5th Petition

March 20, 2002

The 5th Petition

“And Forgive Us Our Trespasses”

Introduction:  What does it mean when we pray for forgiveness? How do I know that my heart is in the right place? Is there a process I must go through before forgiveness becomes a reality?  Let’s see what Luther would say to us in the Catechism as we pray “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us"

I.        When we pray this petition

A.     We ask that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins. This is what Peter asked when confronted with his sins. He cried: “Depart from me for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8) The point is clear. The nearer one comes to God, the more he feels his own sinfulness and unworthiness.  

Such was the case of Abraham when he pleaded for the city of Sodom. “Not that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord though I am nothing but dust and ash” (Genesis 27:1) Job cried: “Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6) Isaiah replied “Woe to me!  I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips and my eyes have seen the king, the Lord Almighty” (Isaiah 6:5) No wonder Peter went out and wept bitterly when he denied even knowing the Lord Jesus. (Luke 22:62)

B.     We pray that our heavenly Father would graciously, for Christ’s sake, forgive our sin. We follow the example of the tax collector, standing at a distance “He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said “God have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13) He did not plead his own good works, but the mercy of God in forgiving his sin.  Thus the church prays: “Lord have mercy upon us, Christ have mercy upon us, Lord have mercy upon us…Kyrie Eleison! Lord, remember me when You enter into Your kingdom!” (Luke 22:42)

II.     There is a reason why we should ask for forgiveness.

A.     We are worthy of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them.  Thy hymnal is ripe with verses that describe this reality. “Not the labors of my hands, could fulfill Thy Law’s demands; could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow.  All for sin could not atone; Thou must save and Thou alone. (TLH #376 stanza 2)

B.     The point is clear. For we daily sin much and indeed deserve nothing but punishment.  Jacob prayed; “I am unworthy of all of the kindness and faithfulness You have shown to Your servant” (Genesis 32:10) Thus the prodigal son pleaded to his Father: “Father I have sinned against heaven and against You. I am no longer worthy to be called Your son” (Luke 15:21) 

III.   Forgiveness comes at a price – the price of god’s own Son.  Thus we must promise that we will also heartily forgive and readily do good to those who sin against us.

A.     In the Gospel of Matthew we hear these words: “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, now many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?  Jesus answered, I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” 70 x 7.  The point is clear. We forgive with time without numbers!

B.     Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers, abandoned and left for dead, did not hold his brother’s sin against them rather, he forgave them.  God had used the brother’s act, out of personal animosity toward their brothers Joseph to save lives. Mark his words closely: “But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:19-20)

IV.  Why must we forgive?

A.     We must forgive because he who would not forgive his brother will not obtain forgiveness from God.  Forgiveness runs in two directions. Forgiveness is a two way street. If we refuse to forgive we will in this petition call down upon ourselves the anger of God

B.     Jesus tells us in Mark 11 “And when you stand praying, if you ho9ld anything against anyone, forgive him, so Your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (v.25)

Conclusion:  This in this petition we are called to forgive. Graciously you have been forgiven – graciously you are to forgive. Be compassionate, as God has had compassion on you.

4th Petition

March 13, 2002

The 4th Petition

“Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread”

INTRODUCTION:  I’ve seen it on the table at my grandparent’s house. I’ve seen it in the kitchens of so many homes here at Friedheim. A wooden bowl with the words inscribed “Give us this day our daily bread”

What are we talking about when we pray these words?  Luther, as he wrote the Catechism helps us understand what it means to pray these words.  What does this mean? “God gives daily bread indeed without our prayer, also to all the wicked; but we pray in this petition that He would lead us to know it, and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.”

What is meant by daily bread?  “Everything that belongs to the support and wants of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home field, cattle money, goods, a pious spouse, pious children, pious servants, pious and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, discipline, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like. Three questions pertain to this particular petition.

I.                    Question One: Why does Christ our Lord tell us to ask for daily bread, even though God gives it also to those who do not ask for it?

