Proper
18
13 Sunday after Pentecost
7 September 2014
Matthew 18:18-20
“When We All Get Together”
So, why do we gather anyway? Why go to
church? Why take the time to meet? On a regular basis? You’ve come here today.
Why? Why did you come? There are a hundreds of other things you could have
done? So why should church attendance be such a priority?
From the Catechism, we are instructed. “We should fear and love God that we may NOT
despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.” We
observe Sunday and other church festivals in order to have time and opportunity
for public worship. The early Christians. The 1st Century
believers, observed the first day of the week. Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2
The writer of the Hebrews reminds us, “NOT forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as the manner of some is.” And, from the book of Acts, chapter
two, verse 42, from our Parish Vision Statement, “They continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ doctrine, and in
fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayer.” Acts 2:42
Worship is not a private affair. Worship is always public. Worship is never
conducted with the individual in mind. Worship is always corporate. Worship is never designed for the
individual.
True. We have our own needs. Have you
noticed the prayers lately? They stack up. They get longer. There are more
petitions added every single week. There’s a reason for this long list of
petitions. We’ve got needs! There are many Stresses. Concerns. Worries. Do not
go it alone. Do not carry your problems alone. Take them to the Lord in prayer.
True. You have come today to seek relief
from the Great Physician. You have come here today to seek answers to your
individual desires, priorities, reservations, burdens, and cares. Yet the focus
of your worship. The purpose of your worship. The reason for your worship. Must
always be centered and find its focus on Christ. It’s not about you. It’s about
Jesus!
When our focus is upon Jesus. When we are Spirit directed
and not program driven. Things begin to happen!
What should we expect when our focus is upon Jesus and we all get
together in His name?
There is great value in Christians gathering as Church.
1 The Church has the power of the Keys.
“Whatever you bind on earth will be bound
in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” V. 18 You have the power to bind and to
loose. In other words, you have the power to forgive or not to forgive. The
Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to His
church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold
forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.[1]
What
a relief. What a release. When you become burdened because of you sin. Do not
loose heart. Do not despair. Rather, trust the promises of Jesus. Trust in the
words that your pastor speaks to you Sunday after Sunday.
“Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has had
mercy upon us and has given His only Son to die for us and for His sake
forgives us all of sins. To those who believe on His name He gives power to
become the children of god and has promise them His Holy Spirit. He that
believes and is baptized shall be saved!”
And
again, these sure and certain promises are given to you for your comfort. “In the mercy of Almighty God, Jesus Christ
was given to die for us, and for His sake God forgives us all our sins. To
those who believe in Jesus Christ He gives the power to become the children of
God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit. May the Lord, who has begun this good
work in us, bring it to completion in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”[2][3]
Based
on repentance and faith God for Jesus’ sake forgives you all your sins. This
confirms and assures us that your prayer, asking for the Father’s forgiveness, has
been answered!
2. When the Church prays, prayers are
answered. “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that you ask, it will
be done for them by My Father in heaven.” V. 19 Notice, how Martin Luther
explains to us in simple yet powerful words. With these words God tenderly invites us believe that He is our true
Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and
confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.[4]
God
does take notice. He does hear your prayers. And He answers them according to
His perfect will. This means that I
should be certain that these petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven,
and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded us to pray in this way and
has promised to hear us.[5]
Never ever, give up on prayer. Continue to seek after God. He knows your need.
He has promised to hear your every petition. He will answer every single prayer
according to His perfect will.
We
need to be a people of prayer. Without daily prayer, growth in God would be
minimal at best. We can only be our strongest when we are seeking the Lord. May
we here at Friedheim be remembered as being a house of prayer!
Not just a church where we come to talk to God. Not just a
church where we come to a worship service. But rather, a place where we glory
in His Name. Where in service, we praise His glorious name.
In
prayer, we uphold one another. In our petitions, we are taking our needs,
burdens, joys and sorrows to the throne room of grace. And, we’re thankful as
the Savior answers each petition!
We continue to pray because Christ is present as you gather.
3. When the Church
assembles, Christ is present. “For
where two or three are gathered together in My name I am there in the midst of
them.” V. 20
We
are not alone in this work. Christ is at the center of all that we do. He is
the unseen, yet present guest in every conversation. We do not go it alone.
Christ is present with and among us. Common faith in Christ links us together
like mountain climbers who are tied together in one cause. John would remind us
in his first Epistle – We know that we
have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does
not love remains in death. 1 John 3:14
So, why attend church?
Church is the assembly of the faithful. The gathering of Christ’s people
is a channel for forgiveness. Through the Word and Sacraments, the Holy Spirit
effects forgiveness of sins. God the Spirit forgives through the sacramental
ministry of the gathering of believers called the church.
_______________
Words –1,247
Passive Sentences –7%
Readability -79.8
Reading Level -4.6
[1]
What is the Office of the Keys? Luther’s Small Catechism © 2006 Concordia
Publishing House, St. Louis
[2]
General Confession from Divine Service Setting Three and Setting Five, Lutheran
Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis
[3]see
Mark 16:16; John 1:12; Philippians 1:6
[4]
Explanation to the Introduction of the Lord’s Prayer, Luther’s Small Catechism,
© 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
[5]
Explanation to the Conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer. Luther’s Small Catechism, ©
Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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