Saturday, January 31, 2015

Epiphany 4


Epiphany 4
1 February 2015
Mark 1:21-28
Authority – So what?



It is one thing to have authority and it is another to have that authority accepted.  Lack of respect for authority is a problem of our day.  Thirty-five years ago, millions in Iran demonstrated against the Shah to the point that he had to leave the country. The people refused to bow to his authority.  Though he had authority as a king, his authority was no longer accepted, respected, and obeyed by a majority of the people.  The same can happen to any person of authority, including Jesus Christ.  What is our response to His authority? How should we properly respond to Jesus’ authority?

1.     First, we must recognize His authority –“And they were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as {one} having authority, and not as the scribes.”V.22


When Jesus speaks. When He acts. People notice.  Jesus proved that He had that authority that comes from God by what He said. He spoke for God. But He backs up His words with His works of mercy. Jesus speaks and Jesus acts! He says only those things that God can say.  He works miracles and acts of kindness that only God can perform. This truly is God in the flesh. No one can work like Him. No one can speak like Him. By His words. By His works. We recognize there is none other. Only He can be the Son of God.

Transition: But there is more than merely recognizing Jesus’ works and words for what they are. Few today would dispute what He has done.  Few, if any, would put a disclaimer on His words and actions. But how do we respond to what He has said? What is our reaction to the miracles that He works? His words and works call us to action.

2.     We must also respect Jesus’ authority –“And just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, "What do we have to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are-- the Holy One of God!" Vv.23-24

You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.” James reminds us.  (James 2:19) The devil recognizes Jesus’ power and authority.  The devil calls Jesus out. Respecting His authority, the demons knew Jesus had the authority to destroy them. “What are going to do to us?” They ask.  “Have You come to destroy us?”  The demon knew his fate. He will be doomed forever by the one who has the authority to destroy him. That’s why he asks the question! It’s not a matter that he would be destroyed. That fact is perfectly obvious.  The question is when. When will this demon be destroyed?  Will you destroy me now? Or later? For You are the Holy One of God.

One’s enemies make for our best critics.  The demon gives testimony that this Jesus is the Christ. The very Son of God.  We too, are called to acknowledge what even Jesus’ fiercest enemies had to admit. We respect Him. For He is God Almighty. The Lord of Hosts, To Him every knee shall bow. And every tongue confess. He, Jesus, is Lord of all.



3.            We finally respond to Jesus’ authority –“And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" And throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice, and came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." V.25

The inevitable happens.  After nine anxious months. A baby is finally delivered. We know what is coming. Yet, when that blessed event happens. We are filled with awe.

You take in a spectacular sunrise or sunset. We recognize that this is something that happens every day. Each morning the sun rises at the beginning of the day. We expect it to set as dusk turns to night. But when we take it all in. We are filled with wonder and awe. Likewise when recognizing Jesus you respond with shouts of thanksgiving. “For it is my duty to thank and to praise, to serve and obey Him!” Yes, this is most certainly true!

The confrontation of Jesus with the demon only heightened the reality that this Jesus is King and Lord of all. May we resound in kind by offering Him our lives for service in His kingdom. Willingly following Him and praising Him for all that He has done. I

Words – 790
Passive Sentences 6%
Reading Ease – 78.8

Reading Level -4

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Time in the Word - Epiphany 4



Prayers for the Epiphany Season O God, you know that we cannot withstand the dangers, which surround us. Strengthen us in body and spirit so that with your help, we may be able to overcome the weakness that our sins has brought upon us.

Almighty God, you sent your Son to proclaim your kingdom and to teach with authority. Anoint us with the power of your Spirit that we, too, may bring good news to the afflicted, bind upon the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to the captives.

O God, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles. Lead us, who know You by faith, to enjoy in heaven the fullness of Your divine presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

For citizenship – Lord keep this nation under Your care. Bless our nation with faithful leaders that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to the other nations of the earth. Grant that he may make wise decisions for the general welfare and serve You faithfully in this generation; through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.

