sermon Aug 3-4, 2013
Title: Christ gives you all things in Him!
Text: Luke 12:13-21
15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
The Bible defines worldliness by centering morality where we intuitively know it should be. Worldliness is the lust of the flesh (a passion for sensual satisfaction), the lust of the eyes (an inordinate desire for the finer things of life), and the pride of life (self-satisfaction in who we are, what we have, and what we have done).
Worldliness, then, is a preoccupation with ease and affluence. It elevates creature comfort to the point of idolatry; large salaries and comfortable life-styles … become necessities of life.
Dave Roper, The Strength of a Man, quoted in Family Survival in the American Jungle, Steve Farrar, 1991, Multnomah Press, p. 68.
In life there are necessities and the Lord desires to give you good things, but also warns that when the focus of life becomes the things we covet and desire we need to be reminded that:
Christ gives you all things in Him!
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
Jesus had just been talking to the crowd about the leaven of the Pharisees and their hypocrisy, not to fear those who kill the body but fear the one who has the authority to cast into hell and to acknowledge the Christ before men so that Jesus will also acknowledge them before His Father in Heaven.
This is pretty heady stuff about life, death and your eternal security … right?
And from the crowd someone yells out in interruption, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
Sounds whiny to me and like this guy hadn’t really been listening to what Jesus had been talking about all along. So, as interruptions go Jesus replies:
14 “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”
Now, I don’t know about you because the Bible doesn’t necessarily give us a sense of how Jesus might have responded but every time I’ve read this response from our Lord I always get a sense to read it as …
14 “Man! … who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”
I hear just a little bit of emphasis on “Haven’t you heard a thing I've been saying?” “I’m talking about eternal security and your thinking about temporal blessings?”
And then the Lord gives him and the crowd this little reminder:
15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Now, that might have been enough to sit the interrupter down. But the Lord decides to use this interruption as an opportunity to teach by parable or a story, and illustration if you will, what covetousness can ultimately lead to.
Ill.
A young banker was driving his BMW, in the mountains, during a snowstorm. As he rounded a turn the vehicle slid out of control and toward a cliff. At the last moment he unbuckled his seatbelt and jumped from the car. Though he escaped with his life, his left arm was caught near the hinge of the door and torn it off at the shoulder.
A trucker passing nearby witnessed the accident, stopped his rig, and ran back to see if he could be of help. There standing, in a state of shock, was the banker at the edge of the cliff moaning, "Oh no, my BMW, my BMW.” The trucker pointed to the banker’s shoulder and said "man you’ve got bigger problems than a car".
With that the banker looked at his shoulder, finally realizing he’d lost his arm, and began crying "Oh No, my Rolex, my new Rolex!”
Now, Jesus’ parable gets to the meat of the matter. What shall I do with all my stuff for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods, my BMW and my Rolex 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; nice home, 60” flat screen, house on the lake and even a boat, relax, eat, drink, be merry.”
Have you been there? Have you let the desires of the world keep you from the true joy of faith in Christ?
Christ gives you all things in Him!
God knows you have. It seems that no sooner than the acquisition of the next thing on the demand schedule than you and I are off with our eyes set on the next need. The sinful nature can do that. That is why we are warned in the 9th and 10th commandments not to covet your neighbor’s house and wife, manservant and maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
I had a real bout of coveting that I had to deal with this summer. Every time I saw one I had to have it. I had one before, but over the last 5-6 years I did without, but the fever started to get really bad. I needed a riding mower!
Oh I have one … it just didn’t work. It started blowing white smoke about 6 years ago and I put it in the shed. You see my son cut the grass and he just walked the self-propelled push mower over the yard. After he graduated college it became my job to cut the lawn again and I started to fix up the rider, as I sweated through walking the whole yard … a daunting task!
But, there were issues with my rider that I couldn’t figure out, so my eyes started wandering. John Deere, Craftsman, Wheel Horse, Toro, Cub Cadet, you name it, I wanted it; even dreamed about sitting down and mowing. I went and looked at a few … convinced Monica that a $500 used rider would do. I even drove to Livonia to look at one! I was finally put in touch with a man that could fix mine. He found that I needed the carburetor rebuilt - something he said that looked like solid Amber was in there and I needed two new blades. $86 later and I’m in heaven. But you can see how things can pull you into the worldly spell of stuff.
Back in 1981 George Carlin did a piece called “Stuff” that hits the nail on the head. He said in part:
So when you get right down to it, your house is nothing more than a place to keep your stuff … while you go out and get … more stuff!
George Carlin 1981
It’s funny because the irony that he uses is true; exaggerated but true. We all fall victim to this need for stuff. And when we get the stuff we want … we want more stuff. That is what Jesus said in the parable when he brought it to its logical conclusion:
20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself (all that stuff) and is not rich toward God.”
The Good News is that:
Christ gives you all things in Him!
Jesus knows that you need … stuff. He desires to give you the desires of your heart. Last week he promised that:
13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
He has given His Son to die for you and has made you heirs along with Christ. You have all things good given to you. In Christ you have an eternity that will never end. For your sake Jesus has conquered sin and death and has triumphed over the devil, just for you. You have been adopted and our sons and daughters of your Heavenly Father.
While the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life can cloud your view of the Kingdom. God has given you clear vision through Baptism as you have been washed clean and marked as one redeemed by Christ the crucified!
Christ gives you all things in Him!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Sermon July 27-28, 2013
Title: The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … loves you!
Text: Luke 11:9-13
9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
In Valladolid, Spain, where Christopher Columbus died in 1506, stands a monument commemorating the great discoverer. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the memorial is a statue of a lion destroying one of the Latin words that had been part of Spain's motto for centuries. Before Columbus made his voyages, the Spaniards thought they had reached the outer limits of earth. Thus their motto was "Ne Plus Ultra," which means "No More Beyond." The word being torn away by the lion is "Ne" or "no," making it read "Plus Ultra." Columbus had proven that there was indeed "more beyond."
Source Unknown.
Columbus didn’t take NO for an answer and neither should you; 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Because:
The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … loves you!
