Pastor Ralph Guetersloh
The Day of Pentecost
May 11, 2008
Seventh Sunday of Easter
May 4, 2008
WHEN GOD PRAYS FOR YOU
John 17:9
How many times have you said: "I ought to pray more." I know that I say that. A Christian writer, Richard Cook said, "MOST OF US HAVE BIG TROUBLE PRAYING WHEN WE ARE IN LITTLE TROUBLE, BUT WE HAVE LITTLE TROUBLE PRAYING WHEN WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE."
We pray for our sick for healing and strength for our families here in church. We pray for our congregation that God would give us the direction to go in Hispanic mission work. We pray for our nation and our world for peace. But do you realize that Jesus prays for us. "Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one." In the following verses, Jesus goes on, "I do not pray for these only, but also for those who come to believe in me through their message, that they may all be one." That is, Jesus is praying also for you and me. When we hear this chapter of John it's like overhearing a great pastoral prayer. We could imagine Jesus ending each section with the words, "Lord, in you mercy" and the we in the church responding, "hear our prayer." When Jesus prays for us, The Father in Heaven listens very closely, since the Father always answers the prayers of His Son. John 11.42 says: FATHER, I THANK YOU THAT YOU HAVE HEARD ME. I KNEW THAT YOU ALWAYS HEAR ME.
In our Gospel lesson, Jesus prays for His disciples, He is praying for us. Jesus prays for the safety of His disciples through the strength of God's Name. He prays for the Father to give them His Word; and He prays that His Father would protect them from the Evil One..
I. JESUS PRAYS FOR THE SAFETY OF HIS DISCIPLES: "HOLY FATHER PROTECT THEM BY THE POWER OF YOUR NAME. THE NAME THAT YOU GAVE ME."
What a prayer! To be protected and kept by the power and strength of the name of God. Remember what the Bible tells us about the power of the Name of God. The power and strength of the name of God was able to create the entire universe. The power of the name of God is able to bring back to life those who have died. When We are baptized in the name of God our Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, in the name of the Holy Spirit. We, who were spiritually dead in our sins, have been brought back to life. By the power of the name of God, we are adopted into the family of God and God calls us His children. The name of Jesus signifies that He is our Savior. Salvation is ours when we believe in the name of Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus, Christians claim innumerable blessings. And in the name of Jesus, all Christians are united to one other. It is the power of God's name that bonds us to one another. It is the power of God's name among us that moves people to love and care for others when they need help. Think of the power in the Lord's Prayer, when we pray: OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN. HALLOWED BE THY NAME.
In the North Atlantic Sea during World War II, a ship, named the DORCHESTER, was carrying American troops to Europe and was torpedoed by the Nazis. The ship began to sink. Loaded with soldiers, there wasn't enough life vests for everyone. Four chaplains were also on board: a Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi, and a Baptist and a Presbyterian chaplain. These four chaplains helped soldiers get off the sinking ship. Then they gave up their own life vests and stayed behind to die on the ship. Just before the ship sank into the icy sea, these four chaplains stood together in a circle and prayed the LORD'S PRAYER. By the power of the Name of God, these men were moved to give up their lives so that other might live. By the power of the name of God, Jesus came into our world, paid the punishment for our sin and evil and gave up His life so that He could give life and eternity to all those who believed and followed Him.
The power of God's name. Jesus prays for us: HOLY FATHER, PROTECT THEM BY THE POWER OF YOUR NAME, THE NAME YOU GAVE ME, SO THAT THEY MAY BE ONE AS WE ARE ONE."
II. JESUS PRAYED: v. 14: I HAVE GIVEN THEM YOUR WORD AND THE WORLD HAS HATED THEM, FOR THEY ARE NOT OF THE WORLD ANY MORE THAN I AM OF THE WORLD."
The Word of God is the gift that God has given to us, the precious gift from heaven! Just like water and food is needed daily to keep our bodies strong, so does the Word of God feed our souls. But How does the Word of God help us to live daily?
THE WORD OF GOD GIVES US JOY. And THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH. To begin, v. 13: "That THEY MAY HAVE THE FULL MEASURE OF MY JOY. Joy is at the heart of His prayer for us. His joy comes to us through the Word of God. Like Jesus, we don't depend on our joy to come from the outward circumstances of the world around but on the inward spiritual resource of God's mighty and powerful Word. And the joy of the Lord is our strength.
The Word of God not only gives us the Joy of the Lord. The Word of God gives hope and comfort. It also assures us of God's love, His Forgiveness. The Word of God says: God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." Jesus prays for us that The Heavenly Father would give us all of the blessings and joy and life of His Word.
III. FINALLY, v. 15: Jesus prays to the Father; MY PRAYER IS NOT THAT YOU TAKE THEM OUT OF THE WORLD BUT THAT YOU PROTECT THEM FROM THE EVIL ONE." There is a constant spiritual battle going on around us. Our enemies is with sin, Satan and the fallen world around us. Jesus prays for God to protect us. Without the power of God in our lives, we will always loose that battle with Satan. Satan's greatest strategy is to tempt us to neglect the Word of God, to neglect time spent in devotions, in study, in prayer and in worship. PSALM 119:105: "YOUR WORD IS A LAMP TO MY FEET AND A LIGHT FOR MY PATH." Ephesians 6:10 "FINALLY, BE STRONG IN THE LORD AND IN HIS MIGHTY POWER. PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE YOUR STAND AGAINST THE DEVILS SCHEMES." REMEMBER: Jesus prays for us. We continue to pray to our Heavenly Father for each other. But imagine, you and I have a God who prays for us. What power. What joy. What truth and guidance and protections is offered to us through the Word of God. Jesus prays: "SANCTIFY THEM BY THE TRUTH; YOUR WORD IS TRUTH."
Sixth Sunday of Easter
April 27, 2008
I Peter 3:15
The words of our reading from I Peter 3:15 strikes with a sound of a hammer hitting the side of a huge bell. We live in a world where major segment of people don't know Jesus Christ, except as a swear word. Are you prepared to give an answer to who is Jesus and why do you call yourself a Christian? In a similar world, Peter is writing to a relatively small group of Christians in the first century. The vast majority of the world around these Christians opposed and threatened them. Some were persecuted for the name of Christ and lost their lives. Most of the early Christians were tempted to deny their faith and return to old ways of living in spiritual darkness. Peter, remembering his fellow Christians who were scattered across Asia Minor gave this word of caution: "IN YOUR HEARTS, SET APART CHRIST AS LORD. ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO GIVE AN ANSWER TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS YOU TO GIVE THE REASON FOR THE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE. In other words, he ENCOURAGED his friends to be ready and equipped with adequate answers and an clear witness when they are confronted with the question: WHY ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?
This same question faces you and I in our everyday lives, and the answers we give will show the quality of our witness. Karl Marx, father of communism, criticized Christianity by calling Christianity a sleeping drug that fooled the masses, that anesthetized the poor and oppressed by promising them pie in the sky. But Karl Marx didn't know or accept Jesus Christ as his Lord. He only saw Christianity as another kind of philosophy.
You see; CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A PHILOSOPHY OR A CLUB. NOT JUST AN ALTERNATIVE LIFE-STYLE; IT IS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD WHICH OPENS TO US THE INEXHAUSTIBLE RICHES OF GOD. Peter wrote: ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO GIVE AN ANSWER TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS YOU TO GIVE THE REASON FOR THE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE. I have an interesting and challenging book in my library that raises the question: IF YOU WERE PUT ON TRIAL AND THE CHARGE WAS FOR BEING A CHRISTIAN, WOULD THERE BE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CONVICT YOU OF THIS CHARGE. If tomorrow, you were asked to defend the reason of your belief, what answer would you give? Looking at the epistle lesson today, there are a couple of responses that I would give and suggest to you.
