tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25430964914538646672024-03-14T01:13:00.743-04:00Pastor Guenther's SermonsA post of my sermons. For more sermons, Bible classes, and a brief statement of beliefs, visit my website at www.TheMainThing.us.Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-72145086106940343982010-07-12T11:53:00.001-04:002010-07-12T11:53:29.975-04:00Pray to the Lord of the Harvest (A sermon based on Luke 10:1-12,16-20)Listen to this sermon here: <a onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/home/180003600/180003600/audio/');" href="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/filedownload.aspx?master_sec_id=180003600&sec_id=180003600&libfolder=audio&filename="><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_download.gif"></a> or <a onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/');" href="http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none" src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_stream.gif"></a> <div>Or watch the entire service here: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/8212411" target="_blank">http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/8212411</a></div> <div><br></div> <div> <div style="FONT-SIZE: medium; MARGIN: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">Pray to the Lord of the Harvest</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"></span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">A sermon based on Luke 10:1-12,16-20</span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">Sunday, July 11, 2010 -- Pentecost 7C -- Gethsemane Farewell</span></p> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"></span><br> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">A little over a week ago as I was loading my stuff on the moving truck, getting nervous that it might not all fit, I was thinking of how I came to Raleigh in the smallest U-Haul available. But now I am leaving with more stuff than I think a family our size should probably have. In our text for this morning, Jesus says </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"The worker deserves his wages,"</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> and you've certainly seen to that, providing for our needs and for so much more.</span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">I and my family been tremendously blessed by you. And not just by the stuff we've accumulated. That's the least of our blessings. During our time here at Gethsemane, our faith has increased, our resolve to proclaim the truth of God's Word at all costs has been strengthened, and not only have our kids grown up a bit here in Raleigh, but I feel like I've grown up as a pastor (at least a bit). </span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">And I hope that the blessings have been mutual, that you too have grown in your faith during our time spent together, that you too, have grown in your resolve to serve your Savior, come what may! We can rejoice in our time spent together and in all that we've done together. But we have even greater reason to rejoice: That through Jesus and his work for us, our names are written in the book of heaven. </span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">And yet, while our salvation is secure, there may still be some apprehension right now: over what Alaska will be like for me, or what the new pastor will be like for you. And at times of such apprehension, there's only one place to turn... to God. So, as we part ways today, eager for our reunion in heaven, my final word of encouragement to you is that of Jesus himself: Pray to the Lord of the harvest. Listen to Jesus encouragement in Luke 10....</span></p> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"></span><br><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 6.6pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super; COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">10 </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">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. </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 6.6pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super; COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">2 </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">He told them, </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 6.6pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">3 </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 6.6pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">4 </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 6.6pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">5 </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 6.6pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">6 </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 6.6pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">7 </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 6.6pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">8 </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 6.6pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">9 </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 6.6pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">10 </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 6.6pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">11 </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">'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.' </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 6.6pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">12</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town... </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 6.6pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">16</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 6.6pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super; COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">17 </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 6.6pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super; COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">18 </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">He replied, </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 6.6pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">19 </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 6.6pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">20 </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"></span><br> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,255); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"></span><br><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">I. The Workers Are Few</span><br> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"></span><br> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">How blessed our time together has been! Every week, with one snowy exception, we've had the opportunity to come together and hear of God's grace to us! Every month we've had the opportunity to kneel side by side and receive our Savior's body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins! We've shared each others sorrows and cried together. We've shared each others joys and laughed with one another. What blessings our God has given!</span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">But we haven't deserved these awesome blessings! Jesus said, </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"The </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">worker</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">deserves his wages," </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">yet we haven't always worked our hardest for the kingdom, have we? We haven't always been faithful to our calling to serve him. We've grown selfish and let our self-interests crowd out what God would have us do. We've grown tired, or lazy, or complacent and thought, "I'll just let someone else do the work that needs to be done." We've grown scared by the opposition we've encountered (as we go </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"out like lambs among wolves"</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">) and sometimes kept quiet in sharing the truth with others. And I do have to include myself in that charge. We haven't always been workers, but sometimes bystanders. How true it is that at times, </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"The workers are few." </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> </span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">No. We don't deserve the blessings we've received because of our own unfaithfulness. Instead we deserve to face the same fate as those towns that would not receive Jesus: </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town..." </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">For when we reject Jesus' command to go, we reject God the Father who sent him. We sin. We rebel. And we deserve hell.</span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">So, pray to the Lord of the Harvest... your prayer of repentance. Confess your sin to him and turn to him for help. For, </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"The kingdom of God is near."</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> And when we do he does not abandon us in our sins. He does not call down fire from heaven to destroy us, but saves us and forgives us...</span></p> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"></span><br> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">We can rejoice in our time spent together here at Gethsemane and in all the times we "</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">" Those times when children were Baptized, when the Lord's Supper was administered, when a new member joined us at Gethsemane. And we can pray to the Lord of the Harvest our prayer of thanks for those times. But as exciting as those times were, we have something to be even more thankful for...</span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">Jesus said, </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"></span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">When we were lost in our sins, unable to work our own salvation out by our own efforts, when there was no one able to save, God's own arm worked salvation for us. Yes, the workers were few. In fact there was only one who could do the work required. Jesus did the real work for us. Jesus did the real work of living a sinless life in our place. He did the tough work of carrying our sin to the cross. He did the horrible work of enduring hell in our place on that cross to take our sins away.</span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">Now, in spite of our unfaithfulness, our sins are forgiven! By his faithfulness, we're perfect, sinless, and holy in God's sight! Yes, rejoice in our time spent together, but all the more rejoice that Jesus paid for our sins! </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"Rejoice that your names are written in heaven."</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> In spite of all the uncertainties of this life, you have this absolute certainty: That you have reservations in heaven that no one can take away! So pray to the Lord of the Harvest... your prayer of thanks as you rejoice that our names are written in heaven!</span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">And now, in thanks to him, for that great gift, we eagerly get to work for him! For the workers are few, but the workers are </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">you</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">...</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"></span></p> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"></span><br><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">II. The Workers Are You</span><br> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"></span><br> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">Right now, your obvious concern is over your new shepherd. "Will the pastor we've just called take the position? Will we need to call again? Who will come and serve our congregation?" Right now, with a vacancy, it might really seem like, </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">So what do you do about it? Jesus tells you: </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"></span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">Pray to the Lord of the harvest... for a new shepherd. Pray that he would send you a pastor who will faithfully preach and teach only what God says in his Word. Pray for a man who will afflict you with the law when you feel comfortable and who will be quick to comfort you with the Gospel when you feel afflicted. Pray that he would send out a servant to faithfully administer the sacraments, baptizing your children and giving you that life giving spiritual food and drink of the altar. </span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">And when God answers that prayer -- and you can be sure that he will, since he tells you to pray this prayer and promises that whatever you ask in his name, according to his will, he </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">will</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> grant -- then take care of your new shepherd and his family as you have taken care of me and mine. Provide for the needs of the new man as you have provided so well for me. </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"For the worker deserves his wages." </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">But do this, not because you must, but because you long to serve him as he serves you and you together serve your Savior.</span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">And remember that he is not the </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">only </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">worker here at Gethsemane. The workers are few, but the workers are </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">you</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">. Jesus told his followers, </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 6.6pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">But then, in the very next verse, he answered that prayer: </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"Go! I am sending you...!"</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"></span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">Jesus didn't just send out the Twelve, but seventy-two! (That's roughly our average attendance at Gethsemane!) You too are called to go </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"out like lambs among wolves" </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">and boldly proclaim the message to those who like or like it not.</span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">But you can do it boldly knowing that you're not alone! For starters, you have each other. Jesus sent the seventy-two out in pairs, not alone, that they might encourage each other, build each other up, when their pastor, Jesus, would not be physically with them. You too, encourage each other, build each other up by the Word of God, now, in the absence of a resident pastor, and always!</span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">But even more comforting than having each other, is knowing that you can trust God. When the seventy-two went out, Jesus told them, </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"Do not take a purse or bag or [extra] sandals..." </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">because they could trust that he -- through the charity of others -- would provide for their earthly needs. They could go </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"like lambs"</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> even </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">"among wolves"</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none"> because they wouldn't trust in their own strength, but in him. </span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">You too can trust that God will take care of you, now and always, as you carry out your task, trusting in him. So pray to the Lord of the Harvest... asking him for help and for focus and for the strength to carry out your task of serving him and one another faithfully here in Raleigh.</span></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 0pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 18pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">Yes, dear friends, you can rejoice in our time spent together these past six years. You can rejoice that God </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">will </span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: baseline; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; TEXT-DECORATION: none">provide another shepherd to faithfully serve you with his Word and Sacraments. And you can rejoice even more that by his grace, our names are written in heaven. Now, keep the Main Thing the main thing, and then, while we may be sad that tomorrow we go our separate ways, we can rejoice that don't need to say "goodbye," but only "see you soon." For we know we will see each other again, because our names are written in heaven! So pray to the Lord of the Harvest, your prayers of thanks and praise! In Jesus' name, dear friends, amen.</span></p> </div></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-12708490980664156382010-07-07T16:50:00.001-04:002010-07-07T16:50:58.312-04:00A Sacrifice for a Worthy Cause (A sermon based on Luke 9:51-62)Listen to this sermon here: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10px; "><a href="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/filedownload.aspx?master_sec_id=180003600&sec_id=180003600&libfolder=audio&filename=20100704_Luke_9v51-62.mp3" style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_download.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a> or <a href="http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/20100704_Luke_9v51-62.mp3" style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_stream.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a></span><div> Or watch the entire service here: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/8070175" target="_blank">http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/8070175</a></div><div><br></div><div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;background-color:transparent;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium"> <p style="text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:14pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">A Sacrifice for a Worthy Cause</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></p> <p style="text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">A sermon based on Luke 9:51-62</span></p> <p style="text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Sunday, July 4, 2010 -- Pentecost 6C</span></p> <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Today we celebrate the freedoms that we enjoy as citizens of the United States. And we take time to honor those who made great sacrifices in order to obtain and and maintain those freedoms. While names like George Washington, Thomas Paine, Sam Adams, and Patrick Henry will live on as long as liberty does, there were many others who made even </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">greater </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">sacrifices for the cause of freedom. </span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">For example, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin never bore arms on any battlefield. But the thousands of farmers who did and who survived their wounds paid for their courage the rest of their lives: the primitive state of 18th-century medicine condemned them to chronic pain, and maimed manual laborers often slipped into poverty. Nor did the public honors and recognition that hailed Jefferson or Franklin soften such suffering. </span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In some ways, those unknown hordes were even more dedicated to freedom than the Big Names. They served long terms of service that sometimes lasted for years. Wounds, disease, and capture menaced them all the while. And some even gave the ultimate sacrifice, giving their very lives. But they made those sacrifices, not for the honor or fame it would bring, but because they believed in the cause. And they knew the cause was more important than even life itself.</span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Likewise, our Savior made the ultimate sacrifice for us. He suffered much worse than any Patriot or war hero has even endured. He endured the torment of hell itself as God the Father turned his back on him in disgust. But Jesus made his sacrifice, not for the honor or fame it would bring, but because he believed in the cause: Liberty, not from some earthly king or political tyrant, but from sin, from the death it would bring, and the from the hell that was sure to follow. For he knew the cause was more important than life itself. So he gladly made that sacrifice for us.</span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Now, we too gladly make </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">our own</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> sacrifices for the sake of this worthy cause: to maintain our spiritual freedom from sin, death, and hell, and to win that freedom for others. And so, this Independence Day we celebrate the freedom our Savior won and we rededicate ourselves to the worthy cause of the fight for freedom from sin, death, and hell, no matter what the cost.</span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Listen to Luke 9:51-62...</span></p> <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 255);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56 and they went to another village. 57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58 Jesus replied, </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(153, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 255);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> 59 He said to another man, </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(153, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"Follow me."</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 255);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60 Jesus said to him, </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(153, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 255);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> 61 Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." 62 Jesus replied, </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(153, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 255);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(153, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span><br> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"I used to be indecisive. Now... I'm not so sure." That's the way some of Jesus' disciples were. They wanted to follow Jesus, but they weren't so sure they wanted to give up the comfort, the convenience, the ease of doing their own thing. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 255);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"I will follow you wherever you go." </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">..."But first let me secure some nice housing. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 255);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"I will follow you wherever you go," </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">but </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 255);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"...first let me go and bury my father." "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">It's not that there's anything wrong in securing housing, burying your loved ones or saying "good-by." But the priorities of these men were out of whack. Something other than Jesus took first place in their lives. So Jesus said, </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(153, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head... Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God... No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Last week we heard Jesus tell his disciples that they would be called to make some serious sacrifices, taking up their crosses, giving their very lives, to follow him. But this week, he asks to give up a lesser sacrifice. Give up your home. Give up your family. Give up your history and follow me.</span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">So what about us? Are we willing to sacrifice our lives, but not the smaller things? "Jesus, I'll give my life to you, but follow the speed limit? Well, that's asking a bit much." "I'll take up my cross, by don't ask me to cross the street to share my faith." "I'll sacrifice myself for you, but don't ask me to save myself for marriage." "I'll give my life for you, but I don't really want to give my dollars. Times are tight. You understand." </span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Are we willing to sacrifice ourselves for Jesus? Jesus said in Matthew 10(:32-33) </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(153, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(Matthew 10:32-33)</span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In the Revolutionary war, troops could be whipped or even hanged for losing their loyalty and deserting their posts. Likewise, losing our loyalty for Jesus, for failing to give up house and home, friends and family, work and money for Jesus, for our misaligned priorities in putting temporal things above eternal things, we deserve to be disowned by Jesus to face the wrath of God forever in hell.</span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">But we don't get that. Why not? Because of what Luke wrote in verse 51: "</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 255);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">" Jesus, knowing full well what await him in Jerusalem, gladly set out for it anyway. He went to Calvary. He went to suffer. He went to sacrifice his very self because he knew the cause to be a worthy one. He would sacrifice himself in our place to pay the penalty our sin, our desertion, our bad priorities deserve. He was disowned by the Father so we will never be.</span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Now, because, "</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 255);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem,</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">" our sins are forgiven. Jesus will not call down fire from heaven to destroy us. But rather he will reach out with the Gospel to save us. He will make sure -- at any cost, at any sacrifice -- that we are saved from hell and set free from sin and death. </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 255);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(Galatians 5:1) Because he was willing to sacrifice himself to rescue us from hell, we are saved. Now, in thanks to him, we are eager to sacrifice our very selves for him...</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Now, we aren't as concerned about having beautiful homes or big salaries or earthly comforts. We aren't as concerned about serving any human relationship as we are about serving the Lord. And when faced with the decision between serving Christ or some earthly duty which needs our attention, it's a no-brainer. We gladly choose our Savior over our earthly comforts. We gladly choose our Savior over family. We gladly offer our wholehearted and undivided attention to serving Christ and make any sacrifice for him in thanks for the sacrifice he made for us.</span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Now we put our hand to the plow and don't look back. Or, perhaps a more modern equivalent: We drive forward without looking out the back window. We press on toward what's ahead. We don't look back to all the good things in our lives like family and friends, comforts and satisfactions, or "successful" programs. We don't look back to all the sins in our lives, which have been forgiven by Christ. We don't wallow in our past sins or boast of our past successes. But we live to serve Jesus in thanks. </span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">And so we are Eager to give up any hope of a permanent home in this present world. As we live to thank our Jesus for the sacrifice he made for us, we gladly sacrifice all that this world has to offer. For this world, so full of sin, cannot be a permanent home for us. Our permanent home awaits us in heaven. If home is where the heart is, our real home is in our Father's House in heaven. </span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">You know, some of the Patriots lost not only their homes, but even left family and friends. Some were alienated from family for choosing the side of liberty. But they gladly made that sacrifice, sometimes fighting against their own cousins, or uncles, or even brothers, because they knew the cause of freedom to be a worthy one.</span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Likewise, you, who have experienced the freedom that Christ won for you, from sin, death, and hell, know that it's a cause worth fighting for. And so you too are eager to make any sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel. </span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Jesus said, </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(153, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">"Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">And so, more than just sacrificing our stuff here on earth, </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:italic;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">we </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">are even willing to give up any family ties on this earth. We are willing to make ourselves outcasts to the ones we love for Jesus as we witness to his love.</span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We are eager to sacrifice our time, our family, our relationships, our dollars, even our very lives to the cause of sharing Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for us that paid for our every sin. We may be among the ranks of unknown hordes and not among the Big Names of the Apostle Paul, of St. Augustine, of Martin Luther. </span></p> <p style="text-indent:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">But we, like those thousands of farmers in the Revolution, don't serve for the honor or the fame it w</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">ould bring, but because we believe in the cause of sharing Christ crucified and his sacrifice for us. And so we will sacrifice everything: wounds, disease, or capture, even our very lives for the sake of the Gospel, because we know </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">that the cause is more important than even life itself. For it will last not just a year from now, a century from now, or a millennium from now, but for eternity. So we gladly sacrifice all for a worthy cause: For sharing the freedom from sin, death, and hell that we all enjoy. In Jesus' name, dear friends, amen.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></p> </div></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-34118055671411399132010-06-30T13:39:00.001-04:002010-06-30T13:39:20.947-04:00Take Up Your Cross, Not Your Pillow (A sermon based on Luke 9:18-24)Listen to this sermon here: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10px; "><a href="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/filedownload.aspx?master_sec_id=180003600&sec_id=180003600&libfolder=audio&filename=20100627_Luke_9v18-24.mp3" style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_download.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a> or <a href="http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/20100627_Luke_9v18-24.mp3" style="color: navy; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_stream.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a></span><div> Or watch the entire service here: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/7933331">http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/7933331</a></div><div><br></div><div><p id="internal-source-marker_0.7364299390465021" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "> <span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Take Up Your Cross, Not Your Pillow</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></p> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">A sermon based on Luke 9:18-24</span></p> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Sunday, June 27, 2010 -- Pentecost 5C</span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br> </span><p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">When certain college students (and let's let them remain nameless) would begin to complain about their work load -- that they already had to translate 40 lines of Greek, study 10 lessons of Hebrew grammar and vocabulary for a test on Friday, and write an essay in their lit class by the next day, and now, their German professor just gave them another 4 pages of German to translate by the next day too -- well, that particular German professor would inevitably say, "Boys, don't forget: Our Savior didn't say, "Take up your pillow and follow me," ja? What did he say? "Take up your cross." Go. Translate." And with that, he sent us on our way to lunch..</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Jesus didn't say "Take up your pillow," but "Take up your cross." That was our professor's way of reminding us that if we were to follow Jesus and live to serve him and his people then we shouldn't expect it would be all fun and games. We shouldn't expect a life of leisure and comfort. No. It would be hard at times. It would be difficult. But we should expect nothing less. For Jesus himself suffered nothing less for us. Indeed, he suffered much more. </span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">And now, because Jesus didn't take up a pillow but a cross for us, we, in turn, can take up our crosses and follow him. Listen as Jesus gives that reminder to his disciples in Luke 9:18-24...</span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"Who do the crowds say I am?"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> 19 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life." 20 </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"But what about you?" </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">he asked. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"Who do you say I am?"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> Peter answered, "The Christ of God." 21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">23 Then he said to them all: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">I. Jesus Took Up His Cross</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br> </span><p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">The most important question that anyone can answer in life is this: Who is Jesus? You'll notice that everyone had a high regard for Jesus and thought him a man sent from God. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life."</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> But those answers weren't good enough. For if Jesus is only a good man, one of the prophets come back to life, then we're all doomed in our sin.</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Even the disciples needed some clarification to the answer to that question: Who is Jesus? Jesus pointed the question even more, moving from the crowd to the disciples. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"But what about you?" </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">he asked. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"Who do you say I am?" </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Peter, as the spokesman of the group answered for them, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"The Christ of God." </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"The Christ." That's Greek for "The Messiah." "The Anointed One." A good answer. But still, there were all sorts of misunderstandings about what the Messiah would come to do. Most thought the Christ would be a hero who, with the aid of God, would ride out in glory conquer the Romans and all who dared to opposed the Jews. And then, he would bring about an era of peace and comfort and luxury and ease for all who followed him. In other, words they thought he might bring heaven to earth. </span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">And that's exactly why Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. Their idea of what the Christ had come to do was way off. Jesus needed to set them straight.</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">He said, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">No, Jesus would not ride out in glory. He would not fight the Romans. He came to suffer. He came to die. He would not take up a sword or a shield. He would not take up a magazine and a pillow. He would not take up an easy chair and a remote control. No. He would take up a cross.</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Why? To save us from our sinful selfishness.</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Who do you say Jesus is? Sure, we all know he's the Son of God described in the Gospel accounts. We know he's the one who did all sorts of miracles and wonders, helping the poor, healing the sick, raising the dead! And we know that he's our Savior.</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">But do we sometimes have the same misunderstandings of who Jesus really is? Do we always understand what he came to save us from? Or have you ever thought, "If Jesus really loved me, then I'd have a better job. Then I wouldn't be so sick. Then my loved ones wouldn't die. If Jesus really loved me, then he'd make things easier, make life less painful, make me more comfortable! If only he came to take up a pillow and hand it to me!"</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">But that's not whay he came. And thank God that he didn't take up a pillow and hand it to you, but that instead he took up the cross. For there on that cross, he endured hell itself to pay for our sinful selfishness. There, he took every whining complaint against God on himself. There he took every time I was so self-absorbed, I gave no concern to the hurt or pain of another. There he took every one of my sins and yours on himself to take them away and make us sinless and holy in God's sight. That's why he came! </span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">And you know the answer to the most important question anyone can ever ask: Who is Jesus? He is the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God, who took up his cross, not to save me from poverty, from sickness, or from boredom, but to save me from my sin and my selfishness, to save me from the clutches of Satan and death, to save me from the hopeless despair of hell. </span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">II. We Take Up Our Crosses</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br> </span><p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">And now, understanding who he is and what he's done for us, we're not so concerned about our comfort or convenience. We don't need to always ask, "What's in it for me?" We don't reach for the remote or for the pillow, but we too, reach for the cross. In thanks to him, we gladly serve him. We gladly suffer for him. We'd even gladly die for him. After all, that's what a cross is: a device used to torture and kill.</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Then he said to them all: </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">You see, many people interpret "cross" as some burden they must carry in their lives like a strained relationship, a thankless job, a physical illness. With self-pitying pride, they say, "That's my cross I have to carry."</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">But when Jesus hung on the cross on Golgotha, no one thought of it as something symbolic. "The cross" in Jesus' day meant nothing but a device of torture and death. Imagine if Jesus were to say, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and [sit in his electric chair] daily and follow me."</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">To take up a cross doesn't mean to suffer a setback or face a few problems. It means being willing to die in order to follow Jesus. It means to deny oneself. Give up what you want most in order to serve him. Deny your desire to sit on the couch and veg out when the dishes need to be done. Deny your desire to be popular and cool when people need to hear about who Jesus really is. Deny your desire to avoid physical pain should you be called to testify to the truth with the same consequences as those first disciples. Take up your cross with </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">daily </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">self-denial as you follow Jesus even to the point of death.</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Why do it? Not in order to earn our salvation. But to thank our God for the salvation he's already given us. Because we know that </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Radio talk show host, Dave Ramsey, encourages his listeners and readers to, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(39, 78, 19); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"Live like no one else today, so you can live like no one else tomorrow."</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> Don't be like everyone else, buying whatever you want regardless of what you can afford. Deny the impulses, live below your means and save. Then tomorrow (or a few dozen years from tomorrow) you can live like no one else. No one else will be debt free like you, financially secure like you and able to give like you. </span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">In the same way, Jesus says, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(39, 78, 19); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"Live like no one else today, so you can live like no one else tomorrow."</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Take up your cross, not your pillow. Deny yourself and your sinful nature. Lose your life for Jesus and you'll save it. And tomorrow (or a few dozen years from tomorrow) you can live like no one else in the glories of heaven. For you know how your Jesus took up, not a pillow, but his cross to rescue you. Now take up your cross and live for him. In Jesus' name, amen.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "> </span></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-34610359996446667642010-06-30T13:37:00.001-04:002010-06-30T13:37:59.202-04:00Take Up Your Cross, Not Your Pillow (A sermon based on Luke 9:18-24)Listen to this sermon here: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10px; "><a href="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/filedownload.aspx?master_sec_id=180003600&sec_id=180003600&libfolder=audio&filename=20100627_Luke_9v18-24.mp3" style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_download.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a> or <a href="http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/20100627_Luke_9v18-24.mp3" style="color: navy; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_stream.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a></span><div> Or watch the entire service here: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/7933331">http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/7933331</a></div><div><br></div><div><p id="internal-source-marker_0.7364299390465021" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "> <span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Take Up Your Cross, Not Your Pillow</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></p> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">A sermon based on Luke 9:18-24</span></p> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Sunday, June 27, 2010 -- Pentecost 5C</span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br> </span><p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">When certain college students (and let's let them remain nameless) would begin to complain about their work load -- that they already had to translate 40 lines of Greek, study 10 lessons of Hebrew grammar and vocabulary for a test on Friday, and write an essay in their lit class by the next day, and now, their German professor just gave them another 4 pages of German to translate by the next day too -- well, that particular German professor would inevitably say, "Boys, don't forget: Our Savior didn't say, "Take up your pillow and follow me," ja? What did he say? "Take up your cross." Go. Translate." And with that, he sent us on our way to lunch..</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Jesus didn't say "Take up your pillow," but "Take up your cross." That was our professor's way of reminding us that if we were to follow Jesus and live to serve him and his people then we shouldn't expect it would be all fun and games. We shouldn't expect a life of leisure and comfort. No. It would be hard at times. It would be difficult. But we should expect nothing less. For Jesus himself suffered nothing less for us. Indeed, he suffered much more. </span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">And now, because Jesus didn't take up a pillow but a cross for us, we, in turn, can take up our crosses and follow him. Listen as Jesus gives that reminder to his disciples in Luke 9:18-24...</span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"Who do the crowds say I am?"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> 19 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life." 20 </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"But what about you?" </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">he asked. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"Who do you say I am?"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> Peter answered, "The Christ of God." 21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">23 Then he said to them all: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">I. Jesus Took Up His Cross</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br> </span><p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">The most important question that anyone can answer in life is this: Who is Jesus? You'll notice that everyone had a high regard for Jesus and thought him a man sent from God. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life."</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> But those answers weren't good enough. For if Jesus is only a good man, one of the prophets come back to life, then we're all doomed in our sin.</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Even the disciples needed some clarification to the answer to that question: Who is Jesus? Jesus pointed the question even more, moving from the crowd to the disciples. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"But what about you?" </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">he asked. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"Who do you say I am?" </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Peter, as the spokesman of the group answered for them, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"The Christ of God." </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"The Christ." That's Greek for "The Messiah." "The Anointed One." A good answer. But still, there were all sorts of misunderstandings about what the Messiah would come to do. Most thought the Christ would be a hero who, with the aid of God, would ride out in glory conquer the Romans and all who dared to opposed the Jews. And then, he would bring about an era of peace and comfort and luxury and ease for all who followed him. In other, words they thought he might bring heaven to earth. </span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">And that's exactly why Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. Their idea of what the Christ had come to do was way off. Jesus needed to set them straight.</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">He said, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">No, Jesus would not ride out in glory. He would not fight the Romans. He came to suffer. He came to die. He would not take up a sword or a shield. He would not take up a magazine and a pillow. He would not take up an easy chair and a remote control. No. He would take up a cross.</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Why? To save us from our sinful selfishness.