Our Gospel lesson today begins with our Lord in prayer … a practice that we know from the scriptures, that He did very often. Most of us know that prayer is – conversation with God – we talk to God about our needs and wants but find it hard at times to know how or for what to pray. This leads to the disciples in our lesson asking Jesus to teach them to pray and His giving of the Lord’s Prayer.
Martin Luther the great reformer was also asked by his barber, Master Peter Beskensdorf, how he prays? Luther, not one for quick or short answers in spite of all that consumed his time gave his barber a reply … a letter of 40 printed pages! Titled “A Simple Way to Pray”, Luther delved into the his deep understanding of prayer and all that the world, the flesh and the devil work at to keep you away for prayer and your conversation with God.
Jesus teaches his disciples:
“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread,
4 and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
Martin Luther begins his letter to Master Peter by focusing on what he needs to do to be skilled at his vocation as a barber.
Luther says:
A good clever barber must have his thoughts, mind and eyes concentrated upon the razor and the beard and not forget where he is in his stroke and shave. If he keeps talking or looking around or thinking of something else, he is likely to cut a man’s mouth or nose – or even his throat. So anything that is to be done well ought to occupy the whole man with all his faculties and members. As the saying goes, He who thinks of many things thinks of nothing and accomplishes no good. How much more must prayer possess the heart exclusively and completely if it is to be a good prayer!
Jesus says:
9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Because:
The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … loves you!
Prayer is a beautiful thing but one that has many obstacles.
Ill.
The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.
So says C.S. Lewis about prayer:
C.S. Lewis
You know you miss the mark when you pray. So do I … and it is one of the things that I resolved to do and to be better at after my visit to the Doxology conference in June. Prayer is something that must be done by you and by me as Jesus tells us to ask … than to seek … and finally to knock.
Luther continues his letter to his barber with this:
It is a good thing to let prayer be the first business in the morning and the last in the evening. Guard yourself against such false and deceitful thoughts that keep whispering: Wait a while. In an hour or so I will pray. I must first finish this or that. Thinking such thoughts we get away from prayer into other things that will hold us and involve us till the prayer of the day comes to naught. (Or becomes nothing)
You can’t know your heavenly father without communing with Him. This is done by prayer as you ask, seek and knock and by hearing his word of reply as you partake of weekly worship, hearing the Lord’s word of Law and Gospel but truly being comforted by the holy absolution given by God through his means of word and sacrament.
The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … loves you!
Ill.
Last Sunday Pastor Merrell and I went to the ordination and installation of the Rev. Martin Dressler as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Milford. It was a beautiful service with wonderful music, much singing and prayer.
When God calls a pastor to His church He is calling a pastor to be His representative, called through the congregation to bring Christ and His gifts to His people. It was joyful to see so many pastors in attendance on a beautiful summer Sunday in July. Lifting up Martin in prayer for what God was calling him to do in service to Christ’s church in Milford.
As we think about our Lord’s words again in the Gospel for today regarding prayer:
11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
The Holy Spirit was given in abundance at this ordination because God wishes to richly bless His people with His gifts and the most blessed gift you can have is the gift of the Holy Spirit given to you who works in you, faith in Christ’s finished work and keeps you pointed to Him so that on the last day you may stand firm in that faith unto life everlasting.
The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … loves you!
And by the Holy Spirit’s work in you from our epistle reading today bring the joyful gift of prayer to the Lord’s logical conclusion when it says:
10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Rejoice! You who are loved by the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
When you were born in sin the devil would have placed a sign upon your forehead that like the opening illustration might have read "Ne Plus Ultra," which means "No More Beyond." You are dead in sin and dead you will stay. But, God in Christ, like that lion has ripped the word “no” from your sin and has given you His heavenly home through the cross that He endured for you, so that in Him you might have an eternity 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Text: Luke 11:9-13
9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
In Valladolid, Spain, where Christopher Columbus died in 1506, stands a monument commemorating the great discoverer. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the memorial is a statue of a lion destroying one of the Latin words that had been part of Spain's motto for centuries. Before Columbus made his voyages, the Spaniards thought they had reached the outer limits of earth. Thus their motto was "Ne Plus Ultra," which means "No More Beyond." The word being torn away by the lion is "Ne" or "no," making it read "Plus Ultra." Columbus had proven that there was indeed "more beyond."
Source Unknown.
Columbus didn’t take NO for an answer and neither should you; 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Because:
The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … loves you!
Our Gospel lesson today begins with our Lord in prayer … a practice that we know from the scriptures, that He did very often. Most of us know that prayer is – conversation with God – we talk to God about our needs and wants but find it hard at times to know how or for what to pray. This leads to the disciples in our lesson asking Jesus to teach them to pray and His giving of the Lord’s Prayer.
Martin Luther the great reformer was also asked by his barber, Master Peter Beskensdorf, how he prays? Luther, not one for quick or short answers in spite of all that consumed his time gave his barber a reply … a letter of 40 printed pages! Titled “A Simple Way to Pray”, Luther delved into the his deep understanding of prayer and all that the world, the flesh and the devil work at to keep you away for prayer and your conversation with God.
Jesus teaches his disciples:
“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread,
4 and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
Martin Luther begins his letter to Master Peter by focusing on what he needs to do to be skilled at his vocation as a barber.
Luther says:
A good clever barber must have his thoughts, mind and eyes concentrated upon the razor and the beard and not forget where he is in his stroke and shave. If he keeps talking or looking around or thinking of something else, he is likely to cut a man’s mouth or nose – or even his throat. So anything that is to be done well ought to occupy the whole man with all his faculties and members. As the saying goes, He who thinks of many things thinks of nothing and accomplishes no good. How much more must prayer possess the heart exclusively and completely if it is to be a good prayer!
Jesus says:
9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Because:
The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … loves you!
Prayer is a beautiful thing but one that has many obstacles.
Ill.
The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.
So says C.S. Lewis about prayer:
C.S. Lewis
You know you miss the mark when you pray. So do I … and it is one of the things that I resolved to do and to be better at after my visit to the Doxology conference in June. Prayer is something that must be done by you and by me as Jesus tells us to ask … than to seek … and finally to knock.