A.        Jesus, our Lord and Savior, tells us to ask for daily bread in order to teach us that our daily bread is a gracious gift of God. Our Savior has showered down upon us so many great and wonderful blessings. Every blessing, each gift has been touched by God.  We are called by this petition to recognize this as such.

B.                 We are thus encouraged to receive these blessings with joy and thanksgiving.  David writes in Psalm 145:15-16:  “The eyes of all look to Thee, and Thou dost give them their food in due time. Thou dost open Thy hand, and dost satisfy the desire of every living thing.” And then in Matthew 5:45 we read: “for He causes His sun to rise on {the} evil and {the} good, and sends rain on {the} righteous and {the} unrighteous.”

II.                 Question Two: Why do we say “our” bread?

A.        We say “our” bread because we should ask for only that bread which is honestly ours.  Dishonest goods acquired dishonestly are ill gotten gain. We pray that the Lord would bless that which is acquired honestly and we work for it honestly. If we acquire bread and good dishonestly we can not expect God to bless our efforts.  

B.                 As we pray for “our” bread we must always remember that we are connected one to another. As we give “our” bread we pray for our neighbor and share with him when he has need. The writer to the Hebrews reminds us with these words: “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is will pleased” (13:16)

C.                 Giving is sometimes a sacrifice. That’s what the writer to the Hebrews tells us.  What a tremendous example you have been –giving above and beyond what you are required. As we support those who are in need especially with those who are in need – we have this promise that God is well pleased with our giving and our sacrifice.  In short, we support others with "our" bread so that they might have theirs.

III.               Question three: Why are we to say “daily” and “this day”?

A.        We are to say “daily” and “this day” because we should be satisfied with what we need each day.  Each day has its own challenge. Each day has its own needs. Yet, we are encouraged to be satisfied with what we need each day.  You and are Easter people. We live under the shadow of the cross and by the power of the empty tomb. If God in Christ has in fact forgiven us our sins and granted us salvation and life we know that we can be satisfied with what we need each day for He will provide. 

B.                 We pray “daily” and “this day” because it is foolish and sinful to worry about the future.  We can cut it any way we want.  We can call it concern – but when we obsess about the future this can become troublesome.  Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6: “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (v.8) God wants us to be satisfied and content with what we have. A question: Are you content with what you have?  

            Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount explains to us what it means to be content as He begins with our first priorities: “Now your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about it’s own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble”

CONCLUSION:  The Father has promised to provide.  All we need to support our body and life. He will provide. We can be content all things come by the gracious hand of God.

3rd Petition

March 6, 2002

The 3rd Petition

“Thy Will Be Done”

INTRODUCTION:  “It’s God’s will!”  Ever hear that little phrase? How do we use this phrase? Do we use it as an excuse? Have we ever caught ourselves saying: “well, it must have been God’s will” Do we use this phrase to help us explain the unexplainable or to make sense of what simply does not add up?  What is the good and gracious will of God?

I.    There are enemies whose counsel and will are opposed to the will of God. In this season of Lent as we focus on our need and the Savior solution we pray that God would break and hinder every evil will.  To be sure, the counsel and will of the devil, the world and our flesh are all opposed to the will of God.

A.  The devil is actively opposed to the will of God. Peter reminds us “be alert, your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devout” (5:8) When Adam and Eve fell they were lied to and betrayed by the devil. 

B.   Not only is the devil actively opposed to the will of God.  The world also stands hostile to the Savior.  John writes in his first epistle “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (v.17)

C.   Then there is the flesh – which is also diametrically opposed to the will of the Savior. Paul reminds us in Romans 7: “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature…” (v.18) 

TRANSITION:  So, what is it that we should pray for when we ask that God’s will be done?

II.    We ask –

A.   That God would break and hinder the evil counsel and will of the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh. St. Paul reminds us in Romans 16:20 “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly” Notice what Paul tells us – the god of peace will crush Satan.  That happened on a hill called Galgatha when the Son of god on a cross cried out “it is finished” 

There, at the cross, Jesus crushed Satan – And “under your feet: daily He breaks the devil’s power through the power of His Word and Spirit. So we can say with Paul in Romans 8 “we are more then conquerors through Christ who loves us”

B.   We also ask that God would strengthen and preserve us steadfast in His Word and faith unto our end, so that we may at all times do His will gladly as the angels in heaven also gladly do His bidding.  