I. FIRST, RESPOND: I AM A CHRISTIAN FOR MY OWN SAKE. "IN YOUR HEARTS, SET APART CHRIST AS LORD." In the Gospel of today, John writes the words of Jesus spoken to His disciples in the upper room, where Jesus had instituted Holy Communion. He had told His disciples that the hour was approaching when He would be taken from them. He would be returning to His Father in Heaven. They would no longer see Him or be able to touch Him. They were disheartened, frightened and sad. Jesus was going away. What would become of them? How would they survive? Remember, the Jewish leaders were also opposed to the disciples and would try to kill them.
Jesus promises the Holy Spirit. "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, to be with you forever." Jesus assures them that they would never be without His aid and comfort. He would ask the Father to send another Comforter, One who would comfort them with the same comfort as Jesus Himself had comforted them.
In Omaha today, our city is full of people who yearned for comfort. Behind walls and security gates and burglar alarms and guns, we are becoming increasingly lonely and isolated. Like the little boy this week playing soccer who was shot in the face by a stray bullet, we all have a fear of violence and crime. Could we become a victim next? People feel alone and fearful. Even in crowded urban areas like ours, people feel lonely in a crowd. Loneliness is a cause of teenage suicide. It is a driving force behind our youth joining street gangs. Loneliness leads husbands and wives to look for romance outside their marriage. Jesus says: Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. I am the Way and The Truth, and the life. I have come that you might have life, and have it abundantly. Yes, I am a Christian for My own Sake.
II. I AM A CHRISTIAN FOR THE WORLD'S SAKE. "For CHRIST DIED FOR SINS ONCE FOR ALL, THE RIGHTEOUS FOR THE UNRIGHTEOUS, TO BRING YOU TO GOD."
Admiral Richard Byrd, on his expedition to the South Pole became lost in the Antarctic at midnight. It is hard to imagine getting lost in an endless land of ice and temperatures at minus 50 degrees below zero. Later he said, I KNEW I WAS LOST AND I FELT SICK ABOUT IT ALL THE WAY DOWN INSIDE OF ME. But imagine even more the people who get lost to eternity without the knowledge and faith in Christ. And people who live without God will attempt to become their own gods. Look at an area science and technology today, the area of cloning and genetic research. We have scientists who are moving into strange areas where risks are high and the territory is unfamiliar. People are wanting to become God and make decisions that belong alone to God. People are sinful. We have a word to speak to the world that Jesus Saves. I am a Christian for the World's Sake.
III. LASTLY, I AM A CHRISTIAN FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. "GIVE AN ANSWER TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS YOU TO GIVE THE REASON FOR THE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE. BUT DO THIS WITH GENTLENESS AND RESPECT, KEEPING A CLEAR CONSCIENCE, SO THAT THOSE WHO SPEAK MALICIOUSLY AGAINST YOUR GOOD BEHAVIOR IN CHRIST MAY BE ASHAMED OF THEIR SLANDER."
Remember that Jesus, the Son of God come to earth to give up his life on the cross for our sake. He invited everyone to follow Him for His sake. When you and I say:"I AM A CHRISTIAN FOR JESUS SAKE", it means we confess Christ as the one who gave Himself for us. When Jesus had gone up into Heaven and is at God's right hand, He left behind His followers to be His witnesses throughout the world. We are here to be the hands and the voice of Jesus. We do that with gentleness and respect. And it pleases Jesus when others look at us and praise God through what they see in us.
"IN YOUR HEARTS, SET APART CHRIST AS LORD." You honor Him when you give your witness for being a Christian today. Don't ever take that privilege lightly and try to hide His light under some basket. Be prepared and bold to give an answer for the hope that you have.
Fifth Sunday of Easter
April 20, 2008
Hard Road Home
John 14:6
Jesus answered: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.
No other statement of our Lord has sparked so many arguments and prompted so much fury from people who misunderstand or close their minds in disbelief to the truth of what Jesus says. It's a HARD ROAD HOME. The greatest threat to the Gospel of Jesus Christ today is the teaching called "monism." Monism, coming from eastern religions, says that all paths lead to the same place, all worship leads to the same god, all religions lead to heaven. Only the names have been changed. Monism is the driving force behind modern American pluralism that says, "It doesn't matter what you believe so long as you believe in something."
Monism is the underlying reason that every religion, except one, is openly and freely taught in our public schools as the source of life, of wisdom and happiness, and of salvation. It's why our children can be taught Buddhism, Hinduism, native American spiritism, humanism, and whatever other ‑ism there may be in the name of cultural diversity, except the one faith which confesses a crucified and risen carpenter from Nazareth to be the Savior of the world. That is the only faith that is not tolerated in the public arena of education and government. The latest incident is out in Beatrice where the high school is being taken to court in order to prevent the choir from singing "The Lord's Prayer" as one of their songs for graduation. Reason: Because the Lord's Prayer is a Christian prayer.
Part of what is so scandalous to non Christians about the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that it is so inclusively exclusive. It is inclusive in the sense that Jesus Christ died for all people without exception. His death is the sufficient and atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. That means you can walk up to any stranger who happens to cross your path and say, "Jesus died for you and for your sins," and you would be telling the absolute, unconditional truth. It doesn't matter whether that person believes this or not. The statement remains true: "Jesus Christ died for you." You can apply the blood of Jesus Christ to the most horrible of crimes, and it would be washed white as snow in the eyes of God. That is how inclusive the Christian faith is. There is no sinner so bad, nor any sin so awful that Christ didn't hang on the cross for it.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is also exclusive in the sense that there is no other name on earth, other than the name of Jesus, in whom there is found the certainty of life and salvation. There is only one sacrifice for sin, and that sacrifice is the body of Jesus, crucified on the cross of Calvary. That rules out all other gods and all other ways of salvation. There is only one salvation, the salvation given through faith in His blood. That isn't just my opinion or your opinion because we are Christians. That is the statement of God Himself given to us from His Word.
As long as you preach a generic god, you will pose no threat, you will offend no one, you will ruffle no feathers. You can preach family and motherhood and patriotism and few people will object to that. You can proclaim virtues and denounce vices and most people will defend your right to your opinion. But when you speak JESUS CHRIST, CRUCIFIED FOR THE WHOLE WORLD, IS THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN, you will find opposition.
The apostle Paul didn't cause riots in Thessalonica by preaching family values and motherhood. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ." Paul caused riots for preaching the crucified and risen Jesus as the Christ. Had St. Paul subscribed to the monism of our age, he would never have even bothered to go into the synagogue with his message. The Jews were very religious people, after all. They believed in God sincerely and earnestly desired to please Him. If Paul had believed that all religious roads lead to the same place, he would not have made it his weekly Sabbath practice to go to the synagogues and debate from the Scriptures that this Jesus, is the Christ, the Savior.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. While the world teaches that there are many ways, many truths, many lives, Jesus teaches that there is only one. The definite article "THE" in front of the words: Way, Truth, and Life leave no room for others. Jesus is not one way among many ways. He is not one truth among various truths. He is not one life, among many lives. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus is the only bridge across the gap from death to life, the only ladder that spans earth and heaven. The only opening in the curtain that separates sinful human beings from the pure, holy, righteous God.
The Jewish temple in Jerusalem gave us a picture of that. In the temple there was a heavy curtain separating the people from God's presence in the Holy of Holies. It was the only way into God's gracious presence. To enter into the presence of God, once a year, the high priest had to part the curtain and go through it. Only the high priest was allowed.