</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Who do you say Jesus is? Sure, we all know he's the Son of God described in the Gospel accounts. We know he's the one who did all sorts of miracles and wonders, helping the poor, healing the sick, raising the dead! And we know that he's our Savior.</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">But do we sometimes have the same misunderstandings of who Jesus really is? Do we always understand what he came to save us from? Or have you ever thought, "If Jesus really loved me, then I'd have a better job. Then I wouldn't be so sick. Then my loved ones wouldn't die. If Jesus really loved me, then he'd make things easier, make life less painful, make me more comfortable! If only he came to take up a pillow and hand it to me!"</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">But that's not whay he came. And thank God that he didn't take up a pillow and hand it to you, but that instead he took up the cross. For there on that cross, he endured hell itself to pay for our sinful selfishness. There, he took every whining complaint against God on himself. There he took every time I was so self-absorbed, I gave no concern to the hurt or pain of another. There he took every one of my sins and yours on himself to take them away and make us sinless and holy in God's sight. That's why he came! </span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">And you know the answer to the most important question anyone can ever ask: Who is Jesus? He is the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God, who took up his cross, not to save me from poverty, from sickness, or from boredom, but to save me from my sin and my selfishness, to save me from the clutches of Satan and death, to save me from the hopeless despair of hell. </span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">II. We Take Up Our Crosses</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><br> </span><p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">And now, understanding who he is and what he's done for us, we're not so concerned about our comfort or convenience. We don't need to always ask, "What's in it for me?" We don't reach for the remote or for the pillow, but we too, reach for the cross. In thanks to him, we gladly serve him. We gladly suffer for him. We'd even gladly die for him. After all, that's what a cross is: a device used to torture and kill.</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Then he said to them all: </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">You see, many people interpret "cross" as some burden they must carry in their lives like a strained relationship, a thankless job, a physical illness. With self-pitying pride, they say, "That's my cross I have to carry."</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">But when Jesus hung on the cross on Golgotha, no one thought of it as something symbolic. "The cross" in Jesus' day meant nothing but a device of torture and death. Imagine if Jesus were to say, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and [sit in his electric chair] daily and follow me."</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">To take up a cross doesn't mean to suffer a setback or face a few problems. It means being willing to die in order to follow Jesus. It means to deny oneself. Give up what you want most in order to serve him. Deny your desire to sit on the couch and veg out when the dishes need to be done. Deny your desire to be popular and cool when people need to hear about who Jesus really is. Deny your desire to avoid physical pain should you be called to testify to the truth with the same consequences as those first disciples. Take up your cross with </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">daily </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">self-denial as you follow Jesus even to the point of death.</span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Why do it? Not in order to earn our salvation. But to thank our God for the salvation he's already given us. Because we know that </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Radio talk show host, Dave Ramsey, encourages his listeners and readers to, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(39, 78, 19); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"Live like no one else today, so you can live like no one else tomorrow."</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> Don't be like everyone else, buying whatever you want regardless of what you can afford. Deny the impulses, live below your means and save. Then tomorrow (or a few dozen years from tomorrow) you can live like no one else. No one else will be debt free like you, financially secure like you and able to give like you. </span></p> <p style="text-indent: 18pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">In the same way, Jesus says, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(39, 78, 19); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">"Live like no one else today, so you can live like no one else tomorrow."</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Take up your cross, not your pillow. Deny yourself and your sinful nature. Lose your life for Jesus and you'll save it. And tomorrow (or a few dozen years from tomorrow) you can live like no one else in the glories of heaven. For you know how your Jesus took up, not a pillow, but his cross to rescue you. Now take up your cross and live for him. In Jesus' name, amen.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "> </span></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-16199207716784401452010-06-24T13:10:00.001-04:002010-06-24T13:10:57.590-04:00Forgiven Much; Love Much (A sermon based on Luke 7:36-50)<div style="margin-top: 6px; margin-right: 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 6px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 1100px; counter-reset: __goog_page__ 0; line-height: 1; "> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; text-align: center; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b>Forgiven Much; Love Much</b></font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; text-align: center; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">A sermon based on Luke 7:36-50</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; text-align: center; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Sunday, June 20, 2010 -- Pentecost 4C</font></div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br style="font-family: Arial; "></font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial" size="3"> A woman at the airport waiting to catch her flight bought herself a bag of cookies, settled in a chair in the airport lounge and began to read her book. Suddenly she noticed the man beside her helping himself to her cookies. Not wanting to make a scene, she read on, ate cookies, and watched the clock. As the daring "cookie thief" kept on eating the cookies she got more irritated and said to herself, "If I wasn't so nice, I'd blacken his eye!" She wanted to move the cookies to her other side but she couldn't bring her self to do it. With each cookie she took, he took one too. When only one was left, she wondered what he would do. Then with a smile on his face and a nervous laugh, he took the last cookie and broke it in half.</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br style="font-family: Arial; "> </font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> He offered her half, and he ate the other. She snatched it from him and thought, "Oh brother, this guy has some nerve, and he's so rude, why, he didn't even show any gratitude!" She sighed with relief when her flight was called. She gathered her belongings and headed for the gate, refusing to look at the ungrateful "thief." She boarded the plane, sank into her seat, and reached into her bag to get a book to read and forget about the incident. But right there, next to her book was her bag... of cookies.</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> The cookies they ate in the lounge were his not hers. She had been the thief not him.</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Likewise, in our gospel lesson this morning the one pointing the accusing finger turns out to be the guilty one. Like the woman in the cookie story, he believed he was such a wonderful person to put up with the problem sitting beside him. But in the end Jesus shows each of them where they really belonged... The one thought he needed little forgiveness and he showed it. The other knew how much she'd been forgiven and she showed it. Listen to the account recorded for us in Luke 7:36-50 of the Pharisee and the "sinner." And ask yourself, which one am I? Luke 7...</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">36 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. </font></i></b><sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">37</font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, </font></i></b><sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">38 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. </font></i></b><sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">39 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."</font></i></b></font></div> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i> </i></b><sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">40 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">Jesus answered him, </font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">"Simon, I have something to tell you."</font> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">"Tell me, teacher," he said. </font> </i></b><sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">41 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. </font></i></b><sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">42 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"</font> </i></b><sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">43 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."</font> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">"You have judged correctly,"</font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"> Jesus said.</font> </i></b><sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">44 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, </font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">"Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. </font></i></b><sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">45 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. </font></i></b><sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">46 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. </font></i></b><sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">47</font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."</font> </i></b><sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">48 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">Then Jesus said to her, </font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">"Your sins are forgiven."</font> </i></b><sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">49 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" </font></i></b><sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">50 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">Jesus said to the woman, </font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">"Your faith has saved you; go in peace."</font> </i></b></font></p> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br style="font-family: Arial; "></font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b>I. Owe Much</b></font></div> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial" size="3"> We don't know why Simon invited Jesus to his house, but it does seem certain that this particular woman was <i><b>not </b></i>on the guest list. The Greek says, "behold, a woman..." In other words, "Surprise!" This woman was a party crasher and not a very reputable one at that. She <i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"had lived a sinful life in that town,"</b></i> presumably sinful enough a life to have earned a reputation. We don't know what exactly she did, but from Simon's reaction, we can make our guesses. <br> </font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial" size="3"> And Simon, who was a fine upstanding citizen in that town, well liked and well respected, said to himself, </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b style="font-family: Arial; "><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">"If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner." </font></i></b></font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Well, what do you make of his assessment? If you think about it, he was part right and part wrong. He was right that "if" Jesus were a prophet would know all about this woman. He was wrong in assuming Jesus wasn't a prophet. He was right in knowing that this woman was a horrible sinner who didn't deserve Jesus attention. But implied in this piece of internal monologue the Spirit lets us in on, is that Simon's assessment of himself was waaaaay off. "<i>She's</i> a horrible sinner with whom any respectable rabbi should not associate. But I on the other hand, well how fortunate for this Jesus to be seen with me. What wonderful press he gets because of me!"<br> You see, Simon had been so focused on the great debt of this woman that he failed to see his own debt -- his own mountain of sins before God.</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> But don't we love to do that too? I'll admit it. I love to do that. "Thank God I'm not like that murderer, that terrorist, that [spit] sex offender. Thank God that I'm not like that delinquent, that backslider, that gossip, that arrogant jerk." We do it because when we find someone who's a worse sinner than us (in our own estimation), it makes our sin seem not so bad. And we don't really have to think about it.<br> </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> But what a dangerous position we're in. Because when we say "I don't need Jesus as much as so-and-so," we really say, "I don't need Jesus." So let's check our credit scores with God. Which person are you? Simon or the unnamed woman? </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">How much debt do you owe God? Are you a pretty good person? <br> Maybe you don't commit gross, scandalous outward sins, but those aren't the only sins that count. God's assesment of mankind in Genesis 6:5 is this: </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"Every inclination of the thoughts of [people's] hearts is only evil all the time."</b></i> Think about what that means for my life. Let's make each unkind thought, each careless word, and each self-centered action (so-called small sins) worth $1 before God. And even though the Bible says that I'm doing it all of the time, let's just say I only do one of those things every minute. At $1 a sin, in a year's time my debt to God would be $525,600! They add up don't they? By the time I reached the age of ten I would owe five and a quarter million dollars to God and would be so over my head in debt to God that an eternity in hell couldn't even start to pay it off. </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Talk about a negative equity! </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">I'm ashamed of my credit score with God! How about you? What horrible debt we all have!<br> But it's good to see that and not be like Simon! Because you can only </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">appreciate the cross as much as you appreciate your sin. If you think you're only mildly offensive to God, then Jesus is no more than a band-aid to cover up the scratch or some Febreeze to hide the slight smell. If you feel you owe a few dollars to the banker, then it's no big deal when the debt is paid for you. But when you know you owe millions, how exciting would it be to have that debt erased!</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Likewise, when we realize what spiritual wrecks we are, born dead in sin, spiritually blind by nature, and eternally lost to hell if left to ourselves, then we really appreciate what Jesus has done for us.<br> <br><b>II. Forgiven Much</b><br><br></font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> You know Simon's assessment of the situation was wrong somewhere else too. Not only did he misunderstand himself, but he also misunderstood Jesus. You see he assumed that "if Jesus knew what kind of a woman this was" there was no way he would associate with this woman. He wouldn't tolerate her presence. He certainly wouldn't let her touch him and weep all over him like she was. But Simon couldn't have been more wrong. <br> You see it was precisely <i>for</i> women like this one that Jesus came! It was precisely for sinners like you and me -- </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">horrible sinners, who recognize their own sin, their massive debt owed to God, and the fact that their only hope must come from outside of them. For sinners like us, </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Jesus came... to suffer, to die...<br> And what do we have to do get such forgiveness? Weep on Jesus feet? Dry his feet with our hair? (Easier said than done for some of us.) Or maybe give up some expensive treasure and sacrifice it for him? No. We don't have to do a thing. Jesus told the sinful woman, "</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">"Your sins are forgiven... </font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">Your faith has saved you; go in peace."</font> </i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br> </font></div> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> By his death on the cross, Jesus has paid the debt that every sin ever committed (or ever will be committed) earns. That's why he shouted "Tetelestai!" from the cross. <i style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); "><b>"It is finished!"</b></i> A Greek word that means "paid in full!" By his resurrection he's given us the receipt. The massive debt that we have incurred is gone. We are not just helped by Jesus <i>a little bit</i>, but are <i>completely, totally</i>, forgiven, restored and made perfect in God's sight.</font><br> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b>II. Love Much</b></font></div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br> So why did the woman weep and wash and waste her perfume if she didn't need to do anything? Why offer such an expensive gift? After all, an alabaster jar usually carried a very expensive perfume, not a knockoff like the CK2 that I wore in high school (not to be confused with CK1 -- and I'm pretty sure no one did). No this was the good stuff. In another account in Mark, an alabaster jar of perfume cost more than a years wages! (cf. Mark 14) Now I don't know what you all make, but can you imagine taking two months' wages (let alone a whole year's worth) in cash and throwing it on the barbecue, dousing it in lighter fluid, and throwing a match on top?<br> Why such waste? Why did she do it? </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Out of an overwhelming sense of thanks. She wept tears of joy and thanksgiving to Jesus. She knew she had been forgiven much and in response she loved Jesus much. He said to Simon, "She loved much because she appreciates how she's been forgiven of so much!" And he added this warning: </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">"But he who has been forgiven little loves little."</font> </i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br> </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br> When we look at the mirror of the law and see how much we owe to God and then look at Jesus and his cross and see how much we've been been forgiven, we can't help but act just like this woman -- with extravagant, wasteful, shameless gifts to him who saved us!</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> We are debt free. God cancelled the debt we owed to him. And at great cost to himself. We've been forgiven much! Now let's love much!</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br> </font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Offer your time to serve at church, at a shelter, at a neighbor's, or at the kitchen sink or changing table! Not because you <i>have to</i> or the work won't get done, but because you <i>want to </i>to offer your very best to your Savior in thanks to him for canceling your debt. Offer your generous gifts to God, in the offering plate, in responsible spending, in caring for those you love and those you've never met! Not because <i>someone</i> has to pay the bills, but because you want to use your dollars to show your thanks to God for the giant debt that he's erased! Offer your very lives and your very selves to the one who says to you, <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">"Your sins are forgiven... Go in peace."</font></i></b> Amen.</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font></div></div></div></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-34847314903291122322010-06-15T17:59:00.001-04:002010-06-15T17:59:37.702-04:00Jesus Puts the Fun Back Into Funeral (A sermon based on Luke 7:11-17)Listen to this sermon here: <span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:6.94444px"><a href="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/filedownload.aspx?master_sec_id=180003600&sec_id=180003600&libfolder=audio&filename=20100613_Luke_7v11-17.mp3" style="color:blue;text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_download.gif" style="border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></a> | <a href="http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/20100613_Luke_7v11-17.mp3" style="color:blue;text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_stream.gif" style="border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></a></span><div> <br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Jesus Puts the Fun Back into Funeral</font></b></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">A sermon based on Luke 7:11-17</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Sunday, June 13, 2010 - Penetecost 3C</font></div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#38761D">"Did you ever think as a hearse goes by that you may be the next to die?"</font></i></b> It's a children's poem. It's a little morbid, a little gloomy, but its point is clear. <b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#38761D"><i>"Did you ever think as a hearse goes by that you may be the next to die?"</i></font></b> Eventually, each of us will face death. People say that it's completely natural, that we all just wear out. But we know from the Bible that death is the result of sin, a very unnatural thing.</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Sin and death have both caused immeasurable sorrow and pain for everyone since the fall into sin. But there is </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">a cure for this pain and a comfort for this sorrow, because Jesus has put the "fun" back into "funeral." By his compassion and by his resurrection, Jesus has taken away the sting of death. Listen now to the confrontation between Jesus and death recorded for us in Luke 7:11-17... </font></div> <br><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 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. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">"Don't cry."</font> 14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">"Young man, I say to you, get up!"</font> 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 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." 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.</font></font></i></b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br> <br><b>I. Jesus Compassion Moves Him to Act</b><br><br></font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Imagine one week from today on the fourth of July you're watching an Independance Day parade. The floats are coming down the street with people waving. The red, white, and blue balloons are soaring. The Stars and Stripes are flying everywhere you look. You see laughing, smiling faces everywhere you look as everyone is enjoying the party-like atmosphere. But then, looking down the street at the opposite direction you see a cop car with the red and blue lights flashing. It's driving too slowly for an emergency. Behind it is another vehicle with flags flying: a hearse. The lead float and the hearse are in a crash course head-on with each other. Two parades, one full of joy and celebration, the other full of sorrow and sadness are about to meet. Which one will win?</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> That's the scenario that Luke portrays for us this morning. Having just healed the centurion's servant who was sick and about to die, Jesus left Capernaum for the town of Nain, a good 30 miles away. But he wasn't alone. There was a parade with him. "<b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">His disciples and a large crowd went along with him.</font></font></i></b>" But as they approached the town gate, the only way in or out of the city, they met another parade -- a funeral procession. Which party would yield to the other? You know the answer. Jesus would triumph. <br> </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> He saw the woman and his heart went out to her. Literally, the word is <i>splagnizomai. </i>It's been translated "heart went out" or "had compassion on" but i<font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">t sort of sounds like what it means. <i>Splagnizomai</i> </font>literally means the stomach churns and the gut aches to see someone you love in pain. Jesus felt for this poor woman. Her husband had already died. What pain she must have felt to lose to him. But then her situation grew even worse. She had to do what normally should not be done. Children are supposed to bury their parents. But she had to bury her own son. And not only was this a huge pain to her heart, but it left her in a difficult social and economic situation. Without a husband or grown son to care for her and provide for her, she would be left to beg and glean from the fields -- the only social security they had. </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">But Jesus' "<b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">heart went out to her and he said, <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">"Don't cry."</font> </font></font></i></b>" For he would act. His love for her moved him to act. And the same is true for us... </font></div> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Ever since Adam and Eve death has wreaked its havoc on this world. </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Are you grieving today? Are you mourning after the death of a loved one? Or is it more general than that? Do you </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">look out at the world day after day and see a cold, dark, loveless, sinful place? Do the troubles and trials of this </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">life wear on you, roll over you, threaten to trample you into the dirt? Are there days when sorrow pierces you to </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">the heart and leaves you to throw out your arms and cry out, "Lord, how long will your people endure this place? Have </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">mercy on us!"</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> And maybe what makes it even worse is knowing that we deserve nothing better! For as Paul wrote in Romans, "</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">The wages of sin is death," and it doesn't take much soul-searching to find how much we've earned death. </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">There is not a single command of God that you or I have kept. We've coveted those things that belong to others. We've lied to those we love. We've stolen, we've lusted, we've hated, we've disrespected authority. We have not worshipped God wholeheartedly. We've misused his name. And all of this is proof that we have not loved and trusted God above all things. We daily grieve the heart of God, and the only </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">reward we deserve from God is the death sentence!</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> But don't cry. Don't cry. Jesus compassion for us has moved him to act. He has come to help us by taking our death sentence on himself. </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Jesus broke the </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">power of death when we were headed straight for it. He broke the power of sin by dying in our place, by </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">offering himself to God to pay for our sins. For our sins, he endured whips on his back. For our sins, he w</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">ore a crown of thorns. For our sins, he hung on the cross that was meant for us. For our sins, God died. And he did it all willingly, even eagerly, because his heart went out to us. </font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Now Jesus says to us: </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#38761D"><b>"Don't cry!" "Don't cry!" "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">(Hebrews 13:5)</font></span><b>"Don't cry!" "[I am your] </b></font></i></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#38761D"><b>refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">(Psalm 46:1)</font></span><b> "Don't cry!" "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and </b></font></i></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#38761D"><b>saves those who are crushed in spirit." </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">(Psalm 34:18)</font></span><b> "Don't cry!"</b></font></i> </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">God doesn't ignore your grief. He comforts you who grieve. He grants you the </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">strength to rely on him for that comfort. And what's more, Jesus doesn't just have compassion on you, but he has the power to help you. For Jesus' power enables him to resurrect the dead and conquer even death...</font></div> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br><b>II. Jesus Power Enables Him to Resurrect</b></font><br><br> Now, New Iinternational Version translates the word, "coffin," but that can be a bit misleading. This was not like the coffins that we're used to. There was no lid. It was more like a stretcher. So when the parade of Jesus' followers met the parade of death, the wrapped body could be plainly seen. And with nothing more than his Word, Jesus demonstrated his power over death. He walked up to the dead man and spoke: <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">"Young man, I say to you, get up!"</font></font></i></b><br> And he did! <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><u>dead man</u></span> sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother."</font></i></b> He didn't need a few weeks of bed rest. He didn't need to be kept overnight for observation. He didn't even need a moment to catch his breath. With just a few short words, Jesus' healing was full and complete. He gave the boy back to his mother. He returned a beloved son to her, but also restored the possibility of a better, more secure life. <br> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> The news of this miracle naturally spread like wildfire. They were all filled with awe and praised God. <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"A great prophet has appeared among us,"</font></i></b> they said. <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"God has come to help his people." This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country." </font></i></b>People had been hearing about Jesus' miracles for some time now, but this was something different, something new, something wonderful! As incredible as his acts of healing were, Jesus had the power to bring the dead back to life! When the two parades met, Jesus' parade of life and joy trumped the parade of sorrow and death and Jesus put the fun back into funeral! And he's done the same for us! </div> <br><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> You know, the word that the NIV translates "coffin," the King James Version translates "bier." B-I-E-R. I like that translation because it reminds me that when Jesus raised that young man back to life, he demonstrated what every good German already knows: <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#38761D">"In heaven there is no bier."</font></i></b> Okay, I'm sorry. That wasn't even that funny. But seriously, i<font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">n heaven there is no bier, no funeral coffin, no stretcher. In heaven there is no more death or sorrow or mourning. Those things will be gone, because they belong to the old age of the sin-fallen earth.</font> </div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> How do we know? How can we be so sure? Because Jesus demonstrated his power over death! Not only here where he raised someone else to life, but on Easter when he raised himself from the dead! His empty tomb is the sign that your sins have been taken away. His folded burial garments show that you wear his holiness even now. And his appearances to his disciples, to Mary, to Peter, and all the others, are proof that death has been swallowed up in victory!<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> And now, Jesus says, <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#990000">"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."</font></i></b> (John 11:25-26) Yes, the world is still filled with sin. Yes, if Jesus doesn't come back first, we will all taste death. But Jesus showed his power over death. He showed his power over death by raising up the widow's son to life again. Even though we die, we will be raised on the Last Day. We will be gathered together with all believers. We will live in heaven eternally with God, face to face with</div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; ">him where we'll praise him eternally! There is no doubt: <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"God has come to help his people."</font></i></b> </div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> And so we need not be afraid! We don't need to be afraid when the economy tanks. We don't need to be afraid when the doctor gives a bad report. We don't need to be afraid when we get a pink slip. We don't need to be afraid when a loved one dies. And even our own death need not intimidate. For Jesus has won the victory for us! It's guaranteed! Jesus has indeed put the fun back into funeral! </div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever."</font></i></b> (Revelation 1:6) Amen.</div> </div></span></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-55279081021954201992010-06-11T11:14:00.001-04:002010-06-11T11:14:46.700-04:00Have an Amazing Faith! (A sermon based on Luke 7:1-10)Listen to this sermon here: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10px; "><a href="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/filedownload.aspx?master_sec_id=180003600&sec_id=180003600&libfolder=audio&filename=20100606_Luke_7v1-10.mp3" style="color: navy; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_download.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a> or <a href="http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/20100606_Luke_7v1-10.mp3" style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_stream.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a></span><div> Or watch the entire service here: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/7481818" target="_blank">http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/7481818</a></div><div><br></div><div><div style="margin-top:6px;margin-right:6px;margin-bottom:6px;margin-left:6px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:1100px;line-height:1"> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center"><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><b><font size="4">Have an Amazing Faith!</font></b></font></div> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3">A sermon based on Luke 7:1-10<br></font></font></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center"> <font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3">Sunday, June 6, 2010 -- Pentecost 3C<br></font></font></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:left"> <br></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:left"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3"> Capernaum is amazing! Capernaum was my favorite place to visit on my Holy Land tour. The "village of comfort" was where Peter, James, John, Andrew and Matthew all called home proior to becoming disciples. It was the town that Jesus made his headquarters for a large part of his public ministry and called home. And yet, what amazed me was that in spite of the prominence of this city in the Bible and the fact that Jesus adopted it as his own (cf. Matthew 9:1 and Mark 2:1), when I visited almost 2,000 years after Jesus did, it still looked remarkably the same. Of course the buildings were in ruins and a modern church had been constructed over Peter's house (which seems to have been used as a gathering place of believers ever since our Savior gathered there). But unlike much of the rest of the Holy Land, it wasn't covered in gift shops. Vendors didn't line the streets, selling vials of water from the Sea of Galilee or T-shirts that read, "I walked where Jesus walked." In fact, even with the lone gift shop that stood near the entrance to the city, it was easy to imagine the active little fishing village with Roman soldiers policing the busy streets on the trade route as it must have been so long ago. It really was my favorite place. I found it truly amazing.<br> And yet, far more amazing that the ruins of that ancient city, are the events that took place there. Can you imagine visitng Peter's sick mother-in-law in bed, wondering if she would survive this one, then see her wave to you that very afternoon after Jesus made the fever leave her? Can you imagine fishing with a man from whom Jesus had exercised a demon, now perfectly sane and piloting the boat? Can you imagine living there and hearing all your neighbors talk about crippled man that was lowered through the roof of a house and healed by a Rabbi from Nazarth?! Can you imagine listening to Jairus, the synagogue leader, telling you about his little girl that Jesus brought back from the dead?! What amazing things happened in Capernaum!<br> Now thinking of all the amazing things that Jesus did in Capernaum, can you think of anything that could possibly amaze <i>him?</i> After all, what could be done to impress the one who has literally seen it all before? How can you astonish the God who created the cosmos? <i>Can</i> anything amaze Jesus? Actually, yes. That feat was carried out in Capernaum, and by a Roman centurion! Not even by a Jew! You want to know his secret? Do you want to know how you too can amaze Jesus? Then listen to our text for this morning, recorded for us in Luke 7:1-10, and see this centurion's amazing faith that left Jesus himself stunned...</font></font> <br> </div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:left"><br></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:left"><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><i><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>1</b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b> When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. </b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>2</b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b> There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. </b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>3</b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b> The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.</b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b> 4 </b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, </b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>5</b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b> because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." </b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>6</b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b> So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. </b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>7</b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b> That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. </b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>8</b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b> For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." </b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>9</b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b> When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, <font color="#cc0000">"I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."</font> </b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>10</b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b> Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.</b></font></font></i></font></sup></div> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:left"><br></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:left"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3"><b>I. Have a Humble Faith</b></font></font></div> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:left"><br> How do you wow Jesus? The Jewish elders thought they knew. They thought you could impress Jesus by showing him your power. Did you have the authority to command 100 men and have them ask "How high?" when you say "Jump!"? They thought you could amaze Jesus by showing him your wealth. Did you have enough money to single-handedly build a church of your own? They thought you could astonish Jesus by showing him your dedication. Did you love the nation of Israel, even though you were a foreigner and not an Israelite yourself? Did you love the nation enough to spend your wealth single-handedly buiding a church of your own?<br> If you had these things, these elders thought, well, then you could impress Jesus. Then you could be worthy of the help of this great Rabbi and miracle worker. <font face="arial, sans-serif"><i><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>"This man deserves to have you do this," </b></font></font></i><font color="#000000"><font size="3">they said </font></font><i><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>"</b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." </b></font></font></i></font>But none of these impressed Jesus very much. No, it was the humble faith of the centurion. When everyone else said, "Wow! What a great guy! Look at all he's done! If anyone's worthy of Jesus attention and love, it's this man!" he said, <font face="arial, sans-serif"><i><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>"Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. </b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you." </b></font></font></i></font>Not puffed up by pride, but full of humility he recognized his unworthiness before Jesus. And Jesus was amazed at this man's humble faith!<br> <br><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:left"> How about you? Do you want to impress Jesus? Then it's not to be done by showing him all the great things you've done. Look, Jesus, I may not have the power to command 100 men, but I have the power to control my own schedule. And though I could be anywhere else right now, doing a 100 other things, I'm here in your house, worshiping you. No, I may not be that wealthy, certainly not wealthy enough to pay for an entire church building project on my own, but doesn't that make the few dollars that I give an even more generous gift as I give of my little to you? And dedication? Well, look at all I've done for you, Jesus. Not only do I give up my time and my dollars for you, but look at all the work I've given you! I've volunteered so many hours at church for you, I've risked friendships talking about you, I've gone out of my way to serve you! Jesus, aren't you impressed yet?<font size="3"><br> And he answers, "No. Not really... Not at all." As he told his disciples in Luke 17(:9-10), he says to us: <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"Would [the master] thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'" </b></i></font><font size="3">No. Jesus is not impressed by all that great things we do when we're supposed to be doing all these things perfectly all the time!<br> </font><font size="3">So how do you impress Jesus? By admitting that you're not very impressive. Humble yourself before God. Confess to him that you are not worthy of his love because of your perfect church attendance record. Confess that you are not worthy of his blessings because of all the offerings you've brought from those blessings. Confess that you are not worthy of his kindness because of all the kind acts you've shown to others. Confess that you are completely and entirely unworthy of Jesus because you are, by your very nature, sinful and unclean and you have given the evidence of your sinfulness time and time again by your sinful thoughts, words, and actions. Humbly cry to God, </font><font face="arial, sans-serif"><i><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>"Lord... for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof... </b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b> I [do] not... consider myself worthy to come to you."</b></font></font></i></font><font size="3"><br> </font></div></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:left"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3">Humble yourself before God, and you'll amaze Jesus too!</font></font><br> </div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:left"><br></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:left"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3"><b>II. Have a Confident Faith</b></font></font></div> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:left"><br></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:left"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3"> Now this centurion didn't just amaze Jesus by his humble faith. Plenty of sad and depressed people have considered themselves unworthy of Jesus and his love, many of whom have died despairing under the weight of their own unworthiness. But this centurion's faith didn't end with his own unworthiness. It was not just a <i>humble </i>faith, but a <i>confident </i>faith that trusted that Jesus had the power and authority to help. He trusted that Jesus could help in this situation where no one else could.<br> </font></font><font face="arial, sans-serif"><i><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>"Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. </b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>7</b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. </b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>8</b></font></font><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."</b></font></font></i></font><br> <font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3"> This man confessed that not only was he unworthy to have Jesus come under his roof, but also that it was entirely unnecessary for Jesus to do so! He recognized that Jesus power and authority extended beyond what he could see, that Jesus could heal sickness and disease remotely! He didn't even need to visit the patient to diagnose the problem. And he had full confidence that Jesus could do it! He didn't say, "</font></font><font face="arial, sans-serif"><i><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>Say the word, and my servant [might] be healed.</b></font></font></i></font><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3">" or "</font></font><font face="arial, sans-serif"><i><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>Say the word, and my servant...</b></font></font></i></font><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3">" has a chance! But expressed his confident faith: "</font></font><font face="arial, sans-serif"><i><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>Say the word, and my servant </b></font></font></i><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b><u>will</u> </b></font></font><i><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>be healed.</b></font></font></i></font><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3">" What an amazing faith!<br> And verse 3 tells us how this centurion could have such an amazing faith: </font></font><font face="arial, sans-serif"><i><font color="#0000ff"><font size="3"><b>"The centurion heard of Jesus..." </b></font></font></i></font><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3">Of course, we don't know exactly how much this man heard about Jesus, but the Word worked! <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"Faith comes by hearing the message..."