Don’t Forget Where You’re Going!

25. July 2010 by admin.

Colossians 1:21-29

²¹Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. ²²But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— ²³if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Paul’s Labor for the Church

²⁴Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. ²⁵I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— ²⁶the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. ²⁷To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. ²⁹To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Summary:  Paul reveals the secret of his success B something we can use in the ministries to which God has called us.  Paul says he labored, struggling with all of Christ’s energy, which was so powerfully at work in him.

In the name of Jesus, who’s given us the “one thing needful,” dear fellow recipients of his divine Word,

One of the greatest scientists of our time was Albert Einstein. He was a man who was so focused on his scientific theories that he often neglected even the simplest things of life, such as his personal appearance (as evidenced by his out-of-control hairstyle). On one occasion, Einstein was taking a train out of town for a speaking engagement. As he sat in his seat, engrossed in his work, the conductor stopped by to punch his ticket. But there was a problem – Einstein couldn’t find it. He began to frantically search his coat pockets, and then his briefcase, but still no ticket. Finally the conductor reassured him, “Don’t worry about it. We all know who you are, Dr. Einstein. I’m sure you bought a ticket.” But as the conductor moved along he looked back to see Einstein on his hands and knees, searching under the seats for his ticket. The conductor walked back and said, “Dr. Einstein, please, don’t worry about it. I know who you are.” Exasperated, Einstein looked up and said, “I, too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.”

Even today some of the world’s wisest people don’t know where they’re going, especially when it comes to their eternal destination. How can that be? Even though they may have worldly wisdom, they’re lacking true wisdom.

Today we’re centering our thoughts around the theme, “True Wisdom Is Found Sitting at the Lord’s Feet.” True wisdom is God’s wisdom, and when we have that kind of wisdom, we know where we’re going. So today I urge you to make use of that wisdom so that you:

“Don’t Forget Where You’re Going!”

I. Remember what you are in Christ

II. Remember how to live as his saints

Last week we talked about how the Christians at Colosse had gotten to the point where they weren’t sure where they were going. Paul had taught them the way of salvation through Jesus Christ, but now some false teachers among them were telling them that Jesus wasn’t enough. They spoke of a “better way,” a way to God that involved subjecting themselves to the Old Testament laws and ceremonies. In this way they felt they could prove themselves worthy before God. Some of them even went so far as to push for angel worship. In short, the people were being told that faith in Christ just wasn’t enough to get to heaven. They themselves had to do more. Such “wisdom” was in direct conflict to all that they had been taught by Paul, and Paul wasn’t about to let this false philosophy steal these people away from their Lord. He wanted to make clear to them that God’s wisdom is the only kind of wisdom that makes a real difference in their lives. He wanted them to remember what they had become in Christ.

Paul begins by reminding them of what they once were when all they had was their own wisdom (v 21), “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.” Once upon a time the Colossians had been enemies of God, barred from being in his company by the load of sin that they bore, as evidenced by their sin-stained lives. But in his divine wisdom, God changed all that (v 22), “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” Sin had mankind heading in the wrong direction, but God set us straight. He “reconciled” us, meaning that he turned us around. The verb form used here means that this reconciliation was a “once-and-for-all” action. It’s a done deal, because it took place “by Christ’s physical body through death.” God’s wisdom called for a plan where his own Son would take on human flesh, live in man’s place, and then die in man’s place. Then instead of sin, we’d have righteousness. Then Jesus could present us to his heavenly Father, “holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” So now we have the holiness heaven requires. Now our sins are covered – we’re spotless in God’s sight. And we’re “free from accusation.” No one can say that we’re not good enough for heaven. The Savior has changed us and made us fit for his kingdom. Remember what you are in Christ!

The Colossians had all they needed, and Paul didn’t want them to give it up. Heaven was theirs as long as they trusted in God’s wisdom. Paul tells them that they have a future in heaven “if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant” (v 23). Paul wants them to remember what he had once told them. He wanted to jog their memories, to get them back to that wonderful gospel message that their salvation was secure because of what Jesus had done for them. The “better way” being peddled to them by the false teachers was the wrong way. Paul wanted them to hang on to what they had, to remember what they were in Christ. He didn’t want them to look elsewhere when all they needed was found in the gospel.

The only way to truly know where we’re going is to trust in Jesus and in Jesus alone. Our Savior says very clearly (Jn 14:6), “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Here’s what it boils down to: You can either trust in God’s wisdom and his plan of salvation through Christ, or you can seek what the world may think is a “better way.” Either your salvation is secure and your relationship with God has been restored, or your salvation is still up in the air and you have to do something yourself to make things right with God. Either you know you’re going to heaven because of Christ, or you’re hoping to do enough so you can get yourself to heaven. Which way do you prefer? The answer is clear. God’s plan is better. His plan was a complete success. Continue in your faith! Trust in Jesus! Heaven is yours already because of him, and because of him you know where you’re going!

You could tell by the way Paul lived how much of a difference this knowledge made in his life. No matter what he suffered, he was still content and could still rejoice. He knew that he was one of God’s children. He knew what he was in Christ — a saint in the eyes of God, washed clean in the blood of Christ. With the same knowledge, let us be motivated to serve our Lord. Let us remember how to live as his saints.

Notice the wonderful irony in what Paul says next (v 24), “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.” Don’t misunderstand these words and think Paul was claiming that Christ’s suffering wasn’t enough for his salvation, that somehow he had to “add” to what Christ had done. No, Paul is simply saying that he was willing to take his turn in suffering for his faith. He states that he could actually “rejoice” in his sufferings, even though he knew there were more to come! We’re reminded of what Jesus said (Mk 13:13), “All men will hate you because of me.” Paul saw his sufferings as proof that he was on the right track! That’s why in Corinthians he could describe his life as “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything” (2 Co 6:10). Knowing what he was in Christ had made a difference in Paul’s life. No matter what the circumstances, he could rejoice because in Christ he had everything!

Paul knew that he had received a very special calling from the Lord (vv 25,26), “I have become [the church’s] servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness – the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.” God had appointed Paul to be a servant to his church on earth. He was to proclaim God’s Word in all its fullness. He was to present Christ in all his greatness, in all his supremacy, to everyone and anyone. What once had been a “mystery” during all those Old Testament times, now in the New Testament era has been revealed to all believers, the ones God himself calls “saints.” Yes, you and I are saints – holy and pure, fit for heaven, all because of Jesus. And to us the mystery of salvation has been revealed. To his saints “God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (v 27). We live as God’s saints with Christ in us! He’s in our hearts and in our lives. He’s always with us, drawing us closer to him, leading us to live our lives for him, making sure we always hang on to “the hope of glory” that awaits us – all so that we never forget where we’re going!

This is a hope God wants all people to have. That’s where we come in. Just like Paul, God has work for us to do as we live our lives as his saints here on this earth (v 28), “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” It’s up to us to get the message of God’s wisdom out. That involves “admonishing,” letting people know when they’re sinning so that they see the need for a Savior. It involves “teaching,” sharing with people God’s wonderful plan of salvation in Christ. Our goal? To “present everyone perfect in Christ” — to present them “complete” as our Savior’s “finished products”! Then we, too, will share in the glorious vision of all people standing before the throne of God, covered in the robe of Christ’s righteousness!

A wonderful calling, but not an easy one. But notice what Paul says about our source of strength (v 29), “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.” We often hear about the years of strenuous training athletes endure in their quest to become all that they can be. Paul also speaks of the hard work he was enduring to reach his goal – the goal of reaching the lost. But he wasn’t relying on his own strength or power. No, he was struggling with all God’s energy, the energy that was “powerfully” working in him. Paul himself had proclaimed (Php 4:13), “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” God gave him his assignment, and God gave him the strength to carry it out. Paul knew he was only the instrument. Saving souls was God’s work, and it would always be done to God’s glory. Paul knew the difference the Savior had made in his life, and he was willing to live as one of his saints to make a difference in the lives of others.

Personally, I need the reminders found in these verses. I need to be reminded that even though life as a Christian may involve some sad times at the hands of a sinful world, I can still rejoice because Christ has made me a saint in the eyes of my God. I need to be reminded of why I’m here on this earth as a Christian – to unveil the mystery of salvation so that all can see how much God loves them and what he’s done to save them. And I need to be reminded that my labors and struggles will not be in vain, because it’s God’s energy that keeps me going as I join with all Christians in striving to present as many people as possible as “perfect in Christ.” I need these reminders. And so do you.

That’s because we all face the temptation to be like Albert Einstein, to forget where we’re going. Even worse, we’re tempted to forget how we get there. But then our Lord calls us in and has us sit down at his feet. There we’re reminded of what we are in Christ — his saints, washed clean in his blood. There, at our Lord’s feet, we’re reminded of our responsibility to live as his saints and to share his salvation with others. We know where we’re going – our ticket’s already punched. It’s marked “paid in full” by our Savior! Don’t you forget it!

Amen

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Live a Life Worthy of the Lord

18. July 2010 by admin.

Colossians 1:1-14

Colossians 1

¹Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

²To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, ⁴because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— ⁵the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel ⁶that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth. ⁷You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, ⁸and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. ⁹For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully ¹²giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. ¹³For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Summary:  This section of Scripture is Paul’s words of greeting in his letter to the Colossians.  Any congregation would be pleased to have the reputation of these Christians and to receive such words of praise.

In the name of the Savior who deserves nothing but our very best, dear Christian friends,

 

“That’s impossible!”  Maybe you don’t say it out loud but that’s what you’re thinking when your boss says you have to have that report done by the end of the day.  “That’s impossible!”  Maybe you do say it out loud when Mom tells you your room has to be clean before you can go out and play.  “That’s impossible!” might be the thought crossing your mind as you wonder just how you’re going to make the weekly paycheck stretch farther than the bills will allow.  Now look at the cover of your bulletin – “Live a life worthy of the Lord.”  “That’s impossible!  How can I, a sinful human being, ever live a life that’s considered worthy of the Lord?”

 

That phrase is taken directly from our text for this morning (v 10), and it would be impossible if it was something each of us had to do with our own ability and with our own strength.  But, as Jesus himself reminds us (Mt 19:26), “With God all things are possible.”

 

This morning let’s see how God enables each of us to do the impossible, to:

 

“Live a Life Worthy of the Lord!”

 

                                         I. Motivated by the gospel that has come to us

                                        II. To please him in every way

 

We have no record of Paul ever having served in the city of Colosse.  However, in Acts 19 we are told that he did do ministry in Ephesus where “the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power” (Ac 19:20).  Colosse was only about 100 miles east of Ephesus where Paul’s co-worker, a man by the name of Epaphras, served as pastor.  Now, about five years later, Paul was under house arrest in Rome, and Epaphras was having some difficulty dealing with a new wave of false teaching that had begun to infiltrate the Christian congregation at Colosse.  Having been built on the solid foundation of Christ, now this congregation was being bombarded with a rather unique false teaching that attempted to mix Jewish ceremonial laws and Greek philosophical concepts under the disguise of Christian terminology.  Pastor Epaphras had a mess on his hand, and he knew something had to be done.  So he made the 1300-mile journey to Rome to ask Paul for help, who responded with the letter before us this morning, written to remind Christians of all time that in Christ we have all we need for our salvation.