When Jesus was crucified, that curtain was torn from top to bottom, indicating that a curtain no longer stood between earth and heaven. Now the crucified body of Jesus joins heaven and earth together so that there is now a new and living way for us sinners to come to God through Jesus. We have access to the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ. We enter eternal life with God through the Son. That's what it means for Jesus to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
When you stand firm on your belief and witness to others about Jesus, don't fear the reaction that you may encounter. You are not speaking just your own opinion and faith. In Matthew 10:32, Jesus himself says to us: "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in Heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."
Don't let your hearts be troubled. Jesus tells us: “Trust in God; trust also in me."
Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 13, 2008
I Am The Gate
John 10:9
Jacob, my 5 year old grandson has a game that he likes to play. He stands in a door way with his hands extended out so that no one can pass through. When you walk up to him, he will say. "Say the magic word?" At first, I tried all different kinds of words that I could think of. None were the magic words to get him to let me through. Finally, I had to ask Jacob, "Tell me the magic words." And he said: "PLEASE AND THANK YOU." Now I know the magic words to get through Jacob's gate. It is both easy and fun.
But imagine all of the gates that we have go through and must have the right tickets. I took my two grandkids this past Wednesday to a "Wiggles" concert at the Mid America Center. You need a ticket to get through the gate. Go to a movie, to a ball game, to the zoo, you need a ticket to get through the gate. Last week we flew out to Washington, D.C. for a conference. Getting through airport security today is a real challenge before you can get to your departure gate. No sharp objects, no liquids, and no wrong words, and a thorough electronic screening is made before you are allowed to pass through. At Dulles Airport, on the way back to Omaha, there was a man with his family who looked like he came from Saudi Arabia. The security people took a lot of time to look at his identification, they thoroughly went through his carry-on bag, and finally passed him through security. They treated him differently than they treated me, I believe, because of what he looked like.
And of course, there are places where you or I would never be allowed to enter. For example, like the underground Command center on Offutt Air Base. We don't have the right security badges. Saying all this, imagine the impossibility of getting through all of security of holiness and perfection that is demanded by God for anyone wanting to enter heaven on the basis of our own worthiness. Sadly, no one would ever be able to get in. Would never be able to get through the gate, even if we tried to say all of the magic words. But thanks be to God that we each have our own personal security clearance Savior who will get us passed through the Gate of Heaven into eternal life. The Lamb who suffered for our sins is also the Shepherd who is the gate keeper. Jesus is the Gate, He is the door through whom we can pass and find rich pasture.
Since He is the Good Shepherd and we are the sheep of His flock, through Him alone, we are led to safe pasture. In Him, even our "walk through the valley of the shadow of death" becomes a blessing. He is the good shepherd who is always walking ahead of us to clear the pathways or defend us from the enemies who would seek to lure us away from the fold and cause our spiritual destruction. Sometimes, we are not aware of how our Savior Jesus is busy watching out for our welfare.
A family of five were enjoying their day at the beach. The children were bathing in the ocean and making castles in the sand when in the distance a little old lady appeared. Her gray hair was blowing in the wind and her clothes were dirty and ragged. She was muttering something to herself as she picked up things from the beach and put them into a bag. The parents called the children to their side and told them to stay away from the old lady. As she passed by, bending down every now and then to pick things up, she smiled at the family. But her greeting wasn't returned. Many weeks later they learned that the little old lady had made it her lifelong crusade to pick up bits of glass from the beach so children wouldn't cut their feet.
A rather thankless task, wouldn't you say? Picking up bits of glass so children won't cut their feet. But the work of Jesus, that included His suffering and His death, all for our sake is often received without thanks or appreciation. We can be like sheep that depends upon the shepherd. Yet never express any thanks for the safekeeping that a good shepherd provides.
According to William Barclay, a renowned New Testament commentary writer, the life of a shepherd was very hard. The shepherd was never off duty. There being little grass, the sheep were bound to wander, and since there were no protecting walls, the sheep had constantly to be watched. The shepherd's task was not only constant but dangerous He had to guard the flock against wild animals, especially against wolves, and there were always thieves and robbers ready to steal the sheep. With little pay and lots of lonely time on his hands, being a shepherd was a thankless job, indeed.
Yet this is exactly how Christ portrayed himself‑‑as a shepherd. And that is the most familiar image we have of Christ‑‑a shepherd holding a lamb in his arms. Jesus put it this way: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
Today, the Gospel of St. John tells of our Good Shepherd who not only remembers our names. But he expresses a ready willingness to sacrifice His very life for us as well as to repeatedly forgive us for our failings and misdeeds. He is the good Shepherd who comes quickly to us in time of need, when we are afraid or we are hurting or when we are grieving.
There is a wonderful story of a little girl who was injured‑‑just one of those small "scratches"‑‑at a Vacation Bible school. After she had calmed down a little from crying, her teacher asked her if she was okay. She said, "No." The teacher was puzzled because there was no apparent serious injury. So the teacher asked her what was wrong? Looking up at the teacher, the little girl sniffed: "Mommy has to kiss it." She knew that only her mother could make everything okay.
How deep and undeniable is Jesus' love for us. Just as the little girl needed her mother's kiss on her wound, so Jesus wants us to come to Him when we hurt and are suffering. How deep is God's love for all His precious sons and daughters. He knows our names. And we are His children.
But Jesus also tells us that He doesn't know the name of every person on earth. He doesn't know the names of those who do not believe in Him, who reject him and turn away from Him. The Gospel of Luke 13 gives the account that one time, someone came up to Jesus as ask Him if all people would go to heaven. Jesus taught that many will make every effort to get through the doorways into heaven, but will not be able to get in. They will stand outside knocking, asking "Open the door for us." But Jesus will answer, "I don't know you or where you come from." But the ones whom He knows are the ones who also know him. In St. John, Jesus said; "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture."
He is the Good Shepherd. He watches over his sheep. I AM THE DOOR. As the Door, Jesus delivers sinners from bondage and leads them into freedom. They have salvation. This word "SAVED" means "Delivered safe and sound." We used to say that a person had been SAVED when a person had recovered from severe illness or come through a bad storm and survived a war or was acquitted at court.
We have a shepherd who has SAVED us. Who has delivered us SAFE AND SOUND, who cares about us. In the sight of Jesus Christ we are much more than a social security number. We are more than a picture on a driver's license. We are more than an unpaid balance on a credit card account. We are known by God and cared for by our Lord. Give Him thanks and praise and bring honor to His name.
Third Sunday of Easter
April 6, 2008
Unavailable
Second Sunday of Easter
March 30, 2008
Unavailable -- Guest Pastor James Fandrey, former Pastor at Cross, now with the Lutheran Heritage Foundation
The Resurrection of Our Lord
Easter Day
March 23, 2008
Easter – 2008
Matthew 28:1-11
INTRO: Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. A joyous and blessed Easter to all of you. And what are we really celebrating here today? We are celebrating an empty tomb. Christians all over the world are traveling in spirit to the empty tomb where Jesus had been laid. Why is that? Don't we have more interesting places to go than a grave? Or if we insist on heading to a tomb today, aren't there better ones than the borrowed tomb of Joseph of Arimathea? How about the tomb of King Tut? The gold and art from that Egyptian crypt has impressed millions of people from every continent. How about Napoleon's tomb in Paris, Lincoln's tomb in Illinois. And if you open up those tombs, you will find dead and decaying bodies. But we can't even be sure about the exact location of Jesus' tomb. Because of that fact, Hollywood film makers create movies about "The Lost Tomb of Jesus" And Muslims heckle Christian's throughout the world. "We have the tomb of our great prophet Mohammed," they say, "and you Christians have nothing." And that's the point. That's why we're here celebrating today. We have "nothing," and that "nothing" means everything to us. Today, we celebrate the life-changing power of the empty tomb.