A prayer before we study the WordAlmighty God, our heavenly Father, without Your help our labor is useless, and without Your light our search is in vain. Invigorate the study of Your holy Word that, by due diligence and right discernment, we may establish ourselves and others in Your holy faith
There is no one in the whole world who can withstand death. All men flee from it and quake in terror before it. Nevertheless, they are overtaken by death. But faith remains firm and stands up against death. Faith conquers death and devours this ravenous glutton. Likewise, the whole world cannot constrain or suppress the flesh. But faith takes hold of the flesh and subdues it. Faith bridles the flesh into obedience. Similarly, no man can endure the raging, persecution, blasphemy, reproach, hatred and jealousy of the world. It makes a mockery of faith and treads it under foot, and even finds joy and pleasure in all this. Yet faith alone is the victory that overcomes the world.  (Martin Luther)

The theme for the fourth Sunday after the Epiphany can be summarized by the word authority. Jesus teaches and heals with authority. A prophet like Moses is to be obeyed because he speaks the words of God. This is an authority of God’s Word. In the Epistle lesson authority is implied: Knowledge of God gives authority to be free from idols. A review of Luther’s great teaching hymn, “Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice,” (LSB #556) would be an excellent devotional guide as you read the propers for this coming week.

Collect for Epiphany 4—Almighty God, You know we live in the midst of so many dangers that in our frailty we cannot stand upright. Grant strength and protection to support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

January 26-31, 2015
Preparation for next week, Epiphany 4

Monday, January 26, 2015Psalm32:1-2, 5-7 –- The Antiphon is taken from Psalm 32:10, “Many are the woes of the wicked but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him. Appealing to God’s unfailing love, kindness, and mercy is frequent in the Old Testament since it summarizes all that the Lord covenanted to show to His people. This is an excellent Psalm which gives testimony to the joy the sinner has having experienced the Father’s forgiveness in Christ.

Tuesday, January 27. 2015Psalm 111—The key verse of this psalm is verse 3,”Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.” The Psalmist praises the Lord for His unfailing righteousness. The psalm combines hymns of praise with instruction in wisdom. Truly, an excellent Psalm. 

Wednesday, January 28, 2015—Deuteronomy 18:15-20— The authority of reception – who gave it to you. God promises to raise up a prophet like Moses. The book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ last address to the people before entering the Promised Land. Sunday’s Old Testament lesson is a part of a section dealing with prophecy. A prophet like Moses is promised to replace the false prophets. This true Moses will mediate between the Lord and the people. The passage explains how through Moses God provided for the institution of prophecy. True prophecy demands obedience on the part of the people and loyalty by the prophets. 

Thursday, January 29 20151 Corinthians 8:1-13—The authority of revelation – what you know. Knowledge of God gives freedom to eat meat offered to idols. Paul discusses a specific situation in Corinth, which caused a problem for Christians. Pagans participated in offering animal sacrifices to their gods. Part of the meat was burned on an altar and the rest was sold for food at the markets. Some Christians had no qualms of buying such meat for home consumption while others were conscience-stricken at the idea, for it seemed to them that they were participating in a pagan practice. Paul says no one should object to meats offered to idols because idols have no existence. God is the one and only true God. However, if some weaker brothers still feel it is wrong, those who have the knowledge that God alone is God should not each such meat to prevent offense and the destruction of their faith.

Luther speaking of “Christian liberty” once said the Christian is the freest of all men but the servant of all. Our knowledge of God frees us from superstition, legalism, and a bad conscience, but love enslaves us for the welfare of our brother who might not yet have such knowledge. How many Christians today are willing to sacrifice their freedom of life-style to prevent offending a narrow Christian?

Friday, January 30, 2015Mark 1:21-28The authority of identity – who you are. With authority Jesus teaches and drives out an unclean spirit. After calling four disciples, Jesus begins his ministry by teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. The people are impressed by His authoritative teaching compared with the teaching of the scribes. A man in the congregation has an evil spirit, which addresses Jesus and knows Him to be the Messiah. With authority, Jesus commands the demon to leave the man. At the very beginning of His ministry, Jesus comes into contact with evil powers. As God’s Son, He conquers the evil spirit. He does it by exercising His authority as God’s Son.