Luther continues his letter to his barber with this:
It is a good thing to let prayer be the first business in the morning and the last in the evening. Guard yourself against such false and deceitful thoughts that keep whispering: Wait a while. In an hour or so I will pray. I must first finish this or that. Thinking such thoughts we get away from prayer into other things that will hold us and involve us till the prayer of the day comes to naught. (Or becomes nothing)
You can’t know your heavenly father without communing with Him. This is done by prayer as you ask, seek and knock and by hearing his word of reply as you partake of weekly worship, hearing the Lord’s word of Law and Gospel but truly being comforted by the holy absolution given by God through his means of word and sacrament.
The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … loves you!
Ill.
Last Sunday Pastor Merrell and I went to the ordination and installation of the Rev. Martin Dressler as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Milford. It was a beautiful service with wonderful music, much singing and prayer.
When God calls a pastor to His church He is calling a pastor to be His representative, called through the congregation to bring Christ and His gifts to His people. It was joyful to see so many pastors in attendance on a beautiful summer Sunday in July. Lifting up Martin in prayer for what God was calling him to do in service to Christ’s church in Milford.
As we think about our Lord’s words again in the Gospel for today regarding prayer:
11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
The Holy Spirit was given in abundance at this ordination because God wishes to richly bless His people with His gifts and the most blessed gift you can have is the gift of the Holy Spirit given to you who works in you, faith in Christ’s finished work and keeps you pointed to Him so that on the last day you may stand firm in that faith unto life everlasting.
The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … loves you!
And by the Holy Spirit’s work in you from our epistle reading today bring the joyful gift of prayer to the Lord’s logical conclusion when it says:
10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Rejoice! You who are loved by the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
When you were born in sin the devil would have placed a sign upon your forehead that like the opening illustration might have read "Ne Plus Ultra," which means "No More Beyond." You are dead in sin and dead you will stay. But, God in Christ, like that lion has ripped the word “no” from your sin and has given you His heavenly home through the cross that He endured for you, so that in Him you might have an eternity 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Sermon July 20-21, 2013
Title: Christ is the Good Portion!
Text Luke 10:38-42
40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Chuck Swindoll tells the story of a first grader that became curious because her father brought home a briefcase full of papers every evening. Her mother explained, "Daddy has so much to do that he can't finish it all at the office. That's why he has to bring work home at night."
"Well then," asked the child innocently, "why don't they put him in a slower group?"
C. Swindoll, Growing Strong, p. 213.
As we today think about all that we do, the things that need to be done and the little time that we have, let us remember that :
Christ is the Good Portion!
Now, in our lesson for today, the wonderful Martha and Mary story that we’ve all heard many times before, it seems that Martha gets a bad rap at times. Poor Martha, doing the work and all that she could to take care of the Lord’s needs, having welcomed him ( and those who were traveling with him) into her house while her sister Mary only sits at the Lord’s feet and listens to His teaching.
Jesus and his disciples had been traveling as the sending of the 72 prepared the way. The Lord’s peace obviously rested on this house as Jesus was welcomed in by Martha. Now, you know how things can go when you have guests, expected or unexpected. The visit may have been expected but the time of Christ’s arrival may not have been, and even if it was, I have yet to see a hostess who didn’t still fret over the preparation, making sure that all things were in order.
Martha was determined to see that the needs of Jesus and those with Him were met, I’m sure, with exceeding abundance and that Jesus was distinguished as a beloved guest in her house. Mary on the other hand knew who was now visiting in her home and she was not to be taken away from her Lord - no matter what earthly things needed to be done.
Paul Kretzmann speaks of it in this way:
We have here two forms of service, each done to the Lord, each with the best of intentions, the one with the work of the hands, the other in listening to the words of eternal wisdom. They need not clash, but have their worth.
At some point and as I’m sure you can relate - Martha gets frustrated with her sister. Martha is doing all the work by herself so that Jesus can be properly served in her home and she has lost all patience with Mary – who, I’m sure, remains oblivious to Martha’s dilemma.
She finally has had enough of it and in a tone that speaks of her frustration says:
“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”
Christ is the Good Portion!
We’ll I know my wife has been there and maybe you can relate. Guests coming over for something and daughter’s reading a book, son in his room and dare I say dad sitting in his chair … reading … eh homework … yeah that’s it homework … and Seminary homework if it makes my less than enthusiastic joy of cleaning up for family, friends … whatever … a bit more understandable and bearable.
“Would somebody please clean the upstairs bathroom!” might be a common command. “Russ, will you take out the garbage … and when you’re done with that please set the table?” Martha, I mean Monica, might be heard calling. I think to myself … “But, I’m reading Godly stuff here … and attending to my holy seminary duties … in a comfortable … reclined … position.” But being that I am the garbage man of my house I get up and do what I’m told.
Monica’s focus is on our guests, whom ever that may be, and that they get served in the best way possible. Me and the kids, a bit less joyful in service, even though we too want our guests served in the best possible way … we just don’t want to DO the work.
Now, I’m sure that if Jesus was coming to your house, you would all want to sit at His feet and listen to the wisdom that he has to say just like Mary … right?
Me responses might be:
“Well, the ball game is at 1:00 pm, I sure hope his visit doesn’t go too long and get in the way of that.”
“I’ll be at my friends … tell Jesus hi for me and I’ll catch Him next time he comes.”
“You know … I don’t really like him … He’s your friend … why does he have to come over anyway?”
These can be examples of how we all regard God and His word at times. It can be inconvenient to find time for God as there is always something else in life to do. But, the word of God that we have in our Scriptures today, is the same word of God that sat talking to Mary – the word made flesh - and the same comfort Mary received from Jesus, so that she forgot the cares Martha wrestled with, is the same comfort you too can receive by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Martha and Mary were both focused on Jesus but in different ways and the Good News that we learned from last week’s lesson reminded us that as followers of Christ God uses you as his in the world.
But you can’t lose sight of Jesus. You need to know him to be able to reflect him to a dying world. And while the cares of the world can consume you and me at times you must always remember that:
Christ is the Good Portion and the food for our spiritual life!