One Lutheran pastor friend was on a tour to Israel some years ago, and said that his group had been visiting the empty tomb of Jesus in Jerusalem. There was a group in front of him, and a lady went up the empty tomb and she knocked on the stone. The pastor wondered what she was doing. And then she said loudly for everyone to hear: PRAISE THE LORD. NOBODY'S HOME." He's alive. And that news becomes a roadmap for living for all people who believe in and follow Jesus Christ.
All of us are familiar with maps, but have you ever heard of a reality life map. A simple definition of a reality map are those things we believe in that influence how we live. Before British actor Robert Morley died, he requested that his credit cards be buried with him. After his funeral, the LONDON TIMES was filled with letters from people thinking about their needs for the hereafter. One letter‑writer, Heather Tanner, said she wanted a good map buried with her. "I have intense trouble finding my way in this life," she wrote, "so I am extremely worried about the next." A reality map is a way of looking at the world. It is a belief system.
Let me give you an example. We are told that during the time of Homer, Greek sailors never sailed out of sight of land. They hugged the coast, because their reality maps told them that any seagoing ship would be lost. According to their belief systems the sea was filled with deadly monsters. Their reality maps limited their travels.
For centuries, European sailors navigated by reality maps that believed the world was flat. If you sailed too far, you'd fall off the end of the earth. Christopher Columbus changed all that. It's interesting to observe though, that Columbus believed that he'd found India when he landed in the New World. The natives he met, he called them "Indians." That is why we call Native Americans "Indians" to this day.
WHAT WAS THE REALITY MAP THAT THE FRIENDS OF JESUS WERE OPERATING UNDER THAT FIRST EASTER. In the Gospel of Matthew today, the account starts with dawn on the first day of the week, on Sunday morning, when the sun had risen, (the women) went to the tomb. The picture we get from the New Testament is of a group of people who were totally demoralized. As far as they were concerned, their dreams were shattered. Their master was dead. There was nothing left for them to do but to go back to their nets, back to their tax tables, back to their kitchens, and try to forget. Jesus had spoken of life abundant, but now he was dead. He promised a new kingdom, but kings don't die on a cross like a common criminal. He spoke of God as his Father, but when he needed God most, God disappeared. That's how Jesus' friends felt that first Easter morning. It was over. Finished. Kaput. But that was before they found the stone rolled away.
They experienced a violent earthquake. When they looked up, they saw that an angel of the Lord had rolled the large stone back. Then the announcement by the Angel: DO NOT BE ALARMED. YOU ARE LOOKING FOR JESUS WHO WAS CRUCIFIED. HE HAS RISEN. NOBODY'S HOME. COME AND SEE THE PLACE WHERE HE LAY."
A young boy grew up in a military family. His father would often fascinate him with tales of military triumphs. One day in Sunday School, the boy's teacher gave a graphic account of Christ's death on the cross and the resurrection. The boy listened in astonishment. During a pause, the excited lad shouted, "Well, what I want to know is, where were the Marines?"
Today, you have come to hear it again: Good news from God! In a world of bad news, the news from God is good. Don't be afraid. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for the sins of the world. He died for everyone here today. Because He did that in all obedience to His Heavenly Father for all of us, by His great Glory, God raised Him from the dead. He is alive. Death makes afraid, but God makes alive. The day started as a bad day. Ended as a Great Day. It ended as the Lord's day.
It takes your breath away to think of it, doesn't it? The stone was rolled away and their reality maps were forever shattered. And the new reality map for Christians is summed up with the shout: CHRIST IS RISEN. HALLELUJAH! In Christianity we have an empty tomb, a broken seal and the stone rolled away from the grave door. We have a Christ who lives and reigns to all eternity. For "He has risen, just as He said." And because He lives, we too shall live because we believe in Him.
We describe most days by what we do or what is done to us. We have workdays and holidays, dog days, and sick days. Old days and nowadays. We used to hear about wash days and ironing days. Most people still have trash days. Then there are the days dictated by the weather: sunny days, windy days, and rainy days. Ultimately, Easter is not just a day, an event or even a season. It is a life‑transforming belief and attitude.
The early Christians called Easter, "The Great Day" and the "Day of Days." It is the day new hope dawned in the hearts of humanity, the day evil was conquered, the day the serpent in the Garden of Eden was defanged, the day death had its stinger plucked. It is the day the Lord has made just for us let us rejoice and be glad in it! The joy of Easter, cannot be explained, or pursued as if it were a proverbial pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. All we can do is put ourselves in a position to let it pour over us like standing under a great waterfall.
Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus declared victory over the greatest enemies of mankind, the prospect of eternal death. He rose was from grave and IS ALIVE. Easter Sunday is the proof of it. He paid for our sin. He asks us to believe in Him, to trust and love Him, and to follow Him in the way that He leads. Behold the glory of Easter! Jesus has risen and will never die again! And because He lives, we live too!
Christ has been raised from the dead. Miss that, and you miss everything about Easter. It doesn't make any difference what kind of problems you bring with you to church today. It doesn't make any difference what kind of sins rise up to haunt you. Jesus Christ is alive. Take Heart! Jesus Christ is alive. Believe in Him. You become alive. CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! HALLELUJAH!
First Sunday after Christmas
December 30, 2007
Christmas Day
December 25, 2007
Fourth Sunday in Advent
December 23, 2007
Third Sunday in Advent
December 16, 2007
Second Sunday in Advent
December 9, 2007
Unavailable
First Sunday in Advent
December 2, 2007
Law, Love, and Last Days
Romans 13:8-14
First Sunday in Advent echoes the excitement of the prophet Zechariah who proclaims "Behold, your King is come to you righteous and having salvation." Imagine if you were told that you had the visit of the Queen of England coming to your home tomorrow morning for breakfast with you. She likes to have breakfast early and promptly on time.
You go to bed at night. Then in your first waking moments you become increasingly aware of the light. Suddenly it dawns upon you. It is morning! Good grief, what time is it? You grab the clock. "Oh no! I have overslept." The day has begun. You shed your bed clothes and hastily dress, running from out of the bedroom to get started on the duties and events of the day to meet your guest.
I think this is the picture Paul is painting. We have been oversleeping. We need to wake up. The night has passed. The new day is dawning, "the day of our Lords return." We must get about doing those things which remain to be done. We must put off our night clothes and put on clothes appropriate for the work our Lord calls us to do. Paul is endeavoring to evoke a deep sense of urgency to his readers: "Wake up, get up," he writes. "Get going, it's time!" "This is the day, this is the time for salvation. Don't live in the darkness of the night; live in the light of the day!" The apostle is warning those believers who have become distracted and inattentive to the word of Holy Scripture to wake up and recognize the opportunities that are present around them to bring God glory.
What has happened that has Paul so excited, so passionate? God has revealed himself in Jesus Christ, that's what has happened! And not just that. Just look at what God has done in the world, through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. God has changed the world! The world is now a different place, says Paul. The kingdom of God has entered into the world, entered a wounded world that has longed for God. Now God is here. Death is defeated. Sin had separated us from God, but in Christ Jesus, we are reconciled to God. Forgiveness and grace are the final words.
A large part of Paul's message to the church in Rome, and to us to whom he wrote, was to encourage the people in how to live, how to behave, and what to do in response to God's gracious gift to us. It seemed clear to him that if you live your life as if you are going to meet God face to face anytime, if you live your life confident that God's kingdom has begun, if you live your life knowing that the relationship you have with God is more important than any other thing in your life, well, if you live your life that way, then your behavior ought to reflect that this is what you believe. But if believers are uncertain and unclear about what God has done for us, if believers don't know very well the Word of God and His will for us, if the noise and appeal and confusion of the world around is stronger and louder than the call of God, then the believers could be lulled into spiritual sleep and indifference to the coming of the King.