The word “immediately” (vv.21, 23) is a word Mark will often use. It has theological significance. It denotes a sense of urgency and importance. The Kingdom cannot wait. There is no place for laxity or procrastination. One must work while it is day before the night comes. The fields are white unto harvest. Jesus has a world to save in three years! He has the whole truth of God to reveal. He needs to set up a movement to carry on His work when He leaves. The church today needs to imitate Christ in this matter to overcome lethargy. 

Saturday, January 31, 2015John 6:37—The hymn of the day is, “Just as I Am, Without One Plea,” (LSB #570). God’s action, not man’s, is primary in salvation and Christ’s mercy is unfailing. See John 6:44, 10:29, 17:6, 18:9. This hymn has become a treasured hymn of many people.
Sources:

LUTHERAN SEVICE BOOK © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO

LECTIONALRY PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES B © 1981 John Brokhoff CSS Publishing Lima, OH

Luther’s Works: American Edit Edition. 55 volumes. (Volumes 1-30, Concordia Publishing House; volumes 31 31-55, Fortress Press)

Friday, January 23, 2015

Epiphany 3


Epiphany 3
25 January 2015
Mark 1:14-15
What Did Jesus Preach?

And after John had been taken into custody. Jesus came into Galilee.  Preaching the gospel of God. And saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. (NASB)

Jesus came preaching. But what did He preach? – Law or gospel? Or both? Mark gives us a summary of Jesus’ preaching. Since we honor and respect Jesus. Above all preachers. What was the content of His preaching? What does Jesus have to say to us today? Our text gives us the answer…
Jesus preached the gospel of God
  1. The time – "the time is fulfilled" – v. 15
Jesus began to preach in Galilee. After John was put in prison. When John had finished his testimony.  Then Jesus began His public ministry. Notice what is happening here. The silencing of Christ's ministers shall not suppress Christ's gospel. John is imprisoned.  But the Gospel can’t be silenced. If some are laid aside. Others are raised up. Plenty wish to stifle the Gospel. This will be their own undoing. When one is stopped another takes his place. John’s imprisonment is the beginning of Jesus’ preaching. It is the signal for Jesus to carry on the same work that John had stated. Now Jesus is to begin with His message. And what is that message?
  1. The fact – "the kingdom of God is at hand" – v. 15
This is the message of what Jesus preached; "The gospel of the kingdom of God is at hand!" Christ came to establish the kingdom of God. That you might be brought into it. That you might obtain salvation. In His kingdom. He establishes His kingdom by the preaching of His gospel. This brings a power. That brings salvation and life.

Transition:  The time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God is at hand. The time, refers to the Old Testament. In which the kingdom of the Messiah was promised.  The Father fixed a time for introducing the Son’s coming into our world. Jesus’ hearers on that day were not so well versed in those prophecies. They had forgotten the promises. Nor did they observe the signs of the times... Therefore Christ gives them His official notice; "The time once fixed in the past is now at hand. Glorious discoveries of divine light, life, and love, is now to be made; a new direction far more spiritual and heavenly than that, which you had been under, is now to commence."
  1. The response – "repent and believe" –v.15
Notice how God keeps time. When the time is fulfilled.  The kingdom of God is at hand. Christ gave His hearers back then and you, today, the ability to understand the times.  That you might know what you ought to do. Christ tells us that that the kingdom is approaching. Repent. Believe the gospel.

They had broken the moral law.  Their own good works could not save them. For His hearers then, and for us today. The law always accuses. The law always condemned. We live under guilt according to the Law.

They must therefore receive the benefit of a covenant of grace. They must submit to a remedial law. And this is the evidence that God’s kingdom truly has come---there must be repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.

By repentance, we must lament and forsake our sins. And by grace through faith, we receive the forgiveness of our sins. By repentance, we must own up to our Creator, Whom we have offended as well as our neighbor. And, in faith. We trust our Redeemer. Who came to save us from our sins. Both of these; repentance and faith must go together.

Do not think that reforming your lives will make you right with God. This will not happen without trusting in the righteousness and grace of Christ. Nor can we say that trusting in Christ will save us without the reformation of our hearts and lives. Christ has joined these two together. Repentance as well as faith. And let no one think to put these two away. They will mutually assist and befriend each other. Repentance brings us to our knees. The Gospel raises us up. The Law convicts the comfortable. The Gospel comforts the convicted.

When Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses to the Wittenberg door in 1517, the first theses read as follows; Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.”

But he goes on to explain, “The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of the glory and the grace of God.” And finally, “Blessed be all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, “[The] Cross, [The] cross.”[1]   

With the arrest of John, the preaching of the gospel by Jesus begins. And thus, it continues. Still the call remains; repent, and believe. We live a life of repentance. We live a life of faith.  The Law says, “Do!” The Gospel says, “DONE!” That is the basis of the gospel message. That is your hope, which is yours in Christ.

Words -872
Passive Sentences – 8%
Reading Ease - 82.8%
Reading Level - 3.5
Image taken circa 1980




[1] http://www.conradaskland.com/blog/2008/11/martin-luthers-95-theses-in-latin-and-english/

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Time in the Word - Epiphany 3



Prayers for the Epiphany Season Almighty God, you sent your Son to proclaim your kingdom and to teach with authority. Anoint us with the power of your Spirit, that we, too, may bring good news to the afflicted, bind upon the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to the captives.

O God, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles. Lead us, who know You by faith, to enjoy in heaven the fullness of Your divine presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Most merciful God, You gave Your eternal Word to become incarnate of the pure Virgin. Grant Your people grace to put away fleshly lusts that they may be ready for Your visitation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

For our president – Lord keep this nation under Your care. Bless our new president Obama that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to the other nations of the earth. Grant that he may make wise decisions for the general welfare and serve You faithfully in this generation; through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.

A prayer before we study the WordAlmighty God, our heavenly Father, without Your help our labor is useless, and without Your light our search is in vain. Invigorate the study of Your holy Word that, by due diligence and right discernment, we may establish ourselves and others in Your holy faith.

The Gospel is a good report, discourse and proclamation of Christ, announcing that He is nothing else but pure goodness, love and grace. Such a report could not possibly be made concerning any other human being, or any of the saints. For, although the other saints were men of quite good repute, a report on them does not constitute the Gospel as such. It is Gospel only when the goodness and grace of Christ are proclaimed. Even though mention is made of famous saints and their doings, this does not make the report the Gospel. The Gospel bases Christian faith and confidence solely on the rock, Jesus Christ.  (Martin Luther)

The theme for the third Sunday after the Epiphany is the concept of time. The word time is mentioned in each of the lessons. It was time for Jesus to begin His ministry and to call disciples, time for Jonah to preach to the people and time for them to repent; and it was time for Christians to live in the light of the end of time. As we seize the time to serve God in this generation, we have security in the knowledge of God’s nature. The Hymn for the Day has its focus on Christ our true and only light.

Collect for Epiphany 3Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon of infirmities and stretch forth the hand of Your majesty to heal and defend us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

January 19 -24, 2015
Preparation for next week, Epiphany 3

Monday, January 19, 2015Psalm113:1-2, 4, 7-8—The Antiphon is taken from Psalm 113:3, “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! These words are taken from a hymn to the Lord celebrating His high majesty and His mercies to the lowly. It was probably composed originally for the temple liturgy. As the Lord is enthroned on high, He is exalted over all creation.

Tuesday, January 20. 2015Psalm 62—The key verse of this psalm is verse 8, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” The Psalmist commits himself to God when threatened by the assaults of conspirators who wish to dethrone him. Verse three suggests a time of weakness and may indicate advanced age. Implicitly the psalm is an appeal to God to uphold him. No psalm surpasses it in its expression of simple trust in God.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015—Jonah 3:1-5, 10—Jonah obeys God’s command to preach to Nineveh; the people and God repent. Jonah refuses to obey God’s command to preach to Nineveh, the capital city of the Assyrians. After Jonah repents and is vomited out of a large fish, Jonah obeys and preaches judgment to Nineveh. The coming disaster causes the government and people to repent. Thereupon God decides not to condemn the city. Jonah reflects the nationalistic concept of God. The Lord is not the God only of Israel but of any that would repent and trust the Lord. Judgment motivates repentance and God’s mercy is extended to any people who repent, regardless of nationality or race. God’s salvation depends on repentance and not on national origin. 