 

You have to admire Paul’s style in addressing this problem.  He could have brought the hammer of the law down on the Colossians, lambasting them for having strayed from the truth.  But the Holy Spirit inspires Paul to go another route, to actually thank the Lord for the positive things being displayed in the lives of these Christians.  That’s the section we have before us this morning.  Listen again to verses 3-6, “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints – the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you.”  Having not ever met these fellow Christians, Paul could still say that he had heard about their “faith in Christ Jesus” and “the love you have for all the saints.”  Then he reminds them of the origin of these godly attributes, “that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven.”  Knowing that someday you’ll be with the Lord in heaven will change how you live.  That’s what produced the faith and love that was so evident in the Colossians’ lives.  They knew what they had waiting for them, and with such knowledge their lives couldn’t remain the same.

 

Where did they get this hope of heaven?  They received it from “the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you.”  “Gospel” means “good news.”  Jump down to the last two verses of our text and you’ll see the good news that had changed their lives (vv 13,14), “For he [the Lord] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”  The Greek verb forms used in these verses assure us that God’s mission is not ongoing but is an accomplished fact.  We’ve been “rescued” from the dark dungeons of hell and “brought . . . into” or “transferred” into the kingdom of his Son.  Christ has done what seemed impossible, saving us from certain destruction and transplanting us back into God’s family.  We can be certain of our new status because of our “redemption,” Christ paying the price to buy us back from the devil, shedding his blood to win for us “the forgiveness of sins.”

                                                                                                           

Epaphras, their pastor, was the instrument God used to bring the Colossians this gospel message (vv 7,8), “You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.”  The results that followed were typically found wherever the gospel was preached (v 6), “All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.”  The progress of the gospel in that first Christian century was nothing short of amazing.  From just 12 apostles and perhaps several hundred other followers of Jesus at the time of his ascension, historians estimate that by the time the last apostle, John, entered eternity, the number of Christians had grown to half a million!  The Colossians were able to share in what had been happening all around the world.  The gospel had been planted in their hearts; the gospel had taken root in their hearts; and the gospel had been bearing fruit in their lives.  They were able to live lives worthy of the Lord because they were motivated to do so by the gospel that had come to them!

 

There isn’t a soul here this morning who doesn’t have that same motivation.  Each and every one of us has learned of Christ’s rescue mission here on this earth.  We’ve each been taught that our sins – no matter how many and how terrible they may be – have all been forgiven.  Every one of us knows that our Savior is preparing a place for us in heaven where we will spend all eternity with him.  How did we learn all this?  There’s a clue on the front of your bulletin — from reading the Word!  There we’ve learned the good news of our Lord’s salvation plan.  For all that he has done for us, for all that we have learned about his love for us, can we give him anything less than our very best?  Motivated by the gospel, we strive to live a life worthy of the Lord!

 

The Colossians had been taught God’s gospel message, but now they were facing temptations to fall back into their old “work-righteous” ways.  Paul wanted them to live a life worthy of the Lord, but not to be saved.  That had already been accomplished by Christ.  No, Paul wanted them to live a life worthy of the Lord because they were saved.  The same applies for us.  We want to show our thanks by pleasing our Lord in every way.

 

That was Paul’s prayer for the Colossians (vv 9,10), “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way.”  Perhaps the Colossians were wondering, “What happens now?”  Once the gospel had taken root in their hearts, they knew things would never be the same.  Their lives would be different.  But how?

 

Paul uses four phrases to explain how our lives have changed so that we now live to please the Lord.  First of all he mentions that we please him by “bearing fruit in every good work” (v 10).  To be productive, fruit trees need pruning and constant care.  As Christians, we need to be in the Word to allow the law to prune away the attitudes and actions not in line with God’s will so that the gospel has room to bear fruit “in every good work.”  Consistent use of the Word keeps us from practicing our Christianity only for an hour each Sunday morning only to live ungodly lives the rest of the week.  The more we let God “prune” us, the more fruit will be evident in our lives.

 

Paul’s second thought is similar: “growing in the knowledge of God” (v 10).  You know what happens to a fruit tree if it stops growing and stops bearing fruit — all it’s good for is firewood.  In the same way, there’s no room for stagnation in our growth as Christians.  There’s no plateau in the life of a Christian – either we’re growing or we’re declining.  Living a life worthy of the Lord requires the willingness to grow every day in the knowledge of God.

 

When high winds and hail come whipping in, fruit trees need to stand tall and strong.  So it is with Christians, who need to be “strengthened with all power according to [God’s] glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience” (v 11).  When the storms of family problems, illness, and job stress come crashing down on us, we need the “endurance and patience” that can only be found in the words of our God, who has promised us (Heb 13:5), “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  It’s with his power that we can endure whatever may come, patiently waiting for his deliverance, whether it be here on this earth or forever in heaven.

 

As we live a life worthy of the Lord, we do so “joyfully giving thanks to the Father” (v 12).  There’s our motivation once again – living not for ourselves but for him “who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light” (v 12).  If you go to a baseball game and find someone sitting in your seat, you might ask them to check their ticket to see if they’re “qualified” to be in that seat.  No ticket means that they’re not supposed to be there.  Sinners whose sins are not paid for are not fit or “qualified” to live in the presence of a holy God.  They don’t have a ticket to prove they belong.  Nor do they have the ability to produce one on their own.  But God worked a miracle!  He gave us the credentials — the ticket — needed to be allowed into his presence and to “share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”  With the ticket stamped by our Savior himself, we know we belong in his kingdom!

 

So let’s live like it!  Let’s live a life worthy of the Lord!  There’s really no pressure in doing so.  It’s not as if we’re taking a test to see if we get into heaven or not.  Our entrance exam has already been taken by Christ.  Now we’re just writing the thank-you notes with the way we live our lives until we get there.   And, when we stumble, God’s there with his ever-present eraser of forgiveness.  That’s why, like Paul, we “no longer live for [ourselves] but for him who died for [us] and was raised again” (2 Co 5:15).  We live a life worthy of our Lord!

 

But isn’t that still impossible?  Don’t we still sin every day?  Sure, but when God looks at us, he sees Christ.  When God looks at us, he sees the righteousness won for us by his Son.  When God looks at us, he sees Jesus living a life worthy of him in our stead.  He’s made the impossible possible!

And doesn’t that deserve nothing short of our best efforts as we now live for him?

 

                                                                                                                                                Amen

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Go - God’s Light Is Green

11. July 2010 by admin.

Luke 10

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-two

¹After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. ²He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. ³Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. ⁴Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. ⁵“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. ⁷Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

⁸“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. ⁹Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’ ¹⁰But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ¹¹‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’ ¹²I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

Luke 10:16-20

¹⁶“He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

¹⁷The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

¹⁸He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

 

Summary:  Once Jesus sent out 72 of his followers to proclaim the kingdom of God to the people of Israel.  This reminds us that all of us have been commissioned to bring the good news to our world.  We may enjoy success or we may not.  But, like the 72, knowing we belong to him will help us order our priorities.

 

Dear fellow workers in the harvest field of our Lord,

 

Has this ever happened to you?  You’re out driving in your car, and you stop at an intersection because the light’s turned red.  As you wait, you start to daydream a bit about the weather, your grocery list, or what you’ve got planned for the evening.  All of a sudden you’re jarred back to reality by the sound of a horn blaring behind you.  You glance up and notice that the light has changed – and you’re not moving!  So you quickly step on it, give a little “I’m sorry” wave to the guy behind you, and make a hasty getaway to try and make up for your brief moment of inattentiveness.

 

Now, you didn’t commit a crime with your late start on the green light.  You might have felt a bit foolish, but there was really no harm done.  But if we delay when God gives us his green light, then the consequences can be fatal – perhaps not for us, but for many others.

 

Now is not the time for us to be daydreaming at the intersections of life, not when it comes to the Lord’s kingdom.  God has work for us to do.  This morning we’re encouraged to:

 

“Go – God’s Light Is Green!”

 

                                                              I. Recognize the need

                                                             II. Receive the instructions

                                                            III. Rejoice over the results

 

If you remember back to last Sunday’s Gospel lesson, Jesus had invited many people to “follow” him (Lk 9:59).  Perhaps there was a sense of urgency in his voice, for this would be our Savior’s last trip to Jerusalem.  He was going there to die.  Before long, his time on this earth would be over.  As he made his way to Jerusalem for the last time, Jesus wanted the people to be prepared for him, to understand that he was about to accomplish his mission.  So he sends out some of his followers with an assignment (v 1), “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.”  This would be more than the usual 12 disciples could handle, so 72 were sent out – not to set up parades and banquets in Jesus’ honor, but to let people know that the kingdom of God was near.  Their Savior was about to accomplish his mission!

 

There was plenty of work to be done (v 2), “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”  The workers were few then, and they’re still few today when compared to the number of people who still need to hear the gospel.  The workers are still few when compared to the forces of evil working against the Lord and his message.  The workers are still few, and yet the fields remain ripe for harvest.  Farmers tell me that when it’s time to harvest wheat, you can’t just sit idly by.  You have to get into the fields or you could lose a good share of the crop.  What an even greater urgency exists for us today to get into God’s field, to get at the harvest while there’s still time, to work while it is day.

 

When analyzing the situation within our own church body, one might be tempted to amend our Lord’s statement to say, “The harvest is plentiful, but the dollars to send out workers are few.”  We have graduates from Martin Luther College and from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary who are anxious to get to work in the Lord’s fields as pastors and teachers, and yet there are still some relegated to the sidelines.  It’s not due to the lack of opportunities.  The Board for Home Missions has dozens of places researched and ready to go as new mission fields, but most of them have been placed on hold due to a lack of funds.

 

The figures in our own bulletin this morning reflect the problem being felt synod-wide.  I recently shared with the church council that many of our plans to increase our ministry here at Messiah have been put on hold because we’re currently running 15% behind in offerings compared to last year – affecting our expansion plans for our children’s ministry, and causing us to be falling short in our support of Nebraska Lutheran High School and in our synod mission offering as well.

 

Dare we say that the challenges facing our synod and our own congregation are due to a lack of funds?  When we look around at how greatly we’ve been materialistically blessed by our Lord, isn’t it more accurate to say that the problem is a lack of proper priorities when it comes to using the dollars the Lord has entrusted to us?

 

What can we do about it?  The first step is always prayer (v 2), “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”  It’s not that God won’t send out workers unless we ask him to, but by praying we’re led to realize that God is the only one who’s capable of providing what we need.  We’re given this wonderful promise in John’s first epistle (1 Jn 5:14), “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” – and it’s certainly his will that we recognize the need and pray for workers to go out and bring in his harvest.  God’s light is green!