</b></i> (Romans 10:17) He heard and he believed! He felt unworthy, and <i>was indeed</i> unworthy. But his unworthiness didn't stop him from making his bold request. He trusted in Jesus power and care and Jesus was amazed at his confident faith!<br> <br> And you too, dear friends, have heard the message. You have seen who Jesus is even more clearly than this centurion had that day. You know he is more than just a miracle worker! He is your Savior! He, who is the only one truly worthy of God's praise, gave up his heavenly Kingdom to live in a little fishing village like Capernaum. Why? So that he might live a perfect life in your place! He came that he might take your unworthiness on himself, that he might pay for it all on the cross, that he might endure hell itself to take away your sin! That's how much you are worth to Jesus! <br> So don't let your unworthiness stop you from having a confident faith! In fact, your faith can be fully confident for <i>the very reason that</i> your salvation <i>doesn't</i> depend on you or your worthiness, but entirely on Jesus and what he's done. And if he loves you enough to endure hell for you, then you can be absolutely certain tha<font face="arial">t he will keep the promise he made in 1 John 1:9: </font><i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial"><b>"</b></i></font></font><font size="3"><i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial"><b>If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and </b></i></font><font color="#0000ff" face="arial" size="3"><b><u>will</u></b></font><font size="3"><i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial"><b> forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.</b></i></font><font face="arial" size="3"><i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"</b></i> </font><font face="arial" size="3">You can be absolutely certain that he will keep the promise he made</font><font face="arial" size="3"> in John 14:13: <i style="color:rgb(204, 0, 0)"><b>"I will do whatever you ask in my name."</b></i> You can be absolutely certain that he will keep the promise he made in Romans 8:28 and <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"</b></i></font><font size="3"><i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255);font-family:Arial"><b>in all things... [work] for the good of those who love him</b></i></font><font face="arial" size="3"><i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>." </b></i>You too can have such a confident faith that boldly trusts God's promises and clings to his Word. And you too can amaze Jesus!<br> <b><br>III. Have A Selfless Faith</b><br><br> And finally, the third aspect of this centurion's faith that is so amazing, is how selfless it was. Notice what he did--<i>and did not--</i>ask for: </font><font face="arial" size="3"><i><font color="#0000ff"><b>"The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.</b></font><font color="#0000ff"><b>" </b></font></i></font>Now, in verse three, the word translated "servant" means "slave" or "servant." But, in verse <i>seven</i>, the word translated "servant" is really "son." That's significant because it shows the centurion's selfless heart. <br> You see, he wasn't asking Jesus to heal the servant because the death of this man would mean financial loss when he would have to go to market to get another slave. He didn't ask Jesus to heal the man because he was such a faithful worker and it would be a huge inconvenience to have to find a replacement that could be trusted and would work as hard. He didn't ask for Jesus help for himself, but for another. He valued this man highly not just for the work he did, but for who he was. The centurion had a selfless faith that put the needs of others first, before his own, and that left Jesus amazed!<br> <br> So too, we know how much Jesus cares for us. We place all our confidence in him and know that we have nothing to worry about. That confidence frees us to stop worrying about ourselves so much! It frees us from worrying about ourselves at all! Now we too can live to serve others. We can pray to God on behalf of others. We don't need to pray to God, "Give me this and give me that," but can pray, "Thank you, God, for giving me all that I need and so much more! Now help me to use the gifts that you give me to serve others. Help me to share with them the truths of their own unworthiness and of your amazing grace that they too can put their complete confidence in you. Help me to provide for their physical needs that it might open a door to enable me to meet their spiritual needs. Help me to give generously from the blessings you pour out on me to carry out that work." We too can have a selfless faith. And we too can amaze Jesus! <br> <br> What amazing things happened in Capernaum! Jesus healed a man of his disease! And he did it remotely! A centurion amazed Jesus himself with his humble faith, with his confident faith, with his selfless faith. Now, let's go do some amazing things! And let's wow Jesus with our amazing faith that recognizes our unworthiness before him, that puts our complete trust in him, that puts others and their needs ahead of our own. In Jesus' name, dear friends, let's amaze him! Amen.<br> <br></div></div></div></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-1116048807356990092010-06-10T13:11:00.000-04:002010-06-10T13:12:00.822-04:00You Can Handle the Truth! (A sermon based on John 16:12-15)<div><div><div style="margin-top:6px;margin-right:6px;margin-bottom:6px;margin-left:6px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:1100px;line-height:1"> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center"><b><font size="4">You Can Handle the Truth!</font></b></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center"> <font size="3">A sermon based on John 16:12-15</font></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center"><font size="3">Sunday, May 30, 2010 - Trinity Sunday C</font></div> <font size="3"><br> I'm sure you're familiar with scene from the 1992 movie classic, A Few Good Men, where Lieutenant Kaffee, a Navy lawyer played by Tom Cruise, questions Colonel Nathan Jessep (played by Jack Nicholson) on the stand. Jessep challenges, <b><i><font color="#38761D">"You want answers?"</font></i></b> Kaffee replies, <b><i><font color="#38761D">"I think I'm entitled to them."</font></i></b> Jessep repeats, <b><i><font color="#38761D">"You want answers?"</font></i></b> to which Kaffee shouts, </font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b><i><font color="#38761D">"I want the truth!"</font></i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "> And then, Colonel Nathan Jessep responds with one of the best known and most parodied lines in recent film: <b><i><font color="#38761D">"You can't handle the truth!"</font></i></b> <br> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "> On the night before his death, perhaps on his way to the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told his disciples something similar, "You can't handle the truth... at least, not yet." But he promised that he would send his Spirit to them soon to make the truths that they could not know on their own, clear... so they could handle the truth. <br> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "> Likewise, it is true that "You can't handle the truth!" Not all of it. Not right now. And neither can I. But God the Father sends his Holy Spirit to us to reveal the Son to us. The Triune God enables us to handle the truth, at least all we need to handle to obtain eternal life with him. <br> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "> Listen now to Jesus' promise that his disciples (both then and now) could handle the truth by his grace. This promise is recorded for us in John 16:12-15. You're welcome to follow along on page 5 in the worship folder as I read and to make use of the message notes on the insert. John 16:12-15...<br> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><font size="3"><i><font color="#0000FF"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br> </span></font>12</font></i></font></b></sup><b><i><font color="#0000FF">"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. </font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><font size="3"><i><font color="#0000FF">13</font></i></font></b></sup><b><i><font color="#0000FF">But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. </font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><font size="3"><i><font color="#0000FF">14</font></i></font></b></sup><b><i><font color="#0000FF">He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. </font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><font size="3"><i><font color="#0000FF">15</font></i></font></b></sup><b><i><font color="#0000FF">All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.<br> </font></i></b></span><b><font size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><i><br></i></font>I. You Can't Handle the Truth... On Your Own<br></font></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b><br> </b> Imagine how the disciples must have felt that night. In an act of deep humility Jesus gets down and washes his disciples feet, later, at the Passover celebration he institutes a new sacrament giving them not the body of the lamb, but his body, not just a cup of wine, but his blood. Then he speaks to them of his departure -- his death -- telling them that they cannot come where he is going. And when they're already plenty confused, and full of questions, Jesus tells them, "Though "<font size="3"><b><i><font color="#0000FF">I have much more to say to you,</font></i></b></font>" I can't tell you any more, because all that I have to say is, "<font size="3"><b><i><font color="#0000FF">more than you can now bear.</font></i></b></font>" In other words, "You can't handle the truth!"<br> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "> Friends, the same is often true of us. The truth is that we can't handle the truth. We can't handle every truth of God and fit it inside our heads. How God could be three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in one God, where the persons of God cannot ever be separated or mixed, defies human logic. How Jesus could be 100% God and at the same time 100% man, not 50% of each, nor a 200% hybrid, but fully God and at the same time fully human, is beyond our understanding. That in, with, and under the bread and wine that we see, smell, and taste in the Lord's Supper is the very body and blood of Jesus, goes against human wisdom. And the very heart and core of the Christian faith, that Jesus Christ, true, immortal God, who cannot die, died on a cross in our place, seems to defy reason itself.<br> </span><font size="3"> You want answers? You want answers? You want the truth? Well, you can't handle the truth! </font><font size="3">But make no mistake. That doesn't mean these things are not true. It just means that we cannot handle the truth as God himself<font size="3"> says in 1 Corinthians 1:25: <b><i><font color="#0000FF">" the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom."<br> </font></i></b></font></font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "> Try explaining how to fill out a federal tax form to a 4 year old. It's not that it's impossible to understand the tax code. (I hear there are some accountants who actually do understand it.) It's just that the concepts go waaaaay over the kid's head. No matter how you explain it, that 4 year-old is simply not capable of understanding the concepts or the logic. LIkewise, the truths of God are not <b><i>ir-</i></b>rational, that is, they make no sense. Rather, they are <b><i>supra-</i></b>rational. They make sense to God (somehow), they just go waaaaay over my head. I can't get them. <br> </span><font size="3"> But these supra-rational truths aren't the only truths I don't get. </font>You see, I can't handle the truth of my sinful condition either... not on my own. It is more than I can bear. On my own, I can't handle the truth, not because it defies my logic or understanding, but because I am by nature spiritually dead and hostile to God. I choose not to believe it. <br> In his rant from the witness stand, Colonel Jessep tried to justify his command that resulted in a man's death. He told <font size="3">Lieutenant Kaffee,<b><i> <font color="#38761D">"</font><font color="#38761D">You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives... <span style="font-style:normal"><u>You don't want the truth.</u></span> Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall.</font><font color="#38761D">"<br> </font></i></b></font> Jessep argued that Kaffee couldn't handle the truth, not because it went over his head, but because he didn't really <b><i>want</i></b> the truth. In a similar way, we don't want to hear the truth of our sin. We don't want to hear that we are dead, blind, and lost in our spiritual condition before God. We don't want to hear that we are incapable of change. And so, on our own, we can't handle the truth. <br> But God lovingly reveals it to us. He makes us face the truth of who we are by nature. But he does this so we might confess to him and turn to him for help. Because he knows that on our own, we can never discover the truth of his solution. We cannot sit in a corner and meditate, or search the earth to find that truth. But God -- the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- remedies that situation. He gives us the truth. And he enables us to handle the truth for our salvation...<br> </div><div style="margin-top:6px;margin-right:6px;margin-bottom:6px;margin-left:6px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:1100px;line-height:1"> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><b><font size="3">II. You Can Handle the Truth... By God's Grace<br></font></b><br><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> Jesus didn't end his dialog with the disciples with, "<font size="3"><b><i><font color="#0000FF">[What] I have... to say to you [is] more than you can now bear. </font></i></b></font>" but continued... "<font size="3"><b><i><font color="#0000FF">But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. </font><font color="#0000FF">He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. A</font><font color="#0000FF">ll that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.</font></i></b></font>"</div> If I walk into the house of a man who is not there and whom I've never met, I might learn a few things about him. I might learn his decorating style, and what he likes to eat, I might learn about his sense of style in clothes, about the meds he takes, or even something of his profession or his family. But I cannot know his thoughts, his feelings, his attitudes. But if I should find that man's diary, where he's recorded his thoughts, his ambitions, his feelings, well, then I'd get a glimpse into his soul. <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> Likewise, by observing his creation alone, no one can know the heart of God. But that doesn't mean we can't know the heart of God. For God reveals his heart and his attitude toward us, not in a diary, but by his Holy Spirit, through the Word. Did you hear the progression in Jesus' promise? "<font size="3"><b><i><font color="#0000FF">A</font><font color="#0000FF">ll that belongs to the Father is mine.</font></i></b></font>" God gave all truth to Jesus. Jesus in turn gave all truth to the Spirit. Jesus said, "<font size="3"><b><i><font color="#0000FF">The Spirit of truth... will speak only what he hears, and he will... [take]</font><font color="#0000FF"> from what is mine...</font></i></b></font>" And in turn, the Spirit gives that truth to you and to me. "<font size="3"><b><i><font color="#0000FF">He will guide you into all truth... he will tell you what is yet to come... </font><font color="#0000FF">making [what is mine] known to you. </font></i></b></font>" This [holding the Bible] is God's "diary" where he makes his heart known to you.<br> </div> This is what we confess in Martin Luther's explanation to the third article of the Apostles' Creed: <b><i><font color="#38761D">"I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him. But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts..."</font></i></b> God the Father has sent his Holy Spirit to reveal the person and the work of the Son. When we could not handle the truth, or even know it, God made it known.<br> <font size="3"> You know what Jesus has done for you: How he lived a perfect life in your place, never committing any sin or doing anything wrong. You know how he took your sin, your imperfections, your mistakes all on himself. You know how he took your punishment on himself on the cross and how he gave his perfection to you. You know God's heart. You know God's great love for you, clearly revealed in Jesus, by the Holy Spirit! And by God's grace -- the grace of the Triune God! -- you and I <b><i>can</i></b> handle the truth!</font></div> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="3"> And as we rest in the truth of what God has done for us in Christ and revealed to us by the Spirit, we can handle the rest, trusting even those truths we can't fully understand. <br> </font></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="3"> My boys still don't understand the tax code or know the difference between a 1040 and WD-40. (Let's face it, I don't get all the intricacies of clergy tax law.) But I can also tell you that they don't care. They don't want to know what a 1040 or a W-2 or a Schedule A are. They're not worried about a visit from the IRS. They don't need to know about any of that stuff because they're confident that their daddy will take care of all that stuff. And they know <i>that</i> because because they know their daddy loves them. </font><font size="3">Likewise, what God has revealed to us, we believe. We know he loves us -- enough to die for us! -- enough to suffer hell for us! And he's left plenty for us to study that we <b><i>can</i></b> understand. Let's concern ourselves with that. [Again, holding the Bible.] Let's diligently study what he has revealed right here. The rest, that we can't understand, need not concern us.</font></div> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="3"> But rejoice in the truth, dear friends! You can handle the truth! For in love for you, God the Father has revealed through God the Holy Spirit what you need to know about God the Son and his sacrifice for you! So, keeping handling the truth. Handle it every day. <font size="3">Don't worry about what you can't understand. But what God has revealed, that you can understand. So r</font>ead it, learn it, study it, memorize it, and by it grow in your faith! For by God's grace, you <b><i>can</i></b> handle the truth! And that's a gift that we cannot take for granted! In Jesus' name, dear friends, amen!</font></div> </div></div> </div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-91291468579399570982010-05-27T15:31:00.001-04:002010-05-27T15:31:41.777-04:00A Breath of Fresh Air (A sermon based on John 15:26-27)We have more issues with the video/audio recording, but here's the text of this past Sunday's sermon:<br><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium"><div style="margin-top:6px;margin-right:6px;margin-bottom:6px;margin-left:6px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:1100px;line-height:1"> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center"><b><font size="4">A Breath of Fresh Air</font></b></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center"> A sermon based on John 15:26-27</div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center">Sunday, May 23, 2010 - Pentecost C</div><br><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> You can't see it. You can't smell it. You can rarely feel it. And most of the time you forget that it's there. Yet, it's so important that without it, our economy would certainly be much worse than it is. Our military might would be much weaker. And it's no exaggeration to say that our very lives would end with out it. We need air.</div> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> And how powerful it is, holding up massive cargo planes <font size="3"><font face="arial, sans-serif">at hundreds or thousands of feet in the sky, indefinitely. When air is out of control, it can rip trees out of the ground and wipe out entire towns. When air is under control it can bring commercial buses and tractor trailers to a halt. It can break thick concrete on a freeway or tighten the lug nuts on your car's wheels.</font></font></div> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3"> And besides all of these displays of power, air is what keeps you alive every minute. If all of the air was removed from this room, within 15 minutes we would all become brain damaged. A few minutes after that, we would all be dead. Air is a necessity for life. And though, for the most part, we ignore it as it quietly goes about its business, every once in a while we are reminded of its awesome power and influences in our lives.</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3"> The Bible talks a lot about air. In the Old Testament it is called "ruach," in the New Testament "pneuma." Sometimes the Bible translates it "breath," sometimes "wind," sometimes "Spirit." And sometimes in the New Testament the Greek word "hagios" is put in front of "pnemua" so that it reads "Holy Wind" or "Holy Spirit."</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3"> Today we celebrate the Day of Pentecost, a day when we are especially reminded of the Holy Spirit's awesome power and influence in our lives. We're reminded how we cannot live without him. But he gives us a breath of fresh air -- of life-giving air -- in bringing us the Gospel. And by that gospel he gives us the ability to share the Gospel with others and fans into flames our zeal to do it. Listen to Jesus' promise of Pentecost and the breath of fresh air the Spirit would bring, recorded in John 15:26-27...</font></font></p> <br><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><i><b><font color="#0000ff"><sup><font size="2">26</font></sup>"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. <sup><font size="2">27</font></sup>And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.</font></b></i></div> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> </div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> </div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><b>I. The Spirit Enables Us to <u>See</u> Jesus</b></div> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> </div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> A pastor once commented that it's too bad we don't offer private confession to our members the way we once did. To hear the comfort of forgiveness spoken directly and personally to you as an individual struggling with a sin, can be a wonderful and freeing moment, like a breath of fresh air. But another pastor responded, "Actually we do offer private confession. And our members use it often. We just don't call it private confession. We call it counseling. There we hear of the sins that infect our members' lives, we personally and individually assure them of Jesus' forgiveness, and we show them what this forgiveness means in their day to day lives."<br> </div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> Likewise, this is really the job description of the Holy Spirit. Jesus called him the Counselor, literally the Paraclete, the "one called to the side," who speaks the truth. He doesn't just hear of the sins that infect us, but he points them out. He's called the Spirit of truth, because that's all he speaks: the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.<br> </div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> First, he speaks the truth of who we are. He testifies about Jesus that he is perfect, sinless, and holy... everything that we're not. He points out God's standard for us as Jesus put it in Matthew 5:48 in the sermon on the mount, <b><i><font color="#990000">"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."</font></i></b> We may try to pretend that we're perfect or at least pretty good. We all cover up and hide our secret attitudes and thoughts. But the Holy Spirit speaks the truth. He shows us how we've denied the truth, at times turning the 10 commandments into 10 suggestions. And to our great shame, he points out the horrible, ugly, damning thing that sin is. It's to us too, not just those at Pentecost that he says, <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"</b></i><font size="3"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><b><i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)">You, with the help of wicked men, put [Jesus] to death by nailing him to the cross."</i> </b>(Acts 2:23)<br> </font></font></div><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"> Yesterday, I was working at church for a while, when I just had to step out. The fumes from the floor wax were getting to me. But our sin is far worse. It's like poison in the air that chokes the life out of us and leaves us spiritually dead. And just like one trapped in an airtight container with the breathable air running out, there was no chance of escape on our own. We were bound to die, not just physically, but eternally in hell. <br> </font></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"><br></font></p> And in stepped the Holy Spirit again to share with us another truth. <i><b><font color="#0000ff">"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me." </font></b></i>(That is, about Jesus). And that's exactly what the Holy Spirit did. <br> The poor woman went out too far in the ocean, the rip tide caught her and pulled her under. By the time the lifeguard had dragged her back to shore, she wasn't breathing. But the lifeguard was trained in CPR. He began to pump on her chest and breathe deeply into her lungs. Before long, she coughed up the brine in her lungs and started breathing again. In a similar way, the Holy Spirit has breathed spiritual life into us when we were dead in our sin. <br> He opened the door of the airtight container. He opened our eyes to see Jesus for who he is: the sinless Son of God. He open our minds to understand what he did for us on the cross, taking our place as God administered his full justice and wrath against our sin. And he's opened our hearts to believe these precious truths in spite of ourselves. Through the Word (whether read or heard) and through the Sacrament of Baptism, he's breathed life into us as he created the very faith in our hearts. What a breath of life-giving, fresh air!<br> And to our great delight the Spirit continues to keep us in the faith, through the Word and through the Lord's Supper, reminding us again and again how Jesus took away our every sin! He reminds us how Jesus rose from the dead to guarantee our victory! He reminds us in those beautiful words of absolution, "Your sins are forgiven," that God does not and <b><i>cannot</i></b> hold any sin against us anymore! The Holy Spirit will not assign any penance to perform. He will not point you to your feelings. But will always point you to that sweet breath of fresh air: that Jesus has forgiven you of every sin!<br> And that's not all. The Holy Spirit doesn't just breath spiritual life into us, but he fans our faith in a bright, burning flame that cannot be contained! He not only enables us to <i>see</i> Jesus, but he also motivates and enables us to <i>share </i>Jesus.<br> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> </div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><b>II. The Spirit Enables Us to <u>Share</u> Jesus</b></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> </div> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> You know that fire needs three things to burn: Heat, fuel, and air. When the service is over this morning, one of the ushers will snuff out the candles on the altar. And to do so, they don't even need not touch the wicks, but simply cover them up. Without air, the flame cannot continue. But the opposite is also true. Air feeds a fire. That's why you see the camper who's struggling to get the campfire started, down on hands and knees blowing gently on the flames. Feeding it oxygen or using the billows, fans the smaller flame into a raging fire.<br> Likewise, in our Christian lives, the Holy Spirit breathes a breath of fresh air through the Word and Lord's Supper to fan our faith into flames to keep our faith burning brightly, even raging out of control so we cannot contain it! </div> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> Jesus told his disciples: <i><b><font color="#0000ff">"the Spirit of truth... will testify about me. And you also must testify..." </font></b></i>It would be their job to, <i style="color:rgb(153, 0, 0)"><b>"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."</b></i> (cf. Mark 16:15) But they wouldn't do this job alone. The Holy Spirit would help them every step of the way, just as Jesus promised in Acts 1:8: <i style="color:rgb(153, 0, 0)"><b>"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses... to the ends of the earth."</b></i><br> </div><br> And this job, this Great Commission of making disciples of all nations (cf. Matthew 28:19), belongs to us too (since Jesus said it would last <i style="color:rgb(153, 0, 0)"><b>"to the very end of of the age"</b></i> - cf. Matthew 28:20). And we are not alone in our task either. The Holy Spirit promises to help us too. Remember what Peter told the new Christians on Pentecost? <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."</b></i> (Acts 2:38-39) And that last phrase -- <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."</b></i> -- includes us! <br> We have received the gift of the Holy Spirit! And he helps us in our task! With the gospel he fans into flame the zeal of your hearts so you're fired up to share with others the beautful truth that Jesus has paid for their sins, just as he's paid for yours! We can't help but talk about the exciting thing he's done for us.<br> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3"> Now you might be thinking, "I could never be like Peter and stand up in front of a crowd of over 3,000 people and talk about Jesus. I have difficulty giving a report at my job in front of a handful of co-workers. I'm not qualified to talk about religion or about Jesus!" Dear friends, witnesses, testifiers, remember how the Holy Spirit describes you through that same Peter? In I Peter 2:9 he wrote, <b><i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)">"you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."</i> </b>You are qualified to talk about what the Holy Spirit has done for you! <br> </font></font></p><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3"> In fact, you testify right here in church as you witness to one another confessing the faith you share. You already witnessed to your neighbors when they heard the car doors shut and your car pull out and they knew where you were going. Now use that opportunity to tell them why you give up some extra sleep each Sunday morning. Witness through those relationships you've already established at work, in school, or in your own family. <br> </font></font><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3"> And you know the best part? The Holy Spirit is the one who works through the Word that you share. It's his job to breath a breath of fresh air into them, to bring them to faith, and to resuscitate them with his breath of life. <br> </font></font><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3"> So, pray to the Holy Spirit asking him to breath into you a breath of fresh air and fan your faith into a blazing fire that cannot be contained. Pray that he would help you to see the opportunities to share your faith -- the opportunities that surround you. Pray that he would give you the words to say when those opportunities come -- his Word of truth. <br> </font></font><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial, sans-serif"><font size="3"> How the air in the sky can hold up a massive jet is incredible. That it can break through concrete or rip trees out of the ground is amazing! That it is an integral part of our everyday life is undeniable. But better by far is how the Wind, the "pneuma," the Spirt, works. By his Gospel, he breathes a breathe of fresh air into us. He displays his awesome power by breathing life into the dead! He displays his ceaseless grace by keeping strong in our faith as we continue to breathe in the life-giving Gospel! He shows his love by breathing through us and through our words, the Word of life into the hearts and souls of others! Take a deep breath, friends, and thank God for his breath of fresh air! In Jesus' name, and by his Spirit, amen.<br> </font></font></p><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> </div></div></span></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-22775666580644609392010-05-18T15:08:00.001-04:002010-05-18T15:08:23.287-04:00The Conquering King Comes! (A sermon based on Revelation 19:11-16)Sorry, but the service wasn't recorded again. We've been having some issues with our internet cutting in and out and it seems to have cut out shorting after recording began. But here's the text of the sermon for your reading and edification! Blessings on your week!<div> <br></div><div>In Him,</div><div>Pastor Guenther <div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><div style="margin-top: 6px; margin-right: 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 6px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 1100px; counter-reset: __goog_page__ 0; line-height: 1; "> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4">The Conquering King Comes!</font></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">A sermon based on Revelation 19:11-16</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Sunday, May 16, 2010 - Ascension Sunday</font></div> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> It's been said, "Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep, and you weep alone." That is to say, when things are going well, you have tons of friends, everyone wants to be near you and enjoy your company. But, when things aren't going so well, when you're down and out and need a helping hand, well... then no one seems to be around. </font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> In a certain sense, that's true of our Savior. When he went to battle against sin and hell, he fought alone. No one was there to help. No one was on his side. And when God the Father forsook him he was truly, all alone. But, having won the victory all by himself, though he wept alone on the cross, he didn't say, "To the victor--and to the victor alone--go the spoils!" Not at all! Instead he gladly shares his victory with all who believe in him that we might laugh with him in glory.</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> In our text for this morning from Revelation 19, we see the King of kings return victorious from battle. Though he was the sole victim, he is the surrounded victor, sharing his victory with us. You're invited to follow along with the text in the bulletin and to make use of the sermon notes on the insert in your worship folder. Revelation 19:11-16...<br> </font></div><br><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1">11 </font></font></i></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. </font></i></b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1">12 </font></font></i></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. </font></i></b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1">13 </font></font></i></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. </font></i></b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1">14 </font></font></i></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. </font></i></b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1">15 </font></font></i></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter."</font></i></b></font><b><i> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">[Psalm 2:9]</font></i></b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"> He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. </font></i></b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1">16 </font></font></i></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.</font></i></b></font></div> <br><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b>I. The Sole Victim</b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> (v. 11-13)</font></font></div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br> </font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> It seems that most everywhere Jesus went, he walked there. I can only think of two times in the Bible where it mentions Jesus traveling in any other way. The first was on Palm Sunday. Then Jesus rode into Jerusalem riding on a humble and lowly donkey. Not exactly the ride we might expect to see the Creator of the universe use. But Jesus promised (in Mark 13:26) that when he came to earth a second time, <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"[all] men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory."</font></i></b> And the second time we see Jesus riding, here in Revelation, it is no longer in humility on a donkey, but in glory on white stallion, coming in splendor, <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">with multiple crowns on his head and </font>with eyes blazing like fire. </font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Those blazing eyes <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">are laser-like. They penetrate beneath the surface. They miss nothing and see everything. In other words, he</font> is omniscient, all-knowing. You know our medical technology today is pretty amazing. With high-powered machines, we can look inside the human body and see not just the skeletal system, but can scan the entire body, and even examine the lobes of the brain without using a single blade. But Jesus' sight is even more powerful still. He doesn't need to use an X-ray, a CAT scan, or a PET scan to see through us. His eyes, blazing like fire, can see through to our thoughts, our attitudes, our very souls. He can see what we ourselves can't even see. And he knows the depth of our sin.<br> </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Charles Spurgeon put it this way: <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#38761D">"</font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#38761D">There are no secrets here that Christ does not see. There is no lewd thought, there is no unbelieving scepticism, that Christ does not read. There is no hypocrisy, no formalism, no deceit, that he does not scan as easily as a man reads a page in a book. His eyes are like a flame of fire to read us through and through, and know us to our inmost soul."</font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#38761D">"</font></i></b><br> </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> And so, at first it might seem a terrible thought to know that "<font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">With justice he judges and makes war,</font></i></b></font>" that his robe is dipped in blood, and that "<font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.</font></i></b></font>" <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">It reminds us<font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> of Isaiah 63: <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"</font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">2</font></i></font></font></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"> Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? </font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">3</font></i></font></font></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"> "I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. </font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">4</font></i></font></font></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"> For the day of vengeance was in my heart..."</font></i></b></font></font></font></font></font></font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"> What a terrible thing to be under the wrath of God on Judgment Day! And that is what we once were, for none of us is faithful and true 100% of the time. Try as we might, we all fail to keep God's commands perfectly. </font></font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> </div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"> But <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">he goes on in Isaiah 63: <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"...the day of vengeance was in my heart</font></i></b></font><b><i> <u><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; ">and</span></font></u><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"> the year of my redemption has come. </font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">5</font></i></font></font></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"> I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm worked salvation for me..."</font></i></b></font></font></font></div> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> We need not fear God's wrath because the victory he won, he won for us. You'll notice that in the vision of Judgment Day that John records, the army doesn't look like most. There is only one person in the entire army who's garments are bloodied. There is only one who has a weapon. And that's because only one person fought: Jesus. </font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Jesus, the rider on the white horse "<font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">is called Faithful and True</font></i></b></font>" because he has lived up to God's perfect standard 100%! He never sinned and he never did anything wrong! He never disobeyed God but always remained faithful to him, true to his Word. But what's more, that perfect Son of God who deserved the glory of heaven, left it to do battle for us! And as John put it in the first chapter of his gospel (v. 14), <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"</font></i></b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b>The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> And why did he become flesh? To suffer and die in our place. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">You see, the one whose robe is dipped in blood shed his own blood on Calvary's cross. He was bloodied by God's wrath so that no blood of ours would ever be demanded by God as punishment for our sins. </font></span></font></span></font></i></font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> So, let's go back to the army surrounding Jesus again. What does it do? Does it do battle? No. <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b>"H</b></font><u><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b>e</b></font></u><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b> judges and makes war... out of </b></font><u><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b>his</b></font></u><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b> mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations... </b></font><u><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b>He</b></font></u><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b> will rule them with an iron scepter... </b></font><u><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b>He</b></font></u><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b> treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty."</b></font> He. He. He. He. He does it all. What do we do? Nothing. What does His army contribute? Nothing. We need no armor. We need no weapons. We have no sword in our hands. So why are we there? We're there to watch. We watch as Jesus stomps on Satan and all who oppose him, crushing them like grapes under his feet. We watch as he wins the victory all alone! </font></span></i></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b>II. The Surrounded Victor </b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">(v. 14-16)</font></font></p><br> Now I'm sure you all know the story of the Little Red Hen. <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">In the tale, </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">the little red hen</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> finds a grain of wheat, and asks for help from the other farmyard animals to plant it. However, no animal will volunteer to help her, so she plants it by herself. Then, once it's grown, she asks for help from the other animals to harvest it. Again, they're not interested. As the little red hen threshes the grain, mills the wheat into flour, kneads the dough, and bakes the bread, she again asks for help from the other animals, but each time is refused assistance. So finally, once the hen has completed her task, she asks who will help her eat the bread. Of course, this time, all the previous non-participants eagerly volunteer. But she declines their help, stating that no one aided her in the preparation work, so she eats it with her chicks, leaving none for anyone else.</font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Now, our Savior won the victory all by himself with no help from us in resisting temptation, in serving the Father, in perfectly keeping his will, in fighting satan, in going to the cross, in enduring hell. Like the little red hen, our Savior did all the work all alone. But very much <b><u><i>un</i></u></b>like the little red hen, he shared the fruits of his labor with everyone even though no one assisted him. </font></div> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Even though the army surrounding Jesus has no weapons, no blood on their clothes, and exerts no effort, they too surround the victor and share in his victory! Notice something else about that army that seems very odd for an army: They're <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> not dressed in camouflage. They're not dressed in black. But in white. In battle that would make them sitting ducks. But they're not in battle any more. They're in the victory parade, covered in the pure, clean robes of his righteousness.</font></font><br> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> And of course, that army is us. <i>We</i> are victorious, not because of any battle we've fought, but because of the battle he fought. He lets share in his victory. You and I don't need to fight to win our salvation. We don't need to do battle to earn our white robes of righteousness. You and I are given the victory through Christ. </font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> And he still reigns in heaven. You see, Jesus didn't ascend into heaven to<font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> retire and relax forever with the angels. But he still rules all things in the interest of his church. John quotes Psalm 2 when he says, <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"He will rule them with an iron scepter."</font></i></b></font><b><i> </i></b>That is, his rule can't be broken. It will never end. And what's more we rule with him!</font></font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> While some have suggested that the title King of kings and Lord of lords refers to the fact that Jesus is king over all earthly kings. All rulers, powers, and authorities, ultimately must answer to him. But others have suggested that in the title King of kings and Lord of lords, the kings and lords are us. After all, Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 19(:28) and again in Luke 22(:29 - quoted here): <i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b>"I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> So Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 apply to us: <b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God."</font></b></font></span></font></i></font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Now, admittedly, it may not always seem like Jesus is in charge. It may not always seem like we're wining either. It may look like we're being defeated, that false teachers are winning the day, and that satan has the upper hand. But you can trust the promises of God. So when you feel like you're losing, go back to the Word again. Go back to that double-edged sword (cf. Hebrews 4:12) of the Word coming out our Savior's mouth. And remember that he <b><i>is</i></b> faithful and true. He cannot lie and so what he says can be trusted.</font></div> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Trust that through faith in Jesus, we are victorious! Chosen by his love, called by the gospel, kept faithful by his Spirit, strengthened by his body and blood under the bread and wine, we already have a part in his kingdom. And we will have a place at his right hand, to be with him and to enjoy his presence forever. </font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Now live like the victorious royalty that you are. Fear nothing! Your conquering God is with you! Go out and boldly share the truth of his victory! Go ahead, make satan mad! Rub it in! He lost, Jesus won! Share that truth with others who haven't heard that they too can be victorious in his victory! Though he was the sole victim, he's glad to be the surrounded victor and share his victory with anyone who believes in him.