Thursday, January 22, 20151 Corinthians 7:29-31—Live in the light of Christ’s imminent return. This reading comes from the chapter dealing with marriage. The Lesson begins with life lives in relation to the end of the world and Christ’s return.  Paul teaches that the status quo in one’s life should be maintained, for soon the whole song will be over. A Christian is not to get involved with the world or to change his vocation. He is to continue doing what he has been doing, for the end of life on earth is near. Today’s life is to be viewed in relation to eternity. When this is done, the present issues of earthly life become insignificant. Paul is not teaching withdrawal from the world [such as the Amish community] but to tolerating and persevering in what we are now doing.

In verses 29-31 Paul uses “as though” five times. He urges us to live as though conditions did not exist. It is a kind of “make believe” style of life. Since the end of the world is at hand, we are to live as though the world no longer existed. It is a manner of living that does not take seriously the things of this passing world. Our interests and values are set upon Christ’s values.

Friday, January 23, 2015Mark 1:14-20 Jesus begins his ministry and calls four disciples. Jesus has been ordained in His ministry at His baptism. He struggles with Satan in deciding upon the method of His ministry. With John the Baptist arrested, He feels the urge to begin His public ministry. He begins to preach in Galilee.

The content of His preaching is the Gospel of God, the good news that the King is here. In the light of this, people are believing and repenting. Faith and repentance are not necessarily conditions of bringing or entering the Kingdom, but the response to the fact that the Kingdom is here in Jesus. Then, Jesus begins to choose His leaders by calling four men whose future will be catching men.

Jesus immediately called certain ones to be disciples. He knew whom He wanted and needed. He did not have to weight the matter. There was no problem of making up His mind. In like manner the Disciples accepted the call. To be a Christian one does not need neither to weight doctrinal matters nor to consider theological alternatives. There is the certainty of responding to the challenge of the call to follow the Master. There is no hesitation, no need to think it over. In an instant one knows it is the right thing to do. 

Saturday, January 24, 2015Luke 1:79—The hymn of the day is, “O Christ, Our True and Only Light” (LSB 839).  Those who are lost, separated from God are found only in Jesus Christ. In the season of Epiphany we see more clearly who Jesus really is. By His words and actions we come to the conclusion that He can only be God made flesh. See also Isaiah 9:1-2 and Malachi 4:2.    
Sources
LUTHERAN SEVICE BOOK © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO

LECTIONALRY PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES B © 1981 John Brokhoff CSS Publishing Lima, OH

Luther’s Works: American Edit Edition. 55 volumes. (Volumes 1-30, Concordia Publishing House; volumes 31 31-55, Fortress Press)

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Time in the Word - Epiphany 2




Prayers for the Epiphany Season O God, by the leading of a star You made known Your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles. Lead us, who know You by faith, to enjoy in heaven the fullness of Your divine presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Most merciful God, You gave Your eternal Word to become incarnate of the pure Virgin. Grant Your people grace to put away fleshly lusts that they may be ready for Your visitation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Lord God, You showed Your glory and led many to faith by the works of Your Son. As He brought gladness and healing to His people, grant us these same gifts and lead us also to perfect faith in Him.

For blessing on the Word – Lord God, bless Your Word wherever it is proclaimed. Make it a word of power and peace to convert those not yet Your own and to confirm those who have come to saving faith. May Your Word pass from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the lip, and from the lip to the life that, as You have promised, Your Word may achieve the purpose for which You send it; through Jesus Christ, my Lord.

A prayer before we study the WordAlmighty God, our heavenly Father, without Your help our labor is useless, and without Your light our search is in vain. Invigorate the study of Your holy Word that, by due diligence and right discernment, we may establish ourselves and others in Your holy faith.