 

Keep in mind that we’re not to limit our request to only full-time workers.  Remember that the Lord told 72 disciples to pray  for workers – but then he sent those same 72 out to be the workers!  Once we’ve recognized the need for workers, let’s pay close attention so we can receive the instructions the Lord gives to us to go out into his field.

 

As we’re given the green light to head out, God also wants us to be aware of our limitations (v 3), “Go!  I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.”  We’re heading out into a hostile environment.  By nature people don’t want to hear what we have to tell them about the consequences of their sins and their need for a Savior.  Jesus warned his disciples (Mt 10:22), “All men will hate you because of me.”  Did you know that even today throughout the world almost 500 people are killed every day because of their Christian faith?  And now the Lord wants to feed us to the wolves?

 

We’d have reason to be afraid if we didn’t know who was sending us.  The command to go comes from Jesus himself, the same one who assures us (Mt 28:20), “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  If we rely on our own strength or our own abilities, we will be devoured by a world of wolves that sees our message as “foolishness” and “a stumbling block” (1 Co 1:18,23).  Instead we trust in the Lord as we follow his command.  The one who gives us the green light to go is also the one who promises to always be by our side.

 

The 72 men sent out by our Lord were given some pretty impressive credentials (v 9), “Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’” The physical  healings would certify these men as God’s representatives, but their most important job would still be delivering the message, “The kingdom of God is near you.”  The people needed to know that their long-awaited Savior had come!  It was time to get ready for him!

 

Not everyone would be receptive to their message.  Jesus wanted his spokesmen to be ready for rejection (vv 10-12,16), “But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you.  Yet be sure of this:  The kingdom of God is near.’  I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. . . . He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”  Even when they would be rejected, Jesus wanted these men to deliver a warning.  Perhaps people would repent and listen to their message.  If not, the Lord himself would take care of things.  After all, he would be the one being rejected.  The workers were just his representatives.  They were supposed to go out and do the work.  The Lord would take care of the rest.

 

There are two things I want you to take home from this portion of our text.  First of all, keep in mind that it is the Lord who equips us to do his work.  Some receive greater instructions, greater responsibilities, such as pastors and teachers.  But everyone who knows what Jesus has done for our salvation is instructed enough to witness to others.  God’s light is green, but that doesn’t mean each of us has to hop on a jet to Africa or climb up into a pulpit on Sunday morning.  But it does mean that we are to keep our eyes open for opportunities to share what we know about Jesus.  We’re all qualified to do so, because the Lord has given us the instructions we need to bring in the harvest.

 

Secondly, realize that rejection is to be expected.  Do you know that a baseball player who makes an out seven times out of every ten at-bats is still considered a star?  That’s only a 30% success rate, meaning that 70% of the time that player fails to do what he wanted to do.  When it comes to sharing your faith, don’t give up if you don’t bat 1.000.  What do you think my success rate has been over the years in getting people to church or to my Bible Information Class?  10%?  5%?  Most likely, closer to 1%!  My son asked me how many people have joined our church as a result of us having a booth at the county fair for the last 15 years.  The answer?  Not a soul!

 

And yet the Lord tells us not to become disheartened.  He tells us not to give up.  The only people who have never failed when it comes to sharing their faith are those who have never tried.  Don’t be discouraged by rejection.  Remember, the angels in heaven rejoice over just one sinner who repents and is added to the fold.  And even though we may not always see visible results for our efforts, that doesn’t mean that God isn’t using us.  His Word always brings results – seen and unseen!  All we’re told to do is to go.  God promises to take it from there.

 

Knowing that God will bless us as he sends us out gives us every reason to rejoice.

 

Luke jumps ahead to when the 72 who had been sent out returned from their mission (vv 17-19), “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.’  He replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.’”  The disciples were pretty excited about the power they had been given.  Even the demons had to yield to them!  Jesus pictures this as the beginning of Satan’s tumble from power, a fall which would be brought to completion once Jesus uttered those life-saving words (Jn 19:30), “It is finished.”  The reason these men had such awe-inspiring power?  Jesus had given it to them.  That’s why they had nothing to fear.  “Nothing will harm you,” Jesus told them.  The enemy was powerless against the almighty God!

 

And yet Jesus didn’t want these men treasuring the miracles they did more than what Jesus had already done for them (v 20), “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”  That’s the real miracle – having the knowledge that already the Lord had reserved a place for them in his kingdom!  This was the message they were to continue to share with the world.  This is the message that brings results that count!

 

Jesus wants us to stay focused here on this earth, to remember why we’re here.  Perhaps you’ve heard the saying that the problem with Christians is that we are so heavenly minded that we’re no earthly good.  Actually, the opposite is true.  Unless we’re heavenly minded, we can’t be any earthly good.

 

When it comes to what brings us joy, we have to have a spiritual agenda in mind as we go about our daily routines.  We find joy in so many things here on this earth – our favorite sports team wins a championship; we get a week of wonderful weather; we’re able to pay off some of our bills; we get some vacation time to spend with family and friends, and so on.  But all these pale in comparison to the ultimate joy of being able to see someone come to know their Lord and Savior because the Holy Spirit used you to reach out to them.  Think of it – God wants to use you to change someone’s eternity!  He wants to use you to help someone see that their name is also written in heaven!  That’s true joy!  That’s lasting joy!  That’s the result that awaits each of us when we go out to bring in the Lord’s harvest!

 

So what’s keeping us?  We recognize the need.  We’ve received the instructions.  And we know there will be joyous results awaiting us.  Pray for workers!  Support those workers with your offerings!  Be the workers in whatever way the Lord may choose to use you!

 

We can’t wait any longer.  The light’s green.  It’s time for us to go!

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Liberty or License?

6. July 2010 by admin.

Galatians 5

Freedom in Christ

¹It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:13-25

¹³You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. ¹⁴The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

Life by the Spirit

¹⁶So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. ¹⁷For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. ¹⁹The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Summary:  Paul boldly proclaimed our Christian freedom in Christ.  He reminds us of what we surely know B that it is not freedom to live as we may please.  Rather, it is a case of being freed from our sinful natures to please our Lord.  Living by the Spirit, we will display the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

Dear followers of Christ, freed by him from our sins to live by the Spirit,

 

Judging by the number of fireworks being set off in my neighborhood the past few days, what we’re celebrating today must be a big deal.  Thirteen British colonies must have felt so 234 years ago when they had finally had enough and went about declaring their independence.  Ever since we’ve celebrated our freedom every 4^th of July, thankful to live in a land of liberty.

 

It’s also important for us to be sure we understand the responsibility that comes with our freedom.  Just because we’re free doesn’t mean we can do anything we want.  For example, freedom of speech does not allow us to yell “fire” in a crowded movie theater.  Freedom can be abused.  That’s why it’s important to appreciate it and to use it for the common good.

 

Back in 1776 the Declaration of Independence celebrated freedom from political tyranny.  But such freedom is far surpassed by what Christ has won for us – freedom from spiritual tyranny.  As we celebrate the freedom we have as a nation today, let us focus this morning on what is now ours in Christ, asking ourselves if it’s:

 

“Liberty or License?”

 

                                                              I. Christ has set us free

                                                             II. Free to sin?

                                                            III. Free to serve!

 

The founders of our country felt that they were being held captive by England because they didn’t have a say in how they were being governed.  The captivity of the human race is much more severe.  Sin has shackled us, and we don’t have the key to get loose.  Thank God for sending his Son (v 1), “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”  No manmade revolution could free us, so a divine plan was necessary (Gal 4:4,5), “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law.”  Jesus removed the handcuffs from us and placed them on his own wrists, taking our place under the law so that he could do what we failed to do.  He set us free from the curse of the law “by becoming a curse for us” (Gal 3:13), taking our place on Calvary’s cross to pay for our sins.  When it comes to any obligation for us to fulfill for our place in eternity, there’s nothing left to do.  All has been accomplished!  Christ has set us free!

 

And yet too often we allow ourselves to think that we still have to do something to be saved.  But if Christ has set us free, we dishonor him by placing ourselves back under the law in a vain attempt to do what he’s already done for us.  So Paul tells us (v 1), “Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  Think of the unnecessary pressure, the needless guilt, under which so many live today, believing that they have to appease an angry God by what they can do.  But deep down there is no way to prove ourselves worthy before God, not outside of Christ.  We “stand firm” in him alone for our salvation, casting aside the burden that was ours when enslaved by the curse of the law.

 

Now comes the confusing part of today’s message.  As Christians we are free only by being slaves.  Truth is, no one is ever free.  Either you’re a slave to sin, or you’re a slave to God.  Jesus tells us (Jn 8:32), “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin,” while Paul reminds us (Ro 6:22), “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God.”  So, either way, you’re going to be a slave.  The only question remaining is, whose slave are you going to be – God’s or the devil’s?

 

It’s all how we look at the freedom won for us by Christ.  Paul continues (v 13), “You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature.”  In other words, we have not been set free to sin!  The liberty acquired by our Savior does not give us license to sin and do whatever we please.  But some are led to think that way, that if Christ has removed all our sins already, then what does it matter if we sin, since we’re already forgiven?  Such ignorant and sinful indulgence is obvious in our world today – and not just among unbelievers!  Christians are also guilty of abusing the freedom given to us by our Lord.  See if any of the items on Paul’s list apply to you – and be honest (vv 19-21), “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.”  Do you have a lot of checkmarks on your scorecard?  Me, too.  Paul tells us that living as if we have been given a license to sin brings nothing but self-destruction (v 15), “If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”  No wonder we say that we’re living in a “dog-eat-dog” world!  If you’re living with such an attitude and with such a lifestyle, then take to heart the words of Paul (v 21), “I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Such living only puts in jeopardy our eternal welfare.

 

“Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature.”  We haven’t been given a license to sin.  To think that way is a misuse – yes, an abuse – of the liberty we have in Christ.  If you think you can keep on sinning with no consequences, that somehow you’re protected under an umbrella of forgiveness no matter how much you intentionally go against God’s will, then take to heart the very sobering words of Hebrews 10:26,27, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”

 

When I read those words, I can’t help but feel like Paul when he laments in Romans (7:24), “What a wretched man I am!  Who will rescue me from this body of death?”  But my despair is quickly overcome with hope and joy when in the very next verse Paul tells me (Ro 7:25), “Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!”  That’s where we find our hope and joy, because in Christ we have been forgiven!  We’ve been set free – but not to sin.  Now we’re free to serve!

 

Christ has freed us from the burden of the law so that we can now live as people set free.  Our lives will change from the selfish pursuit of the sinful nature to the Spirit-led desire to produce fruits of faith.  Paul tells us what to look for (vv 22,23), “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  That’s what freedom is – the ability to live the way you were created to live!  And who can find fault with someone bearing such fruit?  Paul adds the somewhat humorous comment (v 23), “Against such things there is no law.”  No one will ever accuse you of being too patient or too kind or too gentle.  You can never have too much fruit when it comes to serving the Lord and each other.

 

If you want to keep it simple when it comes to serving, go back to verse 14, “The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” That first fruit of the Spirit, “love,” really sums up all the rest.  We show our love for the Lord for freeing us from sin by showing love to others.  And, as you’ve heard me say many times, the best way to show your love for someone is to share what Jesus has done for them.