I recently read about a television show called Mind Control. It is a rather disturbing yet fascinating program in which a man goes around using subliminal suggestion and semi‑hypnosis to entertain unsuspecting people on the street. In one episode, a hidden camera was placed near a public payphone. The payphone rang. A man walking by stopped to answer it. The next moment the man is suddenly slumped on the sidewalk, sound asleep! The host of the program later revealed how he did this. When a person is unsuspecting and unaware, the brain is especially susceptible to suggestion. In addition, when the person answers the call, the hypnotist on the other end of the line immediately bombards the person with confusing information and gibberish. Then, he says the word sleep ‑ which is the only thing the brain is able to recognize and therefore clings to that one command. The brain decides to go to sleep as its only way of coping with the confusion.
While I don't recommend hypnosis, this provides an illustration of Christians in our world today. So many Christians are not well grounded in scripture and many instead hold to their personal feelings and the latest fad, find that they can be caught unaware when false, unbiblical ideas come their way. They have become so inundated with spiritual gibberish that their unprepared hearts become confused and simply cling to the last thing that made any sense whether that teaching happened to be biblical or not.
Paul is urgent with these words: "The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here" vv:11‑12. Be prepared.
The season of Advent is a clear calling to us to wake up, to do our preparations for the coming of the King, the Christ child of Bethlehem. Advent is the call of preparation for the coming of Jesus not just on December 25th but the declaration by God in the Bible that Christ will return on the end of time to judge the world and to bring all of His children into the Kingdom of Heaven. The time is passing quickly. Be prepared. Be awake.
A small boy goes to the grocery store and asks the clerk at the cash register, "DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVENT?" The clerk responds, "I DON'T THINK SO WHAT IS IT? Little boy to the clerk, "I DON'T KNOW EITHER, BUT MY MOM SAYS WE CAN'T HAVE CHRISTMAS 'TILL WE HAVE ADVENT."
Many people do not know the meaning and purpose of Advent. The little boy tried the grocery store. Most people spend much of Advent in department stores. But department stores don't know about Advent either. Advent is the true beginning of the celebration of Christmas. It's the practice, practice, practice before the big game. It is a dress rehearsal. It is the farm club where we get ready for the big league. It is the opportunity to prepare spiritually before the siren calls of shopping, baking, buying presents and tress, addressing cards, decorating and come to overwhelm us.
Advent is the opportunity to tune our instruments and practice our music of praise, to exercise the muscles of the Christian life and melt some of the fat from our flabby stewardship. Paul wants to remind his readers that the end of all things is near. Salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. And that should motivate us all the more to live in love, to put aside our deeds of darkness. "Let us behave decently," Paul writes, "as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves in with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature."
"Get going, it's time!" "This is the day, this is the time for salvation. Don't live in the darkness of the night; live in the light of the day!"
Last Sunday in the Church Year
November 25, 2007
Christ is the Supreme King
Colossians 1:13-20
In Christ Jesus our King, dear fellow redeemed, of the nearly two hundred countries that exist in our world, only twenty‑eight of them can claim to having a king or a queen; and only three have a absolute monarchy, that is, a system of government in which the king has absolute power. Nearly all the other countries, the king's powers are merely symbolic. In other words, the king has become a figure‑head.
So as we come to this last Sunday of our church year, the Sunday known as Christ the King Sunday, for the Apostle Paul tells us, CHRIST IS THE SUPREME KING, with the phrase "the firstborn over all creation." It is a bit difficult for us American Christians to truly appreciate what it means to have a King.
But what kind of king is Jesus? We might answer, the kind who was beaten and mocked by his enemies and, then, forced to wear a crown of thorns. He is the king who was betrayed and forsaken by his closest followers and executed by his subjects. He is a king who could bleed and die, a king like every other king before and after him. But that is where all comparisons must end. For unlike any other king of any other age, this Jesus is, as Paul says, "...the image of the invisible God" (v.15). Isn't it amazing that such a profound mystery can be expressed in so few words: "the image of the invisible God." Who can understand it? In the person of Jesus Christ are all the qualities and characteristics of the immortal, invisible God, so that Jesus is every bit as much God as are the Father and the Holy Spirit, prompting Paul to write in verse 19, "...God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him."By learning to know Christ, the God‑man, we learn to know our God. And King.
1. He is the image of the invisible God. Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. Image: meaning not just a reflection. God created them like himself. Yet Jesus was not created at all, and he is the image of the invisible God. He is God himself. When you read about, and listen to the Jesus described in the New Testament, you are reading about, and listening to God himself. All God's fullness dwells in Christ. All the words we use to describe God eternal, all‑powerful, all‑knowing, omni‑present, just, righteous, impartial, immutable, glorious, divine they all fit Jesus to a "T." He is the image of the invisible God.
2. He is the firstborn over all creation. Jesus Christ the Son of God created all things. By him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him. Jesus is the supreme king over all creation.
Not only did Jesus make everything, but Paul also says, " in him all things hold together" (v. 17). So if our king were to take his eyes off of us and our universe even for a second, we and everything else would fall apart. It is Jesus with his powerful, creative word who keeps the planets, the sun, moon and stars all in their place.
It is by the command of Jesus that our lungs keep breathing air and our hearts keep pumping blood. As his creatures, we literally owe everything that we are and everything that we have to our Creator‑King. If it's a beautiful day, the praise goes to Jesus because he set the days in motion. If you see majesty and beauty in the animal kingdom, praise Jesus, for they are his creatures. The mountains, the oceans, the canyons, the stars and planets in the universe they're breathtaking because Jesus made them. The most influential presidents, chiefs, governors, heads of state, athletes, and business tycoons all must bow before Christ, including you and me and every human being. So how do you act and live when you are in the presence of Jesus the King?
Years ago, Andre Thornton's wife and child were killed in an automobile accident. In his grief, Andre, the Cleveland Indians' first baseman, turned in faith to Jesus, his King. Jesus entered his life and the life of Andre was changed forever. During one game, the Yankee's Willie Randolph drew a walk. When he arrived at first base, he asked Andre how things were going. Andre immediately began talking about his faith in Christ. Willie was so engrossed that he missed the steal sign from his third base coach! The third base coach was frantically trying to get Willie to run and steal second base. Instead he continued to talk with Andre. Andre Thomas believed: "God has put me on first base and if anyone comes down here, he is going to hear about Christ." Andre believes that We are the salt that brings a flavor into people's lives that the world can never take away.
We owe Jesus our praise, our allegiance, our trust, our time, our talents, our treasures, our very lives. Tell me, is the King getting what he's owed? Paul first wrote this letter of Colossians to Christians in the church of Colossae, who claimed to be loyal followers of Christ. But their lives told another story. They went about their daily business as if Jesus didn't even exist. Day after day, they put their trust in things created rather than in their Creator. They were paying homage to everyone and everything other than their King.
Their sin is familiar to us, isn't it? We see people all around us committing this same sin. If we are honest with God, we see this sin in ourselves. We're all guilty of it. It's the product of a self‑absorbed spirit that is present in our thinking, in our actions and conversations every day. It's evident in the way we choose to spend our time and our money on ourselves rather than offering more of these things as our tribute to our King. Yet Jesus doesn't punish us as a king ought to punish His subjects. He wants to be our King and to love us and forgive us. He wants us to serve Him faithfully and willingly.