God and men proceed in contrary ways. People settle first on whatever is best, and afterward they deal with what is worse. God first gives the cross and affliction, then honor and blessedness. He does this is because we seek to preserve the sinful flesh, which urges us to keep the Law by works and offer promises great and sweet. But the result has a stale taste. And although the flesh is intoxicated with great promises, it does not feel its wretchedness. Yet when the wine is digested and the false promises gone, the wretchedness appears. God, however, terrifies the conscience, sets on miserable wine, in fact nothing but water. Then He consoles us with the promises of the Gospel which endure forever. (Martin Luther)

Time in the Word
January12-17, 2015
Preparation for next week, Epiphany 2
 
The theme for the second Sunday after the Epiphany is quite clear –the call of God. Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael to discipleship in the Gospel. God calls Samuel to be his prophet in the Old Testament lesson. Through Paul and the church, God calls us to glorify Him in our bodies. When we respond to God’s call, we appreciate His goodness and thus we break forth in praise.

How many today feel that they are carrying out a call of God? Probably, very few. For most, life is a matter of making a living as best they can and getting some enjoyment out of doing it. Under this philosophy, the one thing they look forward to is retirement – no work and all play! Christians are different. Their lives are a fulfillment of God’s call to a specific task.

God the Father calls you to a holy vocation – 1 Samuel 3:1-10
God the Son calls you to discipleship – John 1:43-51
God the Spirit calls you to glorify God – 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

Collect for Epiphany 2Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace through all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Monday, January 12, 2015Psalm 40:1-5—The Antiphon, is taken from Psalm 40:10, “I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of Your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal Your love and Your truth from the great assembly.” When speaking of the Lord, we must center our conversation on His faithfulness and salvation, which flows from righteousness. The word Epiphany literally means, I see, I understand, I see the light, I get it! In Epiphany we “get it!” This Jesus whom we have worshipped at Christmas truly is the Son of God. By grace, through faith, by the Spirit’s aid we are brought to a right understanding of spiritual things; finally we “get it!”

Tuesday, January 13. 2015Psalm 139:1-10—The key verse of this psalm is verse 14, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” The Psalmist is saying literally, “Lord you know me as one who formed me yet I cannot begin to comprehend this creature you have fashioned. I can only look upon him with awe and wonder.” Miracles happen all around us. Some might wonder if the Lord will support them in the New Year. The antiphon affirms He will. He acts in our lives so we can see that the plan He has for us and the path he has determined for us will be the best for us. Fare-thee-well child of God; His sure hand shall guide you.    

Wednesday, January 14, 20151 Samuel 3:1-10—The child Samuel hears God’s call to be a prophet. In the temple at Shiloh, the boy Samuel is serving the priest Eli. He sleeps near the Ark of the Covenant, a symbol of God’s presence. One night Samuel is called. Twice he mistakes the voice of God for Eli’s. Then Eli instructs the boy to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.” Samuel obeys and God speaks to him of future happenings in Israel.

Thursday, January 15, 20151 Corinthians 6:12-20—The human body is to glorify God. People in the Corinthian church were sexually immoral for religious reasons. They accepted the truth that Christ’s death on the cross fulfilled the law for them. Since they were saved by grace alone, they felt free to do what they pleased. Some of them participated in sexual perversion. Paul counters this thinking by giving a theology of the body. These words of Paul give us a divine perspective. We are not free to do as we please. The grace of God is not a license to sin.

Friday, January 16, 2015John 1:43-51Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael. When Jesus is in the area of John the Baptist, He calls Andrew and Peter as disciples. Then He goes to Galilee and calls Philip of Bethsaida. Philip asks Nathanael to come and see one, who he claims, is the Messiah.

At first Nathanael is skeptical and asks if anything good can come from an insignificant village of Nazareth. When Jesus tells Nathanael that he saw him under a fig tree at the time when Philip invited him, Nathanael changes his mind and calls Jesus the Son of God and King. Jesus did not want him to base his opinion on a miracle and promises that Nathanael will see greater things in the future.

Notice the word of Jesus’ call to Philip denotes a relationship between Christ and the Christian. To follow Jesus means we acknowledge and accept Him as shepherd, leader, and master. It is not an association of peers. There is no democratic relationship of equality. The word also indicates our position in the relationship. To follow Him does not mean we walk with Him (beside Him), nor before Him, but behind Him. He is first and we are second; He is leader and we are followers; He is master and we are servants.