This past week we saw Martha and Mary in action. VBS was a joy for all and especially for me to serve at and to be able to see all the preparations that needed to be done to be ready for the kids and all those who came to reflect Christ to these children that were ministered to. Some were the Martha’s that made ready the space, food, games, set up the church and prepared the lessons. Mary’s only focus was Jesus and the message of hope and peace to those precious little ones given into their care. Together the setting and message of hope came together like the yarn of a beautiful afghan that these children can be wrapped in today, tomorrow and always because God’s word is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. (Heb. 4:12)
Ill.
It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, "What will you give me if I release you?" "The half of my wealth," was his reply. "And if I release your children?" "Everything I possess."He said."And if I release your wife?" "Your Majesty, I will give myself." Cyrus was so moved by his devotion that he freed them all. As they returned home, the prince said to his wife, "Wasn't Cyrus a handsome man!" With a look of deep love for her husband, she said to him, "I didn't notice. I could only keep my eyes on you - the one who was willing to give himself for me."
Unknown.
As you think of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ remember He was the one who was willing to give His life for you. Not, that Martha’s preparations for Jesus’ visit were not good, but Mary couldn't see what needed to be done because her eyes were only fixed on her Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Christ Jesus is the Good Portion!
Jesus Christ, the word made flesh, came down from heaven for you so that, 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2Cor. 5:21) The portion that you receive by faith is God’s righteousness and this is by the power of the Holy Spirit. And the portion that He takes upon himself is your sin which separates you from him. What God takes from you and gives to you is the eternal life in him that we who are in Christ share.
Christ is the Good Portion!
Like our opening illustration, don’t let this life consume you so that, Christ the good portion, is ignored while you go about all that needs to be done. Remember that it is He who has come to live, suffer and die for you so that in Him you might have life and have it to the full. Christ is the good portion and He has come for you so that you might live in Him.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Text Luke 10:38-42
40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Chuck Swindoll tells the story of a first grader that became curious because her father brought home a briefcase full of papers every evening. Her mother explained, "Daddy has so much to do that he can't finish it all at the office. That's why he has to bring work home at night."
"Well then," asked the child innocently, "why don't they put him in a slower group?"
C. Swindoll, Growing Strong, p. 213.
As we today think about all that we do, the things that need to be done and the little time that we have, let us remember that :
Christ is the Good Portion!
Now, in our lesson for today, the wonderful Martha and Mary story that we’ve all heard many times before, it seems that Martha gets a bad rap at times. Poor Martha, doing the work and all that she could to take care of the Lord’s needs, having welcomed him ( and those who were traveling with him) into her house while her sister Mary only sits at the Lord’s feet and listens to His teaching.
Jesus and his disciples had been traveling as the sending of the 72 prepared the way. The Lord’s peace obviously rested on this house as Jesus was welcomed in by Martha. Now, you know how things can go when you have guests, expected or unexpected. The visit may have been expected but the time of Christ’s arrival may not have been, and even if it was, I have yet to see a hostess who didn’t still fret over the preparation, making sure that all things were in order.
Martha was determined to see that the needs of Jesus and those with Him were met, I’m sure, with exceeding abundance and that Jesus was distinguished as a beloved guest in her house. Mary on the other hand knew who was now visiting in her home and she was not to be taken away from her Lord - no matter what earthly things needed to be done.
Paul Kretzmann speaks of it in this way:
We have here two forms of service, each done to the Lord, each with the best of intentions, the one with the work of the hands, the other in listening to the words of eternal wisdom. They need not clash, but have their worth.
At some point and as I’m sure you can relate - Martha gets frustrated with her sister. Martha is doing all the work by herself so that Jesus can be properly served in her home and she has lost all patience with Mary – who, I’m sure, remains oblivious to Martha’s dilemma.
She finally has had enough of it and in a tone that speaks of her frustration says:
“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”
Christ is the Good Portion!
We’ll I know my wife has been there and maybe you can relate. Guests coming over for something and daughter’s reading a book, son in his room and dare I say dad sitting in his chair … reading … eh homework … yeah that’s it homework … and Seminary homework if it makes my less than enthusiastic joy of cleaning up for family, friends … whatever … a bit more understandable and bearable.
“Would somebody please clean the upstairs bathroom!” might be a common command. “Russ, will you take out the garbage … and when you’re done with that please set the table?” Martha, I mean Monica, might be heard calling. I think to myself … “But, I’m reading Godly stuff here … and attending to my holy seminary duties … in a comfortable … reclined … position.” But being that I am the garbage man of my house I get up and do what I’m told.
Monica’s focus is on our guests, whom ever that may be, and that they get served in the best way possible. Me and the kids, a bit less joyful in service, even though we too want our guests served in the best possible way … we just don’t want to DO the work.
Now, I’m sure that if Jesus was coming to your house, you would all want to sit at His feet and listen to the wisdom that he has to say just like Mary … right?
Me responses might be:
“Well, the ball game is at 1:00 pm, I sure hope his visit doesn’t go too long and get in the way of that.”
“I’ll be at my friends … tell Jesus hi for me and I’ll catch Him next time he comes.”
“You know … I don’t really like him … He’s your friend … why does he have to come over anyway?”
These can be examples of how we all regard God and His word at times. It can be inconvenient to find time for God as there is always something else in life to do. But, the word of God that we have in our Scriptures today, is the same word of God that sat talking to Mary – the word made flesh - and the same comfort Mary received from Jesus, so that she forgot the cares Martha wrestled with, is the same comfort you too can receive by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Martha and Mary were both focused on Jesus but in different ways and the Good News that we learned from last week’s lesson reminded us that as followers of Christ God uses you as his in the world.
But you can’t lose sight of Jesus. You need to know him to be able to reflect him to a dying world. And while the cares of the world can consume you and me at times you must always remember that:
Christ is the Good Portion and the food for our spiritual life!