</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> You know, this past week I found out that my 41 year-old neighbor, with whom I'd been trying to share our faith, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away even though he had been in great health. But I'm thankful that about 2 weeks ago, when I handed him a business card and he asked me "What is 'The Main Thing?'" I had the opportunity to share with him the victory that is ours in Christ. I hope and pray that he took it to heart and that he's laughing with Jesus right now. But there are still so many others who need to hear of Jesus' victory--that he shares with <i>all people</i>--before it's too late and they're trampled under his feet.</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Think of someone you know who needs to hear of Jesus' victory--of their victory. Write that name down on the bulletin insert. Commit to pray for that person every day of this week, at the very least. Pray that God would open up an opportunity for you to share Jesus' victory with them. And look for a chance to invite them to hear of his sacrifice and of his grace so that when the King returns, they won't weep alone, but will laugh with us, with their Savior, in the glory of heaven, sharing in his victory. And our conquering King, our ruling Lord, will help us do it! In his name, dear friends, amen.</font></div> </div></span></div></div></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-26685825866142537302010-05-11T16:14:00.001-04:002010-05-11T16:14:10.360-04:00A Divine Intervention (A sermon based on Revelation 3:14-22)Listen to this sermon here: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10px; "><a href="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/filedownload.aspx?master_sec_id=180003600&sec_id=180003600&libfolder=audio&filename=20100509_Revelation_3v14-22.mp3" style="color: navy; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_download.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a> or <a href="http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/20100509_Revelation_3v14-22.mp3" style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_stream.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a></span><div> Or watch the entire service here: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/6796785">http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/6796785</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><div style="margin-top: 6px; margin-right: 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 6px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 1100px; counter-reset: __goog_page__ 0; line-height: normal; "> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A Divine Intervention</span></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">A sermon based on Revelation 3:14-22</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">Sunday, May 9, 2010 - Easter 6C</font></div> <br><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> The man was in his late thirties and had two young boys both attending the Lutheran grade school. One day he came to pick up his boys and was told they were in the church office. Assuming they were in trouble he went went over to church with a curse under his breath. I followed knowing what was really going on.</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> Once he entered the office, it was the my job as vicar to block the door. You see, the boys weren't in trouble. He was. It started with marijuana joints, but quickly moved to cocaine and heroine, and this young father's life quickly spiraled out of control. There in the church office he was surprised to see his ex-wife, his pastor, his boss, two church elders, and even his two young boys. He felt hurt and betrayed at the surprise. And it felt uncomfortable (to say the least) for me as the vicar (that's what we call pastoral interns in our church body) to be there at the "intervention" of this man I'd just recently met. </font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> But it worked. He went to rehab. He got cleaned up. He took the Bible Information Class again and, though he still struggled, he was working hard at becoming the faithful employee, the loving father and active church member that God had called him to be. <br> </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> And it was a valuable lesson that I learned. Sometimes love <i>has to</i> be tough. It has to tell the truth, even when that truth is jarring, even when that truth is uncomfortable, even when that truth hurts. Because sometimes, to <i>not</i> be tough or even harsh with someone is to be unloving as we let them continue down the path of self-destruction.<br> </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> It is such tough love that Jesus showed to a congregation in ancient Greece. The the congregation of believers in Laodicea he wrote a harsh letter through the Apostle John. But he rebuked his people out of love, to jar them out of their apathy and to help them overcome the temptations and struggles of their sinful nature that they might win the final victory in him. <br> </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> And we do well to listen in and apply these truths to ourselves and rejoice even in the tough love that Jesus gives us. For it is love for us that prompts him to make a divine intervention. </font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> Feel free to follow along with the text which is printed on page 5 of the worship folder and to use the insert to take notes as you listen to Jesus' tough love recorded in Revelation 3:14-22...</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> <br></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">14 </font></i></font></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. </font></i></b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">15 </font></i></font></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! </font></i></b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">16 </font></i></font></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. </font></i></b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">17 </font></i></font></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. </font></i></b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">18 </font></i></font></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. </font></i></b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">19 </font></i></font></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. </font></i></b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">20 </font></i></font></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. </font></i></b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">21 </font></i></font></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. </font></i></b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">22 </font></i></font></b></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."</font></i></b></font></div> <br><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">I. With Rebuke and Discipline</font></b></div><br><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> What's worse ignorance or apathy? I'm sure you've heard the ironic answer, "I don't know and I don't care." But Jesus gives a different answer to that question: Ignorance is better than apathy by far! Being cold to the gospel, ignorant, or even hostile to it is better than those who know the truth but are apathetic to it. </font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> Laodicea was a wealthy well-known for thee things: 1) for their finances, 2) for their fashion, and 3) for their pharmaceuticals. There was no doubt about it: the Laodiceans had been very blessed by God. Maybe too blessed. The health and wealth that God had given to them led to their complacency. They had all they needed: Enough money to live comfortably, fine clothes, good food, and good health. Life was good...or so they thought. But their wealth led them to be stingy toward God. They were growing more and more apathetic toward him and toward spiritual matters. And they were in danger of losing their faith (if they hadn't already). </font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> But God loved them too much to let that happen. So he would intervene. With a divine intervention, Jesus rebuked them. Through John and through their pastor he showed them some tough love: <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.... </font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b>you are wretched, pitiful..." </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">and those so proud of their wealth, their medical skills that could restore sight, and their fine and fashionable clothes, Jesus called,</font></span><b> "poor, blind and naked."</b></font></i></font><br> </font></div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> Though they thought they were doing just fine -- <i>great</i>, really -- the Laodiceans were anything but. They were wretched in their apathy. Pitiful in their sin! They were impoverished, dirt poor, with no righteousness before God at all. They stood naked and bare before him with their shameful sins exposed, and worst of all they were blind to their condition. In short, even though they thought they were doing pretty good, they made Jesus sick -- so sick he was ready to spit them out, literally, to vomit them up.</font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> Wow! Harsh, huh? But why did he do it? He tells them: <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent." </font></i></b></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">The most <b><i>un-</i></b>loving thing Jesus could do to them would have been to ignore the situation, leave things alone, and let them continue on their path to hell. But in love, he couldn't do that. He had to intervene. He had to rebuke them and discipline them to lead them to repent and turn to him.</font></div> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><br></font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> And friends, you know that God loves us enough to the same for us. He will not leave us to our own destruction, but must intervene to rebuke and discipline us. </font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> Now, notice that Jesus addresses not the congregation, but their pastor: <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b>"the angel,"</b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> or messenger, </font></span></font><b>"of the church in Laodicea."</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> So, if I'm to be a faithful messenger of the church in Raleigh, I have to ask, "Have you lost your zeal for the gospel? Are you still hot? Enthusiastic about serving your Savior? Or have the blessings that he's given to you, the great wealth with which we've all been blessed (as even the poorest among us have so much more than most in this world), has that wealth distracted you from what's most important? Have the comforts and conveniences and pleasures of this life led you to treat your Bibles with apathy and neglect?"</font></span></font></i></font></font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> "Have you lost your zeal to reach the lost? Have you lost your desire to grow in your faith? Have you become complacent and apathetic in your Christian living thinking, 'I'm just fine. I've come a long way in my faith. I need not grow anymore. Now it's time for a break. Now it's me time.'? Have you lost your holy discontent to grow, to serve, to love Jesus by loving others?" <br> </font></span></i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> Then watch out! Don't let your lukewarm attitudes sicken Jesus to the point that he will vomit you out of his mouth! Harsh? Maybe. But that's Jesus tough love. He still rebukes and disciplines those he loves. You have an ear! So hear what the Spirit says to you! Be earnest! Repent! Hear his voice! Listen to it and open the door!<br> </font></span></i></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> And when you do, he will not abandon you. He will come in and will help you to overcome! For Jesus did another intervention...<br> </font></span></i></font></div><br><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">II. With Love and Salvation</font></b><br><br><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> Even though Jesus didn't offer a single word of praise for this sad congregation, the letter he had John write to them was not without comfort. It wasn't all law, but was full of gospel promise! In spite of their apathy, Jesus didn't spit them out, but continued to hold out his gracious offer...</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see... </font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me... </font></i></b></font><br> </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> Ironically, the Laodiceans, well-known for for their finances, their fashion, and their pharmaceuticals, were poor before God, naked without his righteousness to cover them, and blind to their spiritual condition. But Jesus didn't just intervene to point out their condition. He also intervened to save them. </div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> He also intervened to before God to become the solution that they and all sinners need. You see, even though the word "vicar" means substitute, I couldn't take place of that young father to take his drug addiction on myself to cure him of it. And even if I could have, I wouldn't have. I was only be there to help point him in the right direction and encourage him to get the help he needed elsewhere. <br> </div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> But Jesus is the true vicar. He is the perfect substitute who took the place of every sinner in hell. He intervened by taking our apathy toward his Word on himself. He took our lackluster attitudes toward his sacrifice on himself. And there on that cross, he hung naked, shamed, pitiful and wretched, covered with the filth of our sins, so that we might be pure and clean, covered with the white robes of his righteousness!<br> </div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> And so, he offered the Laodiceans true wealth: the gold of the gospel. He offered them the robes of his righteousness that would never go out of fashion. He offered them a salve that would give them spiritual sight and save their souls. And Jesus offers the same to us still! </div> Now he pleads with us, "Turn to me! Trust in the forgiveness I won for you! Listen to my Word! Listen to what the Spirit says of your sin and of my grace that he might heal your blindness with the salve of the Word, that you might see the truth clearly again! Don't lock me out! Let me in that we might dine together and share the close intimacy we once had! Let me restore your zeal for my Word and your zeal in serving me and others! Let my gospel fire you up again so you're not lukewarm any more, but hot!"<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> And finally, even to this lukewarm church that was close to being spit out, Jesus offered the promise of heaven with him: <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b>"To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne." </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">After he overcame all sin by his sacrifice, Jesus was rewarded with his heavenly throne. And now, he rewards those who claim his victory through him. That victory is ours!</font></span></font></i></font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> And now, the great grace that Jesus has shown to us, intervening with his tough love to rebuke and discipline us when we need it, intervening before the Father on our behalf to win for us <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">the true wealth of the gospel, his robes of righteousness, and spiritual sight and health for all of eternity -- this great grace shown to us, gives us the courage to intervene on behalf of others.</font></span></font></span></i></font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> Do you know someone apathetic toward spiritual things? Do you know someone content with the wealth and health they enjoy in this life? Then it's time for an intervention. Take that co-worker out for lunch -- your treat! Call up that family member who seems to have turned their back on Jesus and invite them to sit down and talk. Have your neighbor over for dinner with a plan to turn the conversation to spiritual things. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">Jesus hasn't spit them out of his mouth for eternity -- not yet. So confront them now, while there's time. It won't always be comfortable. It won't always be fun. But in thanks to God for his divine intervention with you, you can be someone's angel -- a messenger that intervenes with Jesus' rebuke and discipline, but especially with his love and salvation. And Jesus, our Savior, will help us overcome. In his name, dear friends, amen.</font></span></span></font></span></span></i></font></div> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><br></i></font><br><br></div></span></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-285993643848447822010-05-06T11:24:00.001-04:002010-05-06T11:24:34.245-04:00For the Love of God... (A sermon based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13)Sorry, but due to some glitch in the system the sound never got recorded for our service so you can't listen to the sermon. You could watch the service at Ustream.tv, but without sound, what's the point? :) I'll try to resolve the issue before this Sunday!<div> <div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><div style="margin-top: 6px; margin-right: 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 6px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 1100px; counter-reset: __goog_page__ 0; line-height: normal; "> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">For the Love of God...</font></b></font><br style="font-family: Arial; "> </div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; text-align: center; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">A sermon based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; text-align: center; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">Sunday, May 2, 2010 - Easter 5C</font></div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><br style="font-family: Arial; "></font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">Did you know that wise men say only fools rush in… to love? Love has launched a thousand ships. Love is a many splendid thing. Love is blind. And in the words of John Lennon, "All you need is love." What do you think? Is it foolish to rush in to love? Can love do almost anything? Can it give you wings and make you soar? Can it make you happy?<br> This morning, we examine God's definition of love. And we'll see that to love (as God defines the word) doesn't always make you happy. In fact, it often has the very opposite effect as you humble yourself before another, and choose to serve them instead of yourself. True love is not just the fuzzy feeling that we get around another person, but is really self-sacrificing service for another. <br> So why would anyone choose to love? Why sacrifice your wants and desires for another person? </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">For the love of God! For the love of God the Father, </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">Jesus chose to love us and sacrifice himself on the cross! And now we, in turn, for the for of God that he showed to us choose to love and serve others, sacrificing ourselves in thanks to him! Listen to God's definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13...<br> <i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b><br></b></i><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b><sup class="versenum">1</sup>If I speak in the tongues<sup class="footnote">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthian%20s13&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28651a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. <sup class="versenum">2</sup>If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. <sup class="versenum">3</sup>If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,<sup class="footnote">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthian%20s13&version=NIV#fen-NIV-28653b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup> but have not love, I gain nothing. </b></i></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff" size="2"><i><b><sup class="versenum">4</sup>Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. <sup class="versenum">5</sup>It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. <sup class="versenum">6</sup>Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. <sup class="versenum">7</sup>It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.</b></i></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff" size="2"><i><b> <sup class="versenum">8</sup>Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. <sup class="versenum">9</sup>For we know in part and we prophesy in part, <sup class="versenum">10</sup>but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. <sup class="versenum">11</sup>When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. <sup class="versenum">12</sup>Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.</b></i></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff" size="2"><i><b> <sup class="versenum">13</sup>And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.</b></i></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><br> <br>I.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "> ...Jesus Loved Us!</span></b></font><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> Out of Corinth, a city of commerce, culture and crudity, God called for himself a congregation of believers. And this congregation often reflected the wealthy and talented, but brawling city in which they lived. Though they were blessed with every spiritual gift (1:7) they weren't without their share of problems. They prided themselves in their talents and abilities, and used them, but improperly. They used their gifts, but they used them in service to themselves and not in self-sacrificing love to one another. So the apostle Paul wrote them to teach how to use their gifts in love.<br> </font></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><sup>1</sup> If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. </font><sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">2</font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i></b> <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. </font><sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">3</font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i></b> <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,</font><sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"> but have not love, I gain nothing. </font><sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i></b></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> In other words, no how matter how great their gifts, they were worthless if they used them only to serve themselves. Can you imagine the awful noise if every member of the symphony or of a band would each selfishly choose to play their own favorite song to play and nothing else? Likewise, when people use the gifts that God has given them in selfish pursuits or with selfish motives, what a horrible sound it makes to God. You see everything done in service to self, no matter how nice it might seem, is a horrible sin in God's estimation. That's why he told Isaiah (in 64:6) that <i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"</b></i><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.</b></i></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"</b></i><br> </font></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><br></font></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> And friends, if we're honest, we have to admit that we're not really all that different from those Corinthians. As I look around in the pews this morning I see some incredibly talented and gifted individuals! But, how do we use those gifts? In selfishness or in love? Do we use them in selfless service to others? Are you patient with others when they don't see things your way? When you're standing in a long line or stuck in traffic? And are you always kind when your patience wears thin? Do you lose your cool? Hold a grudge when you're hurt? <br> </font></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> God through Paul defines love with action words. Love is not just something we feel, but what we choose to do: <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. </font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. </font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. </font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. </font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">ove never fails." </font></i></b>When we hold up this definition of love as the standard by which we are to love others (and <i>all the time</i>! Notice how often Paul said, "always" and "never"!) then we quickly see how selfish and loveless we can be -- even as Christians, as redeemed children of God! And for such selfish use of the gifts that God has given us, for such lovelessness, <i>we</i> deserve to have our gifts stripped away. All of them! We deserve hell. <br> </font></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> But, we don't get what we deserve. Instead, we receive God's love which receive in Christ. Paul began this letter of correction and rebuke with this statement in 1:4: <i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"</b></i><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.</b></i></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"</b></i> You see, in spite of how loveless they were acting, bickering and fighting and asserting their freedom at one another's expense, Paul could thank God for the grace God had given them through Jesus. And the same is true of us. In John 14:31 Jesus said on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane, <i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"</b></i><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>I love the Father.. I do exactly what my Father has commanded me."</b></i> And in that garden, right before his arrest which led to his crucifixion, Jesus prayed to the Father in Luke 22:42, <i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."</b></i></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">You see, Jesus loved the Father more than he loved his own desires or safety. And for the love of God, he sacrificed himself for us. <br> </font></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> He was not self-seeking, but selfless giving his life on the cross to take away </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">every impatient though, </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">every unkind word, </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">every loveless action, every sin! He keeps no record of wrongs with us at all! We are perfectly loving in God's sight! And Jesus is still patient with us in our weakness, kind to us in his blessings. He always protects us, always loves us no matter what we do, no matter how bad we've been! He will always love</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> us! His love will never fail!</font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> And when we know his love for us, we can't help but me moved to thank God in all that we do. And the one thing he asks of us to show our thanks is to love others. And for the love of God, we will!<br> </font></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><br></font></p><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b>II. ...We Love Others!</b></font><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> You see, Christ's love changes us. It changes our attitudes, it changes our desires, it changes what we want most. </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">We no longer use our gifts for selfish gain, use our gifts to express our gratitude and love for God by loving others. </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">We no longer live to serve ourselves, but are eager to love others, even when they're acting unlovable! As we experience Jesus perfect love for us, we can't help but choose to love others in our attitudes and actions toward them. As </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">the apostle John put it in </font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" size="2">1 John 3(:16,18)</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> "<b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. …let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.</font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" size="2">"<br> </font></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> In thanks to Jesus, for his perfect love, the Corinthians could be patient, kind, content, humble, and polite. They could be selfless, calm, forgiving and honest. They could be trusting and hopeful. They could persevere unfailing to the end. </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">And the same is true of us. Recognizing how great is the love the Father has lavished on us! (1 John 3:1) and how perfect the love that Jesus has shown to us, laying down his very life for us, we can't help but reflect that love toward others.</font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> And so we use the gifts that God has given to us to serve others in love. Be <u><b>patient</b></u> with your co-workers, with the cashier or customer service agent that you can tell doesn't really like his or her job, and with the guy who cuts you off in traffic. Be <u><b>kind</b></u> to your spouse and kids, to your boss, and to your friends at church, to their face and behind their backs. Don't <u><b>envy</b></u> of the gifts of other, but be grateful for how much God has given you. On the other hand, don't <u><b>boast</b></u> or be <u><b>proud</b></u>, but remember that the gifts you have are given to you by God. Don't be <u><b>rude</b></u>, but gentle as you reflect the love of your Savior. Don't seek only what's in your best interest (<u><b>self-seeking</b></u>), but look for opportunities to sacrifice your self as Jesus sacrificed himself for you. Don't get <u><b>angry</b></u>, but but count to ten and take a few breaths. Then shred the <u><b>record of wrongs</b></u><br> you've been keeping on file and forgive just as God has forgiven you in Christ. In short, be loving.</font></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> Go home and look at this list of loving actions in 1 Corinthians 13 again and put a plan into effect that will enable you to be more loving to the people in your life. For example: "I will be more patient when stuck in traffic by taking the opportunity to pray for someone. I will keep a list of people to pray for in the armrest of my car." Or, "I will be kind to my co-workers, looking for one thing to complement each of them on in the next week." Or, "I will not be rude, but will be more polite, thanking others for doing even the things they're expected to do." In other words, look for ways to be more loving in your life.<br> </font></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> It won't always be fun. Self-sacrifice rarely is. It may not be appreciated. It may even be scorned. But when we remember</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> Jesus' perfect love for us, we can't help but love others, not with some shallow emotion, but with loving actions. We will be patient, kind, content, humble, and polite. We will be selfless, calm, forgiving and honest. We will be trusting and hopeful. We will persevere unfailing to the end. As the apostle John wrote in 1 John 4:19, "<b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">We love because he first loved us.</font></i></b>" For the love of God that he has shown to us, we will love others.<br> </font></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> Go ahead, be a fool and rush in to loving others. Launch a thousand ships in service to others. For Jesus' love is a many splendid thing. All we need is <i>his</i> love. It gives wings to our lives of service to him and to others. John summed it up in 1 John, the epistle known as God's love letter. In chapter 4(:10-12) he wrote: "<b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. …if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete.</font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" size="2">" Amen.</font></p> </div></div></span></div></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-7783369592477442342010-04-27T15:17:00.003-04:002010-04-27T15:17:24.645-04:00Heaven is Ours through Our Shepherd-Lamb! (A sermon based on Revelation 7:9-17)Listen to this sermon here: <span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:10px"><a href="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/filedownload.aspx?master_sec_id=180003600&sec_id=180003600&libfolder=audio&filename=20100418_Revelation_7v9-17.mp3" style="color:navy;text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_download.gif" style="border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></a> or <a href="http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/20100418_Revelation_7v9-17.mp3" style="color:blue;text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_stream.gif" style="border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></a></span><div> Or watch the entire service here: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/6274593" target="_blank">http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/6274593</a></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium"><div style="margin-top:6px;margin-right:6px;margin-bottom:6px;margin-left:6px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10pt;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:1100px;line-height:normal"> <p align="center" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;text-align:center"><b><font face="arial"><font size="4">Heaven is Ours through Our Shepherd-Lamb!</font></font></b></p> <p align="center" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;text-align:center"><font face="arial">A sermon based on Revelation 7:9-17</font></p><p align="center" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;text-align:center"> <font face="arial">Sunday, April 18, 2010 – Easter 4C</font></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> </p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font face="arial"> Have you ever noticed how the Bible often describes Jesus with a few paradoxes? He's 100% God <i>and </i>100% man. He came to keep and fulfill the old and to make all things new. By his death, he brings life. He's the King of kings <i>and</i> the suffering servant. He's both a powerful Lion <i>and</i> a gentle Lamb.</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> This morning we hear another of these <i>apparent</i> contradiction of terms. This morning we hear how Jesus is both the Lamb <i>and</i> the Shepherd. And what comfort we find in this beautiful paradox. Because of the Lamb who is our Shepherd and because of his resurrection at Easter we know without a doubt that heaven is ours.</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> Easter means that heaven is ours because the Lamb has washed us in his blood and because the Shepherd leads us to living water. Listen now to the glimpse of heaven God gives us through the apostle John and the comfort we find in our Shepherd-Lamb as he's revealed in Revelation 7v9-17…</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> </p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><i><sup><font color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i><b><i><sup><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">9</font></font><font color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i></b> <b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. </font></font><sup><font color="#0000ff"></font><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">10</font></font><font color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i></b> <b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." </font></font><sup><font color="#0000ff"></font><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">11</font></font><font color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i></b> <b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, </font></font><sup><font color="#0000ff"></font><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">12</font></font><font color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i></b> <b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" </font></font><sup><font color="#0000ff"></font><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">13</font></font><font color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i></b> <b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?" </font></font><sup><font color="#0000ff"></font><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">14</font></font><font color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i></b> <b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. </font></font><sup><font color="#0000ff"></font><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">15</font></font><font color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i></b> <b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. </font></font><sup><font color="#0000ff"></font><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">16</font></font><font color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i></b> <b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. </font></font><sup><font color="#0000ff"></font><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">17</font></font><font color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i></b> <b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."</font></font></i></b></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><b> </b></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> As John writes the visions revealed to him by God, the overall theme of the book of Revelations becomes apparent: that in spite of all the problems and suffering we may face, in spite of the best efforts of Satan and those in league with him, our victory in Jesus is certain. Luther put it this way: "<b><i><font color="#008000">We can rest assured that neither force nor lies, neither wisdom nor holiness, neither tribulation nor suffering shall suppress Christendom, but it will gain the victory and conquer at last."</font></i></b></font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> In the verses of our text this morning then God reveals to the apostle exactly how that victory is gained—by the blood of the lamb—and what it will be like—being led by the shepherd. Let's take a look…</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><br></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <b><font face="arial">I. Because the Lamb Has Washed Us in His Blood</font></b></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><br></p> <font face="arial">First John writes, "<b><i><font color="#0000ff">After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.</font></i></b>"</font><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font face="arial">God's giving John a glimpse of heaven. He's showing him the saints standing around the very throne of God, before Jesus himself. They're dressed in white (a symbol of purity) and holding palm branches (a symbol of victory). But pure,victorious saints? How can this be said of sinners? How can those who once sinned dare to stand before a Holy God? And make no mistake, these saints had sinned. Paul makes in clear in Romans 3(:10-12, 22b-23) "<b><i><font color="#0000ff">There is no one righteous, not even one; </font></i></b></font><b><i><sup><font color="#0000ff"></font><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">11</font></font><font color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i></b> <b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. </font></font><sup><font color="#0000ff"></font><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">12</font></font><font color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i></b> <b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one… There is no difference, </font></font><sup><font color="#0000ff"></font><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">23</font></font><font color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i></b> <b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…</font></font></i></b><font face="arial">" So how could they possibly pictured as pure and holy?</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> The Greek of the verse explains it. Where the NIV translates "<b><i><font color="#0000ff">They were wearing white robes,</font></i></b>" the Greek literally says "<b><i>They had been clothed in white robes.</i></b>" You see, the action is passive. They didn't put on these clothes themselves. Someone put these robes on them. Someone made them pure and holy. And obviously, you know who that someone is. It's God through Jesus. "<b><i><font color="#0000ff">Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb,</font></i></b>" they proclaim. It's not something they did. It's not something they earned.</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> In God, in Christ, the saints in heaven have their victory. That's why they wave their palm branches. The victory is theirs. They have peace. That's why they sing their praises to God and to the Lamb! For their salvation!</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> </p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> So what does this have to do with us? So what if they're victorious? Good for them! But we're still struggling down here on earth, right? Wrong! You and I are victorious too. We're victorious right now! We are included in this number of saints "<b><i><font color="#0000ff">from every nation, tribe, people and language</font></i></b>." No one in the world is excluded except those who choose to be.</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> We are victorious—right now. We too, like the saints in heaven, are perfect and holy. But how? Certainly not on our own. On our own we're all covered in the filth of our sin. Isaiah writes, "<b><i><font color="#0000ff">All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…</font></i></b>" and Moses writes, "<b><i><font color="#0000ff">Every inclination of [man's] heart is evil from childhood.</font></i></b>" (Genesis 8:21) So how can we dare to call ourselves holy? How can we have any hope to stand before God's throne?</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> Not because of anything we've done or because of how holy we might become. Not because of anything we might do! We can never remove the stain of our sin! Like Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's play, we can wash our hands again and again wringing them together to try to remove the bloody stains of our guilt. But we can never be rid of our guilt. We can never cover it up or hide it. We must confess our gnawing guilt with the Lady Macbeth, "<b><i><font color="#008000">Here's the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.</font></i></b>"</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> And while we can never remove our sin or our guilt, God can. That's why "<b><i><font color="#0000ff">Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.</font></i></b>" Jesus has the best stain remover there is—his own blood. The elder told John, <b><i><font color="#0000ff">"These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. </font></i></b>" John earlier wrote to those who weren't yet in glory, to you and to me, "<b><i><font color="#0000ff">The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin… He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness</font></i></b><i><font color="#0000ff">.</font></i>" (1 John 1:7-9) Peter wrote, "<b><i><font color="#0000ff">You were redeemed… with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.</font></i></b>" (1 Peter 1:18-19)</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> You and I are pure, holy and victorious because of what Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, has done for us. He has washed our robes and made them clean and white. He has dressed us in the white robes of righteousness. And he has given us victory—victory over sin by his sacrifice and victory over death by his resurrection! Now heaven itself is ours!</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> Even though right now we must go through many hardships, or "tribulations" as Luke literally calls them in Acts 14(:22), you can be absolutely certain that one day soon you will leave this world of tribulation—of suffering and trouble, of problems and pain. One day soon you too will stand "<b><i><font color="#0000ff">before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over [you].</font></i></b>" And this confidence that heaven is ours leads us to follow our Shepherd while we're waiting here on earth…</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><b><br></b></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"><b>II. Because the Shepherd Leads Us to Living Water</b><br> </font></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <br clear="all"></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> Those saints who had been made clean by the blood of the Lamb enjoyed heaven. The elder described that heavenly joy to the apostle with these words…</font><b><i><sup><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">15</font></font><font color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i></b> <b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. </font></font><sup><font color="#0000ff"></font><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">16</font></font><font color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i></b> <b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. </font></font><sup><font color="#0000ff"></font><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">17</font></font><font color="#0000ff"></font></sup></i></b> <b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#0000ff">For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."</font></font></i></b></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> Those who think of heaven as a boring place where all we do is sing and play our harps while we float on our clouds couldn't be more wrong! While the description we have of heaven is limited, you can be sure that it won't be boring. For starters, we'll have work to do. Did you catch that? John wrote, "<b><i><font color="#0000ff">They are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple.</font></i></b>"</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> But the work of heaven won't be like the work we do on this earth because there will be no sin. We might have to have a career change there since there will be no need for doctors (with no sickness), or lawyers or law enforcement (with no crime), no need for pastors or counselors! But no sin, also means there will be no trouble in our work, no frustrations, no sweat or pain, no hunger or thirst. We will never grow tired, or be too hot. We will never be sad. There will only be pure joy in all we do. We can hardly imagine how great it will be!</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> But even better than an exciting job where nothing ever goes wrong and you never get tired, far more exciting than what we'll do, is who we'll be with. "<b><i><font color="#0000ff">He who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them… The Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water.</font></i></b>" There's that paradox. After he made his sacrifice on the cross that's made us holy, Jesus didn't stay dead. He rose! He lives! And that Lamb of God will shepherd us forever in glory.</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> </p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> And dear friends we don't have to wait until then. He shepherds us now. He gives us living water right now! In John 4:14 Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well, "<b><i><font color="#ff0000">whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.</font></i></b>"</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> We have that living water—the gospel, the message of the Lamb who's made us clean by his blood. The shepherd has led us to that living water. He's caused us to believe the gospel. And so we have eternal life… right now! Eternal life is not something reserved just for heaven. It's yours. You're life is not just 80 or 90 or 100 years. It's millions and trillions and zillions of years! It's eternal. Heaven <b><i>is</i></b> yours.