Saturday, January 17, 2015Matthew 16:24—The hymn of the day is, “Come Follow Me, the Savior Spake” (LSB 688).  Nathanael is asked to follow as the Savior has directed him.  Some decisions we make are life altering. Where do we go for direction in life? We seek the Lord. As He has promised to guide us, we too must follow. It would do us little good if we decide to head in the opposite direction from whence we should go. This much loved hymn speaks of the Lord guiding His own.
Sources

LUTHERAN SEVICE BOOK © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO

LECTIONALRY PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES B © 1981 John Brokhoff CSS Publishing Lima, OH

Luther’s Works: American Edit Edition. 55 volumes. (Volumes 1-30, Concordia Publishing House; volumes 31 31-55, Fortress Press)

Saturday, January 10, 2015

The Baptism of our Lord





Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed  Jesus Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life;

For Jesus His Baptism was a real personal experience. According to Mark, only Jesus saw the dove and heard the voice. For some, Baptism may be a “spiritual” affair, which they do not understand. They may go through the “ritual” and experience nothing. In Jesus’ experience, baptism was as real as the things we can see, feel, and hear. Your baptism is the real thing – it’s the real deal!

How real is your baptism? It’s as real as the water you feel. It is as real as the dove we see.  It is as real as the voice we hear.

1.       River – as real as the water we feel – V.9 “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan

A.            Why did Jesus submit Himself to a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins? Matthew recounts John's reluctance to baptize Jesus and Jesus' reply:   "But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”  Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness" Matthew 3:14-15

                John's baptism signified repentance and confession of sin.

B.            In His baptism, Jesus is identifying with a sinful race. When Jesus was baptized, the work of man’s redemption began. “Could Jesus forgive my sin?” you might ask. Jesus knows you, “warts and all”. Furthermore, He made it His business to forgive you by identifying with you in His baptism. He was baptized for you! When He was baptized, Jesus became your substitute. He took your place.

C.            Jesus had to identify Himself with sinful humanity at the very beginning of His ministry. This He did by submitting to the Father’s will in His baptism. St. Paul put it this way, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 

D.            Christ is treated by His Father as if He were a sinner. Christ became the object of God's wrath and bore the penalty and guilt of sin. So complete was the identification of the sinless Christ with the sin of the sinners, including its dire guilt and its dread consequence of separation from God, that Paul could say, "God made him . . . to be sin for us." – 2 Corinthians 5:21

Transition: How real is this baptism? It’s as real as the water you feel. It is as real as the dove we see.
                                                               
2.            Dove – as real as the dove we see – V.10 “As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.”

A.            Jesus is now anointed by the Spirit for ministry. In His first sermon in the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus would say to His hearers "The Spirit of the Lord is on me" -Luke 4:18. Jesus Himself claimed this anointing was the Father’s own doing. All that Jesus will teach us in this New Year comes from the Father. 

1. Acts 10:38 “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”

2. Luke 4:42-44 At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

B.            Not so with the antagonists. They will claim that Jesus has a false spirit, an evil spirit; one which is from the prince of demons. “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.”  John8:49

Transition: How real is this baptism? It’s as real as the water you feel. It is as real as the dove we see.  It is as real as the voice we hear.

3.            Voice – as real as the voice we hear – V.11 “And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’.”

A.            We are encouraged to purchase those products only, which have Good Housekeeping’s TM stamp of approval. At His baptism, Jesus receives the Father’s stamp of approval!   God the Father confesses Jesus as His Son and witnesses to His approval of His Son. The Father is well pleased by sending His own Son but He is well pleased in what He was sent to do, to redeem the world of sin and death. Jesus will make all things new. He goes to the cross and breaks free from the tomb.

B.            The Father knows the unique mission He has given to His Son and states His confidence in Him. Will Jesus be able to accomplish His mission? The Father has placed all of His confidence in Jesus. Jesus is able to accomplish all that the Father has asked Him to do. If the Father has complete confidence in His Son, why should you tremble or doubt?

How real is your baptism? It’s as real as the water you feel. It is as real as the dove we see.  It is as real as the voice we hear.

Words – 442
Passive Sentences – 9%
Reading Ease – 881%

Reading Level – 5.1
Image by Ed Rioja © Higher Things