This past week we saw Martha and Mary in action. VBS was a joy for all and especially for me to serve at and to be able to see all the preparations that needed to be done to be ready for the kids and all those who came to reflect Christ to these children that were ministered to. Some were the Martha’s that made ready the space, food, games, set up the church and prepared the lessons. Mary’s only focus was Jesus and the message of hope and peace to those precious little ones given into their care. Together the setting and message of hope came together like the yarn of a beautiful afghan that these children can be wrapped in today, tomorrow and always because God’s word is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. (Heb. 4:12)
Ill.
It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, "What will you give me if I release you?" "The half of my wealth," was his reply. "And if I release your children?" "Everything I possess."He said."And if I release your wife?" "Your Majesty, I will give myself." Cyrus was so moved by his devotion that he freed them all. As they returned home, the prince said to his wife, "Wasn't Cyrus a handsome man!" With a look of deep love for her husband, she said to him, "I didn't notice. I could only keep my eyes on you - the one who was willing to give himself for me."
Unknown.
As you think of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ remember He was the one who was willing to give His life for you. Not, that Martha’s preparations for Jesus’ visit were not good, but Mary couldn't see what needed to be done because her eyes were only fixed on her Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Christ Jesus is the Good Portion!
Jesus Christ, the word made flesh, came down from heaven for you so that, 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2Cor. 5:21) The portion that you receive by faith is God’s righteousness and this is by the power of the Holy Spirit. And the portion that He takes upon himself is your sin which separates you from him. What God takes from you and gives to you is the eternal life in him that we who are in Christ share.
Christ is the Good Portion!
Like our opening illustration, don’t let this life consume you so that, Christ the good portion, is ignored while you go about all that needs to be done. Remember that it is He who has come to live, suffer and die for you so that in Him you might have life and have it to the full. Christ is the good portion and He has come for you so that you might live in Him.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Sermon July 13-14, 2013
Title: You are Christ’s hands in the world!
Text: Luke 10:25-28
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
There is a cute story of a father and a daughter.
Laurie, when she was about three one night, requested Dad’s aid in getting undressed. Dad was downstairs and she was upstairs, and ... well. "You know how to undress yourself," Dad reminded her. "Yes," Laurie explained, 'but sometimes people need people anyway, even if they do know how to do things by themselves."
William C. Schultz, Bits & Pieces, December 1990.
The wisdom of a child is at times quite telling.
In our text for today we read of a lawyer who stood up to put Jesus to the test. Now, this is not to be a sermon which lifts up or puts down the noble profession of attorneys. But it is the word of the Lord and we can all learn an important lesson.
The question that is asked - “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” - is a bit odd. How do you inherit anything? It might have been more direct if he had asked, “What must I do to earn eternal life?” because that is the question so many what to know.
In my business background we we’re always taught to answer a question with a question so that you could better get to the real objection. So Jesus, being the best at fleshing out the true meaning to the question that is asked of Him replies with a question.
26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”
Having the ball back in his court the lawyer recites the word giving a summary of the Moral Law correctly, according to Deut. 6: 5; Lev. 19: 18.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
And I might add that he probably said it with a bit of boastful pride too!
Well, finally getting to the real objection, Jesus turns the prideful attorney’s answer back on himself when He says:
“You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
The truth is, as Jesus quite rightly points out, no one, not even one who rightly knows the scripture can keep the Law of God perfectly. To know the Law and to keep the Law is two very different things. And, this command to love your neighbor as yourself really pushes us well beyond what we can do. Shoot, for many of us we can’t even love ourselves so how are we going to love others?
But, despite falling short God uses you and me, His children, and:
You are Christ’s hands in the world!
You too, as we all do, tend to put Christ to the test. It’s the same word of God today as it was for the Lawyer and the same requirements that God demands and at times many believe they actually love God and their neighbor enough.
645 baptized and 453 confirmed members here at Peace but we worship less than 100 on a weekend. Now granted some have moved away and some attend elsewhere and have not yet asked to be removed from the roles. But, many just don’t come, maybe thinking that they’ve loved God enough and like the lawyer ask: “And who is my neighbor?”
God works through means and for better or worse that’s you and me. We are God’s hands in the world, bringing the love of Christ to a dying world and also to real people. As we learned last week with the sending of the 72 they went proclaiming peace and healing with the good news that the Kingdom of God was at hand.
Sometimes your neighbor needs a helping hand, when the ways of the world bring grief. At times it is a prayer of comfort to let them know that you understand and will stand with them. At times it might require a word of rebuke when they are going the wrong way in this life and as the church it might require a word of warning from us that to be away from God’s word and sacrament and the gift of worship and fellowship that He calls to participate in may lead to no communion and fellowship with him at all.
400 plus members of Peace need a call from their neighbor. If you care about a member that you know that doesn’t attend give them a loving call. If they have needs look for ways to help. Remind them that God will never leave them of forsake them even if they’ve forsaken the assembly here at Peace and have self-excluded themselves from the church and the gifts God so longs to give them.
You are and need to be Christ’s hands in the world!
Ill.
There is a telling story about:
Jack had been president of a large corporation, and when he got cancer, the corporation ruthlessly dumped him. He went through his insurance, used his life savings, and had practically nothing left. A pastor visited him with one of his elders, who said, "Jack, you speak so openly about the brief life you have left. I wonder if you're prepared for your life after death?"
Jack stood up, livid with rage. "You self-righteous Christians. All you ever think about is what's going to happen to me after I die. If your God is so great, why doesn't He do something about the real problems of life?" Jack went on to tell them that he was so despondent at leaving his wife penniless and his daughter without money for college. He then ordered them out of the room. Later, the elder insisted they go back and so they did. "Jack, I know I offended you," the elder said. "I humbly apologize. But I want you to know I've been working since then.
Your first problem is where your family will live after you die. A realtor in our church has agreed to sell your house and give your wife his commission. "I guarantee you that, if you'll permit us, some other men and I will make the house payments until it's sold.”Then, I've contacted the owner of an apartment house down the street. He's offered your wife a three-bedroom apartment plus free utilities and an $850-a-month salary in return for her collecting rents and supervising plumbing and electrical repairs. The income from your house should pay for your daughter's college. I just want you to know your family will be cared for."