 

That’s how you’ll show people that you’re different from the rest of the world.  Instead of looking only to serve yourself and your sinful nature, the world will see you serving others.  That’ll make you stick out in this world, but in a good way.  The world will know to whom you belong (v 24), “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.”  Instead of claiming a license to sin, we stand out by using our liberty to serve.

 

But don’t ever think it’s going to be easy.  We need the Spirit’s help, because there’s a daily battle being waged between the Old Adam and the New Man inside each of us.  Paul describes it this way (vv 16-18), “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.”  The key to living by the Spirit is really quite simple.  Let me use a story I read recently to illustrate.  There was once a missionary on an Apache reservation in Arizona.  Keep in mind that many in this Native American group are corrupted with a great deal of substance abuse, violence, and immorality.  The missionary was speaking to one of the recent converts, when the man made a rather profound spiritual statement.  It was common for the Apaches to speak in metaphors, so he used one while speaking to the missionary.  “You know, Pastor, fighting temptation is so hard,” he said.  “It’s like there are two dogs fighting in my heart.  There’s an evil dog (which he referred to as the “black” dog) that only wants me to do bad.  There’s also a good dog (which he referred to as the “white” dog) that only wants me to do good and obey God’s commands.”  Understanding the conflict between the old self and the new self, the missionary asked the man, “Well, which dog wins the fight?”  The Apache answered, “Oh, that’s easy – whichever one I feed the most.”

 

Which “dog” are you feeding, the black one or the white one?  How are you responding to what Christ has done for you?  Do you see the freedom he won for you as a license to sin or as the liberty to serve?  Paul concludes our text this morning with these words of encouragement (v 25), “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”  Since we’ve been set free and made alive in Christ, let’s look alive as we strive to live by the Spirit.  Feed the right dog!  Do so by letting  the Spirit fill you with the Word and Sacrament often!

 

Then we’ll be truly free, and for us not just the 4^th of July but every day can be called “Independence Day”!

                                                 Amen

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Dealing with Death

14. June 2010 by admin.

Luke 7:11-17

Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son

 ¹¹Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called
Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. ¹²As he approached the town
gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother,
and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. ¹³When the Lord saw her, his
heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

 ¹⁴Then he went up and touched
the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I
say to you, get up!” ¹⁵The
dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his
mother.

 ¹⁶They
were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared
among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” ¹⁷This news about Jesus spread
throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

 

Summary:  By raising a young man from the dead Jesus shows us
his compassion and power over the grave, teaching us how to deal with
death.

 

In Christ Jesus, the Lord of life and death, dear Christian
friends,

 

“Mommy, why is my pet fish floating on the top of the water?” 
“Teacher, why do the flowers I picked for you yesterday look so
bad today?”  And a question I received from my young son
some 14 years ago, “Say, Dad, what did you do with our dog Sadie after
you hit her with the car?”  Some tough questions, aren’t
they!  They’re not difficult because we don’t know the
answers.  They’re difficult because they force us to
explain to little ones something with which we ourselves may not be all
that comfortable.  We’re forced to talk about
death.

 

Just the mere mention of death can bring forth a multitude of
feelings.  We’re reminded of loved ones we’ve lost, of some
we may lose in the near future, or even of our own mortality.  We
can’t help but squirm a bit, try to change the subject, or just ignore
the topic altogether.  We know what God’s Word says about
the subject:   “The wages of sin is death” (Ro 6:23);
“Death came to all men, because all sinned” (Ro 5:12); “The last enemy
to be destroyed is death” (1 Co 15:26).  Ask people today
what they fear the most, and at the top of their list will be
death.

 

But death doesn’t belong there, at least not for the Christian! 
That’s because, when it comes to death, we’ve got nothing to
fear.  Why not?  Luke answers that question
for us today as we explore God’s Word under the theme:

 

“Dealing with Death”

 

                                                                    
I. The scene

                                                             
      II. The solution

                                                                  
III. The sequel

 

In last Sunday’s
Gospel lesson we heard how Jesus displayed his almighty power over
disease and sickness by healing the centurion’s servant by just saying
the word.  This morning our text follows right after that
event, beginning with the words “soon afterward.”  Perhaps
as early as the very next day Jesus would show that he had power over
not only sickness and disease, but also over death itself.

 

From Capernaum
Jesus and his disciples traveled southwest about 25 miles to the little
town of Nain, a name which means “lovely” or “pleasant.”  But
the scene which greeted them was anything but lovely or pleasant (vv
11,12), “Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his
disciples and a large crowd went along with him.  As he
approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out ‑‑ the
only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the
town was with her.”  Two processions met that day. 
One, led by Jesus, was made up of not only the 12 disciples, but
also a rather large crowd of people.  Many, no doubt, had
just seen or been told about his great healing miracle in Capernaum. 
The other procession, the one heading out of the city, had as
its focal point the lifeless body of a widow’s only son.  Simply
a coincidence that Jesus would come upon this scene?  Hardly! 
Jesus knew all about this woman with special needs, and he knew
what he would do to help her.

 

The scene in the
town of Nain that day some 2000 years ago is repeated daily around our
world today.  Funeral processions may cause us to pull over
while driving, but other than that, we may not give them much thought. 
Why not?  Because death is nothing new to us. 
It comes into every town, every family, to every person.  It
came to the town of Nain, making a second visit to this particular
family.  Death had already claimed this woman’s husband,
the father of their only child.  Now it came calling for
her son, her only support emotionally and
financially.  Imagine the pain she must have felt to not
only lose her spouse but now to be forced to bury her child.  The
pleasant memories and the words of sympathy from those around her could
do little to lighten the burden she must have felt.  Death
had made its mark on her, the same way it’s marked so many of us today. 
Whether it’s been a close family member or just an acquaintance,
to some extent we can put ourselves in this woman’s place and feel the
pain delivered to her that day by death.  The scene is a
familiar one, for in some way we’ve all had to deal with death.

 

Try as we might,
it’s impossible to avoid it.  We can exercise, eat right,
and get our eight hours of sleep each night, but sooner or later death
will still come calling.  But for the Christian, death’s
victory is short-lived.  Death is a powerful source, but
it’s not undefeated.  We can deal with death, because we’ve
been given the solution to death.  We see that
solution on display in the midst of this young man’s funeral procession
in Nain.

 

When Jesus saw
death’s latest victim coming his way, his attention was drawn to the
widowed mother.  He was moved by her loss (v 13), “When
the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry.’” 
Notice that Luke refers to Jesus here as “the Lord.” 
From the very beginning, Jesus was Lord of the entire situation. 
He was in complete control.  He would soon take
charge of the situation by showing that he was Lord of all, even Lord
over death itself.

 

“His heart went out to
her.”  Luke uses a
word which means “his whole being” went out to her over her loss. 
Jesus felt her sting of death in his own heart.  And
yet he could still gently say to her, “Don’t cry.”  She
could dry her tears, because Jesus was about to remove the cause of
those tears.

 

“Then he went up and
touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still.  He
said, ‘Young man, I say to you, get up!’  The dead man sat
up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother” (vv 14,15).  The funeral was called off! 
Why?  Because there was no body to bury!  Jesus
made sure of that!  He had the solution to death!  With
just his word, he was able to push death aside and bring life back to
the widow’s son.  For Jesus, it was as easy as waking a
person up from sleep.  Now he was able to present to this
woman her son, her living son!  Jesus had dealt with
death and had come out victorious!

 

What does this all
mean to you and me?  I see two lessons which we can take
to heart.  First of all, let’s take comfort in the fact
that we have a Savior who truly cares about what we go through.  Remember,
he came down to this earth to be one of us.  In Hebrews
we’re told that he was not one who was “unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as
we are — yet was without sin” (Heb 4:15).  When we suffer
the loss of a loved one, Jesus knows how we feel.  Remember
how he wept after hearing the news of Lazarus’ death?  At
times when death enters into our lives, we may feel all alone.  But
we’re not!  Jesus is there,  and he knows our
fears, our pains, and our losses.  And, above all, he can
help!

 

Does that mean we
should go to funerals and watch for the dead to come alive again? 
Not exactly.  But it does mean that the tears we
shed should never be for loved ones who die in the Lord.  The
love of God has changed the outcome of death for us.  When
Jesus came to this earth, he came to defeat death.  To do
so, he would first have to defeat the devil.  He would have
to strip Satan of his greatest weapon by giving up his perfect life in
exchange for every sin mankind would ever commit.  That’s
where we see our Savior’s love, for “greater
love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends”
(Jn 15:13).  Jesus knows what death is all about, because
he went through it and came back to talk about it!  “The
last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Co 15:26), but death has been
destroyed!  “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (1 Co
15:54).  Now death is no longer a dead end, but just a
beginning.  Remember what Jesus tells us (Jn 11:25), “I am
the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will
live, even though he dies.”  Death now simply marks the end
of our sin-marred existence here on this earth and the beginning of our
sin-free eternity in
heaven.  This is the second lesson to take home with you
this morning — Jesus Christ has power over death!

 

A pastor once
entered a coffee shop in a Chicago hotel.  While he was
finishing his breakfast, a man sat down on the stool next to him and
nervously ordered a roll and a cup of coffee.  He turned to
the pastor and said, “Did you see the headlines?”  Then he
pointed to the front page of the morning paper.  The
headline read: “Air Crash Kills 52.”  The man said, “I’m
supposed to catch a plane for Los Angeles this noon, and I’m scared
stiff!  If I didn’t have to be there for a meeting, I’d
cancel my reservation and take a train.” 
They talked a little more about the safety of travel by air and
by train.  Then the pastor mentioned that he too had a
plane reservation for that afternoon, and he intended to keep it. 
The man said to him, “Well, I guess it’s all in the way you look
at it. When your number’s up — it’s up.”  The pastor just
smiled and said to him, “Yes, I suppose that’s true.  But I
happen to know the Man who puts the numbers up.”

 

Should we be
afraid when our number comes up?  Not at all, because we
know who puts the numbers up!  We know that when death
comes calling, it’s simply our Lord’s way of telling us that he’s ready
for us in heaven!

 

We can deal with
death, because our Lord has conquered death for us.  We
know this, and it changes how we look at death.  But what
about the rest of the world?  What about those who still
live each day, dreadfully afraid of death and what it brings?  We’ve
seen Jesus bring a man back from the dead.  Let’s see what
happened next.  There’s a sequel to what happened at Nain
which directs us and our response today.

 

The crowd was
stunned, but the word got out (vv 16,17), “They were all filled with
awe and praised God.  ‘A great prophet has appeared among
us,’ they said.  ‘God has come to help his people.’  This
news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.” 
It’s not every day that these people had a funeral called off
for lack of a dead body!  They were stunned, and yet they
recognized that God was responsible for such a miracle.  Scholars
debate as to whether they now saw Jesus as the promised Messiah, the “prophet”
 spoken of by Moses, or as simply another of God’s
spokesmen.  We hope that such a display of power was enough
proof that standing before them was the very Son of God.  In
either case, there was no way the news of this event would die down. 
The people wouldn’t let it.  If you had been there,
you wouldn’t have been able to keep quiet either.  They
had witnessed a man who had the solution to death!  Such
news was too good to contain! “God has come to help his people.”