There are also other kings who intensely desire that we serve them. Luther described these kings as the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh. Even Death and the domain of darkness wants to claim us. It points to our sin as proof that it deserves to have us, deserves to separate us from God, deserves to imprison us in hell forever. Death would seem to have a legitimate claim on us. We are all sinners and it is God himself who has sentenced sinners to eternal death. What a helpless situation. Death's grip was too powerful for us to escape and we are too sinful to appeal our sentence. But just when it seemed that our fate was sealed, the very God whom we have offended with our sin came to our rescue. Paul announces, "For [God the Father] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves..." (v. 13).
How did this happen? God sent his Son, through whom, Paul says, God was pleased"...to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross" (v. 20). God charged it to his own Son and then demanded that Jesus pay the only price that could satisfy God's holy anger toward every sinner. With his sacrifice on the cross, Jesus the God‑man reconciled God and man once and for all. The blood of Jesus Christ, the King of all creation bought our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins. That holy blood secured our peace with God. It was the ransom Jesus paid to free us from the dominion of darkness and death.
Thanks to Jesus, even death when it comes to us must now serve us, transporting our souls to heaven until that day when Christ awakens our bodies as easily as awakening from a night's sleep. What a great King! Christ is the Supreme King and best of all he's our King‑ours to serve and to thank for his love and forgiveness now and forever. Amen.
Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
November 18, 2007
Unavailable
Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
November 11, 2007
Christian's Assurance
I John 5:13-15
Death! It's one of the 2 great certainties in life. Death and taxation aren't they? Death! We'll all face it in the end. For the people of the New Testament death was often in their thoughts. They were a persecuted Church for whom the next day could signal arrest and possible death. So we find some 200 odd references to death or dying in the letters of the New Testament. But notice that death was never referred to as a thing to fear. Rather the message of the gospel was that the fear of death has been removed. Far from fearing death, the Christian can see death as a necessary step that leads to eternal life.
So John writes to the Christians in the late first century words that are equally applicable to us at the beginning of the 21st century. He says: "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." There's no need to fear death if you believe in the name of the Son of God, because belief in Jesus' name brings eternal life. Believing in Jesus Christ isn't just about knowledge and belief, you see, it's about a relationship. It's about a relationship of love. And that relationship of love drives out all fear of death and judgment, because we know that a relationship with Christ leads to forgiveness and eternal life. In other words, if you believe in the name of Jesus Christ, if you have a relationship with him, you've already begun to experience eternal life and you can be sure that life will be yours after you die.
But John wants us to understand what it means to enjoy eternal life in the here and now. In fact there are two things that arise out of being in this new relationship with Jesus Christ. They are: A new assurance in prayer; and a new attitude to the world.
A new assurance in prayer. If we're in a trusting relationship with Jesus Christ, the first difference it will make is that it will give us a new assurance in prayer. John writes, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." The word confidence, indicates an openness in God's presence. He's saying when you come to speak to God you can do so in the same sort of uninhibited, relaxed manner that you would if you were talking to your best friend or someone in your family. Just talk to God as you would to a friend, because you know that you're his child if you believe in his only Son.
And having asked in faith, we can have confidence that He hears us. And if we know that he hears us we can also have confidence that he'll give us what we ask according to His good and gracious will. There's an echo here of what Paul tells us in Romans 8 where he's talked about all things working together for good to those who love God and then he adds: "He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?" (Rom 8:32) We can have confidence when we ask God for something because we know that God has already given us that which is far more valuable than anything else we could ever ask for. He has given His only Son Jesus to suffer and to die for our sins in our place.
John then turns to one example of a prayer that we can have confidence. He says, 'If you see your brother or sister committing a sin that does not lead to death, you will ask, and God will give life to such a one.' So when we see a brother or sister doing something that God doesn't like we can have confidence in praying that they'd repent and turn back to God. You see we have a responsibility towards each other as Christian brothers and sisters. In the context of a loving relationship, we are our brother's or sister's keeper. So we should be praying for one another that we' and they will remain faithful to God.
Second, our relationship with Christ leads to a new attitude to the world (v18- 19). He says 'We know that we are God's children, and that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one.' For the Christian there's a new understanding of the world in which we live. We don't belong in this world, you see, because this world lies under the power of the evil one. You don't have to look very far to see the truth of that statement do you? Whether it's Iraq or Afghanistan, or in south Omaha, or even on our TV screens, it's fairly obvious that this world still lies under Satan's power.
There is in many circles today the idea that because we live in a evil world Christians cannot really live godly lives. Because of rampant worldliness all around us the philosophy is that we must compromise because a believer cannot overcome the great influence the world has on us. There is a new breed of churches that hold the opinion that in order to reach the world, the churches must join with it in its music, philosophy and bent toward entertainment. These churches are in error. These churches outwardly look good and are rich yet they are like the church in Pergamum that were holding to the name of Christ, but were compromising with the world. (Rev. 2:12‑17). Jesus warned them to "Repent therefore; or else I will soon come to you, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."
In our relationship of faith in Christ, we know that the Son of God has come and we are in Jesus Christ. Through Baptism, we are joined together with Christ. Being reborn again as children of God, we have the assurance that God keeps us safe and the evil one cannot harm us. God doesn't want you to live your life in insecurity, constantly second‑guessing who you are, why you're here, what your purpose is, where you stand with him, and on and on. He wants you to know these things because he wants you to know him. He wants you to have the assurance that comes with a relationship with Jesus Christ. In verse 12 John says, "He who has the son has life." That's the crucial connection our relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship is founded on his love for us. We love because he loved us. (1 John 4:19) The object of our relationship with God is that we grow in love. The object is that you love him, and that you love others the way he loves others. The more you love, the more you know him. The more you know him, the more you know who you are. Know who you are in Christ. Know that you are secure in God's love. Know that you belong to him. Know that he considers you his child. Know that he loves you for all eternity. Know that he hears your prayers. Know that you will win the war against sin because God's life is in you.
All Saints' Day Observed
November 4, 2007
All The Saints
Rev. 7:9,10
One advantage of traveling is the opportunity to visit places of historic interest. The names of such places as Bunker Hill, Valley Forge, and Gettysburg have deep meaning for any citizen of the United States. To visit such spots, to stand on such locations means much to one who loves his or her country, for in these places, some momentous history was made. You can read names on tombstones, and you are reading the names of saints. But when we lived in England for almost two years, we also traveled the country and saw very interesting sights of cathedrals, castles, and many other historical places. But one place came to my memory while I was preparing this sermon.
There's a modern cathedral in England ‑‑ a cathedral built within the lifetimes of many of us ‑‑ that features one whole wall made of glass. The massive south wall of that cathedral made entirely of glass! And etched into the glass are the huge figures ‑‑ four feet wide and ten feet tall ‑‑ of saints and angels. They're having a party ‑‑ blowing trumpets and making merry and swinging from the chandeliers and dancing across that massive wall of glass. And, were that the only thing you saw when looking at that glass wall, you might justifiably conclude that there's something taunting and irreverent about such fun going on in the halls of heaven while there are a host of us suffering here in the horrors of life on our planet. You might look at that wall, and ask how they could build such a thing in the middle of time where there is AIDS and starvation, and the stalking hatred of terrorist groups, and the neglect and murder of children, and the meanness of our rhetoric, and the growing gap between those who have and those who don't. You might look at that glass wall and wonder what sort of God would have the nerve to throw a party like that in times like this.
That cathedral is located in Coventry, England, which makes all the difference in the world. For, in November of 1940, Coventry suffered the longest air raid endured in any one night by any city in England during World War II. It was an air raid which killed and destroyed and reduced the whole city to ruins, including its cathedral.
When they built the new cathedral, they chose, as the purpose of its ministry, the theme of "resurrection through sacrifice." So to look through that modern glass wall, beyond all the saints dancing in heaven, is then to see the painful ruins of the old bombed‑out church. The rubble of those ruins cannot be seen through that glass wall except in light of the promise from beyond time ‑‑ the promise that God gathers up all of our flawed history, gathers it up into God's holy and redemptive purposes ‑‑ and such a visible encounter with God's promise for the future permeates that pile of rubble with meaning.