</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> So live your life in view of that eternity! Ask yourself, does what happens today or tomorrow really matter? Will it matter 100 years from now? If not, let it go. "<b><i><font color="#ff0000">Heaven and earth will pass away.</font></i></b>" (Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31 or Luke 21:33). But you won't. You will stand "<b><i><font color="#0000ff">before the throne and in front of the Lamb</font></i></b>" for all eternity. <b><i><font color="#0000ff">"Never again will [you] hunger; never again will [you] thirst… For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be [your] shepherd… And God will wipe away every tear from [your] eyes."</font></i></b></font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font face="arial"> So instead of focusing on what won't really matter, focus on what <b><i>will</i></b> matter 100 years from now. Serve God faithfully in thanks to him for the heaven he's gifted you in all that you do. Follow him in the living water of his Word where he guides you today. And share with others what will matter to them: the Lamb of God who's washed them in his blood, the Good Shepherd who leads them to living water. That they too might sing to the Lamb:</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> </p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#008000">Who so happy as I am, <span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal"><b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#008000">Even now the shepherd's lamb?</font></font></i></b></span></font></font></i></b></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#008000">And when my short life is ended, <span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal"><b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#008000">By his angel hosts attended,</font></font></i></b></span></font></font></i></b></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#008000">He shall fold me to his breast, <span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Verdana;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal"><b><i><font face="arial"><font color="#008000">There within his arms to rest.</font></font></i></b><font face="arial"> Amen.</font></span></font></font></i></b></p> <div><font face="arial"><br></font></div></div></span></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-5588112505067963832010-04-27T15:17:00.001-04:002010-04-27T15:17:11.028-04:00Breaking News from a Source You Can Trust! (A sermon based on 2 Peter 1:16-21)Listen to this sermon here: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10px; "><a href="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/filedownload.aspx?master_sec_id=180003600&sec_id=180003600&libfolder=audio&filename=20100411_2_Peter_1v16-21.mp3" style="color: navy; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_download.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a> or <a href="http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/20100411_2_Peter_1v16-21.mp3" style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_stream.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a></span><div> Or watch the entire service online at: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/6111950" target="_blank">http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/6111950</a></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium"><div style="margin-top:6px;margin-right:6px;margin-bottom:6px;margin-left:6px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:1100px;line-height:normal"> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center"><font size="3"><b>Breaking News from a Source You Can Trust!</b></font></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center"> <font size="3">A sermon based on 2 Peter 1:16-21</font></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center"><font size="3">Sunday, April 11, 2010 -- Easter 2C</font></div> <font size="3"><br></font><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="3"> Did you hear the breaking news? An 11th commandment has recently been discovered! Seriously. A fragment of stone ten inches long and one and a half inches deep was located in an archaeological dig at Mount Horeb, where Moses received the Ten Commandments. The inscription of the fragment reads, <i style="color:rgb(56, 118, 29)"><b>"All these things spoken of thou shall not covet, but be aware that thou mayest covet they neighbors's sister-in-law, they neighbor's friends and thy neighbor's camel."</b></i><br> Where did I get this information, you ask? Well, it wasn't from Biblical Archaeological Review. Nor was it from the Seminary. I actually saw it in the checkout line at the Food Lion. It was right there in the Sun. Along with an article that describes the government's cover-up of alien visits for the last couple of centuries (there's a picture here), one on a miracle pill that will allow anyone to live to 100, and another bout a vacuum that you can strap on your back and has such strong suction you can use it to climb walls just like Spiderman.<br> Okay, so maybe there isn't really an 11th commandment. The source of the news may not be most reliable. I admit it. <br> So, how do you know what to believe and what to dismiss as pure fiction? So many hoaxes are presented as fact. Is there any source you can really trust? And how about Easter? </font><font size="3">How do we know that Jesus really rose from the dead? After all, I wasn't there. I know some of you are a bit older than me, but I still don't think any of you were there either. So how can we be so sure? How do we know it's not another just another hoax like Bigfoot, the Lochness Monster, and Bat Boy?<br> </font></div> <font face="Arial" size="3">The truth is, that if you listen to any religion, you are bound to hear about incredible things. The Mormons recount Joseph Smith's miraculous translating of the book of Mormon, Muslims tell of the miracles of Mohammad, and Buddhists inform of the supernatural events in the life of Buddha. Many today would throw Jesus and his resurrection into the same category of being nothing more than a cleverly invented story. After all, these things all happened so long ago. And none of us were there.<br> </font><p align="justify" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font face="Arial" size="3">But Peter wants to make sure that the resurrection of Jesus is distinguished from mythology, fable or urban legend. He wants us to know without a shadow of doubt that this is news we can believe, from a source we can trust. First he says it's news from actual eyewitnesses. This is what he wrote in 2 Peter 1:16-18...</font></p> <font size="3"><br></font><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"><b>I. It's Eyewitnesses News!<br></b></font></p> <font size="3"><br></font><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="3"><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><i><font face="Arial"><font color="#0000ff">16</font></font></i></b></sup><b><i><font face="Arial"><font color="#0000ff">We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. </font></font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><i><font face="Arial"><font color="#0000ff">17</font></font></i></b></sup><b><i><font face="Arial"><font color="#0000ff">For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."</font></font></i></b> <sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><i><font face="Arial"><font color="#0000ff">18</font></font></i></b></sup><b><i><font face="Arial"><font color="#0000ff">We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.</font></font></i></b><br> </font></div><font size="3"><br></font><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="3"> Peter wants us to be sure that he knows what he saw. He saw Jesus glory. He heard the voice of God the Father. At Transfiguration of Jesus, Peter was an eyewitness of his majesty. When he spoke of miracles he saw or of the resurrection of Jesus, he wasn't following cleverly invented stories out of the tabloids. He was recounting what he saw with his own two eyes, what he heard with his own two ears, and what he himself experienced. <br> Now I want you to think about that for a minute. Can Peter really be trusted? I mean, maybe he made up this cleverly invented story. Maybe he convinced the other disciples to go along with the lie. After all, that's what many so-called scholars and professors would have us believe today. But consider that suggestion for a minute. Why <i>would </i>Peter make it up?<br> </font><font size="3">No reason to make such a story up. Certain that he saw it. </font></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="3"> What did he have to gain by making up Christ's resurrection? Some fame? Some glory? But what he actually did gain was persecution, torture, and finally crucifixion. And all of that could have prevented if he'd simply admitted, "Okay, okay, I'm kidding. There was no resurrection." It's one thing to make up a fictional story to sell an entertaining paper in the grocery store checkout line. It's quite another to be willing to endure torture and death to back the story you made up. If the story's made up, how do you explain the change of the disciples from hiding behind locked doors to boldly proclaiming, "Do whatever you want to us! We won't keep quiet!" <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"We must obey God rather than man."</b></i> (Acts 5:29)<br> And there's plenty of other evidence to consider: For example, if the disciples made it all up, why include such embarassing details about themselves? Why make up a story where <i>they </i>looked like dim-witted, uncaring, rebuked, and doubting cowards? Falling asleep when asked to watch, running away</font><font size="3"> scared at Jesus' arrest, denying that they knew him, r</font><font size="3">efusing to believe in the resurrection even after it had been witnessed and reported to them, certainly doesn't leave them looking like the heroes? Would you make up a story that made you look like such an idiot?<br> </font></div> <font size="3"> If they made the story up, why invent such details of Eater as to make the story less credible? For example: </font><font size="3">Why make up that Joseph of Arimathea, and not the disciples, took the body of Jesus to give it a proper burial?</font><font size="3"> Why have the women -- who weren't even considered reliable testimony in a court of Jewish law in that culture -- be the first to witness his resurrection? Why have one of them be a woman who they admit was once demon possessed? <br> And if the resurrection were just some cleverly invented fiction, how could the apostle Paul challenge his readers to go check the facts? In 1 Corinthians 15(:6) he writes, <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"</b></i></font><i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>[The resurrected Jesus] appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living,</b></i><font size="3"><i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"</b></i> as if to say, "Don't believe me? Go ask any of the hundreds of other people who saw him alive too!" Why make such a bold challenge if you knew you made the story up?<br> </font> <font size="3"> Okay, so perhaps they believed what they saw, but they were hallucinating. But how often are hallucinations shared by 500 people?! You don't say to a friend, "Hey, remember that dream <i>we </i>had last night?" No! Dreams and hallucinations aren't shared by <i>two</i> people, let alone 500</font>! Did Peter and the apostles follow cleverly invented stories when they wrote about Jesus? Of course not! <font size="3">C.S. Lewis, a writer of myths himself, summed it all when he said, <i style="color:rgb(56, 118, 29)"><b>"All I am in private life is a literary critic and historian, that's my job. And I'm prepared to say on that basis that if anyone thinks the Gospels are either legends or novels, then that person is simply showing his incompetence as a literary critic."</b></i></font><font size="3"><font size="3"><br> </font> Jesus resurrection from the dead, is not based on myths and legends. No. It's eyewitness news! It's news you can trust with coverage you can count on. But are Peter and the other eyewitnesses all we can rely on? </font><font size="3">Do we have to just take their word for it? </font><font size="3">Are they our best source? </font><font size="3">Not really. And Peter admits as much. He says there is much better evidence by far. He goes in verses 19-21...<br> <br></font><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="3"><b>II. With Coverage You Can Count On!<br></b></font></div><font size="3"><br></font><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> <font size="3"><b><i> </i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><i><font face="Arial"><font color="#0000ff">19</font></font></i></b></sup><b><i><font face="Arial"><font color="#0000ff">And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. </font></font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><i><font face="Arial"><font color="#0000ff">20</font></font></i></b></sup><b><i><font face="Arial"><font color="#0000ff">Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. </font></font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><i><font face="Arial"><font color="#0000ff">21</font></font></i></b></sup><b><i><font face="Arial"><font color="#0000ff">For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.</font></font></i></b><br> </font></div><font size="3"><br></font><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="3"> Let's face it. Eyewitnesses aren't always reliable. After all, if the risen Jesus appeared to me, I'd likely go get a CAT scan or a PET scan or whatever scan you get to find out if you're going crazy. But we have something even more reliable than <i>our own</i> eyewitness! "</font><font size="3"><b><i><font face="Arial"><font color="#0000ff">We have the word of the prophets made more certain</font></font></i></b></font><font size="3">." It's more certain to us, than it was even to the prophets themselves because we've seen its fulfillment! <br> Hundreds of years before the events took place, the prophets wrote about Jesus' <i>virgin </i>birth <i>in Bethlehem</i>! They wrote about his ministry around Galilee, about his miracles he would perform, about the Holy Spirit descending on him at his baptism, about his entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, about his betrayal for 30 pieces of silver! They wrote about how he would be hung on a tree, how his hands and his feet would be pierced, how his clothes would be gambled over, about how his side would be pierced so no bone would be broken!<br> And they prophesied about the resurrection. Go home and read Peter's sermon in Acts 2 where he preaches on Psalm 16, where King David wrote, <i><b><font color="#0000ff">"You will not let your Holy One see decay." </font></b></i>"Of course David wasn't talking about <i>himself</i>," Peter says, "David is dead! He <i>did </i>see decay! But he was talking Jesus! And look how it all came true!"<br> How could David have known? Maybe he didn't. But the Holy Spirit did! Peter says, "</font><font size="3"><b><i><font face="Arial"><font color="#0000ff">No prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. </font></font><font face="Arial"><font color="#0000ff">For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.</font></font></i></b></font><font size="3">" Like a ship hoists the sails and lets the wind drive it, so the authors let the Spirit drive them in what they wrote.<br> And we have as much evidence for the inspiration of the Bible as we do for the validity of the eyewitness accounts! Besides the overwhelming evidence of prophecy and fulfillment, we know that after 2000 years of people trying, no one has ever been able to find an error. There are no irreconcilable problems with the text; not a one that can't be reconciled. On top of that, there's the complete unity of the Bible.<br> Remember, the Bible isn't one book as many suppose, but is really a compilation of 66 different books. And those 66 different books were written in 3 different languages by over 40 different authors over a period of 1,500 years. (Obviously there could have been no collaboration.) And yet, there is complete agreement in all details of the one, single, unified storyline and theme. Can the Bible be trusted! Absolutely! - Did Jesus rise! You can be certain! You can trust the source! </font></div> <font size="3"><br></font><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="3"><b>III. It's News We Can Use!<br></b></font></div><font size="3"><br> So what's the big deal? So what if bat boy were real? Who really cares? And so what if Easter is real and Jesus really did rise from the dead? How does that help? Easter makes all the difference, friends! Or as one of our local news stations advertises, Easter is really "News you can use!" Right Now! Let's back up a bit in the chapter to see why Peter makes such a big deal out of Easter. He writes:<br> </font><i><b><br><font color="#0000ff">His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness... he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may... escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires... For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ... </font></b><b style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)">you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."</b></i> That's why he says, right before our text: <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live</b></i><font size="3"><i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>..."</b></i><br> </font><br> Easter is crucial because Christ's resurrection assures you that your sins are indeed forgiven. You are forgiven even for your doubt and your unbelief and those times you chalked Jesus up to being nothing more than a myth or a legend and for the times we've acted like Jesus was dead and not alive and present watching your every action, hearing your every word, and knowing your every thought. Just as Peter was forgiven for denying his Savior, so you too, are forgiven for denying him every time you've chosen to sin. Easter assures you that you have forgiveness and peace with God. In short, you have all you need for eternal life! <font size="3"><br> </font> And that's news we can use! Now we can live as if Jesus were alive because he is! We can escape the corruption caused by evil desires. We can be effective and productive in our Christian lives! We'll never fall, but instead <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,"</b></i> the same kingdom that Peter is enjoying right now! And <font size="3">of that we can be absolutely certain! For it's news from a source we can trust: From eyewitnesses who saw the risen Savior and from the Scriptures inspired by the Holy Spirit! It's coverage we can count on! And it's news we can use every day of our lives until we go to glory! In Jesus' name, amen.</font><font size="3"><br> <br></font></div></span></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-72900277382505277652010-04-23T12:24:00.001-04:002010-04-23T12:24:36.216-04:00Easter Makes You Rich (A sermon based on 1 Peter 1:3-9)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><div style="margin-top: 6px; margin-right: 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 6px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 1100px; counter-reset: __goog_page__ 0; line-height: normal; "> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b>Easter Makes You Rich<br></b></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">A sermon based on 1 Peter 1:3-9</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">Sunday, April 4, 2010 -- Easter Festival</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> I have some good news for you this Easter morning! Easter sales are up this year! This past Wednesday, the National Retail Federation estimated that consumers will have spent an average of $118.60 on Easter food, clothing and other goodies. Compared to only $116.59 each person spent last year, it could be a sign of an improving economy. It's at least good news for the retailers who have sold an estimated $13 billion dollars for Easter -- $4 billion on food, with $2 billion pressed suits and frilly dresses, and the other $7 billion on other Easter items, in case you were wondering. It would seem that Easter has the potential at least to make one rich.<br> </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> Okay, I admit it. That's not really the good news that I have for you this Easter morning. The good news that I have for you is that Easter has already made you rich. Because of Easter, you have an incredible inheritance that you will receive one day very soon. And because of Easter, you have an inexpressible joy right now to carry you through until that day. Listen to the way the Apostle Peter describes how Easter makes you rich in 1 Peter 1:3-9...<br> </font></div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><br></font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">3 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, </font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">4 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, </font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">5 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.</font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">6 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. </font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">7 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. </font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">8 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, </font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">9 </font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.</font></i></b><br> </font></div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><br><b>I. You Have an Incredible Inheritance</b><br><br></font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> Imagine if you were there that first Easter as an eyewitness of the resurrection! Wouldn't that be all you would talk about? </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">But look at the way this epistle begins! Peter doesn't start by making a big deal about what he himself had witnessed. <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">He mentions the resurrection of Jesus, but that's not the center of his attention.</font> Instead, he makes a big deal about us, about the resurrection that we have witnessed! </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."</font></i></b> That's it. That's what he wants to talk about. Peter, who personally witnessed the empty tomb and physically ate meals with Jesus for weeks after he died and was buried in the tomb, doesn't want to talk about any of that. He wants to talk about your Easter, your resurrection f<font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">rom spiritual death, your new birth into a living hope.</font></font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> You see, like a child born to a heroin addict is himself a heroin addict, those of us who were born to sinful parents are born spiritually dead in sin. <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">King David wrote in Psalm 51:1, <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">"</font></i></b></font><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">Surely I was sinful from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me."</font></i> </font></b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">And God says through Paul in Ephesians 2:1, <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">"</font></i></b></font><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">As for you, you were dead in transgressions and sins."</font></i> </font></b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">From the time of conception, we were so consumed by sin that left us spiritually lifeless, impoverished, and hopelessly headed for hell. </font></font></div> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">But God has a lot of mercy! You see we, we who were spiritually dead because of our sin, well, <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">"</font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">God caused you and me to be born again. And just as a baby isn't born because he chooses to be conceived and then decides it's time to be born, so too you couldn't choose to ask Jesus to come into your life or decide to give your life over to him. Our spiritual rebirth and resurrection is entirely the work of God the Father. Literally Peter says</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">, "</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">He caused us to be born again."</font></font></span></font></i></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> How? "<b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...</font></b>" God created the faith in our hearts that trusts in Christ's work for us. We had nothing to do with it. His death on the cross paid for every one of our sins! For every time we've <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">denied our Savior to avoid <b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">"suffer[ing] grief in all kinds of trials,"</font></b> for every time we've had </font></span>misplaced priorities, treating gold as if it<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> was of greater worth than our faith, for <u>every</u> sin we've ever committed, Christ paid. And <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">his resurrection assures us that his death accomplished what it was meant to. Our sins are forgiven. And we will receive an eternal inheritance.</font></span></font></span></font></span></i></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> Now it's true that most religions hold out to their followers the hope of blessings in the hereafter. But the acquisition of such blessings always depends upon whether the individual has earned them or not. Therefore, such a "believer" can never be sure. His hope is tainted. And on the day of judgment every hope which is not founded on Christ's resurrection will prove to be a false, dead hope. But on the last day the Christian who has a living hope in a living Savior who did all that was needed for his or her salvation,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> will receive the <b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">"</font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you.</font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">"</font></b></font></span></span></span></font></span></span></span></i></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> Now, maybe you've been on the receiving end of an inheritance and know that while an inheritance can bring sudden wealth, sooner or later, the inheritance will be gone just like the person who left it. The things will wear out. The money will be spent. An unforeseen event may tear it all out of your hands even more suddenly than it fell into your lap. After all, in the last decade many a "nest egg" has vanished. And even if you manage to hold onto all of it, you won't have it forever. Sooner or later, like it or not, the time will come for you to give it to someone else.</font></span></span></span></i></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> But the inheritance we have in Jesus will last forever! You have been written into God's will. And so, you are rich. Never mind how much money you have or how much debt you have. In the big picture, these things are completely insignificant. You can't take any of it with you. But the inheritance Jesus died to earn you and now lives to give you<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> <b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">"can never perish, spoil, or fade"</font></b>!</font></span></span></span> It's kept safe in heaven for you, waiting for you to take possession of it. No taxation can eat it up. No stock market plunge cannot devalue your inheritance. No earthquake, fire, or flood can ever destroy it. The passage of time will never make it obsolete. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">Our inheritance is something we can always count on because from the Lord keeps our inheritance ready and waiting for us in a place untouched by sin and time. How rich we are!</font></span></span></span></font></span></span></span></i></font></p> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><br>II. You Have an Inexpressible Joy</b><br><br></font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> "Now that's good and all for the moment of my death, you might argue, "but that moment might still be a long way off! What about the decades of suffering I might have to face in the meantime?! After all, faith in Jesus' death and resurrection and the forgiveness of sins that they bring may make me perfect before God, but they sure don't make life on earth much better." Well, no they don't. <br> </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">The life of the believer is not without challenges. And no one knew that better than Peter. He readily admitted, <b><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); ">"Though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials."</i> </b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">Make no mistake about it. Trouble will come, trials will infect your life. We will face ridicule from those who find believing in Jesus and his physical resurrection to be a joke -- from other pastors even! We won't always have everything we want in life. Sometimes we lose jobs or friends or health or loved ones in death. <br> Nevertheless, Peter says, "</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">you greatly rejoice</font></i></b>" even though we will suffer grief in all kinds of trials. He still says, "</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">you... are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy</font></i></b>." How? The first comfort we have is that our suffering is temporary. It will soon pass. What makes even the worst tragedy bearable is knowing that it is temporary. When a believing spouse dies, a Christian can still feel crushed by the grief, nearly overwhelmed by sorrow. The only thing that may keep him going is being reminded that he will see her again. Easter gives us that comfort that death is not the final word!<br> But perhaps even more comforting is that </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">God doesn't stop with the phrase, <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">"Kept in heaven for you."</font></i></b> He doesn't say, "I wish I could help, but I'm in heaven. You're on earth. You're on your own for now." No! He says this, <i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"…kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."</b></i> Not only does God promise to make you rich in heaven, but he lets you enjoy a part of that inheritance right now. We don't have a dead Savior, but one who is alive... right now! One who promises to shield you with the force field of his power surrounding you and protecting you every step of your walk on earth until you're safe in heaven! </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">And because we're shielded by God's power, the grief and trials won't win! Your finances may go down the drain, but your life in Jesus won't go with them. Your family may forsake you, but your brother Jesus will stay at your side. Your good works may be ignored, even hated, by people, but they will always be glorious to God. Your body parts may wear out, but Jesus will always be your strength. Your body may go into the grave, but not even the grave can take the life you have in Jesus. </font><br> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> But how come we still face trials and pain at all? If God shields us why do we hurt at all? Because God uses them to strengthen our faith in him. Peter writes, "</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">These have come so that your faith... may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. </font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2">"When you suffer, God isn't leaving you, he's proving your faith. He's proving to you that your living hope isn't in your finances or your family or your own life. Your living hope is in your living Savior. </font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial" size="2">God lets trials come to you with a view toward Judgment Day, so that your faith in Jesus will be alive and well when Jesus returns. And it will all result in eternal, uninterrupted blessings of bliss. View your trials as God does - he's insuring that glorious things will come to you on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. And even these make us rich! <br> You know, Martin Luther </font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial" size="2">once said, <i style="color: rgb(106, 168, 79); "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#38761D">"Everything that is done in the world is done by hope. No farmer would sow one grain of corn if he did not hope it would grow up and become seed; … no merchant or tradesman would see himself work if he did not hope to reap benefit thereby."</font> </b></i></font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial" size="2">In other words, would you really go in to work this week, if there was no hope of getting paid? But we do know that trust--our living hope--in our risen Savior will pay off! It will give us an indescribable inheritance in glory! And even now it fills us with an inexpressible joy as we're shielded by our Savior and strengthened by him.<br> </font></div> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"> There are no more payments which need to be made for sin. The Grim Reaper no longer can touch our joy or our lives with his once-formidable scythe. His power is gone. His threats, empty. His master, Satan, can now be felled by "one little word." Though he cackled loudly that Friday afternoon thinking all souls were now his, the last laugh belongs to Christ and to his people—the pure laughter and inexpressible joy of those who have truly been made rich! He is risen! He is risen indeed! Amen!<br> </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="2"><br></font></div></span> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-7705888564879439872010-04-23T12:23:00.001-04:002010-04-23T12:23:17.995-04:00Come to the Wells! (A sermon based on Isaiah 12)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><div style="margin-top: 6px; margin-right: 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 6px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 1100px; counter-reset: __goog_page__ 0; line-height: normal; "> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Come to the Wells!<br></font></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">A sermon based on Isaiah 12</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Sunday, April 4, 2010 -- Easter Morning</font></div> <br><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Many of you recall one of our synod's evangelism strategies of the 80's: Print a bumper sticker foor every member vehicle with a picture of a well that reads, "Come to the WELS!" (That is, W.E.L.S. for Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.) There were a few problems with that marketing plan not the least of which was that if you weren't already in the WELS, the bumper sticker was completely meaningless. What did it mean? Drink well water instead of city tap? Why only one "L"? Was the driver of this vehicle spelling challenged? And even when the acronym was explained it led to more questions than answers. Why are you a Wisconsin church when you're not in Wisconsin? What is a synod? And how exactly do you </font><i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">come</font></i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> to the WELS?<br> But for all its flaws, you sure did see a lot of those stickers on a lot of bumpers in the parking lots of lots of WELS churches, in and out of the Wisconsin! And for all its flaws, I'm sure it did lead to more than one conversation about what it meant? Today, with or without the aid of a bumper sticker, we can still invite people to come to the wells. Not just to the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran synod, but to the wells of salvation. For here at church and here in the Word, we drink deeply from those wells. And we drink with joy because we know that by Christ's resurrection we are safe </font><i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">from </font></i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">God's wrath and we are safe to share God's love. <br> Seven hundred years before Jesus' resurrection from the dead, the prophet Isaiah wrote what's been called Isaiah's First Song -- a joyful song of the wells of salvation. So as we read that song in Isaiah 12, I invite you to come to the wells Isaiah wrote...<br> </font></div><br><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><b><i> </i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">1</font></font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> In that day you will say: "I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. </font></font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">2</font></font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." </font></font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">3</font></font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. </font></font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">4</font></font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> In that day you will say: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. </font></font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">5</font></font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. </font></font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">6</font></font></i></b></sup><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you."</font></font></i></b><br> <br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">I. We're Spiritually Dehydrated</font></b></div><b><br></b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Initially, it doesn't seem like there's much to sing about. For Isaiah writes in his lyrics that God was angry with him. God was not just disappointed, but downright mad! He was furious and had every right to be! For Isaiah, like everyone else, had sinned. And God has every right to be mad at us. Not just disappointed, but furious that we have chosen to defy him and oppose his commands. He says, "Love me with all your heart, soul, and mind for all I've done for you." And we say, "No. I'll only love you when I feel like it." He says, "Love others and serve them, just as I've served you." And we say, "No. I'd rather love myself and serve myself and only worry about what I want." God makes the rules, and we break the rules... and we make God mad. </font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Now you know that it's not pleasant to have a friend angry with you. That's bad enough, but to have God mad at you... well, that's quite another thing. When God was mad that the world was full of sin and every heart was bent on evil, he sent a flood to wipe out most of mankind. When Sodom and Gomorrah made God mad by refusing to repent of their sin, he sent fire from heaven to wipe them out. When Pharaoh made God mad by refusing to release his people, God sent an angel of death to kill the firstborn of all who refused to trust his promises. When some Jews made Jesus mad by turning the temple into a market Jesus made a whip and started hitting people in church! And God promises hell -- separation from him for eternity -- to all who are less than perfect and anger him with their sins. Yes, to have a friend mad at you is one thing, but to have God mad at you... how horrible!</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> And the truth is that a simple "I'm sorry" won't make it better. And we can't just buy God flowers to smooth everything over. God's anger can't be appeased by what we do. No. Someone has to pay for the damage done. Think of it this way, if I were to go over to your house and in a moment of clumsiness knock over a valuable vase that you love, the damage is done. Now you could insist that I pay to replace what I broke. You'd have every right to. Or you could forgive me. But if you do, you would need to pay to replace the vase or just absorb the cost and go without it. Someone has to pay for the damage done.</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Of course, for the damage of making God mad, we can never pay enough. We can't undo the sin, unthink the thought, or take back what we've said. And we can't make it up to him. Let's pretend that the vase I broke in your home was a very rare Ming vase (which can be worth two to ten million dollars). "I'm sorry" wouldn't put it back together and "I'm sorry" wouldn't put any money in your pocket. In fact, I doubt I would ever be able to repay you for your broken vase. The thousands I might be able to scrounge up wouldn't be close. Likewise, we can't pay God enough to make amends. Hell is the price to pay. And that's too steep for us. </font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> And so, by nature, you and I are spiritually parched and totally dehydrated. And that's true whether we knew it or not! Right now, one of the books I'm reading is called, </font><i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">You're Not Sick; You're Thirsty!</font></i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> It's major premise is that most people are dehydrated, but they don't know it because you can be dehydrated without feeling any symptoms, without feeling thirst. You might just feel tired, or a bit sick, and not know that the real cause is that you don't have enough water. Likewise in this life, we might feel run down, depressed, stuck in a rut, and to be sure, some of that could be a chemical imbalance, but sometimes it stems from the spiritual dehydration we all suffer by nature. So what does Isaiah have to sing about? What do we have to sing about? </font></div> <br><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">II. Drink from the Wells of Salvation</font></b></div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br> Because when we were spiritually parched, God first sent his law to rouse our thirst and then, he gave us a refreshing, live-giving, drink from the wells of salvation. When we could not pay to cover the damage done in making God mad, God paid it himself. He took the hit.</font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> The beautiful part of that first phrase of Isaiah 12 is the tense. Isaiah says, "You were angry with me..." but not anymore. He doesn't dwell on God's anger, but goes on, "</font><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">your anger has turned away and you have comforted me.</font></font></i></b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">" Literally, the Hebrew says, "God turned his nose." In Hebrew the expression for anger is your nose grows hot, so the NIV translated it, "<b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">your anger has turned...</font></font></i></b>" But it could also be a picture of God turning his nose back to us having turned his back in his anger. </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br> "<b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">In that day you will say: "I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me.</font></font></i></b>" What day is that? Let's back up a bit and look at Isaiah 11. There Isaiah writes, <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. </font></i></b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD - </font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">and he will delight in the fear of the LORD... </font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist..."</font></i></b> And the results of the work of the Branch? He goes on, <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"</font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. </font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. </font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest. </font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea."</font></i></b></font><br> </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Of course, you recognize this familiar Advent text as a prophecy about the coming Messiah and the peace he would bring -- not a political peace from war, or famine, or a tough economy -- but peace with God. Chapter eleven makes it clear that <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"that day"</font></i></b> is a reference to Jesus death and resurrection in our place. On the cross Jesus took the hit. He paid the price for our sin -- for all of it. And on Easter Day he rose again as the receipt or the proof of purchase, if you will. He lives! God has accepted full payment for our sins! </font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> This is the well of salvation! The gospel! The good news that Jesus has made reparations to set things right between us and God. <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Jesus himself pointed that out in John 4:14, "<b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.</font></i></b>" Through the forgiveness of sins won by Jesus, </font>Isaiah could sing, "<b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.</font></font></i></b>" And so can we.</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> And later in Isaiah (55:1-2) God would offer, <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare."</font></i></b> Or, in other words, come to the wells of salvation! Drink and be satisfied -- free of charge! Jesus paid for it all on Good Friday and his Resurrection on Easter morning guarantees it! And last time I checked no ushers were taking tickets at the door! No one was selling seats at church. It's still free to come to the wells of salvation and draw from the water with joy! </font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> And this good news, these wells of salvation, give us every reason to sing! The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 23:5, <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"my cup overflows."</font></i></b> In other words, when we drink from wells of salvation, we have more water than we need. We have plenty to share...</font></div> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">II. Invite Others to the Wells of Salvation<br></font></b><br><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "> In his song of praise, Isaiah not only sings of the salvation that is for the individual, ("<b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">you have comforted <u>me</u>... </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">God is <u>my</u> salvation; <u>I</u> will trust and not be afraid... </font></font></i></b>") but for everyone: "<b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">In that day you will say: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; <u>make known among the nations what he has done</u>, and <u>proclaim</u> that his name is exalted. S</font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">ing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; <u>let this be known to all the world</u>...</font></font></i></b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">"<br> When you have good news that is so exciting that it changes your world, you can't help but share it. You call, you email, you post it on Facebook: <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">"I won the lottery!" "We're having a baby!" </font>"I got the job!" "The cancer is gone!" "My team won!" ...Well, here's something really worth sharing! Jesus lives! He is risen! He is risen indeed! That means our sins are forgiven! We will not die in hell, but will go to heaven! Even after we die physically, we will live again -- physically! -- and be raised to life! Sin is removed! Death is defeated! Hell is conquered! Is there any more glorious a thing?! </font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> And this good news that changes our <i>eternity</i>, is so exciting that we can't help but share it! "<b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><u>Make known among the nations what he has done</u>, and <u>proclaim</u> that his name is exalted. </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; <u>let this be known to all the world</u>...