 

You and I have
found the solution to death.  You and I know that death is
no longer terminal, that death doesn’t have to be fatal.  We
know that the real cure for death has been found.  It’s
found in Jesus (Ro 6:9), “For we know that since Christ was raised from
the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.” 
And if death can no longer master Jesus, it can no longer master
us.  Scripture assures us (Ro 6:8), “Now if we died with
Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”  Or,
as Jesus himself tells us (Jn 14:19), “Because I live, you also will
live.”

 

By God’s grace, we
know all this.  So what are we going to do with it? 
Sit on it?  Shame on us if we do!  Can
you and I live our lives with the knowledge that death is no big deal
and let the rest of the world live in fear?  How fair is
that?  How loving is that?  How dare we be so
selfish!  Let the world in on what was never meant to be a
secret!  Tell the world why you can boast with the Apostle
Paul (1 Co 15:55), “Where, O death, is your victory?  Where,
O death, is your sting?”  Let them in on the solution (1
Co 15:57), “Thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

It’s so simple,
isn’t it?  It is, when you know the answers.  It
is, when you have the solution.  By God’s grace, we have
those answers.  Jesus has given them to us.  Now
it’s time to share them with others.  It’s time to let the
world know what we know, that because of Jesus we can deal with death!

 

Both my parents
were called home over the past 18 months.  Someone once
said to me that it must be hard to “lose” both my parents in such a
short period of time.  I’m sure they meant well, but what
they said really wasn’t accurate.  You see, I didn’t “lose”
my parents.  Someone is lost only when you don’t know
where to find them.  I know where my parents are.  I
know they’re with their Savior in heaven.

 

Those who die in
the Lord are never lost.  We know where to find them. 
Because of Jesus, we know how to deal with death. 

 

                                                             
Amen

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The LORD Bless You and Keep You – Always!

1. June 2010 by admin.

Numbers 6:22-27

The Priestly Blessing

²² The LORD said to Moses, ²³ “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: ²⁴ ” ‘ “The LORD bless you
and keep you;

²⁵ the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;

²⁶ the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace.” ‘

²⁷ “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Summary:  Moses receives from the Lord the blessing Aaron is to speak, putting the Lord’s name on the Israelites. We surely see the three-Personal nature of God that Jesus enunciated foreshadowed already in this Aaronic Benediction.

Dear Christian friends, privileged to have hearts filled with the Holy Spirit,

Have you ever noticed how most statements in which the word “always” is used end up being false? For example, you may have heard your children grumble on more than one occasion, “Why do we always have casseroles for supper?” After another sweltering day we may be prone to proclaim, “It’s always so hot in Kansas!” A long day at work or school may lead us to lament, “I’m always so tired when I get home that I can barely stand!” If “always” means “all the time, without exception,” these statements and many like them just can’t be taken too seriously because they’re just not true.

This morning we hear the Lord telling Moses (v 23), “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites.’” God wants his children to be blessed. What follows is the formula the Lord wants us to use to bestow his blessing, one with which we’re quite familiar since it’s used at the end of many of our worship services.

But do you know that we could be accused of leaving a word out of the blessing? Today I’m going to teach you a little Hebrew to prove my point as I share with you the blessings our Lord bestows upon us. Today we receive our God’s blessing as Moses proclaims to the Israelites and to us:

“The LORD Bless You and Keep You – Always!”

I. With fatherly protection

II. With saving grace

III. With spiritual peace

Here’s your Hebrew lesson for today: The verb forms used here in these verses in the original Hebrew language are what we call the “imperfect” tense. When this tense is used, it means that the actions mentioned are actively being fulfilled both in the present and in the future. In other words, it’s appropriate to add the word “always” to the verb being used! So let’s do that as we take a look at the Lord’s blessing.

“The LORD [always] bless you and keep you” (v 24).

It is the Lord’s will for us that we be prosperous and happy as he guards us from all danger and harm with his fatherly protection. He provides for us and preserves us “richly and daily” as we confess in Luther’s Explanation to the First Article, acknowledging that we have far more than we need and we’re taken care of every day. When was the last time you went hungry for an entire day? When was the last time you truly had nothing to wear? The Israelites would learn of God’s fatherly protection as they traveled through the desert. The daily miracles of manna and quail provided them with food for 40 years. And they didn’t have to stop at the mall for new clothing, because the Lord miraculously refused to let their clothes wear out. I read once that the average person needs to take 2400 steps to walk a mile. By spending 40 years of walking in the wilderness, God’s people piled up the miles, but their shoes never ripped out or wore through. How many pairs of 40-year old shoes do you have in your closet?

The Lord’s fatherly protection is still evident today in the fact that he’s kept us safe on our journey through life. No, we may not have magic clothing and shoes to wear, but is it any less a miracle how often we’ve “just missed” hitting that car that suddenly stopped in front of us? Earlier this month a tornado heading straight for Mid-Continent airport suddenly lifted and dissipated. Just a lucky break? The psalmist tells us otherwise (Ps 121:5-8), “The LORD watches over you – the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” In other words, the LORD will always bless you and keep you!

Keep in mind that the greatest protection he provides is spiritual. How many times hasn’t he shielded us from temptation! How many times, when we are tempted, hasn’t he blessed us with strength to resist! We have Scripture’s promise (1 Co 10:13), “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” As a shepherd cares for his sheep, so the Lord always blesses and keeps those who belong to his flock with his fatherly protection.

Why does our heavenly Father bless us in such a way, when we do nothing to deserve such wonderful care? We read on to learn that his saving grace in Christ is what motivates all the blessings we receive.

You’ll recognize part two of the Lord’s blessing (v 25), “The Lord [always] make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.” This might be my favorite part of the Lord’s blessing. I just love the picture of his face shining down upon me. David prays in the psalms (Ps 31:16), “Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.” Picture it as the sunshine finally breaking through the clouds on an overcast day. That’s what it’s like to have God’s shining – or smiling – face always on us, lighting and lightening our day with his continuing grace in Christ. Another way to think of it would be to have the Lord “always being favorably inclined toward us.” Wow! Wouldn’t that be something, to have God always looking at us in that way?

It would be something, and it is something, because that’s how God does look at us now – all because of the grace he showed to us in sending his Son to be our Savior. Just as the sun shines down on us from the sky without us doing anything to make it happen, so also the Lord’s face shines upon us apart from anything we do to deserve it. That’s because he’s always “gracious” to us. Grace can be defined as God refusing to give us what we have coming. Instead of punishment, he’s chosen to give us love. He sent Jesus, who John says came into our world “full of grace” (Jn 1:14). He stepped in for us and squared things with our heavenly Father by living and dying in our place. So now, when God looks our way, his face is always shining – he’s always smiling! We’re blessed because of his saving grace!

Don’t expect the world to understand this part of the Lord’s blessings. People are used to getting only what they deserve. They’re taught that everything has a price, and nothing is free. Grace is a concept that’s so different, it can only be accepted by faith. Scripture is clear when it comes to how our Lord blesses us with salvation (Eph 2:8,9), “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

If this is the case, then let’s be careful we don’t try to take credit for the blessings God has given us. The devil would have us do so, as he has wiggled his way into so many churches today, convincing people that salvation is a “tag-team” effort between man and God. Even at Messiah there are times when we may find ourselves tempted to boast and take credit for what God has done for our congregation. Right now we are rejoicing to have 75% of our membership in church every week, with an average attendance of 116 – the highest in Messiah’s history! Our delinquent list is almost non-existent. Our child care center has reached an enrollment of 70 children – also an all-time high! And now we once again have a vicar coming to assist in ministry next year. Things are going good, and Satan would love for us to pop our shoulders out of joint as we try to pat ourselves on the back. But we dare not do so, because the blessings we’ve experienced are just that – they’re blessings! God has enabled us to serve him and has blessed our efforts, not because we deserve to be blessed, but only because of what Christ has done for us. That’s what the blessing of saving grace is all about!

Fatherly protection, saving grace – how do we receive such blessings? They’re brought to us by the Holy Spirit as he works in our hearts, giving us blessing #3 — spiritual peace.

The last part of the Lord’s blessing is similar to having his face shine on us but still adds another thought (v 26), “The LORD [always] turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Sin often makes us feel as if God has turned his face away from us in disgust. David felt that way when he prayed (Ps 13:1,3), “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? . . . Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death.” Later David also adds (Ps 30:7), “O LORD, . . . when you hid your face I was dismayed.” We’re shamed so much by our sins that we’re led to ask, “How could a holy God even look at such a sinful creature as me?” Remember Adam and Eve trying to hide from God after they sinned in Eden? Our response is no better.

When we feel the weight of our sins, remember who bore that weight so we don’t have to. Jesus turned the Father’s anger into mercy. Even though we try to hide from him, the Lord never hides his face from us. He didn’t hide or hold back his love from Adam and Eve. When they disrupted his plan for the world, he simply came up with a new one that involved sending his Son to straighten everything out. And now with his face always turned toward us, we have peace.

There are many definitions for this peace. One that I ran across recently: Peace is “a positive state of rightness, well-being, and wholeness that encompasses both body and soul and comes only from the Lord.” To simplify, the peace with which God blesses us is knowing that no matter what’s going on in our lives, everything’s going to be O.K. It’s the sigh of relief that is ours once we hand over all our worries and concerns to the Lord. It’s the heartfelt smile that comes to our face when we’re reminded that because of Christ our Lord always turns his face toward us. And, because of that, everything’s going to be O.K.

Pastors today share in the joy of Aaron and his sons as we, too, are privileged to place the Lord’s blessing upon his people. That blessing is God’s mark of ownership (v 27), “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Some of the children in our child care center come with their names written on the tags of their clothing to let the teachers know who the clothes belong to so they won’t get mixed up. Growing up with three brothers, it wasn’t uncommon for us to write our names on our possessions so our evil brothers would keep their grubby little hands off. It was clear, then, who the owner was.

That’s what God has done to each of us. His name was imprinted on each of us when we were created, but Satan came along and tore the tag off. But God has come back with a permanent marker, and in big red letters he claims us as his own by writing his name in the blood of his Son. That reality is echoed every time we hear the Lord’s blessing – we are the Lord’s! Paul puts it this way (Ro 14:8), “Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” God has sealed his promise to us by placing his very own name on us, proclaiming his eternal ownership. That’s why we can always rejoice in the blessing of spiritual peace!

I hope today’s section of God’s Word leads you to appreciate all the more the wonderful blessing first given by the Lord to Moses for his Old Testament people but also meant today for you and me. It isn’t true that you always have casseroles for supper or that it’s always so hot in Kansas or that you’re always so tired after work or school that you can barely stand. But it is true that the Lord always wants to bless you and keep you! Since he’s the all-powerful God, he usually gets his way.

And isn’t that good news for us?