Jack cried. He died shortly thereafter, so wrapped in pain and the death that this life is promised to bring. But he experienced God's love from a neighbor even while rejecting Him and it is hopeful that he repented and by the Spirit turned to Christ. His widow, touched by the caring love of others, and the gospel message of hope did turn to Christ, serving others as she had been served.
Death and the Caring Community by Larry Richards and Paul Johnson
God uses his broken vessels to be Christ’s hands in the world!
Christ uses you too. By God’s Spirit in you, He brings the message of hope to those who need to hear. At times it might just be a caring hand at a time of need because Jesus cares for all His children.
You care because Christ cares. He is the true help we all need in this sin covered world because Christ took the punishment of sin upon Himself you receive the cleansing bath in baptism marking you as a redeemed child of God. Though you still sin in this life Christ can use you and your hands for His work. By caring for other they see the caring love of God through you and as God’s word is proclaimed by the Spirit they believe in Him and are his child too.
You are Christ’s hands in the world!
God’s peace and healing comfort to you in the blessed name of Jesus!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Text: Luke 10:25-28
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
There is a cute story of a father and a daughter.
Laurie, when she was about three one night, requested Dad’s aid in getting undressed. Dad was downstairs and she was upstairs, and ... well. "You know how to undress yourself," Dad reminded her. "Yes," Laurie explained, 'but sometimes people need people anyway, even if they do know how to do things by themselves."
William C. Schultz, Bits & Pieces, December 1990.
The wisdom of a child is at times quite telling.
In our text for today we read of a lawyer who stood up to put Jesus to the test. Now, this is not to be a sermon which lifts up or puts down the noble profession of attorneys. But it is the word of the Lord and we can all learn an important lesson.
The question that is asked - “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” - is a bit odd. How do you inherit anything? It might have been more direct if he had asked, “What must I do to earn eternal life?” because that is the question so many what to know.
In my business background we we’re always taught to answer a question with a question so that you could better get to the real objection. So Jesus, being the best at fleshing out the true meaning to the question that is asked of Him replies with a question.
26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”
Having the ball back in his court the lawyer recites the word giving a summary of the Moral Law correctly, according to Deut. 6: 5; Lev. 19: 18.
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
And I might add that he probably said it with a bit of boastful pride too!
Well, finally getting to the real objection, Jesus turns the prideful attorney’s answer back on himself when He says:
“You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
The truth is, as Jesus quite rightly points out, no one, not even one who rightly knows the scripture can keep the Law of God perfectly. To know the Law and to keep the Law is two very different things. And, this command to love your neighbor as yourself really pushes us well beyond what we can do. Shoot, for many of us we can’t even love ourselves so how are we going to love others?
But, despite falling short God uses you and me, His children, and:
You are Christ’s hands in the world!
You too, as we all do, tend to put Christ to the test. It’s the same word of God today as it was for the Lawyer and the same requirements that God demands and at times many believe they actually love God and their neighbor enough.
645 baptized and 453 confirmed members here at Peace but we worship less than 100 on a weekend. Now granted some have moved away and some attend elsewhere and have not yet asked to be removed from the roles. But, many just don’t come, maybe thinking that they’ve loved God enough and like the lawyer ask: “And who is my neighbor?”
God works through means and for better or worse that’s you and me. We are God’s hands in the world, bringing the love of Christ to a dying world and also to real people. As we learned last week with the sending of the 72 they went proclaiming peace and healing with the good news that the Kingdom of God was at hand.
Sometimes your neighbor needs a helping hand, when the ways of the world bring grief. At times it is a prayer of comfort to let them know that you understand and will stand with them. At times it might require a word of rebuke when they are going the wrong way in this life and as the church it might require a word of warning from us that to be away from God’s word and sacrament and the gift of worship and fellowship that He calls to participate in may lead to no communion and fellowship with him at all.
400 plus members of Peace need a call from their neighbor. If you care about a member that you know that doesn’t attend give them a loving call. If they have needs look for ways to help. Remind them that God will never leave them of forsake them even if they’ve forsaken the assembly here at Peace and have self-excluded themselves from the church and the gifts God so longs to give them.
You are and need to be Christ’s hands in the world!
Ill.
There is a telling story about:
Jack had been president of a large corporation, and when he got cancer, the corporation ruthlessly dumped him. He went through his insurance, used his life savings, and had practically nothing left. A pastor visited him with one of his elders, who said, "Jack, you speak so openly about the brief life you have left. I wonder if you're prepared for your life after death?"
Jack stood up, livid with rage. "You self-righteous Christians. All you ever think about is what's going to happen to me after I die. If your God is so great, why doesn't He do something about the real problems of life?" Jack went on to tell them that he was so despondent at leaving his wife penniless and his daughter without money for college. He then ordered them out of the room. Later, the elder insisted they go back and so they did. "Jack, I know I offended you," the elder said. "I humbly apologize. But I want you to know I've been working since then.
Your first problem is where your family will live after you die. A realtor in our church has agreed to sell your house and give your wife his commission. "I guarantee you that, if you'll permit us, some other men and I will make the house payments until it's sold.”Then, I've contacted the owner of an apartment house down the street. He's offered your wife a three-bedroom apartment plus free utilities and an $850-a-month salary in return for her collecting rents and supervising plumbing and electrical repairs. The income from your house should pay for your daughter's college. I just want you to know your family will be cared for."
Jack cried. He died shortly thereafter, so wrapped in pain and the death that this life is promised to bring. But he experienced God's love from a neighbor even while rejecting Him and it is hopeful that he repented and by the Spirit turned to Christ. His widow, touched by the caring love of others, and the gospel message of hope did turn to Christ, serving others as she had been served.
Death and the Caring Community by Larry Richards and Paul Johnson
God uses his broken vessels to be Christ’s hands in the world!
Christ uses you too. By God’s Spirit in you, He brings the message of hope to those who need to hear. At times it might just be a caring hand at a time of need because Jesus cares for all His children.
You care because Christ cares. He is the true help we all need in this sin covered world because Christ took the punishment of sin upon Himself you receive the cleansing bath in baptism marking you as a redeemed child of God. Though you still sin in this life Christ can use you and your hands for His work. By caring for other they see the caring love of God through you and as God’s word is proclaimed by the Spirit they believe in Him and are his child too.