</font></font></i></b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">"<br> </font> Imagine you and your friends and family were stranded in the desert. Without water you all faced a certain death. As you wandered on collapsing one by one, you managed to find an oasis. Lush palm trees offer shade to any who come to drink of the cold, clear, life giving water. Now, after you had been refreshed and revived by the cool water, would you go swim a few laps or take a nap in the shade while your loved ones were still wandering our there dying of thirst and dehydration?! Of course not! You'd share it! You'd let them know: "Come over here! I found water! You have to believe me!" And you'd save their life.</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Likewise, you and I have been refreshed by the wells of salvation! Our thirst has been quenched by the Living Water who died for us and lives again! And now, we can't keep quiet! We have to tell others about him! And whether you use an invite to dinner, or to come watch "Road to Emmaus," or even a blue bumper sticker, we're eager to cry out, "Come to the wells! Come to the wells of salvation that you too might drink and be refreshed!" In the name of Jesus, the Living Water, amen.<br> </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> <br></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font></div></div></span> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-50053092684946360592010-04-23T12:21:00.001-04:002010-04-23T12:21:51.536-04:00Expect the Unexpected (A sermon based on Isaiah 52:13–53:12)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><div style="margin-top: 6px; margin-right: 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 6px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 1100px; counter-reset: __goog_page__ 0; line-height: normal; "> <p align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><b>Expect the Unexpected</b></font></font></font></p> <p align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">A sermon based on Isaiah 52:13–53:12</font></font></p> <p align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Friday, April 2, 2010 -- Good Friday</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br><span> <span> </span></span>You know the Boy Scouts' motto: "Always be prepared." You know, "Hope for the best, but plan for the worst," because as Murphy's law states: "If anything can go wrong, it will." So expect things to be abnormal. Then you'll never be caught off guard. Or another way of putting it, is the wonerful oxymoron: "Expect the unexpected." <br> <span> <span> </span></span>That last phrase could really be said of religious truth. For the unexpected often happens. One might expect that one would gladly love, serve, and obey a God who loves and protects and provides for them. But in our lives, the unexpected happens: We rebel against such a loving God. In fact, we wander from his ways so often, you might even say it's expected. And we'd expect that while such rebels should be punished and the innocent and sinless should be set free, on Good Friday the unexpected happened. And you've heard that message so often that we've come to expect it. But listen again to this awesome surprise as if you were hearing it for the very first time. Here's how Isaiah so beautifully and poetically described the events of Good Friday. We read select verses of Isaiah 52 and 53, but especially note 53:6...<br> <br></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><i><b>13</b></i></font></font></font> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. </b></i></font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><i><b>14</b></i></font></font></font> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>Just as there were many who were appalled at him</b></i></font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">—</font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness—</b></i></font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><i><b>15</b></i></font></font></font> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand. </b></i></font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><i><b>53:1</b></i></font></font></font> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? </b></i></font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><i><b>2</b></i></font></font></font> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. </b></i></font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><i><b>3</b></i></font></font></font> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. </b></i></font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><i><b>4</b></i></font></font></font> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. </b></i></font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><i><b>5</b></i></font></font></font> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. </b></i></font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><i><b>6</b></i></font></font></font> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. </b></i></font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><i><b>7</b></i></font></font></font> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. </b></i></font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><i><b>8</b></i></font></font></font> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. </b></i></font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><i><b>9</b></i></font></font></font> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. </b></i></font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><i><b>10</b></i></font></font></font> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. </b></i></font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><i><b>11</b></i></font></font></font> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. </b></i></font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="1"><i><b>12</b></i></font></font></font> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.</b></i></font></font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b>I. We All Like Sheep Have Gone Astray</b></font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br><span> <span> </span></span>You kow the picture of a loving shepherd tenderly taking care of his sheep, each one of which he knows by name. He provides for all their needs leading them to fresh water and pasture land full of food. He protects them from the predators fighting off wolves and lions to keep them safe. He carries the little lambs in his arms when they'</font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">re too weak or tired to go on. He loves the sheep and dedicates his life to caring for them.<br> Now one might expect a sheep to love such a loving shepherd back. You might expect that a sheep would stick close to a shepherd like that and not wander off. Or you might know just a little about the nature of sheep and know that you cannot expect them to act so wise. So often sheep do what's least expected. They wander away from the shepherd. They get hopelessly lost. They seem to look for dangerous places where they will get hurt. They seem to hunt the lion and the wolf and try try to get eaten. In short, you know that with sheep you pretty much have to expect the unexpected.<br> <span> <span> </span></span>And of course, you also know that all of that is a picture of our relationship with God. The Lord is our shepherd -- the Good Shepherd -- who takes such good care of us that we shall not be in want, who protects us so well that even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we should fear no evil. And while you might expect people to love such a loving God back, we so often do the opposite. Isaiah describes us in this way: </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way..."</b></i></font></font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span>You see God has clearly marked out the way that he wants us to walk and behave. And he's practically put runway lights on either side, with our own consciences blinking "Do not cross this line!" on the one side, and God's clear commands blinking "Thou shall not!" on the other. And yet, what have we done? We've decided we can find a better path of our own. We each choose our own way. We choose to flee from the Good Shepherd as the disciples did at his arrest. We choose to ignore his authority like the Sanhedrin and the teachers of the law. We have been annoyed when Jesus hasn't given us everything we feel he owes us like the mob in Pilate's courtyard did. We have been afraid to stand up for the truth as Pilate was.</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span>We've wandered off the path of what's right and chosen our own way so often that you might come to expect that we will do the unexpected thing of rebelling against a holy God. And in choosing to sin, we choose for ourselves the punishment pictured in Isaiah's Words: We deserve to be despised and rejected by </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i>God</i></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">. We deserve to take up our own infirmities and carry our own sorrows. We deserve to be stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. We deserve to be pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities. We deserve to be punished and wounded forever in hell.<br> <span> <span> </span></span>And that's what you might expect. After all, if you ignore the directions the GPS gives, you shouldn't be surprised when you get lost. And not only do our consciences leave us with this expectation of punishment from God, but his own Word does. In Ezekiel 18:4 God warned that </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>"The soul who sins is the one who will die."</b></i></font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br> <span> <span> </span></span>Yes, we might well expect punishment for wandering away from a loving Shepherd who's done nothing but love and care for us. And yet, we won't get the punishment we might expect because on Good Friday the unexpected happened...</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b>II. But the Lord Has Laid on Him the Iniquity of Us All</b></font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span>Do you remember all the supernatural phenomena that took place on that day? </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif">Every day we take for granted that the sun will shine. Yeah, it may be cloudy and overcast, but I mean that there will be an end to nighttime and the sun will come up. But on Good Friday we're told that the sun stopped shining. And make no mistake. It wasn't just a storm. It wasn't an eclipse. (A solar eclipse can only take place at a new moon at the beginning of a month of the Jewish lunar calendar, not at Passover which is celebrated in the middle of the month on the </font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>14</i></font><sup><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><i>th</i></font></sup> <font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif">of Nissan.) Luke makes it very clear that the darkness came because the sun itself unexpectedly stopped shining. (Luke 23:35)</font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span>And if that weren't strange enough, something even more unexpected happened. Matthew reports, </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>"The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people."</b></i></font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> (Matthew 27:52-53)</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span>In the back of the December 2009 issue of Consumer Reports there's an ad from a woodworker in North Carolina that reads, "The Woodworkder's Shop. We restore, repair, and refinish," -- now get this -- "caskets!" How odd! You see, caskets aren't normally reused. Once you're in, you're usually there for good. You don't stop using it, and sell it on craigslist or ebay. But on Good Friday, the dead came back to life.<br> And as extraordinay as that even was it was not the most unexpected thing to happen that day. You see, we usually expect criminals to pay for their crimes, but we don't expect innocent men to get the death sentence. And when they do, we don't expect that they will readily forgive their accusers. We expect that a just and holy God would punish sinners, but we don't expect the sinless Son of God to be punished for anything. And we certainly don't expect, the immortal Son of God to die. but the sinless Son of God should reign.<br> <span> <span> </span></span>That's whay we'd expect.<br><span> <span> </span></span>But on good friday, the unexpected happened. And far more unexpected still, is why: The innocent and immortal Son of God was punished and killed for you and me, for us sheep who so love to wander.<br> <span> <span> </span></span>Marvel again at the unexpected beauty of what Isaiah wrote: </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>"he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows... he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed... We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all... he was led like a lamb to the slaughter... he was taken away... he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken... though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth... the LORD makes his life a guilt offering... my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities... he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.</b></i></font></font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span>And so, while we might have expected to be punished for wandering away from a loving Shepherd who's done nothing but love and care for us, we are forgiven. We won't get the punishment we might expect because on Good Friday the unexpected happened. And now, we can expect the unexpected, that sinful, wandering sheep like us will enjoy a perfect paradise of glory with our Savior because of what he's done for us. Yes, dear friends, you can expect the unexpected! Amen.</font></font></font></p> <div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font></font></font></div></div></span> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-50493512812689064742010-04-23T12:19:00.000-04:002010-04-23T12:20:00.650-04:00Out with the Old and In with the New (A sermon based on Jeremiah 31:31-34)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><div style="margin-top: 6px; margin-right: 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 6px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 1100px; counter-reset: __goog_page__ 0; line-height: normal; "> <p align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4"><b>Out with the Old and In with the New</b></font></font></p> <p align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">A sermon based on Jeremiah 31:31-34</font></font></p> <p align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Thursday, April 1, 2010 -- Maundy Thursday</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span>It's that time again. Time for spring cleaning where it's out with the old and in with the new. For the Guenthers this year that means clearing out some extra furniture in the third bedroom that we call "the office." Out with the desk, in with the crib. Out with the bookshelves, and in with the rocking chair. Out with the stereo and TV and in with the changing table.</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span>Out with the old can sometimes be tough, when what's old is something that you love and are comfortable with. And in with the new can be equally tough when the new is unfamiliar and, therefore, uncomfortable and perhaps even a bit scary. Think of a move or relocation you've made. Or think of the "new" hymnal (that's now more than 20 years old). Out with the old, and in with the new can be tough. But sometimes change <i>is</i> for the better and "out with the old, in with the new" is necessary.</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span>That's certainly the case with the covenants that God made with his people. It is better by far that God says it's out with the "old" covenant and in with the "new" -- a covenant that the prophet Jeremiah described about seven hundred years after the old covenant was written and about seven hundred years before the new covenant was fulfilled. Here's what he wrote in Jeremiah 31:31-34...</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><i><b>31 "The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the LORD. 33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."</b></i></font></font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b>I. We Break the Old Covenant</b></font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br> </font></font></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span>Before we discuss the two covenants that God has made with his people, perhaps we'd better define what exactly a covenant is. After all, covenant's not a word we use on a daily basis, or maybe <i>at all </i>outside of this Biblical context. But we are familiar with contracts. And that's really what a covenant, or testament, is: contract, an agreement, or a promise. And those come in different forms, don't they? The first of God's covenants is like a two-sided contract. This will be done, if this condition is first met. And if that condition is <i>not </i>met, there is no obligation for the promise to be kept. So what's the promise and condition of the old covenant?</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span>Well, the old covenant was the one made on Mount Sinai after God had let his people out of Egypt. God promised to be the Israelites' God. He promised to guard them and protect them, to make them prosperous and guide them with his wisdom, to make them a strong nation and give them a great part of the country to live in. The other side of the covenant was the Israelites' promise that God would be their God. They would not forsake him for other gods. They would follow Him and do everything that He told them. And the people signed the contract. Exodus 24:3 says, <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><i><b>"When Moses went and told the people all the LORD's words and laws, they responded with one voice, 'Everything the LORD has said we will do.'"</b></i></font> (Exodus 24:3)</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span>In a sense, it was like they were now married to God. Each belonged to the other. Each would love and serve the other. And just as a loving husband provides for his wife, takes care of her, and gives himself up for her, so the Lord did and does that for his own. You would think a wife would be loyal to such a husband. You would think.<br> <span> <span> </span></span>But Israel didn't keep their end of the bargain. <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><i><b>"They broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the LORD." </b></i></font>Even though he was the perfect husband, who brought them out of Egypt, provided for them in the wilderness, saved their lives, protected them from their enemies, and promised them a Savior, they cheated on him. Again and again. Before the ink could dry on the marriage certificate they cheated on him with the golden calf. They broke God's law and broke God's heart just as Moses broke the tablets on which the covenant was written. And as the decades and centuries passed, they continued to behave more like prostitutes than a loving wife, offering themselves to every false god they could get a hold of.<br> <span> <span> </span></span>The first covenant didn't work. Not because there was anything wrong with the covenant, and certainly not because there was anything wrong with God. But there is something very wrong with people. God's first covenant requires perfect faithfulness from his people, and the Israelites just weren't up to it. We aren't, either.<br> <span> <span> </span></span>You know, the title "old" covenant can be misunderstood. It doesn't mean "old" in the sense that it's obsolete or no longer applies. No. God's law still stands. Do all these things and live. And the wages of sin is still death. The contract still applies. God's Law still requires that we love him and one another perfectly. But you and I are born with a flawed, sinful nature that makes this totally impossible.</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span>For we too cheat on God with other gods. We make our plans and priorities around them. We spend our time and money on them. And make sure nothing gets in the way of them. Hobbies, drinks and drugs, sports and TV shows... ourselves. We have broken our contract with God. And every time we break a commandment, we break the covenant again. Remember what you promised at your confirmation? We promised faithfulness -- faithfulness for life, even to the point of death. And we have not lived up to that promise. So what's our penalty? Well, we deserve to have God divorce us for cheating on him so often. But, amazingly, in an act of extraordinary love, our gracious and faithful God said, "Out with the old and in with the new!" and brought in a completely new contract. </font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b>II. God Keeps the New Covenant</b></font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br><span> <span> </span></span>In love, God would re-marry them and write a new contract. They couldn't keep the old one. So he'd make one they couldn't break. But maybe "contract" isn't the right word, because this one is entirely one-sided. They had nothing to do with it. <i>We </i>have nothing to do with it. God declared, <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><i><b>" I will put my law in their minds... I will be their God... I will forgive their wickedness."</b></i></font> This is a one-sided promise from God, more like a will than a contract. And no one has earned or deserved it, but God delivers these promises because that is what God is all about. <br> Now, literally, <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><i><b>" I will put my </b></i></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><u><b>law</b></u></span></font> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><i><b>in their minds..."</b></i></font> is "I will put my <i><u>torah</u></i> in them." And <i>torah</i> isn't just the law as we good Lutherans typically think of it, but is literally, "teaching," "instruction," or "doctrine." The context makes it clear that the gospel is the doctrine refered to here.</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">And just like "old" can be misunderstood, so can "new." This wasn't really a new covenant. Last year I bought a "new" minivan. It's a 2004 Honda Odyssey. It wasn't really new, but was new to me. Likewise, the "new" covenant was promised already to Adam and Eve.</font></font></font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#333333"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">So what is this "new" covenant all about? What's the one-sided gospel promise?</font> </font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><b>"For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." </b></i></font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">That's what God did in Jesus. Under the "new covenant," the gospel, here's how your relationship with God works. God forgives your sins. That's it! No conditions to agree to before God will take you back. No stipulations that God will forgive you if you're good enough. You are forgiven. God chooses to forget your sin.</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span>How? Well, think of it this way: When a professional athlete wants to write a new contract, he gets himself a good agent. Our good agent, if you will, really went to bat for us. He knew what God demanded of us, and fulfilled it in our place. He was completely faithful to God, at all times, obedient in every way. And he fulfilled the second part of this contract, and was punished for our sins. Jesus has fulfilled the terms of the contract for us, signing it, sealing it, with his blood.</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span>And this "new" covenant isn't just for a few, but for all. He says, <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><i><b>"No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,"</b></i></font></font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span>To "know" God is not just to have knowledge about him, but to experience who he is. If you know forgiveness in Christ, you truly know the LORD. So this covent is for all. From the smallest and the youngest to the greatest. For all.</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span>And the Holy Spirit acts as the executor of Jesus' will, bringing the blessings of the new covenant are to us in the Word and in Baptism and again tonight in the Lord's Supper. For when he instituted this "new" sacrament he saidin Luke 22:20, <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#b84700"><i><b>"This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." </b></i></font>In other words, out with the old covenant of Passover that recalled the Exodus from Egypt and the promise of the coming Messiah. In with the new covenant of Jesus' blood. So tonight you and I won't eat the Passover Lamb, but the very Lamb of God that takes away your sin. And as we do, God forgets our sin again. <br> <span> <span> </span></span>Out with old sins, in with new forgiveness. Talk about spring cleaning! And now, in thanks to God for this new covenant, we do some spring cleaning of our own. Now it's out with the old way of living to serve ourselves and in with new, holy desires and thoughts and actions.</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">For those who live with God under this new one-sided agreement of grace, an amazing thing starts happening. We find ourselves loving God and living for him, not <i>so that </i>God will make us his, but because he already has. And where the old covenant of God's Law nagged at us from the outside, the Gospel changes us on the inside. The new agreement gets results where the old one failed.</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span> <span> </span></span>So out with the old, dear friends, no matter how comfortable the old may be! And in with the new! In with the new covenant of God's grace! In with the new covenant of his blood! In with a new life lived for him in thanks for all he's done! In Jesus' name and by the new covenant he brought, amen!</font></font></p> <div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, sans-serif"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font></font></div></div></span> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-80048467524115222242010-04-23T12:17:00.001-04:002010-04-23T12:17:53.125-04:00Out of Death and Captivity, Into Life (A sermon based on Colossians 2:13-15)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><div style="margin-top: 6px; margin-right: 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 6px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 1100px; counter-reset: __goog_page__ 0; line-height: normal; "> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; text-align: center; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">We Preach Christ Crucified<br><b>Out of Death and Captivity, Into Life</b><br>A sermon based on Colossians 2:13-15<br> Wednesday, March 24, 2010 - Midweek Lent 6<br></font></div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"> How do most people define death? A flat line on a hospital monitor? A EKG that registers no heart activity or brainwaves? A lifeless body in a casket? Since the unbelieving world sees no meaning beyond their narrow existence from cradle to grave, physical death is the end of everything for which they lived. And extreme measures are taken to prolong this earthly life, which is all they know. But no amount of health care reform can prevent death. For death isn't just physical and we're all born dead. Here's what I mean:</font><br style="font-family: Arial; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"> A man once pointed out an apparent contradiction in the Bible to his pastor: "Look," he said, "When God told Adam not to eat of the forbidden fruit, he said, 'The day you eat of it you will surely die.' Adam ate from it. But he didn't die on the day he ate it. In fact, he didn't die for another 900 years! So the Bible is obviously wrong." But the pastor then pointed out that Adam did, indeed, die on the very day he took the forbidden fruit. But it was a much more horrible death than mere physical death -- just the separation of body and soul.</font><br style="font-family: Arial; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"> As soon as Adam desired to be like God, he died to God and separated himself from him. Adam now said that what God called bad was really good and that what God called good was really bad. That inward death led to the actual sin of reaching out and taking the forbidden fruit. Adam's death was evident when he was terrified to be in the presence of God and hid in the garden. The first couple's death was evident when they covered their nakedness in shame and when they made excuses for their actions to try to cover up their sin. All of these were visible signs of inner death. And, to be sure, physical death and everlasting death in hell would follow.</font><br style="font-family: Arial; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"> And the same death is evident in all of us, who were born in the image of our first parents -- spiritually dead in sin. But it is this downward spiral of death that our Savior suffered and died to reverse. Here's how Paul put it in Colossians 2:13-15...</font><br style="font-family: Arial; "> <br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); font-family: Arial; "></font><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><sup>13 </sup>When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, <sup>14 </sup>having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. <sup>15 </sup>And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.</i></b></font></p> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br style="font-family: Arial; "></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"> To appreciate our new life in Christ, we have to remember our original condition: <i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"When you were dead in your sins." </b></i>As was the case with Adam, God identifies our sins as the outward symptom of soul death. Each time we lay claim to our right to do what God forbids, we imitate Adam in his rebellion and stand with him under God's wrath. For God has given us certain commands too. He hasn't told us not to eat from a certain tree, but he has given us a </font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"written code, with its regulations."</b></i> This code is written in our hearts and even more clearly in God's Law, summarized in the Ten Commandments...<br> <br></font></font><ol style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">Have you always loved God above all else and sought to serve him only in your life? Have you always trusted in him and in his love and care for you? Even in when a rough economy tries your patience? ...Me neither.</font></font></li> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">Have you always honored God's name and called upon it in daily prayer offering your praise and thanks to him? Have you always been eager to share his name with others? ... Me neither.</font></font></li> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">Have you always been eager and glad to hear and learn God's Word? To read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest it? Do you embrace and love every teaching of God as the blessing he intends it to be? ...Me neither.</font></font></li> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">Have you always honored the authorities that God has established over you? Have you given our elected officials the honor and respect due them, not because of their actions or beliefs, but because of that position that God has granted them? </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">...Me neither.</font></font></li> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">Have you always honored life? Been eager to protect and defend the lives of others, giving your hard-earned dollars to help them? Have you always cared for your own body, remember that it is not yours, but is only on loan from God? ...Me neither.</font></font></li> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">Have you always honored God's gifts of sex and marriage and kept your thoughts and your actions pure? ...Me neither.</font></font></li> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">Have you always worked your hardest at your job, working 100% 100% off the time? ...Me neither.</font></font></li> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">Have you always sought to defend and protect and build up the reputations of others? ...Me neither.</font></font></li> <li style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">Have you always been content with the showers of blessings that God daily dumps upon us? ...Me neither.<br> </font></font></li></ol><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> <br style="font-family: Arial; "> Stand before the mirror of God's commands and we see all the evidence of how spiritually dead we are by nature. And even if we do a good job of hiding the evidence of our spiritual death, we're still no less dead. Like the bodies on display in the funeral home, we may look nice on the outside, but appearances are deceiving. We're still dead.<br> Even infants with the appearance of innocence are born spiritually dead. Church fatehr, St. Augustine said that such innocence of infancy is <br><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"><i style="color: rgb(56, 118, 29); "><b>"more a matter of weakness of limb than purity of heart."</b></i> Just because a baby cannot clench his fist or hasn't mastered speech to the point where he can speak defiantly to parents or siblings doesn't mean he is not self-absorbed and spiritually lifeless by nature before God. You see, our sin isn't just what we do or don't do. It's who we are. </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">Just as the David confessed in Psalm 51:5, <i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me."</b></i> That's why we begin </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">our confession of sin, not </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">with what we have done wrong (as damnable as our sins are), but</font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"> with who we are: <i style="color: rgb(56, 118, 29); "><b>"Merciful Father in heaven, I am sinful from birth..."</b></i> </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">Born spiritually dead, each of us is bound to die a physical death, which was sure to be followed by an eternal death and separation from God for eternity.<br> </font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"> But, <i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ."</b></i> </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">It is futile for us to plead with a deceased loved one to rise from their coffin. But God, who breathed into lifeless clay and brought it to life, has breathed into the "walking dead" with the same result. </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">How did he do that? With a defibrillatior? No. <i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us." </b></i></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> <font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">The <i><b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">"written code, with its regulations,"</font> </b></i>those ten commandments that once stood against us in the court of a holy, all-knowing and just God, that pointed at us crying, "Guilty! Guilty! Guilty of all charges!" ...has been canceled. </font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">How can that be? <i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"He took it away, nailing it to the cross."</b></i> Jesus took the our guilt on himself. Jesus took our punishment on himself. And there on the cross hung not only the Son of God, but every sin of all time! Every sin of yours and mine! So now, t</font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">he breath that gives us spiritual life is the gospel of Christ crucified! So we preach Christ crucified! </font><br> <br> And Christ crucified not only gives us life out of death, but life out of captivity, out of the grasp of our enemies! <br> There's a man in our synod who most know only as Jacob. No last name is ever given. The reason is because he used to be a Muslim. But by God's grace, he's come to faith in Jesus and through his studies, has learned that our synod preaches the truth in accord with God's Word. But if his old friends or his family knew where he was they would surely kill him for turning his back on the Muslim faith. Another man I recently heard of came to faith in Jesus and left his affiliation with a crime syndicate. He is pressured to return to his life of crime and his life is threated on a regular basis. <br> These men, have been given life, but at the same time, they live in fear of their enemies, who ironically, were once their best of friends. Yet, even though they might fear for their physical safety, spiritually speaking, they need not fear any enemy -- Satan or his legions or even death itself. And neither do we. Why not? Because of Christ crucified:<i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b> <font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">"And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he [Christ] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."</font></b></i><br> </font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">In ancient Rome, when a conquering general would return from battle victorious he would lead a triumphant parade. Taking some of the spoils of war he would toss them to the crowds. And to their delight he would take the conquered general, strip him of all his dignity, and lead him down Main Street in a cage or prodded on by sears for all the people to see his humiliated enemy. </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">The defeated enemy was a public laughingstock. Finally, at the end of the march, the enemy was put to death.</font><br style="font-family: Arial; "> </font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> And that's exactly what Christ has done to Satan and his demons. Though they were once our best friends, they have now become our enemies as we turn our backs on our our old way of life to live the new life won for us by Christ crucified. And yet, even though they would seek to kill us still, and drag us back to hell with them, <i style="color: rgb(56, 118, 29); "><b>"[They] can harm us none. [They're] judged. The deed is done. One little word can fell [them]."</b></i></font></font><br> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"> Christ crucified stripped Satan of his power and his dignity when he brought us from death to life.</font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> With the power of the law to condemn us now nailed to the cross, Satan has lost his greatest weapon. He accuse you all he wants, but your every sin has been removed. The accusations can't stick. For Jesus disarmed the powers of darkness when he paid for every sin on the cross. </font></font><br> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"> Christ crucified stripped Death of its power and dignity when he brought us from death to life. Yes, we will still die, but death, like Satan, has been defeated. At the hour of his death, Jesus made a spectacle of Death itself when the earth shook and the graves of many saints opened up that they might come out alive -- a prelude to Easter! <br> And on the Last Day, we will see the end of the parade when our enemies are forever destroyed. Then Satan will lose any influence he still has and will be banished forever. Then Death will be undone, when all who have been brought to spiritual life will rise to a new and eternal life in paradise! <br> </font><br style="font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"> And finally, this new life in Christ, this life out of death, this life out of captivity, is not an inert thing. Life never is. Christ made us alive so that we could be living sacrifices to him. To the apostles, this new life meant spending themselves in God's service, even to the point of shedding their blood. In the same way, it is natural for us to live out our calling in meaningful activity for his kingdom. When we open our mouths, we strive to have the world hear Jesus' voice as we preach Christ crucified. Our hands are used for works of service to those who live around us that they might see the loving acts of Christ in our works. And even if our finances aren't where we would have them be, we don't consider it a burden to dedicate portions of our God-given </font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial">blessings to spread the message of Christ crucified far beyond our community and country. <br> All of this in thanks to our Savior, Christ crucified, who has taken us out of death and out of captivity into life! In Jesus' name, dear friends, amen.</font></font></div></span> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-43103045411758141422010-03-17T13:11:00.000-04:002010-03-17T13:12:00.270-04:00The ABC's of God's Foolish Grace (A sermon based on Judges 10:6-16)Listen to this sermon here: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10px; "><a href="http://themainthing.us/home/180003600/180003600/audio/20100314.mp3" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/home/180003600/180003600/audio/20100314.mp3');" style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_download.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a> or <a href="http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/20100314.mp3" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/20100314.mp3');" style="color: navy; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_stream.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a></span><div> Or watch the entire service here: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/5443401" target="_blank">http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/5443401</a></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium"><div style="margin-top:6px;margin-right:6px;margin-bottom:6px;margin-left:6px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:1100px;line-height:normal"> <div style="text-align:left;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial"><span style="font-size:small"><b><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-weight:normal;font-size:medium"><div style="margin-top:6px;margin-right:6px;margin-bottom:6px;margin-left:6px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:1100px;line-height:normal"> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial;text-align:center"><font size="2"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The ABC's of God's Foolish Grace</span><br></b></font></div> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial;text-align:center"> <font size="2">A sermon based on Judges 10:6-16</font></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial;text-align:center"><font size="2">Sunday, March 17, 2010 - Lent 4C</font></div> <font size="2"><br style="font-family:Arial"></font><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial"><font size="2"> You've heard the expression, "Fool me once, shame on you! Fool me twice, shame on me!" The lesson, of course, is don't be naive. Don't keep falling for the same trick over and over again. Learn from past mistakes so that history doesn't have to repeat itself.<br> If that's true, "Fool me once, shame on you! Fool me twice, shame on me!" then some might think God a fool in the book of Judges, because over and over again his people rebel against him and worship false gods that were no gods at all. So, just as a loving parent would do for a child who ran from them toward the highway, God would give them a spanking. God would let an enemy nation beat up on his people to call them back to him. And as soon as they hurt enough they cried out to him, "God, we're sorry! We're sorry! We'll never leave you again if you'll just rescue us!" And right on the heels of that prayer God would instantly send a hero to rescue them from their misery.... only to watch them rebel against him again and start the cycle all over again.<br> Were the people sincere in their repentance? Or were they just saying what God wanted to hear to get the help they so desperately needed? But every time they cried out to him God saved them! And this happened not just once or twice, but the book of Judges records a dozen or more times that this cycle repeats.<br> Someone once described the pattern that takes place follows the alphabet: A is for Apostasy. That is, turning your back on your religion. B is for Baddies, whom God lovingly sent to discipline his people. C is Crying. When discipline came, it brought the people to repent and cry out to God for forgiveness and help. D is for the Deliverance that God was so quick to give. Then E was for Ease, as the people grew comfortable in their time of peace, then complacent, then apostate again, to start the cycle all over.<br> Listen for the pattern, A, B, C, D, and E in Judges 10:6-16, which summarizes the entire book of Judges...</font></div><font size="2"><br style="font-family:Arial"></font><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial"> <font size="2"><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><i><font color="#0000ff">6</font></i></b></sup></font><font size="2"><b><i><font color="#0000ff"> Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites and the gods of the Philistines. And because the Israelites forsook the LORD and no longer served him, </font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><i><font color="#0000ff">7</font></i></b></sup></font><font size="2"><b><i><font color="#0000ff"> he became angry with them. He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites,</font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><i><font color="#0000ff">8</font></i></b></sup></font><font size="2"><b><i><font color="#0000ff"> who that year shattered and crushed them. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites. </font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><i><font color="#0000ff">9</font></i></b></sup></font><font size="2"><b><i><font color="#0000ff"> The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin and the house of Ephraim; and Israel was in great distress. </font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><i><font color="#0000ff">10</font></i></b></sup></font><font size="2"><b><i><font color="#0000ff"> Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, "We have sinned against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals."</font></i></b></font><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="2"><b><i> </i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><i><font color="#0000ff">11</font></i></b></sup></font><font size="2"><b><i><font color="#0000ff"> The LORD replied, "When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, </font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><i><font color="#0000ff">12</font></i></b></sup></font><font size="2"><b><i><font color="#0000ff"> the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites </font></i></b></font><font size="2"><b><i><font color="#0000ff">oppressed you and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? </font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><i><font color="#0000ff">13</font></i></b></sup></font><font size="2"><b><i><font color="#0000ff"> But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. </font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><i><font color="#0000ff">14</font></i></b></sup></font><font size="2"><b><i><font color="#0000ff">Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!" </font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><i><font color="#0000ff">15</font></i></b></sup></font><font size="2"><b><i><font color="#0000ff"> But the Israelites said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now." </font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><i><font color="#0000ff">16</font></i></b></sup></font><font size="2"><b><i><font color="#0000ff"> Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the LORD. And he could bear Israel's misery no longer.</font></i></b></font></p> <font size="2"><br></font></div><font size="2"><b style="font-family:Arial">A. Apostasy</b><br style="font-family:Arial"><br style="font-family:Arial"></font><font face="arial" size="2"> A is for Apostasy. Man, that's a lot of gods! It almost seems like the major industry of Israel is the importation of gods from other countries. And when you picture them worshiping these false gods, don't picture them just bowing down to a wooden statue in their bedroom. No, the service of these gods involved the most revolting immorality and the most unnatural rites (to put it nicely). In order to appease these gods they would offer their bodies into perverse services, an even what was most valuable to them -- their own children -- beating drums and chanting loudly to drown out the noise of their own children's screams as they died an excruciating death at the hand of their own parents. And this from the nation that the true God had rescued by divine intervention from those very same nations who worshiped these so-called gods, no less than seven times! What apostasy!