Amen

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What a Difference the Spirit Makes!

24. May 2010 by admin.

Acts 2:1-21

Acts 2

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

¹When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ²Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. ⁵Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? ⁸Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome ¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” ¹²Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

¹³Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Peter Addresses the Crowd

¹⁴Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. ¹⁵These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! ¹⁶No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
¹⁷” ‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
¹⁸Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
¹⁹I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
²⁰The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
²¹And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Summary: This is the account in Acts of the Day of Pentecost, when the Spirit of power Jesus had promised them descended on the apostles to equip them for their gospel mission. May that same Spirit of power descend on us.

In the name of Jesus, who sent the Spirit as promised, dear fellow recipients of the Spirit’s blessings,

If I were to ask you to name the most important days in the church year, I think it’s pretty safe to say that a couple of days would be on everyone’s list — namely, Christmas and Easter. After all, Christmas is the day we celebrate God’s gift to mankind, our Savior Jesus. Easter is the day when that very same Savior proved his victory over death and the devil by his resurrection from the dead — an event that also assures us of our own resurrection. But how many of you would have listed today as one of the most important days in the church year? Did you even know before you came this morning that today was a special day?

Today is Pentecost Sunday, a day that is also referred to as the birthday of the Christian church. It’s an important day because it made a huge difference in the disciples and in those who heard their message that day. Before that first Pentecost the disciples were still missing some pieces of the puzzle. They knew Jesus had risen. They saw him ascend back into heaven. But they still weren’t really sure what to do next. And the rest of our Lord’s followers were, no doubt, wondering the same thing.

But help was on the way! Before his ascension Jesus told his disciples (Ac 1:4), “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” This “gift” would arrive on Pentecost, transforming the disciples and, in a day’s time, adding some 3000 people to the Lord’s church. What a difference a day makes!

We’re here this morning to celebrate the difference made on that day. And we’re here to praise the One who made that difference. Today we rejoice in seeing:

“What a Difference the Spirit Makes!”

I. He comes with a special power

II. He provides a powerful message

We find the disciples doing just what Jesus had instructed them to do — waiting for “the gift” the Father had promised (v 1), “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.” How many were there that day? Probably more than just the twelve disciples. Earlier in Acts Luke tells us (Ac 1:15), “In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty).” Most likely there were many there that day, waiting for that “gift” which Jesus had said would come.

Then, in a most spectacular way, the gift made itself known (vv 2-4), “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” God the Holy Spirit was the gift Jesus had been talking about! And what an arrival he made! First there was the audible sound of a rushing wind, but without the wind itself! Then you had the visible sign of what appeared to be little fire-like clusters that divided up and settled on the heads of each of these believers. John the Baptist had spoken about this day in Luke 3:16 when he said that Jesus would come and “baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” With both sound and sight, the Holy Spirit made his arrival known.

Don’t overlook the last sign mentioned in our text, perhaps the most noteworthy. All of a sudden the disciples were able to speak in different languages! Keep in mind that these were men whose native language was Aramaic, men who may have been skilled in Greek, but now were speaking in languages they had never even studied! How was this possible? There was only one explanation — the special power of the Spirit! This and the other signs were used by the Spirit to show that something special was happening that day.

And people noticed (vv 5-13), “Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs–we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!’ Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’ Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.’” Yes, there were some skeptics in the crowd who wanted to dismiss what they were hearing as a case of morning drunkenness, but most of the people knew that it wasn’t that simple. What they were seeing and hearing was special! These signs were powerful! They were meant to attract a crowd, to serve as “attention-grabbers.” Throughout the days of the apostles, charismatic gifts served as proof of the Spirit’s presence and confirmed the apostles’ message at a time when the New Testament had yet to be written. As Mark tells us (Mk 16:20), “The disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” These signs let the people know that something special was happening, that a special power was present. On that first Pentecost, the signs of that power were too great to ignore.

Picture the scene that day. People “from every nation under heaven” came to see what all the commotion was about. The nations mentioned cover three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe — the known world at that time. Jesus had instructed the disciples to go into all the world with the gospel, but on this day he brought the world to them! Just as was prophesied in the Old Testament, the Lord’s church would truly be composed of people from every nation.

The crowd was stunned, “amazed and perplexed,” because before them stood men — Galilean men — who in their own languages proclaimed to them “the wonders of God.” How was this possible? Remember what Jesus had told them (Ac 1:8), “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses.” The Holy Spirit had blessed these men with a special power to proclaim “the wonders of God” to people from all over the world. What a difference the Spirit makes!

There’s no need to be jealous of the disciples. You and I have also experienced the Spirit’s power. What a difference he has made in our lives! We were conceived and born into this world as God’s enemies, hostile to him and allies of the devil. But by the simple washing of Holy Baptism, God took over (Tit 3:5), “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” He yanked us out of the devil’s camp and made us part of our Lord’s family. And it’s that same special power that enables you even to this day to still call yourself a child of God. Through Word and sacrament he nourishes our faith and keeps us close to him, even as a world of sin tries to pull us away. By ourselves we’d give in and be lost. We’d listen to the devil and be lost for all eternity. But our Lord assures us that we’re not alone. He’s with us to call us back when we do stray, to offer us the forgiveness won by his Son on the cross, and to keep us in the faith until he calls us home. All of this is God’s doing, his gift to us, a miracle of the Spirit. What a difference the Spirit makes!

The signs caught the people’s attention. But there was more to come that day. The Holy Spirit also used the disciples to deliver a powerful message.

Notice who served as the spokesman that day (vv 14-18), “Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: ‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.”’” Was this the same Peter who had been so afraid to be associated with Jesus? Were these the same disciples who had run for their lives and hidden behind locked doors? Maybe in body, but not in spirit! They had received a special power, and now they were able to proclaim a powerful message.

Peter was the main preacher that day, and his text was from the Book of Joel. He began by explaining that no wine was involved in what was happening that day, that instead the disciples were fulfilling what the prophet Joel had spoken about some 900 years earlier. This day would mark the beginning of “the last days,” the beginning of the New Testament era, the era in which we are still living today. It would be a time when the Holy Spirit would come not only to the Jews (as was the emphasis in Old Testament times), but to all people of all races. “Visions” and “dreams” of Christians from all over creation would become a reality as believers witnessed the Spirit at work. They would be able to “prophesy,” a word that didn’t just mean “to predict the future,” but also “to speak for another.” That’s what we as Christians do — we serve as Christ’s witness as we speak for him to others about what he has done for the world. God helps us fulfill our visions and dreams by adding more and more people to his kingdom. And he does so with the powerful message given to us by the Spirit.

Peter also gives us a warning that our time is limited. More signs will be coming — signs that signify we are in the last days (vv 19,20), “I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.” Our days on this earth are numbered. Every war and revolution, every eclipse, every storm, every earthquake, every tornado, and every erupting volcano reminds us that “the great and glorious day of the Lord” is near.

And yet we do not fear. Why not? Because Peter tells us (v 21), “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” That’s a powerful message! All who by the power of the Holy Spirit see Jesus as their Lord and Savior have nothing to fear when Jesus comes again. We will be saved! Jesus has rescued us from sin and the devil, and on the last day he will rescue us from an eternity in hell. What wonderful news! What hope and comfort we have as Christians! What a difference the Spirit makes!

There’s a world full of people out there who don’t realize the difference the Spirit can make in their lives. They’re trying to cope with life on their own. They’re hiding their fear. They’re disguising their sadness and despair. They want you to believe that they’re O.K., and the devil wants you to believe it, too. But we can’t ignore the facts. The disciples didn’t. With the Spirit’s power, they delivered a powerful message to people who needed to hear it. They told them that they had crucified God’s own Son, the Savior, and yet that same Savior died for them and was willing to forgive them. That same Savior loved them and wanted them in heaven with him. The Spirit used the disciples to proclaim this wonderful news to them.

And he’ll use you, too. No, you may not break into an impromptu sermon like Peter. But the Spirit will help you find the words. Just tell others what you know. Listen to their story — what fears and worries they may have; tell them your story — what God has done for you; then proclaim his story — point people to the Savior’s love as seen on the cross. Let them know what a difference the Spirit has made in your life, and what a difference he can make in theirs!

Thank God for Pentecost. It jump-started the Christian church and supplied it with the special power needed to proclaim a powerful message. Pentecost introduces us to the Holy Spirit. Take away the Spirit, and Christmas and Easter lose their meaning. The Spirit makes all the difference in the world — a difference we can’t ignore, a difference we can’t hide, but a difference that’s ours to share with all people!

Amen

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You Are Invited

17. May 2010 by admin.

Revelation 22:12-17

¹²“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. ¹³I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

¹⁴“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. ¹⁵Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

¹⁶“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you^[a] this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

¹⁷The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

Revelation 22:20

²⁰He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Summary:  Words from Jesus himself bring John’s Revelation to a close. In this section we hear the Lord’s assurance that he is coming again. He will supply for those who are his the tree of life and the water of life. There’s only one way to respond – to say with Christians of all time, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

Dear fellow recipients of our Lord’s invitation to his heavenly banquet, and especially you, our graduates/confirmands,

Have you ever been to a wedding reception where you had to wait and wait and wait for the bride and groom to arrive? Either the pictures took longer than expected, or they ended up driving downtown in the limo, or they just spent way too much time in the reception line visiting with everyone. Meanwhile your stomach starts to growl because all you’ve had to eat are a couple of mints that you smuggled from the cake table and, on top of that — you’re getting so bored! But then the bride and groom finally arrive, the dinner silences your grumbling tummy, the reception brings fun and laughter with family and friends, and in the end the memories you have are all good ones. You were actually glad you came, glad that you had been invited to share in such a wonderful event.

Sometimes the devil makes life on this earth seem like the frustrating time spent waiting for a bride and groom to arrive after a wedding. Our Lord has invited us join him in the most wonderful celebration of all – the wedding banquet of the Lamb prepared for us in heaven! Everything’s been prepared. Our place has been reserved. But waiting while living in a sinful world can tempt us to be so impatient! And sometimes we let the wait get to us and affect our faith.

As graduates/confirmands, you are especially vulnerable to such a temptation, since you’re at the age when you’re so anxious to see what life has in store for you. But along the way there are going to be some speed bumps, and it’s important that you always keep this in mind – when it comes to the Lord’s wedding banquet, never forget:

“You Are Invited”

I. To receive the reward of Christ

II. To enjoy the presence of Christ

III. To live in the city of Christ

IV. To bask in the light of Christ

V. To drink from the well of Christ

If there’s anything you learned from your years of confirmation class, it was that we can’t earn heaven by how we live. So what’s up with the first verse of our text (v 12), “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” “According to what he has done”? Let me explain. I don’t think anyone here this morning has a chance of winning an Olympic gold medal in the 100-meter dash. But let’s say you watched the race on TV, and afterwards during the awards ceremony, the winner’s stand was empty. Suddenly you heard the P.A. announcer calling out your name and declaring you the winner.