In the Book of Revelation, later in Chapter 7, St. John answers who are these people AND WHERE do they come from? THESE ARE THEY WHO HAVE COME OUT OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION; THEY HAVE WASHED THEIR ROBES AND MADE THEM WHITE IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.
You have this great crowd of people, all kinds of people, gathered around the throne of God, and what are they doing? They are praising God. They are singing songs, like the one in verse 10: "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb." This great crowd of people is up there in heaven, and what are they doing? They are singing the praises of the Lord.
And God is protecting them. Remember, the people reading this book of Revelation, were people in great danger. And this was the message: God is protecting you. Look at the end of verse 15. God will shelter you. Verse 16. God will take away your hunger and thirst. God will protect you from the sun and the scorching heat. Remember, these people lived in a desert, and they didn't have air‑conditioning, they didn't even have sunscreen, so protection from the sun was a big deal. Verse 17: Jesus will guide you to the springs of the water of life. And God will wipe away every tear from your eyes. The people reading this old story of the vision of the end of the world saw that God had a plan for them. These people who were in such great danger saw that God had something else in mind; God was going to protect them. They didn't have to be afraid anymore.
John, in the book of Revelation, pulled back the curtain that obscured their vision of history, in order to show a party going on in heaven. A party, of all things, people by those who had endured "the great ordeal" ‑‑ had borne the cross of faithful living in the middle of time ‑‑ and who now, vindicated by God, were in heaven praising and glorifying God's holy name. Which was John's way of saying, to them and to us: Have courage, you who bear the ministry of the cross! For you are moving toward the triumph of God! Your life has meaning, because of where it's all headed.
There is no resurrection without sacrifice; but in the midst of sacrifice ‑‑ in the midst of being the church and being faithful and bearing the cross and tasting the food and speaking the language of the country of heaven toward which we are traveling ‑‑ there is resurrection. There is the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
As we observed All Saints Day this weekend, we join Lutherans and other Christians all over the world honor the saints. We don't pray to the saints. Not surprisingly, both the Epistle and the Gospel reading for today speak of saints. The epistle speaks of the saints in heaven, and the Gospel speaks of the saints on earth.
The Gospel is the opening portion of Jesus famous sermon on the Mountain. These opening sentences are called Beatitudes. The word beatitude comes from the Latin and means BLESSEDNESS. Another form of this word is used here to show the characteristics of the individual who is supremely blessed, it's a portrait of a man or woman or child who is a living saint. It describes the blessedness of the person who lives according to the will of Jesus. In other words, saints are not just those people who have died and who have gone to heaven. Jesus considers us who follow Him and who believe in Him and seek to do His will, He considers us saints. Blessed are those who are poor in spirit. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the peacemakers.
When I think of saints, I also think of those people in my life who have been a wonderful influence and blessing to me. I think of my grandfather. I think of my father. I think of my pastor when I was a child. All of them have died and are now in heaven. But their witness and their influence on my life was so great.
Heb. 12 speaks of being surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. The saints who have lived before us. They have served to be a witness to us for the purpose of encouraging us to run the race of life that is still ahead for each of us. The writer goes on; LET US THROW OFF EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS AND THE SIN THAT SO EASILY ENTANGLES, AND LET US RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE THE RACE MARKED OUT FOR US. LET US FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF OUR FAITH WHO FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, SCORNING ITS SHAME, AND SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD.
But the greatest one is Jesus Christ Himself. God sent Jesus, His only Son, to live among us, to suffer and to die, to rise from the grave and overcome the power of sin and death, so that we can live in a relationship with God that never ends. Jesus gave us a witness of the love of the Heavenly Father for all of His children. And He has given to us an inheritance which is the message of reconciliation and forgiveness of our sins in His Name.
I hope you think about the inheritance that you have received from God - the gift of faith. For those who remain faithful, like Rev. 7 says will still come in white robes with palms in the hands praising the Lord Jesus. One day, we too will join in the song of the saints in heaven. AMEN. BLESSING AND GLORY AND WISDOM AND THANKSGIVING AND HONOR AND POWER AND MIGHT BE UNTO OUR GOD FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.
Reformation Day Observed
October 28, 2007
Amazing Grace
Romans 3:22-24
A pastor once asked a young man in his confirmation class if he was sure that God would take him to heaven when he died. The boy told his pastor that he was absolutely positive that he would be going to heaven. The pastor thought to ask another question: "How do you know you are right with God?" Without batting an eye, the boy replied: "Because, Pastor, I did my part and God did his." Now a little puzzled, the pastor asked the boy, "What do you mean, you did your part and God did his?" Again, without a moment's hesitation the boy responded, "That's the way it is, Pastor, I did the sinning and God did the saving." A child's way to say what St. Paul wrote in V. 23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
This Sunday, we give special recognition to Martin Luther and the Reformation. God used Martin Luther to lift up out of the Bible three Jewels of God's plan of Salvation for all people: Salvation is found in no one other than Jesus Christ: 1) By Grace Alone, 2) By Faith alone and 3) by the Word of God Alone. Before Luther discovered God's good news in the book of Romans, he and other lived by the Law of God that described only an angry and punishing God, A Law that describe the justified punishment with all the of terrors of hell, prepared just for the unforgiven sinner. Luther knew the Law of God: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Then Luther read Romans 1:16: I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL. IT IS THE POWER OF GOD FOR SALVATION TO EVERYONE WHO HAS FAITH. Luther discovered the Gospel of the Scriptures. "Justified freely by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus." I want to speak about this LAW AND GOSPEL THAT LUTHER DISCOVERED:
THE LAW:
A famous evangelist prepared for a revival meeting in a large city by writing the town's mayor and asking him to furnish the preacher with a list of people who had spiritual problems and were in need of help and prayer. Imagine the evangelist's surprise when the mayor sent him the city phonebook. And why not, for as Paul says in our text, "There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."
Sin is a universal problem. With the exception of Jesus, there has never been a person born who has been able to measure up to God's holiness, the same holiness, the same perfection that God demands of all who want to stand in his presence. God says, "Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy" (Leviticus 19:2). God uses His law with its demand for perfection like a tape measure that He sets along side every person who comes into this world to find those who can measure up by living a perfect life. But you heard what Paul said: no one measures up. Without fail, every human being falls short of God's holiness. What is even worse, every one is born sinful and thus has not a chance.
For Luther, God was seen an as angry, punishing God. He was terrified of God. His sins threatened him with eternal punishment. That was a common understanding of God during Luther's time. Today, people don't want to hear about sin. IT is not politically correct to speak about sin and evil. But everyone on earth knows and sees the effects of sin. The world just doesn't know how to get rid of sin. Today it's Islamic terrorism. People still find their lives to be "out of joint" and unfulfilled. The old problem of finding a gracious God is still with us, only it's called by different names in our time.
I read recently that when the Betty Crocker Company first came out with cake mixes, they were designed in such a way that all the home baker had to do was add water. But guess what ‑ those mixes didn't sell very well. Market research revealed that people wanted to be more involved in making the cake. So the company made one little change. In addition to adding water, the customer would be required to toss in an egg as well. The product took off like wildfire.
In the same way, when it comes to solving the sin problem and our salvation, we foolish sinners want credit for adding something to the mix, maybe a pinch of self‑righteousness, a touch of good works. This kind of thinking shows that we're still looking to the commandments, to God's Law, to get us to heaven. How dangerous! For whoever tries to live by the law is going to die by its curse instead. So says the Word of God.