You are Christ’s hands in the world!
God’s peace and healing comfort to you in the blessed name of Jesus!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Sermon July 6-7, 2013
Title: Christ rejoices in the harvest!
Text: Luke 10:2-5; 16, 20
2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’
16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
There is a story of Jean Frederick Oberlin, a minister who served in 18th century Germany and France. You might recognize the name - as Oberlin College was named after him.
One winter, he was traveling by foot when he was caught in a severe snowstorm. He soon lost his way in the blowing snow and feared he would freeze to death. Despairing at his situation, he sat down not knowing which way to turn. Just then, a man came along in a wagon and rescued Oberlin. He took him to the next village and made sure he would be cared for. As the man prepared to journey on, Oberlin said, "Tell me your name so that I may at least have you in grateful remembrance before God." The man, who by now had recognized Oberlin, replied, "You are a minister. Please tell me the name of the Good Samaritan." Oberlin said, "I cannot do that, for it is not given in the Scriptures." The man responded, "Until you can tell me his name, please permit me to withhold mine."
Source Unknown.
Anonymity - which is the quality or state of being unknown or unacknowledged - is for many the way God uses those He calls to serve His greater purpose.
In the Gospel lesson today our Lord appoints a large number … 72 as our text reads to go in pairs, telling them:
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
As we learned last week in the Gospel lesson, Jesus was resolute as He set His face towards Jerusalem. His time on earth was moving towards the cross and his atoning and vicarious death for you. This sending of workers into the mission field would be no easy task as Jesus Himself says when He says, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. This calling and sending, for those 72, would bring the same anger and rebuke that was leveled at Jesus. Many who serve the proclamation of the Gospel today see and feel this as well.
The provisions for these who are sent fall to those who welcome them into their homes and this is where the Lord’s peace rests and remains. And this also should be the earnest prayer of all Christians, that the Father of all grace and mercy would send forth laborers into His harvest field, making many young men willing to heed His call into ministry … and those who are served by these men would willingly take upon themselves the joy and privilege of supplying their needs while attending to these duties.
Kretzmann Commentary NT Vol. 1 Pg321
16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
These messengers were sent to bring peace and healing to a dying world. They were sent with the good news that the Kingdom of God was at hand. The Kingdom of God was embodied in the incarnate God/man Jesus Christ and some would reject this good news … sending the dust of their town off the sandals of those sent in condemnation for their rejection. Though at times the comfort and peace of Christ is rejected … service to the Lord remains joyful and:
Christ rejoices in the harvest!
Peace and healing. Two wonderful and good things; but in our day to day not always appreciated or received. At times when we have peace we push others to the brink of anger, instead of taming our own tongue and keeping things peaceable. At times we break friendships and even sever families requiring God through repentance, to bring forgiveness and healing to those in need.
Christ’s rebuke though, to those who rejected His messengers in Chorizin and Bethsaida which were two towns, almost side by side, on the shores of Lake Gennesaret, though great miracles had been done in their midst, the words of eternal life and love out of the mouth of Jesus had made no impression upon them.
Even Capernaum, the Lord’s headquarters during His Galilean ministry, would receive the full measure of His wrath on the last day and be forcefully thrust down to hell.
Pretty sobering … and a word of warning here for us all …
Though Christ has called us to faith by word and sacrament and has been in our midst for years, decades, and even generations, in both the written and spoken Word of the Gospel; how often, is He (Jesus) neglected and overlooked in the homes of his children! No Scripture, or family devotion; and no regular church attendance for some; -- how might Christ’s rebuke to these cities reach into your home and mine as the dust of His judgment is kicked off His feet and settles at the feet of those who have turned from His loving call?
Kretzmann Commentary NT Vol. 1 Pg322
If you reject His love you receive his wrath. But even in the Lord’s rebuke there is hope.
Tyre and Sidon, heathen cities whom the Jews despised for their idolatrous practices and beliefs, Jesus said, would long since have repented, covered with sack-cloth, and ashes.
Though you fall and maybe even many times hope is in God’s work in you.
Ill.
Spending time in the hospital with some and in home visits with others recently, the truth of God’s abiding peace and comfort becomes evident. Families at these difficult times are brought back to the reality of life and death issues. Even in dire situations the Lord works on the hearts of those He loves.
As I visited with a family at the hospital I was asked how I went from working in the piano business to being the pastor here at Peace. I related the story of my mom’s dying from cancer in 1988 at 57 years of age and how the Lord used this time in my life to call me back into relationship with Him. I told the story of not knowing what to pray for and calling out in my grief, finding comfort in the Lord’s Prayer. I told the story of the Lord leading me through a strange path and a few churches to this place that I am at and serve. I was able to sing the good news that has been given me in Christ, to a family and house that is hurting as death nears and the peace of our Lord and savior Jesus is resting upon them and His healing touch is there to comfort and bind up the broken hearted.
Friends, the good news is really good news as the 72 returned rejoicing!
“Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
But Jesus though he reminds them of the great power that they have in His name also cautions them …
20 … do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Christ rejoices in the harvest!
Martin Luther had this to say in his Lectures on Galatians:
Christ says, (Luke 10:20): “Rejoice that your names are written in Heaven.” When this is a joy of the Spirit and not of the flesh, the heart rejoices inwardly through faith in Christ; because it knows for a certainty that He is our savior and High Priest and outwardly we demonstrate this joy in our words and actions. The faithful rejoice also when the Gospel is proclaimed, and when many come to faith and thus the kingdom is increased.
Luther’s works Vol. 27 Pg.93-94
Christ’s joy is to bring peace to your house in Him. In Christ you receive the comfort of eternal life because His promise is to never leave you nor forsake you. (Heb 13:5)
Christ’s call is to:
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, as you 7 cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. And we are told to 8 be watchful, because the devil, your adversary, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Though he prowls, in Christ you have eternal security and Lord’s promise that your name is written in heaven.
In Christ you can rejoice that you are part of the His harvest!