That’s what Jesus did for us. He ran the race, and he was victorious. But we get to go to the winner’s stand, because he ran the race for us! So when God looks at us, all he sees is the gold medal — the medal won by Christ — hanging around our necks. As for the good works we do? They’re simply the evidence of the faith that exists in our hearts, the works done out of thanks and love for what Christ has done for us. Each of us is invited to receive the reward of salvation won for us by our Savior!

Sometimes you may not feel like much of a winner. Sometimes the devil does a good job of making you believe that you’re wearing a name tag on your chest with “Loser” written on it – and that you deserve it! But it doesn’t matter where you finished in your class grade-wise, or if you didn’t fill your shelves with athletic trophies and medals, or if you weren’t one of the “popular” kids in school. You’re always a winner with Jesus! And he has a reward waiting for you in heaven to prove it!

Remember when you were little and you were learning your ABC’s and starting to figure out how to make words with them? You soon discovered that most letters (except for “a,” “I,” and sometimes “O”) couldn’t stand alone. You couldn’t just put an “s” out in the middle of a sentence. It would need other letters to surround it, support it, and make it into a word.

One of the worst feelings in the world is the feeling of being alone. As Christians we’re often vulnerable to being left alone when we refrain from joining in with the crowd and living only for this life and for what it has to offer. That’s why it’s so neat to hear that we’re invited to enjoy the presence of Christ! He’s always with us, and he’s not going anywhere, because he assures us (v 13), “I am the Alpha and the Omega [the first and last letter of the Greek alphabet], the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” In other words, he’s been here forever, and he’s not leaving anytime soon! So you’re not just stuck out there all by yourself. When you’re literally terrified about what tomorrow might bring, you have a Savior who already knows what’s coming – and he knows how to get you through it! Like a letter in the alphabet, you’re never alone. Even though Scripture says that you “must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (Ac 14:22), during your journey you’ll always be surrounded and supported by the presence of Christ, a Savior who loves you and promises to never leave you or forsake you!

He’s the one who always keeps us safe. I recently read about the shifting trends of where people choose to live. About 70 years ago there was a rather significant shift in our country as people began moving in droves from farms to the city. Then about 30 or so years ago, their children began migrating from the cities out into the suburbs. Now their children are moving in two directions. Some are moving even farther out into rural settings – not necessarily back to the farms, but into larger homes with lots of land and lots of lawn to mow. Others seem to be moving back into the city to be closer to their businesses and the activities of city life. To many, living in a city brings a sense of safety and security, providing a sort of refuge from enemies and predators.

We’re told the devil “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Pe 5:8). He wants to add us to his collection of “those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (v 15) — called “dogs” by the Lord in his vision to John. And we’re not taking about those lovable pets we have in our homes. No, these are the ugly, wild, stray street dogs that roamed the streets of that day. Like a defenseless deer or antelope out in the field, we’re easy prey when we wander outside the Lord’s protective care. All too often we’re caught by the devil, lured into sin, and left lamenting yet another failed attempt to keep God’s law.

But then we’re reminded that we’re among those who “have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev 7:14). The Savior comes to our rescue, picks us up, and carries us back to where it’s safe – back into the city of God where we once again can partake of the Tree of Life and live forever. Listen to what Jesus made possible as described to John (v 14), “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” Back in Bible times cities had huge, protective walls surrounding them. Once you made it through the gates, you were safe. No one could get you. No one could do you harm.

So it is for you since you’ve been invited to live in the city of Christ. You’re safe from every temptation the devil throws your way because you’re surrounded by the protecting walls of Christ’s love. You’re safe from all fears and from all worries when you realize that living in the city of Christ, being guided and protected by him and his Word, is the safest place to be while surrounded by a dangerous and ugly world. Stay put where it’s safe! Stay in the city of Christ by staying in the Word and in the faith to which you’ve been called!

In the city of Christ there’ll always be light. For a couple of years when I was a teenager I had a summer job as a night watchman for a company that mined gypsum rock. Much of my time was spent on the 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. shift, sitting in a little booth by a gate that led to the loading dock where the huge freighters would come in to be filled with a load of gypsum rock. Every night I looked forward to seeing the sun rising over the lake, providing the first light of the day, and signaling that my shift was almost over. What a relief it was for me to see that morning light!

While living in a world of darkness filled with those who flaunt alternate (i.e., sinful) lifestyles, who object to any kind of standard of morality, and who tolerate and even promote selfishness and greed, isn’t it a relief to hear Jesus say (v 16), “I am . . . the bright Morning Star”? Jesus is the only one who can shed a little light on the darkness of this world’s sinful ignorance. Not only does he give us the standard of right and wrong in his Word, he also assures us that he did everything right to make up for everything we did wrong in winning God’s favor! When it comes to our salvation, there’s nothing left for us to do. Now we can simply bask in the light of Christ!

Every stage of life brings with it its own share of darkness. Graduation/confirmation is just one step for you as God’s children, and it’s important that you watch where you’re going as you step into the future. For that you’ll need the Savior and his Word, which Scripture says serves as “a lamp to [your] feet and a light for [your] path” (Ps 119:105). The world is littered with those who were at your stage of life and decided to dive into this world’s darkness without their spiritual flashlight. They refused the invitation to bask in the light of Christ, forsaking him and his Word, and ended up stumbling in darkness. Don’t make the same mistake! Graduation/confirmation doesn’t mean you’re graduating from his Word. Keep growing in the light of Christ by letting his Word shine on you and guide you every day!

That way you’ll also stay hydrated. John explains (v 17), “Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” I’ve been guilty on some hot summer Kansas afternoons of not stopping enough for water when out mowing my lawn. If you’ve done something similar, you know what comes next – you start sweating profusely, you may get some chills, you feel sick to your stomach, maybe even a little light-headed. You’ve dehydrated yourself, and your body is screaming at you to get some water ASAP.

We spiritually dehydrate ourselves far too often, and that’s a shame because there’s no reason for us to get that way. For all those who thirst, Jesus issues the invitation to come. He offers everyone “the free gift of the water of life.” Let’s not be like the marathon runner who foolishly passes by the water stations and pays for it in the end. Life on this earth is a marathon, and it’s important for us to take frequent stops along the way to let the Savior hydrate us with his Word. You’re invited to stay hydrated with the Word. You’re invited to drink from the well of Christ!

If life is indeed a marathon, those of you graduating/being confirmed, God-willing, have a long ways to go. But don’t let that fact lull you into a spiritual slumber. You’ve been training for this marathon for a number of years, but you can’t stop now. You can’t stop until you’ve finished the race and reached the goal of spending an eternity with your Lord.

The last words Jesus leaves with us are these (v 20), “Yes, I am coming soon.” You’ve received your invitation into his kingdom, sealed with the blood he shed for you on the cross. Because of him you’re ready to go. But in the meantime, you’re also willing to wait, knowing full well that the wait is worth it!

So until then, with the Lord’s invitation firmly in hand and with all the confidence in the world, join the apostle John in praying (v 20), “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

Amen

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What If Jesus Had Not Ascended?

15. May 2010 by admin.

Acts 1:1-11

Acts 1

Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven

¹In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach ²until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. ³After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. ⁴On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵For John baptized with^[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” ⁶So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

⁷He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

⁹After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

¹⁰They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Summary:  We learn the importance of our Lord’s ascension by taking a look at what might have happened if he had not ascended.

In the name of our ascended Lord, dear fellow beneficiaries of his ascension,

Even though everyone of us realizes that you can’t change history, that still doesn’t stop us from speculating on how things might have been if we could. For example, history buffs might find it interesting to discuss what this country would be like if the American Revolution had not taken place. Would the most powerful nation on earth be Great Britain? Or what changes would we see in the world if the Germans had been victorious in World War I or if the Japanese had succeeded in winning World War II? Some would think it’s a waste of time to consider any of these scenarios, especially since they never became a part of history. But we can still learn something by looking at things that didn’t happen, wondering about how things might have been.

That’s what we’re going to do tonight as we once again review our Lord’s return to heaven after his time on this earth was over. Let’s look at how things might have been by asking the question:

“What If Jesus Had Not Ascended?”

Luke is the inspired writer of the Book of Acts, and he’s writing to a man named Theophilus. This was the same man to whom Luke had addressed his Gospel, and it’s believed that he was most likely a Roman official or at least a man of high position and wealth. Here in Acts Luke begins with a brief summary of Jesus’ work while on earth (vv 1-3), “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” We see the love of our Lord evidenced in the fact that he did spend 40 days here on this earth after his resurrection to give solid proof that he had indeed come back from the dead, as he had promised, and to teach them even more about “the kingdom of God.” We also see his love in the fact that he assured them that they wouldn’t be left alone once he had gone, but that he would send them the Holy Spirit. So why couldn’t he just stick around? Why did he have to go back to heaven? What if Jesus had not ascended?

Staying here on earth would have given the indication that Christ’s work was not yet done. Many could have assumed that his mission was not complete. After all, Scripture proclaims that “the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Lk 1:10), and that’s what Jesus did on the cross. Our salvation is complete. Jesus accomplished what he came to do. When a student finishes an assignment for school, he turns it in to let the teacher know that it’s finished. Think of Jesus’ ascension in that way. He was “turning in” the assignment given to him by his heavenly Father – an assignment that received a perfect grade! It was important for Jesus to let the world know that his work was done, that the plan of salvation was complete, that it was time for him to return to heaven.

Jesus’ departure would actually enhance the disciples’ ability to witness. They would receive all they needed when the Holy Spirit would come (vv 4,5), “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’” Jesus was talking about the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit would come in a very special way to empower the disciples for the work which lay ahead. But why couldn’t Jesus just stay with them? Why couldn’t he be there to empower them and to help them with their work? Why did he have to ascend back to heaven?

Remember when you were learning how to ride a bike, and you heard those intimidating words, “Let’s try taking the training wheels off”? You knew that time had to come, that you finally had to “go it alone,” even though you may have been a bit apprehensive. It was time for the disciples to “go it alone,” to take off the training wheels, to head out without having Jesus there to steady them, without expecting him to do the bulk of the work. They had been taught and trained personally by their Savior, and now it was time for them to take the baton from Jesus and take his Word to the world.

I remember back when I was 12 years old and was going to start my first job – a paper route. For a week or two I went along with someone else, just riding my bike and learning the route. But then came the day when it was all my own, with no one riding along with me. Without question, I took things a bit more seriously when all the responsibility was placed on my shoulders. In the same way, if Jesus had not ascended, would the disciples have had the same sense of urgency in serving as his witnesses? Wouldn’t they have been able to just sit back and “let Jesus do it”? Now they wouldn’t have a choice. But don’t forget – they really wouldn’t be alone. They would be empowered by the Holy Spirit, having their faith strengthened daily as they witnessed the Spirit’s power in action. After all, isn’t that what faith is all about? Scripture proclaims (Heb 11:1), “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” With Jesus gone, is it too much of a stretch to believe that the disciples had their faith strengthened even more, as they became even more certain of what they did not see?