<br> Now you may rightly be thinking, "Whoa! That's horrible! How could they do that?!" But be careful not to think, "I could never display such apostasy in my life!" Really? You've never replaced the true God in your heart and in your life with the false gods that surround us in our culture? You've always chosen to serve the God who's rescued you? <br> Maybe</font><font face="arial" size="2"> we haven't visited any shrine pros</font><font face="arial" size="2">titutes in order to worship the goddess Ashtoreah and maybe we haven't sacrificed our sons or daughters to make Molech happy. But we're no less guilty of apostasy -- of turning our backs on our God. We just worship different gods. We worship Mammon, the false god of money and the stuff it can buy putting it above our God. We worship at the altar of entertainment, calling upon it to numb the senses and rescue us from the boring and mundane. And every one of us has worshiped the god of self, choosing to serve "glorious" me over the true God every time I serve my will over his or just ignore his will in apathy because I'm so caught up in serving mine!<br> Whether we want to admit it or not, we are guilty of apostasy. </font><font face="arial" size="2">We forsake the Lord and serve other gods from the world around us.</font><font face="arial" size="2"> And so we, like the Israelites, deserve punishment from God. But God doesn't give us punishment, he gives us discipline. That brings us to B...<br> </font><font size="2"><br></font><font face="arial" size="2"><b>B. Baddies</b><br><br></font><font size="2"><font face="arial"> B is for Baddies. God let an enemy nation beat up on his people. He even <i>sent </i>enemy nations to beat up on his people. The NIV translation is </font></font><font face="arial" size="2">a bit timid when it says, <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"he became angry with them."</b></i> Better would be, "the Lord's anger burned!" The picture is that of a raging fire. Picture each of the gods listed as one more log for the fire. Israel stoked the Lord's anger by serving all of these so-called gods. They doused it with gasoline by their detestable acts and they threw the match on the pile when they <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"forsook the Lord and no longer served him."</b></i> Now the Lord's anger was a roaring inferno, burning brightly against his chosen people.</font><font size="2"><br style="font-family:Arial"> </font> <font size="2"><font face="arial">This time Israel has fallen so far that for the first time God sent a double-barreled oppression. </font></font><font size="2">In his anger he unleashed not one but two oppressors simultaneously.</font><font size="2"><font face="arial"> The Philistines hit hard from the northwest and the Ammonites crossed the Jordan and hit equally as hard from the southeast. And for eighteen years God's people were caught like a nut in a nutcracker.</font><br style="font-family:Arial"> Why would God do this to his people? The answer, as hard it at might be to believe, is: Out of love. What? How could this be a loving thing, to let an entire nation suffer for eighteen years at the hand of a vicious enemy who would crush and oppress them? Because if he didn't spank them, they were sure to keep worshiping these false gods, keep forsaking the true God, and forsake the promise that this true God had made -- the promise of a Savior from sin. Had God not sent physical pain and torment to his people, they would have suffered eternal pain and torment in hell. God loved them too much to <i>not</i> disciple them. It sounded like a line when your parents said it, but as you grew older you learned that it was true, that "This [insert disciplinary action] is going to hurt me more than it hurts you."<br style="font-family:Arial"> </font><font size="2"> What's the difference between punishment and discipline? Punishment is meant to make you pay for your crime. But discipline is meant to help you learn from the consequences to keep you from an ever greater punishment and pain down the road. And thank God that he does let problems and pain come into our lives. Thank him that he may even <i>send </i>baddies into our lives. For these drive us back to him and back to his promises. They lead us to look to God, and not to ourselves for the solution. And they lead us to evaluate where we stand with him.<br> And though the lesson wasn't <i>quickly</i> learned, the Israelites eventually caught on. That brings us to C...<br style="font-family:Arial"></font><font face="arial" size="2"><b><br> C. Crying</b><br></font><font size="2"><br style="font-family:Arial"> C is for Crying. Finally, after eighteen long years of misery, they figured it out and learned their lesson and finally called out to God and confessed their sins to him. But<font face="arial"> it seems like their tears were only crocodile tears. More sorry that they got caught than they were sorry over their sin, God met their sham confession with a strong sarcastic reproach, "Oh, boo-hoo! You're sorry for your sins, huh? Well, I'm not buying it! I've heard this story seven times before! And seven times before I've rescued you from your enemy! And how do you repay me? You find seven other gods -- gods of the enemies I defeated for you -- and you go and worship them. Fool me seven times, shame on you! Fool me eight, shame on me! I'm done playing the fool." </font></font><font size="2"><b><i><font color="#0000ff">"You have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. </font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><i><font color="#0000ff">14</font></i></b></sup></font><font size="2"><b><i><font color="#0000ff">Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!"</font></i></b></font><br> <font size="2"> It might seem harsh, but God wanted a sincere confession of sin, that they might recognize their very real need for a Savior.<br></font><font size="2"> Mom came downstairs after working on a project that kept her occupied and unaware of what the kids were up to. But as she entered the kitchen, there was Billy, with his hand in the cookie jar -- the very same cookie jar that mom had made it very clear that he should definitely not touch before dinner. But even though he was caught red-handed, little Billy was quick on his feet and said, "I knew you were so busy, mommy, and thought you could use a break. So I was just getting a cookie to bring to you. Oh, and mommy, while I'm at it, can I have one too?"<br> But isn't that how we often act with God? God, I know what it looks like, but I wasn't really sinning. After all, I was just trying to build a relationship with those unbelievers so I could share the gospel with them. That's why I joined in their sin. I didn't want to burn a bridge. God, I didn't want to drive people away from the gospel, so I compromised, just a bit of your truth, so they wouldn't be turned off from the greater truth. <br> But God sees right through our excuses. He sees right through our false tears of repentance. He sees right through the times we call upon him with a mock repentance only because we want him to bail us out of our suffering. And he calls us on it. He calls us on it to bring us to true repentance.<br> </font><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial"><font size="2"> You see, true repentance is more than just a mechanical mouthing of the words, "I am by nature sinful and unclean and have sinned against you by thought, word, and deed. Amen." True repentance is not treating God's forgiveness like a dumpster that we fill up with our trash so it can be taken away so we can fill it up again. The author to the Hebrews warns us in</font><font size="2"> Hebrews 10:26-27: <b style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><i>"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."</i></b></font><font size="2"><br> </font><font size="2"> God will answer such a mock repentance with the sarcasm it deserves, "Go ahead, put your trust in some cheap grace as if you need not feel any real sorrow for your sin. See if I'll forgive you. Go ahead, put your trust in your recitation of all the right words of knowing all the right things to say. See if that will save you from hell."<br> But a true repentance is the heart's shuddering sigh to God of Psalm 51:4: <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"Against you, you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight!"</b></i> It's that pain within knowing that what I've done has caused my Savior's suffering and crying out, "God, what have I done? How could I have done this to him who has always show me nothing but love. I'm sorry! I'm so sorry for what I've done. God, do with me as you see fit, just save me from my sin." And true repetance has <i>fruits</i> of repentance. It gets rid of the fasle gods and throws them away. It doesn't just put it in the closet for another day.<br> The people of Israel got the point of God's sarcastic response and they became sincere in their confession, taking ownership of their sins and producing the godly fruits of repentance, </font><font size="2"><b><i><font color="#0000ff">"They got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the LORD."</font></i></b></font><font size="2"> For a moment at least, a reformation had taken place. And God was quick to respond, which brings us to D.</font><br> </div><font size="2"><b style="font-family:Arial"><br></b></font><font face="arial" size="2"><b>D. Deliverance</b><br><br></font><font size="2"><font face="arial"> D is for Deliverance. When they were sincere in their confession and sorrowed over their sin, the ever-faithful Lord again felt mercy for his people. Literally, "his soul became impatient with their suffering." And no matter how foolish it may seem to us to forgive these rebels -- yet again! -- God did it. </font></font><font face="arial" size="2">Go home and read chapter 11 of Judges to see how God delivered his people from thir enemies by the foolish hero, Jephthah. God was quick to give his foolish grace and deliver his people yet again.<br> And when we're sincere in our sorrow over our sin and cry out to God for help, he's quick to do the same for us. Now, don't get me wrong. God doesn't promise to send us a hero to save us from an enemy nation, or from unemployment, an unloving spouse, or unruly kids. But we have a much better hero. We have a Savior who delivered us from our own apostasy, from our sin, and from the hell we've most certainly earned for them.<br> </font><font face="arial" size="2"> For when the Lord could no longer bear the misery of our sin, when he could no longer bear the thought of us being condemned for eternity, he sent Jesus to live a life of wholehearted devoted to his Father's will, to love the Lord his God with all his heart, soul, and mind, choosing no other god, but serving the true God only. And when Jesus gave his perfect worship to us, God the Father gave him the eternal crushing that we deserved. And he forsook Jesus to pay for our forsaking of him. What foolish grace! What awesome grace! That delivers us again and again, and like the Father in Jesus' parable, spends </font><font face="arial" size="2">his days searching the horizon for the first sign of repentance that he might throw his arms around us, interrupt our well-rehearsed speech begging for forgiveness, and say, "Welcome home, dear child! It's so good to have you back!" </font><font size="2">What foolishness God shows to us! And thank God he does!<br> </font><font face="arial" size="2"><br><b>E. Endless Thanks<br></b><br> And finally, the last letter of the cycle of the book of Judges is E. And E is for ease. After God rescued his people, things quickly became comfortable again. "Aaaahhh!" they would say, "We're forgiven by God. Our enemies are defeated. Life is good." But then they would soon become complacent, forget about God, rebel against him and repeat the cycle all over again. Ease led to apostasy, which led to more baddies, which eventually led the Israelites to cry out to God again, and he would again deliver them in his foolish grace.<br> But I propose that we break the cycle, dear friends! Let's not grow complacent as we enjoy God's forgiveness or treat God like a spare tire only to be pulled out only when we think we really need him. Instead, let's let the deliverance that he brought in his foolish grace -- a deliverance not just from a political or physical enemy, but from sin and death and hell -- move us to gratitude so that the E doesn't stand for Ease, but for Endless Thanks. Not just "thanks, Jesus. Until next time!" But "Thank you, Jesus! Thank you, now and always! Let me live my life for you and throw away the idols that infect my life and let me me serve you only." Let's end the cycle, dear friends, and not start over at A, but end in E, in endless thanks for the deliverance our Savior won for us on the cross and in grateful service to him. In Jesus' name, dear friends, amen.</font><font size="2"><br style="font-family:Arial"> </font><br></div></span></b></span></div></div></span></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-62839218074152282082010-03-09T13:05:00.001-05:002010-03-09T13:05:19.564-05:00Envy Leaves One Standing On Shaky Ground (A sermon based on Numbers 16:23-40)Due to technically difficulties, the sermon for this week wasn't recorded in either video or audio formats. But the system is up and running again and we should be broadcasting live tomorrow evening for our midweek Lenten worship and again this Sunday. Sorry for any inconvenience. -- Pastor Guenther<div> <br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><div style="margin-top: 6px; margin-right: 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: 6px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 1100px; counter-reset: __goog_page__ 0; line-height: normal; "> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b>Envy Leaves One Standing On Shaky Ground</b></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">A sermon based on </font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" size="3">Numbers 16:23-40</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" size="3">Sunday, March 7, 2010 - Lent 3C</font></div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" size="3"> Does it sometimes seem to you that God's not really fair? I mean, doesn't it sometimes seem that God doesn't give you the good things that you deserve, but instead gives them to other people who don't deserve them? Does it sometimes seem that power goes to the politician who lies the most? Or that the promotion goes to the biggest slacker at work? Or that the godless neighbors have better behaved kids than you? Doesn't it sometimes seem that God's just not playing fair?<br> </font></div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> But in reality, you deserve no good thing from God. And neither do I. But when we think we deserve something more than what we get, its leads to envy of others for the blessings God has given them. And that envy leaves one standing on shaky ground with God, which is not a good place for anyone to stand.</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br> Let's listen to account of Korah, Dathan and Abiram and learn from their bad example that we won't be standing on shaky ground. Numbers 16:23-40...<br><br></font><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">23</font></i></b></sup></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"> Then the LORD said to Moses, </font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">24</font></i></b></sup></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b> "Say to the assembly, 'Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.' " </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>25</b></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b> Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. </b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>26</b></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b> He warned the assembly, "Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins." </b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>27</b></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b> So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children and little ones at the entrances to their tents. </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>28</b></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b> Then Moses said, "This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: </b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>29</b></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b> If these men die a natural death and experience only what usually happens to men, then the LORD has not sent me. </b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>30</b></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b> But if the LORD brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, </b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt." </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>31</b></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b> As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart </b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>32</b></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah's men and all their possessions. </b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>33</b></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b> They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. </b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>34</b></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b> At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, "The earth is going to swallow us too!" </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>35</b></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b> And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense. </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>36</b></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b> The LORD said to Moses, </b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>37</b></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b> "Tell Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, to take the censers out of the smoldering remains and scatter the coals some distance away, for the censers are holy- </b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>38</b></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b> the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives. Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar, for they were presented before the LORD and have become holy. Let them be a sign to the Israelites." </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>39</b></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b> So Eleazar the priest collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned up, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, </b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>40</b></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b> as the LORD directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the LORD, or he would become like Korah and his followers.</b></font></span></font></span></font></span></font></span></font></span></font></span></font></i></font></p> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b>I. Rebellion Demands A Response of God's Wrath</b><br></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" size="3"> Moses' and Aaron's cousin,</font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" size="3"> Korah, wasn't particularly happy with his lot in life. Cousin Aaron and his sons got to be High Priests - positions of great atuthority. Cousin Moses got to be God' prophet and tell the people what to do. But poor Korah and his family were the manual laborers. Their assigned duty was to carry the parts of the tabernacle every time it was broken down and they were ready to move. They did all the work and Moses and Aaron got all the glory.<br> And Korah was sick and tired of Moses appearing before the people with that "I just talked to God" look on his face. He was sick and tired of watching Aaron parade around in his "special" High Priest robes that cried, "Look at me I'm important!" In short, he was envious.<br> And when he voiced his complaint he found that others felt the same way. Dathan and Abiram, and others too. Soon a handful of men became a mob of 250 <i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"</b></i></font><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council</b></i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" size="3"><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"</b></i> (Numbers 16:2) all ready to rebel. <br> And they made their demands. </font><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?</b></i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" size="3"><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"</b></i> (Numbers 16:3) In other words, "What makes you so special that you should be the only mediator between God and us? Aren't we special too? Aren't we set apart by God? We don't need a mediator!"<br> And Moses response was simple: "You don't think you need a mediator? Fine! Approach God without. If you walk away from it, you're right. You don't need a mediator. But if God appointed me as his prophet and Aaron as your mediator, then God will make it clear by ending your lives in a spectacular way. To everyone else he said, </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>'Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.' </b></font></i></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" size="3">" <br> And even with this final warning and opportunity to repent, as others are warned to move away from the target of God's wrath, instead of falling on their knees in repentance, Korah and company continued to insist on their rights before God, shaking their firsts at God. And they stood on shaky ground.<br> </font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" size="3"> And the result of that contest? </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>"As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart </b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>32</b></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah's men and all their possessions. </b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>33</b></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b> They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community." </b></font></span></span></span></i></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" size="3">And that's not all. The followers weren't off the hook. Verse 35 continues, </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>"And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense."</b></font></span></span></span></span></i></font><br> <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" size="3"> Wow! God showed pretty clearly what he thought of this rebellion against <i>his</i> representatives and thus against <i>him</i> and of the envy that caused it. If they thought they didn't need a mediator God would deal with them directly. And the result weren't pretty.<br> <br> How about us? At first read, Korah's challenge might resonate with a democratic culture like ours. Power belongs to the people. We should have a government <i>of</i> the people, <i>by</i> the people, <i>for</i> the people. There shouldn't be one person solely responsible for the decisions. That leads to tyranny! <br> But what shaky ground we stand on, what thin ice, when we apply this thinking to religion, as if popular opinion determined truth! No, we know that God is the sole author of what is true. Because he is perfect, divine, holy, just, he sets the standard, not us. And he blesses as he sees fit. That leaves no room for envy. For what we have comes from God.<br> But aren't we are just as guilty of envy and rebellion against God as Korah? Who do you envy? Is it that </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">undeserving jerk in the next cubicle? Well, </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">actually, he used to be in the next cubicle—now he's in the corner office—with an actual </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">window! </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Is it the no-talent hack teenage singer who's running around in limousines and </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">going on incredible vacations while you have to work hard for what little cash you have? Or maybe it's the next</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">-door neighbor who hit the jackpot in the spouse </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">lottery, marrying ridiculously far above herself while you ended up with a guy whose </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">idea of Valentine's Day is tossing you the very first card </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">he looked at in Walmart on the way home before he heads for the couch and the the television?</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br> </font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> You laugh at the picture, but when you're living it, it's not so funny, is it? No, it makes you a little envious, doesn't it? It eats at you! Because it's just not fair! We should be the ones living that kind of life—or at least they shouldn't be. <br> </font></div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> And while we may not mind the earth swallowing up truly evil people like Korah who shake their firsts at God, we don't like to think that we deserve the very same fate! </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">But how much like Korah we are! For when we envy others, we rebel against him by implying that he is unfair. We make the subtle claim that we <i>deserve</i> more from God. After all, look at what we've done for him. <br> But we forget how sinful and depraved we are. We forget that God is serious about rebellion against him and must act! </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">And we stand on shaky ground when we promote ourselves and think ourselves decent folk who God ought to love and bless with more, as if we needed no mediator. We forget that we deserve to be swallowed up not just by earth, not just by death, but by hell.</font><br> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> But God, in love, reveals how very serious he is about sin and that rebellion against him demands a response from him to lead us to repentance. But God's response to sin is not just a response of wrath. He also responds with his grace...<br> </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000" size="3"><b>II. Rebellion Demands </b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b>A Response of God's Grace<br> <br></b></font></div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Even as Korah and his immediate followers were swallowed up by the earth, and as the 250 men who thought they needed no mediator were burned up, God showed his grace and mercy to rest of the nation who was equally guilty. He told Moses, </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>"Tell Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, to take the censers out of the smoldering remains and... </b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar... </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff"><b>to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the LORD..."<br> </b></font></span></font></span></span></span></span></span></i></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Can you imagine the scene? Picking among the charred flesh, amidst the stench, the smoke, the smoldering and twisted parts, they recovered every one of those 250 censers. Not one was to be lost, but each was recorded cleansed and placed on the altar to symbolize the mediator that rebellious sinners need. </font><br> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> And the next day, as the people continued to complain against Moses and Aaron and deserved to have God end them once and for all for thinking they needed no mediator, God <i>sent</i> a mediator. Numbers 16:47-48 say, </font><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"Aaron... ran into the midst of the assembly... and made atonement for [the people]. He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped."</b></i> Though the people rebelled against him, Aaron threw himself in harm's way, in front of the plague of God's wrath. And he did it to save them. For the people's rebellion demanded a response from God. Only he and his representative could fix it. <br> Remind you of anyone else?<br><br><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Roughly 1500 years later some men would be so blinded by envy that they too would rebel against the one God had established. They would unjustly accuse and attack him, demanding "Who gave you the authority?" And they handed him over to be crucified out of envy. Even Pontius Pilate was able to figure that out as Matthew 27:18 says, <i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"[Pilate] knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him."<br> </b></i></font></div><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> But why did God allow it this time? Why not swallow up Herod and Pilate, the chief priests and teachers of the law and bury them alive? Because he knew that we needed a mediator like this who would not only go between us and God to <i>intercede,</i> but would actually take the punishment of God's wrath in our place. God would remove our rebellion by sacrificing his own son who refused to rebel, who was never envious of others, who prayed, <i style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); "><b>"Not my will, but your will be done." </b></i></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">(Luke 22:42) <br> And as our mediator, he </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">"ran out" to save us. He stood between death and life for us. </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">And through him we have forgiveness because even though envy and rebellion deserve hell, he paid the hell we deserve. We're no longer on shaky ground, but are forgiven through Christ.<br> And though Korah was lost, his <i>entire</i> family wasn't. The name, Korah, which is now synonymous with rebellion and self-righteousness appears again in the Bible. In 1 Chronicles 6, where the temple musicians are listed, there's a man named Heman whose lineage is traced back to Korah. And in the Psalms, the Old Testament hymnal, there are a number of Psalms written by some men who only call themselves "The Sons of Korah." <br> That might sound odd, like someone today calling themself the Son of Benedict Arnold, but it's really a tribute to God's grace. Though they came from the line of an envious rebel, God's grace never ends. In the Psalms they wrote we see what God does to those who don't hide their sin, but instead turn to his perfect grace: <br> </font><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b> </b></i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">In Psalm 85:2-3 they rejoice: <i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"</b></i></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger."</b></i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> Looking ahead to the coming Messiah, the sons of Korah knew that God forgives rebels like us. And they knew that he would continue to take care of us, </font></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial">as they declare in Psalm 46:1, <i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"</b></i></font></font><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." </b></i><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br> </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"> So don't make the mistake of their ancestor, Korah, who thought he didn't need a mediator. For that would leave you standing on shaky ground indeed. Instead trust the perfect mediator who intervenes between rebels and God. Then you can be assured that even your envy and rebellion against God is forgiven. </font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br> </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Yes, God gives people what they do not deserve. But the best evidence of that is not your wealthy neighbor, your popular </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">classmate, your under-qualified boss. The best evidence is you and me—we have been given what we do not deserve—eternal life. Be content, for you have everything anyone could want—a place in heaven. </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br> </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> With that there's no need to envy others. We don't n</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">eed a higher position or greater blessings from God, but can sing with the sons of Korah the words of Psalm 84:10: </font><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); "><b>"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked."</b></i> For on Christ, the solid rock we stand. All other ground is sinking sand<font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">. In him, dear friends, amen.</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br> </font></div></span></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-71280181637609820982010-03-02T16:24:00.001-05:002010-03-02T16:24:42.742-05:00The Truth Hurts (A sermon based on Jeremiah 26:8-15)Listen to this sermon here: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10px; "><a href="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/filedownload.aspx?master_sec_id=180003600&sec_id=180003600&libfolder=audio&filename=20100228.mp3" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/home/180003600/180003600/audio/20100228.mp3');" style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_download.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a> or <a href="http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/20100228.mp3" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/20100228.mp3');" style="color: navy; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_stream.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a></span><div> Or watch the entire service: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/5086639" target="_blank">http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/5086639</a></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium"><div style="margin-top:15px;margin-right:auto;margin-bottom:25px;margin-left:auto;padding-top:40px;padding-right:50px;padding-bottom:40px;padding-left:50px;font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:1100px;line-height:normal;border-top-width:1px;border-top-style:solid;border-top-color:rgb(204, 204, 204);border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid;border-left-color:rgb(204, 204, 204);border-right-width:2px;border-right-style:solid;border-right-color:rgb(187, 187, 187);border-bottom-width:2px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(187, 187, 187);width:648px !important"> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center"><b><font size="4">The Truth Hurts<br></font></b></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center"> <font size="3">A sermon based on Jeremiah 26:8-15</font><br></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center"><font size="3">Sunday, February 28, 2010</font></div> <font size="3"><br> Sometimes, the truth hurts. It's not pleasant to hear I need to lose a few pounds. Or that I need to change my diet. When my wife, who's opinion I value most, says, "That really wasn't your best sermon today, honey" it hurts. When I talk to someone about their sin or rejection of a part of God's Word and they stop talking to me or ask to leave the church, it's because the truth hurts.<br> But sometimes the truth hurts in a different sense. It hurts the one who lovingly speaks the truth. When the truth hurts the recipient of the message, they will sometimes act violently. In the mid-sixteenth century, a man by the name of John Foxe wrote a book listing all those who had been </font><font size="3">martyred -- </font><font size="3">killed for daring to preach the truth. Countless Christians have given their lives in the centuries since the writing of that book and countless more still give their lives today because</font> God calls his people, even us, to speak the truth, even when it hurts to do so. <font size="3">Listen to the account recorded in Jeremiah 26:8-15...<br> </font><br><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><font size="1"><i> <font color="#0000ff">8</font></i></font></b></sup><b><i><font color="#0000ff"> But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the LORD had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized him and said, "You must die! </font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><font size="1"><i><font color="#0000ff">9</font></i></font></b></sup><b><i><font color="#0000ff"> Why do you prophesy in the LORD's name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?" And all the people crowded around Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.</font></i></b></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><b><i> </i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><font size="1"><i><font color="#0000ff">10</font></i></font></b></sup><b><i><font color="#0000ff"> When the officials of Judah heard about these things, they went up from the royal palace to the house of the LORD and took their places at the entrance of the New Gate of the LORD's house. </font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><font size="1"><i><font color="#0000ff">11</font></i></font></b></sup><b><i><font color="#0000ff"> Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, "This man should be sentenced to death because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!"</font></i></b></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><b><i> </i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><font size="1"><i><font color="#0000ff">12</font></i></font></b></sup><b><i><font color="#0000ff"> Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: "The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the things you have heard.</font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><font size="1"><i><font color="#0000ff">13</font></i></font></b></sup><b><i><font color="#0000ff"> Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the LORD your God. Then the LORD will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. </font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><font size="1"><i><font color="#0000ff">14</font></i></font></b></sup><b><i><font color="#0000ff"> As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right. </font></i></b><sup style="vertical-align:text-top"><b><font size="1"><i><font color="#0000ff">15</font></i></font></b></sup><b><i><font color="#0000ff"> Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing."</font></i></b></p> <br><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><b>I. The Truth of Our Sin Hurts Us<br></b></div><br><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> The truth hurts. In the time of the Judges, the tabernacle with the Ark of the Covenant rested in Shiloh. The Israelites thought that nothing could hurt them then, because they had the true God on their side. But they got it wrong. God wanted to be on their side, but they didn't want to be on <i>his</i> side. And for their rebellion, God would lovingly spank them so they woudn't lose the promise of the Savior. Time and time again he let an enemy nation beat up on Israel so they would repent. And eventually Shiloh itself was destroyed.<br> Now, centuries after Shiloh had been destroyed, history was repeating itself. The people again rebelled against God and his truth and, in love, he threatened disaster to lead them to repent of their sin. And Jeremiah had the fun job of being the messenger of those threats.<br> But the people didn't like to be threatened. They didn't like hearing the law. The truth was uncomfortable. The truth hurt. So the priests and the prophets, the very ones assigned the job of proclaiming the truth, tried to silence it. "Shut up, Jeremiah! Or we'll make <i>you</i> like Shiloh! We <i>will </i>put you to death. Don't think we won't."<br> But Jeremiah took a bold stand for the truth. The LORD had sent him to deliver this message. And he had to answer first to the LORD, no matter what anyone else said or did. The LORD sent him, so he would continue to speak up, even if it would hurt... even if they should take his life for it.<br> <b><i><font color="#0000ff">"</font></i><font color="#0000ff">The LORD</font><i><font color="#0000ff"> sent me to prophesy... </font><font color="#0000ff">As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right... </font><font color="#0000ff">put me to death... for in truth </font></i><font color="#0000ff">the LORD</font><i><font color="#0000ff"> has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing."</font></i></b><br> <br> Now how about us? Are we so bold?<br> You know that people hate to hear the law. They hate to have someone tell them that they're wrong and that they deserve punishment for their sins. That truth hurts. God tells us in Romans 8:7 that, <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so."</b></i> And Jesus himself told us how people would then respond to the truth of the law. In Matthew 10:22 he said, <i style="color:rgb(204, 0, 0)"><b>"All men will hate you because of me."</b></i> In Luke 6:22 he made it clear that people would hate us, exclude us, insult us and reject our names as evil because of him. In Matthew 24:9 he promised, <i style="color:rgb(204, 0, 0)"><b>"you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated</b> <b>by all nations because of me." </b></i><br> It should be no surprise then, that when we speak the truth about sin, about hell, about false teaching, that people will say to us, "Shut up! That's just what <i>you</i> think. And I don't want to hear it, you close-minded Christian." The truth about sin hurts.<br> And when that happens are we as bold as Jeremiah to say, <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"Do with me whatever you think is good and right."</b></i>? Do we boldly speak up? Or do we timidly clam up? Do we take a stand for the truth? Or take a seat for our comfort? I admit that I don't speak up as boldly as I should. I too often let my love for the world and my love for the good opinions of others take precedent over my love for God and love for the truth of his Word.<br> Why? Because <i>my</i> <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"sinful mind is hostile to God."</b></i> My sinful nature prefers comfort to problems, and therefore timidity over courage. In fact, my sinful nature still hates the law, especially when it's directed toward me. The truth hurts.<br> It's not comfortable for me to hear that for loving <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"praise from men more than praise from God,"</b></i> (John 12:43) and for letting my fear of rejection by people silence me, I deserve to be rejected by God. God says in 1 John 2(:15), <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."</b></i> And in John 12(:25), <i style="color:rgb(204, 0, 0)"><b>"The man who loves his life will lose it."</b></i> For my cowardice (and I've never even had to put my<i> life</i> on the line, like Jeremiah, the prophets, and the apostles all did!), I deserve hell. And so do you. And I know that that truth is uncomfortable. The truth of our sin hurts. I feel it too.<br> But there's hope. If we repent, God too will repent. But wait a second! Doesn't repent mean "change your mind"? And doesn't God say in Numbers 23(:19) that he, <b><i><font color="#0000FF">"is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind"</font></i></b>? So how can God change his mind about the hell that we deserve? How can God repent, or, as the NIV editors put it in verse 13, <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"relent"</b></i>? Well he can because the truth hurt... Jesus.<br> </div><br><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><b>II. The Truth of Our Sin Hurt Jesus<br></b></div><br><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> When he hear about Jeremiah's bold resolve to do the right thing regardless of the consequences, even if it meant giving his own life, we can't help but think of Jesus, who always said and did the right thing not <b><i>if</i></b>, but even <i><b>when</b></i> it cost him his life. <br> </div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> Jesus spoke the truth boldly even to his enemies who he knew were out to kill him. He spoke the truth boldly to governors and kings who, as Pilate put it in John 19(:10), had the power to either free him or to crucify him. But Jesus loved the truth more than his own life because he loved <i>you and me</i> more than he loved his own life. He knew that there was no other way for our sins to be forgiven than that he take them on himself and die in our place. <br> In fact, for Jesus, it was far, far worse than being rejected by men who sought to take his life. He was rejected by the Father himself, who looked in disgust at Jesus covered in the filth of our cowardice and sin, of every time we've failed to speak up, of every time we've love our comfort more than the truth, and God the Father turned his back on Jesus. So Jesus didn't just cry, <i style="color:rgb(204, 0, 0)"><b>"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... how... I have longed to gather your children together... but you were not willing,"</b></i> (Matthew 23:37) but he also cried, <i style="color:rgb(204, 0, 0)"><b>"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"</b></i> (Matthew 27:46). You see, the truth of our sin, hurt Jesus.<br> But that's the only way that God could repent, that he could relent and change his mind about the threats of hell that were preached against us. Did God change his mind? Not really. It was always his plan to rescue us by his own sacrifice. Someone had to pay. And that someone was Jesus -- God himself. <br> Now, the <i>Gospel</i> that Jeremiah preached applies to us just as much as it did to those Israelites. As we turn from our sins in repentance and turn to our Savior in trust, "<b><i><font color="#0000ff">the LORD will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against [us].</font></i></b>" Because the truth of our sins hurt Jesus, the truth of hell will not hurt us. <br> And now, this good news of forgiveness and peace with God empowers us and emboldens us to speak the truth in love, even if it means that to speak the truth will hurt... <br></div><br><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> <b>III. We Boldly Speak the Truth Even if It Hurts<br></b></div><br><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> In thanks to our Savior and for his work for us, we are <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes."</b></i> (Romans 1:16) And as Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7, <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"For God did not give us a spirit of</b></i> <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." <br> </b></i>And so we are bold to live our faith and to speak the truth, not with a sense of obligation as if we <i>had to</i> because we're Christians, but out of a sense of love to God -- we want to serve him in thanks -- and out of a sense of love for our neighbor -- because we don't want our co-workers to go to hell, because we don't want our friends to be on the wrong side come Judgment Day, because we don't want our kids to face God's wrath forever. The truth may hurt -- both them and us -- but we only preach the law that hurts to preach the gospel that comforts. <br> And if they reject you (and some <i>will</i> and it <i>will</i> <i>hurt</i>) then take heart. They're not rejecting you, but are rejecting God. "<b><i><font color="#0000ff">For in truth </font></i><font color="#0000ff">the LORD</font><i><font color="#0000ff"> has sent [you]... to speak all these words.</font></i></b>" If the neighbors don't invite you over for dinner, it may hurt, but rejoice that you can look forward to the banquet feast of heaven! If others say you're no longer their friend, it'll hurt, but rejoice that you have Jesus as your brother and God as your Father! And if they make you a martyr and take your life, it will most certainly hurt. But rejoice that you have <i>eternal</i> life in your Savior and should you die, you <i>will</i> go to glory. <br> It's true that the truth hurts. But in thanks to our Savior for saving us from a much worse hurt, we're bold -- even eager -- to speak the truth, come what may and say with Jeremiah, <b><i><font color="#0000ff">"</font><font color="#0000ff">Do with me whatever you think is good and right... </font><font color="#0000ff">put me to death... for in truth </font></i><font color="#0000ff">the LORD</font><i><font color="#0000ff"> has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing."</font></i></b> In Jesus' name, and by the courage that he gives, dear friends, amen.<br> </div><div><br></div></div></span></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-413959661736876092010-02-23T15:55:00.001-05:002010-02-23T15:55:50.856-05:00Let the Punishment Fit the Crime (A Sermon based on Joshua 7:16-26)Listen to this sermon here: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10px; "><a href="http://www.themainthing.us/ministryinc/filedownload.aspx?master_sec_id=180003600&sec_id=180003600&libfolder=audio&filename=" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/home/180003600/180003600/audio/');" style="color: navy; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://www.themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_download.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a> or <a href="http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/');" style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://www.themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_stream.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a></span><div> Or watch the entire service here: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/4900610">http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/4900610</a></div><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: auto; padding-top: 40px; padding-right: 50px; padding-bottom: 40px; padding-left: 50px; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 1100px; counter-reset: __goog_page__ 0; line-height: normal; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-width: 2px; border-right-style: solid; border-right-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); border-bottom-width: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 187); width: 648px !important; "> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; text-align: center; "><b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="4">Let the Punishment Fit the Crime</font></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; text-align: center; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">A Sermon based on Joshua 7:16-26</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; text-align: center; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Sunday, February 21, 2010 - Lent 1C</font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Do you ever wonder about the thieves on the cross? I mean about what they did to earn a punishment so horrible as to be tortured to death? After all, they're not called murderers, or even robbers. They're called thieves. What did they take that was so valuable that demanded their torture and their very lives in reparation? Or who did they steal from? Was it Pilate himself? Even so, doesn't torture and death seem a harsh punishment for theivery? What ever happened to "let the punishment fit the crime"?<br> </font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> "Let the punishment fit the crime." That principle has been guiding legal systems worldwide ever since God told his people in Deutoronomy 19:21, <b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><i>"life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot."</i></font></b> Or ever since God commanded Noah in Genesis 9:6, <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed."</font></i></b> </font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> But this morning we hear about a man who stole (and he stole from some <i>dead</i> men who wouldn't even miss what was taken!) and yet the punishment hardly seems to fit the crime. The man, <i>and</i> his sons and daughters, cattle, donkeys and sheep, were all stoned, then burned, then buried. Did the punishment fit the crime? Let's listen and find out. This is the account recorded for us in Joshua 7, beginning at verse 16... </font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; "><b><br></b></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">16</font></i></b></sup></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"> Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was taken. </font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">17</font></i></b></sup></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"> The clans of Judah came forward, and he took the Zerahites. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was taken. </font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">18</font></i></b></sup></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. </font></i></b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">19</font></i></b></sup></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"> Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD, </font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">the God of Israel, and give him the praise. </font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me." </font></i></b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">20</font></i></b></sup></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"> Achan replied, "It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: </font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">21</font></i></b></sup></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"> When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, </font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">two hundred shekels </font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, </font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath." </font></i></b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">22</font></i></b></sup></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"> So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. </font></i></b><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">23</font></i></b></sup></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b> They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the LORD. </b></font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b>24</b></font></sup></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b> Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold wedge, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. </b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b>25</b></font></sup></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b> Joshua said, "Why have you brought this trouble on us? The LORD will bring trouble on you today." Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. </b></font><sup class="versenum" style="vertical-align: text-top; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b>26</b></font></sup></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b> Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor </b></font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b>ever since.</b></font></font></span></i></font></font></font></font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><br></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Wow! Harsh punishment isn't it? It might seem hard for us to understand. After all, what was the big deal? <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">The people he stole from were dead. They certainly weren't going to miss their coat or a few bars of silver and gold! Wasn't God being a bit unfair here? Did God just have a bad day and needed to take it out on someone? </font></font></div> <div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> No. There's more to it than that. You see Achan <font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">wasn't just</font></font> stealing from some dead guy. He was stealing from God. In Joshua 6(:17-19) God made it clear through Joshua: <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"</font></i></b><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">The city and all that is in it are to be devoted </font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">to the LORD... </font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. </font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b>All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the LORD and must go into his treasury." </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0f0f0f">For stealing from the plunder <b>all</b> of the Israelites would be subject to punishment. With a bit of a pun God says that for taking <font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0f0f0f">the devoted things of God they would all be devoted to destruction.</font></span></span></font></font></font></span></span></font></i></font></font></div> <div link="blue" vlink="purple" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0f0f0f"> And even when it was discovered that someone had taken some of the devoted things and risked the lives of the entire nation, Achan still didn't confess his sin. During the entire<font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0f0f0f"> lengthy process of revealing who the culprit was, he remained silent—nervously biting his nails and sweating it out, hoping they wouldn't discover it was him. It wasn't until he was caught that he finally admitted any guilt! </font></font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0f0f0f"> And even then, when he finally did confess, </font><b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">"It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel,"</font></i></b><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0f0f0f"> (7:20) he used the word for sin that means "goofed up" or "made a mistake" rather than the more honest word that means "deliberately sinned" or "chose to rebel." </font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0f0f0f"> Was the punishment unjust? Far from! God was actually being gracious to his people and taking care of the problem before it spread and killed them all. As Caiaphas, the High Priest of Jesus' day, said, <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF">"It is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."</font></i></b> (John 11:50) And <font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">the memorial of piled rocks would remain so that all of Israel would learn from Achan's bad example and remember it.</font></font></font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0in; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0f0f0f"> What a vivid lesson for Israel! And what a vivid lesson for us! But, wait a second! We're not like Achan! Right? We're no thieves, right? I mean, I've never gone into a bank and held it up. I've <i>never</i> robbed a little old lady in some back alley. I've <i>never</i> broken into anybody's home to steal what wasn't mine. And I've never tried to shoplift any items from any store without paying for it—not even a candy bar when I was a kid! And I know that I certainly haven't robbed any graves lately. I'm no Achan and neither are you, right?</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0f0f0f"> Well, maybe we haven't shoplifted, robbed a little old lady, or held up a bank. But why not? Out of love for God? Or out of fear of getting caught? What if you could get away with it? Maybe you wouldn't steal a DVD or a CD from the store, but if you could download it on your computer without paying for it? Maybe you wouldn't take petty cash from work, but a few office supplies? After all, no one will notice right? You're not hurting anyone! … Ah, how much like Achan we really are!</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0f0f0f"> In fact, even if you've never actually taken anything that wasn't yours, you and I are still thieves. You see, we sin against <i>God</i>, not only by what we do, but also by what we <i>don't</i> do. Do you always work your hardest at your job? Or do you sometimes take a little extra break? Do you ever take care of personal business while you're on the clock? Then you've stolen from your employer! They're paying you to work, not to be lazy or do your own thing. The money they paid you for the work you didn't do, really belongs to them.</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> In a 1990 Parade Magazine article a California company estimated that U.S. businesses lose $220 <i>billion </i>each year to what they called "time theft" -- fake sick days, getting someone else to punch in your card on the time clock, making personal telephone calls and conducting private business during work hours. And that was before the internet and Windows solitaire! Who knows how much is stolen now!? Are you guilty of stealing some of that $220 billion?</font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> If not, you still sin -- <i>against God</i> -- when you waste or mismanage the blessings that God has entrusted to you since <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000ff">"The earth is the Lord's and everything in it."</font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> (Psalm 24:1). You sin when you fail to help others protect and defend their property, or by <font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0f0f0f">simply being malcontent with the blessings God has given. It's as if we say to God, "<font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0f0f0f"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">What do I care about all that I have?! </font></font></font>You still haven't blessed me with enough! You're holding out on me! You don't really love me! You're a cruel and unloving God."</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> And we have all well earned the punishment of hell -- a punishment that does fit the crime of our rebellion against God <font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0f0f0f"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">very well</font></font></font>. <br> </font></font></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> And make no mistake! We may be able to hide our theft from everyone else, like Achan did, and bury it deep in our hearts where no one else can see it. But don't be a fool like Achan was! You know that you can't hide<i> any</i> sin from God! He knows what evil lurks in our very hearts! So don't <i>try </i>to hide it, but give glory to God and confess your sin to him. …And when you do confess your sin to him with a sincere heart, a beautiful thing happens. He takes that sin away... with a punishment that didn't fit the crime!</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0in; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> You see, Caiphas didn't prophesy on his own when he said, <font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0000FF"><b>"It is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish." </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#0f0f0f"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> (John 11:50) But as High Priest he prophesied and </font></font></font>spoke from God. (cf. vs. 51). You see God punished Jesus even though he committed <b>no</b> crime! </font></font></span></font></i></font></font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Though Jesus had no earthly wealth, no house or home, no land, no donkey or horse, though all he really had was the clothes on his back, he remained perfectly content. When </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">satan</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> tried to tempt him with the riches and wealth of the nations, Jesus said, "No, thanks. I'm not interested." Because he trusted in God and was content with what<i> he</i> would provide. He always remained perfect and he gave that perfection to you and me. </font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> And he took our sins of theft and every sin on himself on the cross. <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">Remember</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> what Jesus said to that thief crucified next to him? <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#ff0000">"Today you will be with me in paradise."</font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> (Luke 24:43) In other words, "Every one of your sins has been forgiven! Everyone theft, every crime, every attitude of greed or malcontent is erased and gone. For i<font class="Apple-style-span" face="arial"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">t was better that I should die for the people than that the whole nation should perish -- or that you should perish. So</font></font> I now take the punishment of hell that your crime deserves. Now you are perfect and therefore, qualify to enter into my paradise of heaven!"</font></font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0in; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> Friends, he's said the same to you and to me! That's why he came: to forgive the sins of thieves like that </font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">man on the cross, like me, like</font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> you by taking the punishment that fit <i>our</i> crime. Now, you and your family won't be stoned to death for your sin! You won't be burned! Not in this life and not in the life to come! You will never experience the hell that you deserve for your sin and for your foolish attempts to cover it up! Paradise is yours!</font></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0in; "> <font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">So, let's thank him by first learning to be content with what we have as we appreciate the rich gifts that he's given: forgiveness, salvation, heaven and so much more! Let's thank him by<font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> generously giving of our time and offerings to his church and to others in need and be good managers of these gifts. For when you die or when Jesus returns it won't matter<font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"> how much money you have or what clothes you wear. It will only matter that because you cling to the truth that he took the punishment that fit your crime, he will say to you, <b><i><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#ff0000">"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." </font></i></b></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3">(Luke 24:43) In Jesus' name, dear friends, amen.</font></font></font></p> <div><b><i><br></i></b></div></div></div></span></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-35761388620069171242010-02-17T13:45:00.000-05:002010-02-17T13:46:00.666-05:00Jesus Shines in All His Glory! (A sermon based on Luke 9:28-36)Listen to this sermon here: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10px; "><a href="http://themainthing.us/home/180003600/180003600/audio/20100214.mp3" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/home/180003600/180003600/audio/20100214.mp3');" style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_download.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a> or <a href="http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/20100214.mp3" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/20100214.mp3');" style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_stream.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a></span><div> Or watch the entire service online: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/4724765" target="_blank">http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/4724765</a></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium"><div style="margin-top:15px;margin-right:auto;margin-bottom:25px;margin-left:auto;padding-top:40px;padding-right:50px;padding-bottom:40px;padding-left:50px;font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:1100px;line-height:normal;border-top-width:1px;border-top-style:solid;border-top-color:rgb(204, 204, 204);border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid;border-left-color:rgb(204, 204, 204);border-right-width:2px;border-right-style:solid;border-right-color:rgb(187, 187, 187);border-bottom-width:2px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(187, 187, 187);width:648px !important"> <div style="margin-top:1ex;margin-bottom:1ex;font-family:Arial;margin-right:1ex;margin-left:1ex"><p align="center" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"><b><font size="4">Jesus Shines in All His Glory!</font><br> </b></font></p><p align="center" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3">A sermon based on Luke 9:28-36</font></p><p align="center" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3">Sunday, February 14, 2010 –Transfiguration C<br></font></p><p align="center" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"><br> </font></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3">One of the popular genres of movie these days is the story of the superhero. And you know how it goes. Before he gets to the real challenge, the superhero must face some smaller problems. Before he gets to the supervillian—the mastermind behind the destruction of the planet—he first has to defeat a few thugs that aren't really a threat to him, right?</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3">But why does it always happen that way? It's because those smaller victories reveal to you who the hero is. They show his superpowers so you know that he has what it takes to take care of the supervillian. This glimpse of power prepares you for the real struggle.</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3">Today, as we take a look at Jesus' Transfiguration, we see how God does the same thing for us. He reveals to us the strength of our superhero, Jesus, as he's revealed as true God in all his glory. And the timing of this revelation of who Jesus is was no accident. Right before the real struggle of dying for the sins of the world, this glimpse of his glory prepared his disciples (and prepares us) for it. We can be certain that Jesus is the Son of God who can (and who <i>has) </i>overcome all our enemies.</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3">Listen now to Luke's account of the Transfiguration of Jesus in Luke 9 and see Jesus revealed in all his glory... on the mountain, in his exodus, and now, through us. We read Luke 9:28-36...<br> </font></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"><br></font></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font color="#0000ff" size="3"><sup><b><i>28</i></b></sup></font> <font color="#0000ff" size="3"><b><i>About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. </i></b></font><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><sup><b><i>29</i></b></sup></font> <font color="#0000ff" size="3"><b><i>As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. </i></b></font><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><sup><b><i>30</i></b></sup></font> <font color="#0000ff" size="3"><b><i>Two men, Moses and Elijah, </i></b></font><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><sup><b><i>31</i></b></sup></font> <font color="#0000ff" size="3"><b><i>appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. </i></b></font><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><sup><b><i>32</i></b></sup></font><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><b><i>Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. </i></b></font><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><sup><b><i>33</i></b></sup></font> <font color="#0000ff" size="3"><b><i>As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.) </i></b></font><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><sup><b><i>34</i></b></sup></font> <font color="#0000ff" size="3"><b><i>While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. </i></b></font><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><sup><b><i>35</i></b></sup></font> <font color="#0000ff" size="3"><b><i>A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." </i></b></font><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><sup><b><i>36</i></b></sup></font> <font color="#0000ff" size="3"><b><i>When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.</i></b></font><font size="3"> <br> </font></p></div><div style="margin-top:1ex;margin-bottom:1ex;font-family:Arial;margin-right:1ex;margin-left:1ex"><font size="3"><b><br></b></font><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3"><b>I. On the Mountain</b><br></font></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"><br></font></p> <font size="3">After a physically exhausting climb to the top of a mountain, the disciples were understandably worn out. They were </font><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><b><i>"very sleepy"</i></b></font><font size="3"> Luke tells us. But nothing like having a spotlight shined in your face to wake you up, right? What a startling sight the three saw! Jesus face was lit up as bright as the sun itself! (Matthew 17:2) His clothes were brighter than anyone could bleach them (Mark 9:3), as bright as a flash of lightening! And he wasn't the only one shining!</font><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> </p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3">There with him was the prophet Moses—the one with whom God had spoken face to face! The one through whom the law was given! And with <i>him</i> was Elijah—one of the truly great prophets, who never even had to face death! What guests! What glory! What a privilege for these disciples to see the kingdom of God!</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3">And Peter rightly confessed, "</font><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><b><i>Master, it is good for us to be here!</i></b></font><font size="3">" And though he wanted to contain the glory that was on that mountain and bottle it up with a couple of tents, that's not what Jesus had in mind. Jesus hadn't come to bring heaven to earth, but sinners from this earth into heaven. And to do that Jesus still had to suffer and die. The real struggle still lie ahead. He still had to "depart" in Jerusalem. </font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3">And before those events took place, </font><font size="3">how good it <i>was</i> for Peter, James and John to see what they did! For on that mountain Jesus revealed his glory. Though he usually walked around like an ordinary man, or as Isaiah put it, with <b><font color="#0000ff"><i>"no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him,"</i></font></b></font><font size="3"> (Isaiah 53:2b) though he usually looked more like the nerdy Clark Kent than the powerful Superman, now Jesus pulled back his humanity to reveal his glory to the disciples, like Clark Kent pulling off his glasses, shirt and tie to reveal his tights and cape. Here, for a moment, Jesus let his divinity shine through clearly to reveal who he was! If the miracles he had performed had left any doubt of who Jesus really was, for Peter James and John that doubt was certainly removed there on the mountain! <br> </font></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3">And how clearly you and I see who Jesus is! We've been catching glimpses of his divine glory all Epiphany season. We've seen the Holy Spirit descend on him and heard God the Father boast about him. We've seen him turn water into wine and fulfill all prophecies of Scripture. But now, seeing his glory shine through at his transfiguration, we've seen more clearly than ever the proof of his divinity! While Moses <i>reflected</i> the glory of God (cf. Exodus 34:29-35), Jesus glowed with it himself! Here, on the Mount of Transfiguration, <i>we</i> have seen Jesus shine in all his glory!</font></p> <font size="3"> <b><br>II. In His Exodus</b><br><br></font><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3"> Now, f</font><font size="3">or Peter, James and John, this revelation of Jesus' glory couldn't have come at a better time; right before Lent, when they would be tempted to wonder if Jesus really was God. After all, if he had the power to stop disease, why didn't he stop these men from scourging him? If he could raise the dead to life, why didn't he prevent his own death?</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3">Our text began with the words, </font><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><b><i>"About eight days after Jesus said this…"</i></b></font><font size="3"> But, said what? Well, a week earlier Jesus told his disciples, </font><font color="#ff0000" size="3"><b><i>"The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."</i></b></font> <font size="3">(Luke 9:22) </font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3">He explained that they were going to Jerusalem so he could accomplish his mission. But that's not what Peter wanted. A week earlier he said, <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"Never, Lord! ... This shall never happen to you!" </b></i>And now, Peter still didn't want Jesus to go to the cross. He wanted to keep this moment of glory for as long as he could. He said, </font><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><b><i>"Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."</i> </b></font><font size="3">Here Jesus didn't respond to Peter's request. He didn't need to. God the Father did it for him.</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font color="#0000ff" size="3"><b><i>"While [Peter] was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them… A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."</i></b></font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3">God pointed out to Peter that Jesus was his chosen one. But he also pointed out that his chosen one was not chosen to bring the disciples glory, but forgiveness. In Isaiah 53 he spoke of Jesus' mission in the past tense when he said, </font><font color="#0000ff" size="3"><b><i>"…he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."</i></b></font><font size="3"> (Isaiah 53:4-5)</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3">This is the mission that Moses, Elijah, and <i>all</i> the prophets described. This is the mission Jesus explained to his disciples when he said, </font><font color="#ff0000" size="3"><b><i>"The Son of Man must suffer many things and… be killed and on the third day be raised to life." </i></b></font><font size="3">This is the departure—literally the "exodus," the "exit" or "going out"—that Jesus discussed with Moses and Elijah on the mountain top. This is the mission the chosen one—the Messiah—had come to fulfill. <br> </font></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"> And this is exactly the kind of Superhero Peter and all the disciples needed. Not one to shine in triumph over Rome, not one to shine in splendor on the mountain, but one who would suffer and die and take their sins on himself.</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"><br></font></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3"> And that's exactly what kind of Superhero we need. Let's face it. We don't always listen to Jesus like God the father commanded. And implied in <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"Listen to him!"</b></i> is "Obey him!" Yet, how often don't we put our desires above what God desires and let our selfishness creep in. You and I are far less than perfect and since it's perfection that God demands, we deserve hell.</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"> And yet, how often don't we still wish Jesus were some other kind of Savior. We want him to save us from this economy. Save us from the growing government. Save us from our physical or emotional pains. Like Peter, we cry, "Save us from the boring and mundane, Jesus, and show us your glory, right here, right now. And let us hold on to that glory! We'll build a tent and you can stay here and give us our best life right now."</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"> But thank God he doesn't give us the kind of Savior we want, but the Savior we need -- a Savior from sin. That's what his departure -- his exodus from this life -- was all about! That's what his mission -- the whole reason he came to earth -- was all about! And it's there, in his exodus, not there on the mountain, where Jesus' real glory shines!<br> </font></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"> It was good for Peter, James and John to be there to see Jesus on the mountain top. And it's good for us to see him there too. For as we soon watch him suffer and die this Lenten season, we can take comfort that he is true God. His death wasn't just the death of a man, but the death of<i> God himself</i>. It was <i>God's</i> blood shed on the cross. And therefore his sacrifice was enough to pay for your sins and for mine—for every one of them!</font></p> <p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"><b><br></b></font></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3"><b>III. Through Us</b><br></font></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"><br></font></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3">So how do we respond to this view of Jesus' glory shining through? We do what God told Peter, James and John to do. We listen to him. When he tells us it's time to leave the mountaintop of worship where we see his glory and it's time to go into the plains of our mission fields at work, at home, and in our neighborhoods. And just as Jesus' glory shined on that mountain, well, we obey him and do as he says in Matthew 5:16: <i style="color:rgb(204, 0, 0)"><b>"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."</b></i><br> </font></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"> Others will see how you live differently, how you work more faithfully, how you're kind and compassionate, even to those who hate you. And they'll want to know what makes you different. And you can tell them. And when you do tell them that it's because you long to serve your Savior for winning your forgiveness of sins on the cross, then Jesus' glory will sine in all its splendor though you.<br> </font></p><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"> And finally, one day soon, you and I will shine with glory like Moses and Elijah did on that mountain top, like Peter, James and John and all the saints who have gone before us do right now! And while we can't have that glory here on earth, who needs it?! We rejoice that because of our Superhero, because of our Savior and his work, we'll soon <i>leave</i> this earth for the glory of heaven to experience Jesus' glory first hand! In him, dear friends, amen.</font></p> </div></div></span></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543096491453864667.post-57470365214410633812010-02-10T13:02:00.001-05:002010-02-10T13:02:50.041-05:00Fasten Your Eyes on Jesus (A sermon based on Luke 4:14-21)Listen to this sermon here: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10px; "><a href="http://themainthing.us/home/180003600/180003600/audio/20100207.mp3" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/home/180003600/180003600/audio/20100207.mp3');" style="color: navy; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_download.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a> or <a href="http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/20100207.mp3" onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('http://streaming14.finalweb.net/19/180003600/180003600/audio/20100207.mp3');" style="color: blue; text-decoration: none; "><img src="http://themainthing.us/ministryinc/images/audio_stream.gif" style="border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; border-color: initial; "></a></span><div> Or watch the entire service here: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/4534991" target="_blank">http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/4534991</a></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium"><div style="margin-top:15px;margin-right:auto;margin-bottom:25px;margin-left:auto;padding-top:40px;padding-right:50px;padding-bottom:40px;padding-left:50px;font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:1100px;line-height:normal;border-top-width:1px;border-top-style:solid;border-top-color:rgb(204, 204, 204);border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid;border-left-color:rgb(204, 204, 204);border-right-width:2px;border-right-style:solid;border-right-color:rgb(187, 187, 187);border-bottom-width:2px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(187, 187, 187);width:648px !important"> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center"><b><font size="3"><font size="4">Fasten Your Eyes on Jesus</font><br></font></b></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center"> <font size="3">A sermon based on Luke 4:14-21</font></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;text-align:center"><font size="3">Sunday, February 7, 2010</font></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"> <font size="3"><br></font><font size="3"> A woman and her young son were waiting in line at the grocery store when a burn victim with skin grafts stepped in line behind them. The little boy saw the man behind him and couldn't help himself. He'd never seen someone like this before. And he stared. Long and hard he fixed his gaze on this poor man who looked so different from anyone else he'd ever seen. And his mother bent down and quietly whispered in his ear, "Don't stare. It's not polite." <br> We're brought up knowing that it's not polite to stare. Hold your gaze on someone for too long and it makes them feel uncomfortable, like they're being scrutinized or evaluated. But then, there are other times when staring isn't rude, but actually appreciated. When the model goes down the runway she doesn't want people to look away. It's special and meaningful when you stare into the eyes of your significant other. And right now as I preach, I appreciate that you have your gaze fixed on me. It tells me that you're paying attention. <br> In our gospel lesson for this morning, we read of people staring. They were staring at Jesus eager to hear every word he said as he was about to give his inaugural speech, if you will. With rapt attention they hung on his every word and fasted their eyes on Jesus.<br> And friends, we do well to do the same. Stare at Jesus. Hang on his every word. Fasten your eyes to him and see who he is: The fulfillment of every prophecy, the fulfillment of your salvation. Listen with rapt attention to Jesus as he speaks to us in Luke 4:14-21...<br> <br></font></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><p style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0in"><b><i><span style="color:blue"><font size="3">Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. </font></span></i></b><b><i><span style="color:blue"><font size="3">He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. </font></span></i></b><b><i><span style="color:blue"><font size="3">He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. </font></span></i></b><b><i><span style="color:blue"><font size="3">The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:</font></span></i></b> <b><i><span style="color:red"><font size="3">"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, </font></span></i></b><b><i><span style="color:red"><font size="3">to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."</font></span></i></b><a name="126b90699ddabb80_126b8e19d89af60d__ftnref1" title=""></a> <b><i><span style="color:blue"><font size="3">Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, </font></span></i></b><b><i><span style="color:blue"><font size="3">and he began by saying to them</font></span></i></b><b><i><font size="3">, </font><span style="color:red"><font size="3">"Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."</font></span></i></b></p> <div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><b><font size="3"><br> </font></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><b><font size="3">I. The Fulfillment of Every Prophecy</font></b></p><br><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"> You know the old Lutheran maxim, "Let Scripture interpret Scripture." In other words, when you're uncertain on the meaning of any given passage, let another passage help shed some light on it. Let God's Word interpret God's Word. This morning it's in a different sense that God's Word interprets God's Word. Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, interprets the written Word of God.</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"> At first read, it might have seemed that Isaiah 61:1-2, the verses Jesus preached on in the synagogue that day, were really all about Old Testament Israel. Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah described how God's people would be set free from their captivity by the Lord's anointed. But most would have seen the fulfillment of these verses in King Cyrus, the king that released the Israelites from their seventy year captivity in Babylon. The king Isaiah earlier (in chapter 45) referred to as the Lord's anointed. And that interpretation seems to be a good one... until we hear Jesus preach on this text. <br> </font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><font size="3"> As the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Jesus, he caught and held their attention with the opening line of his sermon: </font><b><i><span style="color:blue"><font size="3">He began by saying to them</font></span></i></b><b><i><font size="3">, </font><span style="color:red"><font size="3">"Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." </font></span></i></b></p> This prophecy didn't find it's fulfillment in Cyrus. It wasn't filled in Old Testament times. It was fulfilled in Jesus. He was the fulfillment of the that prophecy. He would preach good news to the poor, that they could be a part of his kingdom. He would set prisoners free. Think of Peter or Paul locked in prison until their bonds miraculously fell free and the doors the swung open. Jesus restored the sight of the blind in an instant. He was <i>the</i> Anointed one, anointed by the Holy Spirit at his Baptism to carry out his mission.<br> And this wasn't the only prophecy that Jesus fulfilled. The virgin birth was a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14. His ancestry from the royal line of David was prophesied in Isaiah 11:1. His very presence in Galilee was fulfillment of a prophecy In Isaiah 9:1 where God foretold: <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan." </b></i>Jesus' baptism in the Jordan river fulfilled the first verse of Isaiah 61 when the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. And in the next 3 years of his ministry Jesus would fulfill many, many more prophecies written hundreds, even thousands of years before his birth. <br> Fasten your eyes to Jesus and he is clearly revealed by the Scriptures to be the Messiah, the Anointed one of God who came to fulfill every prophecy. <br> But that alone gives no cause for rejoicing. You see there are other prophecies, like the one in Ezekiel 18:4 that says, <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"The soul who sins is the one who will die."</b></i> Or Isaiah 48:22: <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"'There is no peace,' says the Lord, 'for the wicked.'"</b></i> Or Isaiah 61:2b, the prophecy found right after the words Jesus read in the synagogue that day that declare that the Spirit anointed Jesus to also proclaim <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"the day of vengeance of our God."</b></i><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> You see, because of our sin, we need more than a Messiah who just fulfills prophecy. And thank God he didn't <i>just </i>fulfill the prophesies of Scripture, but he also came to fulfill our salvation.<br></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"><b><font size="3"><br></font></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px"> <font size="3"><b>II. The Fulfillment of Your Salvation</b><br></font></p></div></div><div style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><font size="3"><br></font></div><font size="3"> Let's face it. We don't always listen to Jesus as we should. It's not just when the snow and ice cover the road that we're not eager to come and hear the Word and to sing our songs of praise and thanks. When we're at home, we're far too eager to fasten our eyes to a sporting event or a TV show than to the Word of God. And even when we do hear the Word of God we don't obey it like we should.<br> A small congregation got a brand new pastor. And after he preached for the first time, they thought he was the best. "Great sermon, pastor!" they told him. "You really hit a homerun this morning." And the next week it was a great sermon again. Though it sounded a bit familiar. After the third week, they all caught on that while it was a great sermon, he hadn't changed a word. It was the exact same sermon three weeks in a row! The elders called the pastor in for a meeting and suggested the pastor get some new material, perhaps preach on a different text. And the pastor replied, "I'll write a new sermon, when you start doing the things God told you to do in the first one." <br> How true that we don't obey the Word as we ought. We don't fasten our eyes on Jesus as we ought. And poor, then, we are! No, I don't mean we don't have much in our checking accounts. Though that may be true too, what Jesus was talking about was a poverty or righteousness. As we stand before God on our own we are spiritually bankrupt. We can offer nothing good to barter with a holy God. On our own we're blind to any real solution. We're captive to sin, death, and hell with satan as the cruel warden. And there's nothing we can do about it. We deserve that fate. For not fastening our eyes on Jesus, we deserve to be distracted -- and separated -- from him.<br> But Jesus didn't come to preach Law. Though we only get one sentence of his sermon, what a beautiful sermon it was. </font><b><i><span style="color:red"><font size="3">"Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." </font></span></i></b><font size="3">He came to fulfill Isaiah 61. And Isaiah 61 is not a prophecy about Cyrus, but about Jesus, and it's not a prophecy about release from the captivity to the Babylonians, but about release from captivity to sin, death, and hell.<br> You see Jesus didn't come as a self-help guide, to teach you how to lose weight, become more organized, or have a more positive image about yourself. Jesus did not come as a social worker to end world hunger, redistribute the wealth so there would be no more poverty, or just to heal the sick. Jesus didn't come to be a political messiah or an earthly king. No. That's not what the prophesies describe. But Jesus <i>did</i> come to be a Savior from sin -- to be <i>your</i> Savior from sin and to fulfill your salvation.<br> Jesus came not to preach more law and become a new Moses, but to preach Good News (literally, "preach the gospel") to the spiritually poor and bankrupt. That is, to proclaim the forgiveness of sins to all of us. How is this possible? How can one man bring about the forgiveness of all sins before a perfect and holy God?<br> Fasten your eyes on Jesus and you'll soon see that he's not just an ordinary man. He is the God-man who lived a perfectly sinless life in our place. Here in these verses we see him keeping the 3rd commandment for us. That phrase, <i style="color:rgb(0, 0, 255)"><b>"as was his custom,"</b></i> shows Jesus' attitude toward worship and the Word. He feared and loved God that he did not despise preaching and the Word, but loved it! He gladly heard it! He believed it! He took it to heart! And he obeyed it... for us.<br> And the, by his sacrifice on the cross, where he took our every sin on himself -- every failure to fasten our eyes on him, every time we've been apathetic toward worship or toward his Word -- and by the hell he endured on that cross in unishment for our sins, Jesus set us free. He set us free from those sins, and thus, free from our captivity to satan and the hell he had us chained to. <br> And through the Word the Spirit cries out, "Freedom!" to us today! By his work in us through the Word and through Baptism he has opened our eyes to see and to know and to believe these truths of what Jesus has done. The blind can see. <br> And so, even though these words were spoken almost two thousand years ago, t</font><font size="3">hrough the forgiveness of sins that you have in Jesus, </font><font size="3">it's still true that </font><b style="color:rgb(204, 0, 0)"><i><font size="3">"Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." </font></i></b><font size="3">So fasten your eyes on Jesus. It's okay. Go ahead. Stare. He wants us to. Then, as we fasten our eyes on him by fastening our eyes in the Word, we will continue to keep our sight, our freedom, and the eternal riches we have in him. In Jesus' name, dear friends, keep staring! amen.</font><br> </div></div></span></div> Pastor Rob Guentherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02352798164314819498noreply@blogger.com0