While it is not important to know the names of those the Lord uses to bring His Gospel message to the lost. It is important to know that He knows you, and that your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.
God’s peace and healing comfort to you in the blessed name of Jesus!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Text: Luke 10:2-5; 16, 20
2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’
16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
There is a story of Jean Frederick Oberlin, a minister who served in 18th century Germany and France. You might recognize the name - as Oberlin College was named after him.
One winter, he was traveling by foot when he was caught in a severe snowstorm. He soon lost his way in the blowing snow and feared he would freeze to death. Despairing at his situation, he sat down not knowing which way to turn. Just then, a man came along in a wagon and rescued Oberlin. He took him to the next village and made sure he would be cared for. As the man prepared to journey on, Oberlin said, "Tell me your name so that I may at least have you in grateful remembrance before God." The man, who by now had recognized Oberlin, replied, "You are a minister. Please tell me the name of the Good Samaritan." Oberlin said, "I cannot do that, for it is not given in the Scriptures." The man responded, "Until you can tell me his name, please permit me to withhold mine."
Source Unknown.
Anonymity - which is the quality or state of being unknown or unacknowledged - is for many the way God uses those He calls to serve His greater purpose.
In the Gospel lesson today our Lord appoints a large number … 72 as our text reads to go in pairs, telling them:
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
As we learned last week in the Gospel lesson, Jesus was resolute as He set His face towards Jerusalem. His time on earth was moving towards the cross and his atoning and vicarious death for you. This sending of workers into the mission field would be no easy task as Jesus Himself says when He says, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. This calling and sending, for those 72, would bring the same anger and rebuke that was leveled at Jesus. Many who serve the proclamation of the Gospel today see and feel this as well.
The provisions for these who are sent fall to those who welcome them into their homes and this is where the Lord’s peace rests and remains. And this also should be the earnest prayer of all Christians, that the Father of all grace and mercy would send forth laborers into His harvest field, making many young men willing to heed His call into ministry … and those who are served by these men would willingly take upon themselves the joy and privilege of supplying their needs while attending to these duties.
Kretzmann Commentary NT Vol. 1 Pg321
16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
These messengers were sent to bring peace and healing to a dying world. They were sent with the good news that the Kingdom of God was at hand. The Kingdom of God was embodied in the incarnate God/man Jesus Christ and some would reject this good news … sending the dust of their town off the sandals of those sent in condemnation for their rejection. Though at times the comfort and peace of Christ is rejected … service to the Lord remains joyful and:
Christ rejoices in the harvest!
Peace and healing. Two wonderful and good things; but in our day to day not always appreciated or received. At times when we have peace we push others to the brink of anger, instead of taming our own tongue and keeping things peaceable. At times we break friendships and even sever families requiring God through repentance, to bring forgiveness and healing to those in need.
Christ’s rebuke though, to those who rejected His messengers in Chorizin and Bethsaida which were two towns, almost side by side, on the shores of Lake Gennesaret, though great miracles had been done in their midst, the words of eternal life and love out of the mouth of Jesus had made no impression upon them.
Even Capernaum, the Lord’s headquarters during His Galilean ministry, would receive the full measure of His wrath on the last day and be forcefully thrust down to hell.
Pretty sobering … and a word of warning here for us all …
Though Christ has called us to faith by word and sacrament and has been in our midst for years, decades, and even generations, in both the written and spoken Word of the Gospel; how often, is He (Jesus) neglected and overlooked in the homes of his children! No Scripture, or family devotion; and no regular church attendance for some; -- how might Christ’s rebuke to these cities reach into your home and mine as the dust of His judgment is kicked off His feet and settles at the feet of those who have turned from His loving call?
Kretzmann Commentary NT Vol. 1 Pg322
If you reject His love you receive his wrath. But even in the Lord’s rebuke there is hope.
Tyre and Sidon, heathen cities whom the Jews despised for their idolatrous practices and beliefs, Jesus said, would long since have repented, covered with sack-cloth, and ashes.
Though you fall and maybe even many times hope is in God’s work in you.
Ill.
Spending time in the hospital with some and in home visits with others recently, the truth of God’s abiding peace and comfort becomes evident. Families at these difficult times are brought back to the reality of life and death issues. Even in dire situations the Lord works on the hearts of those He loves.
As I visited with a family at the hospital I was asked how I went from working in the piano business to being the pastor here at Peace. I related the story of my mom’s dying from cancer in 1988 at 57 years of age and how the Lord used this time in my life to call me back into relationship with Him. I told the story of not knowing what to pray for and calling out in my grief, finding comfort in the Lord’s Prayer. I told the story of the Lord leading me through a strange path and a few churches to this place that I am at and serve. I was able to sing the good news that has been given me in Christ, to a family and house that is hurting as death nears and the peace of our Lord and savior Jesus is resting upon them and His healing touch is there to comfort and bind up the broken hearted.
Friends, the good news is really good news as the 72 returned rejoicing!
“Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
But Jesus though he reminds them of the great power that they have in His name also cautions them …
20 … do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Christ rejoices in the harvest!
Martin Luther had this to say in his Lectures on Galatians:
Christ says, (Luke 10:20): “Rejoice that your names are written in Heaven.” When this is a joy of the Spirit and not of the flesh, the heart rejoices inwardly through faith in Christ; because it knows for a certainty that He is our savior and High Priest and outwardly we demonstrate this joy in our words and actions. The faithful rejoice also when the Gospel is proclaimed, and when many come to faith and thus the kingdom is increased.
Luther’s works Vol. 27 Pg.93-94
Christ’s joy is to bring peace to your house in Him. In Christ you receive the comfort of eternal life because His promise is to never leave you nor forsake you. (Heb 13:5)
Christ’s call is to:
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, as you 7 cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. And we are told to 8 be watchful, because the devil, your adversary, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Though he prowls, in Christ you have eternal security and Lord’s promise that your name is written in heaven.
In Christ you can rejoice that you are part of the His harvest!
While it is not important to know the names of those the Lord uses to bring His Gospel message to the lost. It is important to know that He knows you, and that your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.
God’s peace and healing comfort to you in the blessed name of Jesus!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
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