You and I are truly blessed, not because of anything on our part, not because we are so good, not because we do so much, not even because our doctrine is so pure, and not because God loves us more than He loves all people. We are blessed because we have heard and believe the Gospel: THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD COMES THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST TO ALL WHO BELIEVE.
THE GOSPEL.
God loves all people. God loves every terrible and sinful person on earth. That's hard to imagine. There is Good news of Salvation for people who are sorry for their sins and repent: I John: IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, GOD IS FAITHFUL AND JUST AND WILL FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED THROUGH FAITH. IT IS A GIFT OF GOD, NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANYONE SHOULD BOAST.
What did Luther find? Not a little bit of mercy, but whole gospel full. As Luther studied Romans 3, the Holy Spirit opened his eyes to see a better righteousness than what any sinner can produce. For the first time ever, Luther realized that the righteousness spoken of here in our text is none other than a righteousness that God provides to undeserving sinners not a righteousness to earn, but a righteousness to receive as a free gift through faith in Jesus Christ.
Once Luther discovered this jewel of salvation, once Romans pointed him to the Cross of Jesus, he wrote, preached and sang about the grace of God in Jesus Christ. He wrote in the hymn, "A Mighty Fortress"; NO STRENGTH OF OURS CAN MATCH HIS MIGHT. WE WOULD BE LOST, REJECTED. BUT NOW A CHAMPION COMES TO FIGHT, WHOM GOD HIMSELF ELECTED. YOU ASK WHO THIS MAY BE? THE LORD OF HOSTS IS HE, CHRIST JESUS, MIGHTY LORD. GOD'S ONLY SON, ADORED. HE HOLDS THE FIELD VICTORIOUS.
Think of what this means! Are you being haunted by some sin of the past, something you said or did? Are you troubled by the thought that you'll never be able to make things right with God? Are you afraid you may end up in hell? Listen closely: "...a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. (Romans 3:21‑22).
You and I can't make things right with God, but then again, we don't have to. For throughout the whole Bible, our Holy God, the Judge of heaven and earth, declares every sinner justified ‑ not guilty of sin. But how can God do such a thing and remain righteous. It is because God isn't overlooking sin. It's not that our sins are going unpunished. Listen again. Paul assures us that we "...are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood." (Romans 3:24‑25)
God's righteous reputation remains perfectly intact. He is completely just. Sin has been paid for in full, as God requires. It has been paid for by our substitute Jesus, the Son of God, who died in your place and mine. The sin of all people, including the sins of all who lived and died before Jesus' day, all this sin was charged to Jesus who gave his life as a sacrifice to satisfy God's justifiable anger toward us.
Every time that you comes to the table of the Lord's Supper, you will find a note from St. Paul that reads, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Beside that note is Jesus' message: "These things will show you how much I love you." This is Grace, Amazing Grace.
Twenty First Sunday after Pentecost
October 21, 2007
Persistence in Prayer
Luke 18:1‑8
A teacher in a Christian school was teaching the subject of prayer to her class. She makes reference to the passage in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing." One morning as she had started the class with prayer, one of the students sneezed. After she finished with her prayer, the student said: "Mrs. Capeheart," "I'm sorry I sneezed during your prayer today." The teacher, a bit puzzled by the students confession, responded by assuring the student that sneezing during a prayer was ok. To which the student replied, "Well, I know you like us to pray without sneezing."
Ah, if only it were that simple! I could pray without sneezing. It's that praying without ceasing that's more difficult! Or, put another way as Jesus does in introducing this parable "always pray and not give up." Jesus tells this parable to his disciples to teach about persistence in prayer; "that they should always pray and not give up."
There are several points Jesus makes in telling this parable. Not only does Jesus teach about persistence in prayer, he also teaches something about the God to whom we pray that God is interested in justice for His people and He is faithful to His people and Jesus teaches something about ourselves in prayer do we trust in the One to whom we pray.
First the issue of justice. Jesus makes his point through the contrast between the unjust judge and God. The judge is described in unflattering terms as "not fearing God nor caring for humanity." The problem is, as a first century Palestine judge, he ought to be the exact opposite fearing God and caring about humanity. The Scriptures, from Moses down through the Prophets and the Psalms, taught, "The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom." But this judge doesn't fear God. He doesn't even believe in God. The scriptures, from Moses down through the Prophets, and including Jesus, taught that it was a sacred responsibility to have compassion for the poor and the powerless, to show mercy to the oppressed. Widows were particularly singled out as vulnerable in a harshly patriarchal society. But this sleazy judge has no regard for anyone. He brags that he neither fears God nor cares what people think of him.
In other words, the judge in the parable is, at best, incompetent, at worst, corrupt. The widow has no chance with this judge because she doesn't have the resources to meet his corrupt price. It is only when her persistent appeals become an embarrassment to the judge literally, a "black eye" to the judge does she get the justice she deserves. He is not moved by his social and professional responsibilities, or by the widow's desperate situation. It is his status with others that prompts him to act.
Contrast that judge with God. In contrast to an unjust judge who finally responds after persistent badgering from a needy widow, there is a just God who is ready, eager and able to bring justice to our lives. Jesus asks: "And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?" That is the image of God Jesus wants to plant in our hearts. Not an unjust judge who must be shamed in embarrassment before responding, but a God of justice who is quick to respond to the cries of His children.
Consequently, a second important point in this story is the issue of our trust in the faithfulness of God. God is not like us earthly fathers. You know how sometimes your child wants something real bad and they keep on asking for it. Over and over again. Please, Daddy, please. And finally you've heard it all you want to hear it and you tell them to stop asking or you're going to punish them. You see, God isn't like that. In fact, God rejoices when we are persistently insistent. He wants us to pray and not give up. That was the point, Jesus wanted to get across that men ought always to pray and not give up. That's why Paul said, "Pray without ceasing." That's why Paul continued to plead with God to remove that thorn in the flesh. Three times He asked. But God's answer was simply, "My grace is sufficient". It is through persistent, insistent prayer that God releases His power in our lives. We make the mistake sometimes of saying that prayer changes things. But in reality, prayer changes people. Prayer changes us because the more we truly pray, and truly communicate with God, we listen as He speaks, the more we come to understand God's will for our lives.
We are to be persistent in prayer, not so much that we will then get from God what we want, but that we will be more at peace with what God is doing in our lives. We are to be persistent in prayer, not so God will do the right thing for our lives He's already doing that but rather so we can grow in our trust in God. We should "always pray and not give up," not to get what we want from God, but that we would grow in our trust that God is Lord over our lives and He is a righteous and just God. The more we are persistent in prayer the more we grow in our relationship with God and the more we are at peace with what God is doing in our lives the more we learn to place our trust in God, to trust in God's justice and His timing.
An important point of persistent prayer is to better see things from God's point of view and to trust in that. Through persistent prayer, we learn God answers prayer. Sometimes the answer is "yes." Sometimes, in God's wisdom, the answer is "no." And sometimes the answer is "not yet." But through persistent prayer, we are changed, growing in peace and understanding of God's answers to our prayers, trusting in God's answers and not our own.
The Bible is full of stories about how persistent prayer has always been important to God's people. It was true for Samuel as he sought God's will over Saul's kingship. In I Sam. 15:11 we read that he cried out to God all night long. It was true for Isaiah. In Is. 62:6‑7 the prophet encouraged the people to pray night and day, to give God no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. It was true for the early Christians gathered in the upper room waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Listen, my friends, prayer has always been a necessity for the people of God, and it must become so again in our churches today. Prayer is one of the greatest, most powerful, and most under‑utilized weapon we have at our disposal. Jesus knew this, and that's why He gave us this parable showing us the key to persistent prayer.