In the midst of Luke’s ascension account comes the reminder of how much the disciples needed the Holy Spirit to sort out the confusion that still existed in their understanding of the Messiah’s mission (vv 6,7), “So when they met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.’” Even after all that had happened, the nationalistic fervor for an earthly Messiah was still ablaze even in the hearts of Jesus’ own disciples. Sure, they should have known better. Give Jesus some credit for not ripping into them but instead calmly explaining that they shouldn’t worry about the plans his heavenly Father had in store for the nation of Israel. But just think what would have happened if Jesus had not ascended? Notice how confused the disciples were now with Jesus still with them. If he would have remained on this earth, would they have ever been able to put off the thought of him being just a political Messiah? No, Jesus had to return to heaven to make it clear that his work was finished, his work of being a spiritual Messiah and Savior.

The disciples’ confusion over Jesus’ role here on this earth was one reason our Lord told them to sit tight and wait for the Holy Spirit before heading out into the world. After that, there would be no such restrictions (v 8), “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” There had been a couple of other times when Jesus had sent the disciples out on missionary trips, but they always knew they would be returning back to him. Notice that with him gone, they were to start out at home but would expand their mission field in ever-widening circles. If Jesus had not ascended, perhaps the disciples would not have been as anxious to be gone from the “home base” for too long. There would always be the pull to return back to him as their mentor and teacher. But with him gone, their witnessing became more widespread. Consequently, the church was able to grow and spread at a more rapid rate.

We know that Jesus did ascend back into heaven, because Luke tells us how it happened (vv 9-11), “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’” Don’t be too hard on the disciples as they stood there, staring up into the sky. You’d be doing the same thing, wondering whether or not Jesus was coming back. He would return, but not for a while. It took a couple of angels to snap the disciples back into reality, reminding them that they hadn’t seen the last of their Savior. He would return “in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

When Adam and Eve fell into sin and were forced out of the Garden of Eden, Scripture tells us that God “placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life” (Ge 3:24). God didn’t want his people to keep eating from the tree of life, because he didn’t want them to live forever in their sinful state. He had a much better life in store for his people, a life that could only be lived after leaving this world, a life that could only be entered through death. What if Jesus had not ascended? With Jesus here on this earth, who would want to leave? With his loving presence and power among us, who would want to be separated from him? No, Jesus wanted his disciples and all people to know that there’s something much better than this world to look forward to. He had already tried to explain to them why he had to leave (Jn 14:2,3), “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” Jesus wants us with him – in heaven! He doesn’t want us to think only about life on this earth, but he tells us (Col 3:2), “Set your minds on things above.” By not ascending and instead sticking around here on this earth, Jesus would have been giving a confusing message as to where we should want to be. But with him in heaven, we can now wholeheartedly agree with the apostle Paul and proclaim (Php 1:23), “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.” His ascension assures us that heaven is where we want to be.

Speculating on how things would have been if our Lord had not ascended won’t certainly change how things did take place, but I pray that it has afforded us an opportunity to appreciate what his ascension does mean for us today. Tonight take home with you the comfort that Jesus’ mission here on this earth was accomplished, that our salvation is secure. Be reminded that after the fall into sin God never intended for us to live forever in a sin-tainted world, so Jesus’ departure reminds us how foolish it is to simply live for this life without keeping an eye on the life that is to come, without realizing that the best is yet to come. And never forget that while we await our eternal home in heaven, the best use we can make of our time is following our Lord’s directive and proclaiming his Word to all people.

Be thankful and rejoice that we have a Savior who did return to heaven. Praise be to our crucified, resurrected, and ascended Lord!

Amen

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Stay in the Word!

12. May 2010 by admin.

John 14:23-29

²³Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. ²⁴He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

²⁵“All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

²⁸“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. ²⁹I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.

                                                                                                     

 

In Christ Jesus, through whom we have the blessings of love, comfort, and peace, dear friends,

 

I doubt if many of you greeted your moms this morning with the words, “Happy Sixth Sunday of Easter!”  No doubt the greeting was more like “Happy Mother’s Day!”  Today is that special day when we take time to recognize and to appreciate the bond that exists between a mother and her children.

 

That bond is especially evident in infants.  When left by the mother, an infant may commonly suffer what is known as “separation anxiety.”  Separation anxiety usually emerges at about eight or nine months, peaks at 14 months, and then gradually declines after that.  It seems that as infants develop mentally, they begin to recognize their mothers as unique individuals, different from all the other people they may encounter.  And yet they still lack the mental capacity to understand that the mother still exists even when they can’t see her.  To an infant, once the mother can’t be seen, she’s gone forever.  This is why a game like “peek-a-boo” is such a mind-blowing experience for a little one.

 

They certainly weren’t infants, but you might say that the disciples were prime candidates to suffer from some separation anxiety of their own.  The strong bond they had with their Lord and Savior would soon be tested, as they heard Jesus talking more and more about having to leave them.  The disciples’ anxiety over his departure was based on the fear that they would never see him again, that they would lose the close connection they had come to appreciate and enjoy.

 

Does the same sense of panic hit you sometimes?  Do you fear that somehow the Lord has left you all alone?  Does it feel that you’re forced to fly solo through life, and that inevitably you’re going to crash and burn in the end?  If so, you’re in the right place this morning, as Jesus reminds us of what removes our separation anxiety and keeps our connection to him strong.  He tells us:

 

“Stay in the Word!”

 

                                                              I. For the Father’s love

                                                             II. For the Spirit’s comfort

                                                            III. For the Savior’s peace

 

Knowing that the disciples were troubled by his talk of having to leave them, Jesus had been trying to comfort them by assuring them that he would return again.  But this only brought another question from them.  In the verse before our text begins, Jesus was asked (Jn 14:22), “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”  Like the rest of the Jews, the disciples still had political expectations of the Messiah, looking for more of an earthly king.  They therefore wanted Jesus to make himself known to the entire world and not just to themselves.  So Jesus takes time now to show the disciples and us today how to “see” him in a very special way.

 

“Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.  My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  He who does not love me will not obey my teaching’” (vv 23,24).  Those who “love” Jesus will be able to see both him and the Father, and those who love him will be the ones who “obey” his Word.  The Greek word for “obey” actually means “to watch over carefully” or “to cherish as a treasure.”  When we do that with God’s Word, we learn all the more about his love.  We learn that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16).  We learn that our hope of heaven depends not on ourselves, but on the undeserved love of our Lord (Eph 2:8,9), “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”  As we just finished singing (CW 377:4), “A Father’s heart he turned to me, Sought my redemption fervently; He gave his dearest treasure.”  God the Father makes his home in our hearts when we make our home in his Word.  Reject that Word, and the opposite is true.  Then by our actions we’re showing that we have no love for his Word and, consequently, no love for him.

 

If graded on how often we are in the Word, we would find ourselves far from God’s Honor Roll.  Even as a pastor I cringe when I think of how often my time in God’s Word is purely “professional” and not for my own personal benefit.  “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.”  That means that our love for the Lord is reflected in how much time we spend in his Word.  Want to know more about the Father’s love?  Stay in the Word!  Stay away from it, and his ways will become even more of a mystery.  Instead of trusting in his love, you’ll end up doubting and questioning it.  But if you want to know more about what he’s like, what he thinks of us, and what he’s done and is doing for us, then the answer is simple — just stay in the Word!

 

Jesus was going to leave his disciples, at least physically, but his love would still be evident.  That’s because he promised to send them someone to help comfort them.

 

“All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (vv 25,26).  Jesus would still speak to his disciples, but now he would be doing it through the Holy Spirit, whom he refers to as “the Counselor.”

 

We live in a world full of counselors: family counselors, marriage counselors, employment counselors, financial counselors, drug and alcohol counselors, and the like.  These kind of counselors can all serve a good purpose.  But when it comes to our salvation, we need more than counselors – we need the Counselor, the one Jesus promised to send.  The Holy Spirit points us beyond ourselves to our Savior and all that he’s done for us.  It was that same Spirit that was responsible for the change in the disciples on that first Pentecost.  Once a bunch of babbling ‘fraidy cats, the Spirit made them bold proclaimers of God’s Word.  What a difference “the Counselor” made in their lives and in their ministries!

 

That same Spirit has made a difference in your life.  He’s responsible for you being here this morning.  Jesus kept his promise at your baptism and sent the Holy Spirit to bring you to faith, and ever since then he’s continued to send that very same Counselor to guide you and keep you strong in your faith.  How comforting it is to know that you have such a powerful entity working on your side to keep you in God’s family!  And he’ll continue to be with you and will continue to “teach you all things” as long as you stay in the Word!

 

So far Jesus has shown us how God’s Word brings us the Father’s love and the Spirit’s comfort.  He has one more blessing to share with us this morning – his peace.

 

Although Jesus would have to leave his disciples, he would leave something very important behind (v 27), “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  Jesus defines this peace as “my peace” because it’s different than the peace this world has to offer.  The world wants you to think that you can find peace by just ignoring your guilt, by making believe that it doesn’t exist, by rationalizing away your sins and by building up your own self-esteem.  But true and lasting peace isn’t going to be found unless you replace self-esteem with “Christ-esteem.”  The peace the world offers has no lasting value and is often nothing more than an illusion.  But the peace of Christ lasts through this life and into the next!  It’s the peace that comes when we hear “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them” (2 Co 5:19).  It’s the peace that we have, knowing that “we have been justified through faith” (Ro 5:1), being declared “not guilty” in God’s sight because our Savior stepped in for us.  It’s the peace that allows us to proclaim with the psalmist (Ps 46:1-3), “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”  Even in the face of death itself, we have peace – peace that gives us a heart that is no longer troubled and a conscience that can finally be at rest.  This is the peace that is ours when we stay in the Word!

 

“Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  Maybe you don’t need the peace that comes with those words, but I do.  I need that peace to calm me down when that little oil change I scheduled for my vehicle becomes a $1200 repair bill – and I still have to take it back in tomorrow!  I need that peace when I’m overwhelmed with too many expectations, trying to balance family and work responsibilities, and never having enough hours to keep everyone happy.  I need that peace for the bad days and the sad days.  I need the peace that comes from forgiveness for my sins of ignorance and for my sins of utter defiance.  I need the peace that comes from having a Savior who promised to be with me always – here on earth where I need him and forever in heaven where I can praise him!  I need that peace, and if you’re anything like me, you do too.  That’s the peace you’ll find in the Word!

 

It’s in that same Word that we hear Jesus promise his disciples (vv 28,29), “‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ . . . I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.”  That promise is meant for you and me, too.  We have no reason to doubt these words.  Jesus doesn’t lie.  Yes, he left to return to heaven.  But he promises to come back!  And he never breaks a promises!  See for yourself.  Check out his Word.  There you’ll find the record of his faithfulness and the proof of his love.  Take him at his Word, and you’ll see that he means what he says!

 

Babies aren’t the only ones who may suffer a case of separation anxiety.  It can affect Christians, too, as we wait for our Lord’s return.  But we have the cure for what ails us — the Father’s love, the Spirit’s comfort, and the Savior’s peace.  Just stay in the Word, and your Lord will always stay with you!

 

            Amen

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