Peter reminds us how the Lord protects and guides us when he writes that we are destined for glory.  He reminds us that we have: “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:4-5)

It is by the Word that we are directed and protected. In Psalm 119 David writes: “Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it”

C.   We ask that God would in all suffering keep us faithful to our end.  It is through the cross and suffering that you and I are brought into the kingdom of glory.  We are tempted at every turn. Our faith, at times, is battered and weak. We can become frightened and worried. How do we know that we will remain faithful unto the end? Listen to what Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 12 “and (the Lord) said tome, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” Then Paul goes on to explain what that means to him personally – “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (v.9)

CONCLUSION: St. Paul writes: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape. That you may be able to bear it” (v.13). Consider Job, the Lord was challenged by the devil that he would break if temptation and heartache came his way. But God would not allow the devil to destroy him.  So it goes with you.  God knows your limits and will not allow you to be pushed beyond the brink. God will perfect in you His good and gracious will.

2nd Petition

February 27, 2002

The 2nd Petition

“Thy Kingdom Come”

INTRODUCTION:  The Kingdom of God.  God’s kingdom is a powerful and yet sometimes a misunderstood phrase. What goes through your mind, what are you thinking about when you mention the words “Thy kingdom come’?  What “kingdom” do we mean when we pray the second petition?

I.        In the 2nd Petition we pray that God would graciously grant us true faith and a godly life.

A.     Jesus, as He began His public ministry began with these words “The time has come, the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15) True faith and a godly life simply means that we repent of our sins and believe the good news of the gospel.  That we simply cling to the words and promises of Jesus.

B.     A godly life simply means that we remain rooted, grounded and built up in Christ.  St. Paul bears this out in Colossians 2:6 when he writes, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him…”

TRANSITION:  We pray that the Lord would grant us a godly life and true faith. We also pray that the faith would grow as the gospel moves on in our life

II.     When we pray “Thy Kingdom Come” we pray that God would extend His Kingdom of grace on earth.  In a word, we pray that the work of missions would prosper. In this season of Lent you and I as Christians have an excellent opportunity to witness of our faith and to present Jesus to a scared and dying and frightened world.

A.     Jesus prayed: “Ask the Lord of the harvest therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field” (Mathew 9:38) There are people in our world today who do not know Jesus. Jesus came into this world to save sinners. We share with others Jesus Christ who came to suffer and die on the cross to forgive sins and offer to the people of this earth salvation and life.

B.     As we pray this petition “Thy Kingdom Come” we are doing exactly what Paul prayed for two thousand years ago when He wrote in 2 Thessalonians 4 as he said: “Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you”. (v.1) When the gospel message is honored by all then it will spread and God’s Kingdom will be enlarged.

III.   When we pray “Thy Kingdom Come” we pray that He would hasten the coming of His Kingdom of Glory.  In short, we pray “Come Lord Jesus, come even today!”

A.     As we wait for Jesus’ return to this earth in power and glory we realize that even now the Kingdom belongs to Christ already. The kingdom is not something Jesus has to obtain in the future. It’s His already! Jesus says in  Luke, chapter twelve “Do not be afraid, little flock for Your Father has been pleased to give You the kingdom” (v.32)

B.     We have this promise from Jesus that he is coming and will come very soon.  The last verse of His Revelation to the Apostle John gives us these five sure words “He who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming soon” (v.20)

CONCLUSION:  What do we need to concern ourselves with when we consider the 2nd Petition?  When we pray “Thy Kingdom Come” all we need to say is this: “Amen, come Lord Jesus”

1st Petition

February 20, 2002

The 1st Petition

“Hallowed Be Thy Name”

INTRODUCTION:  “Hallowed Be thy Name” That’s how the first petition reads.  What does that phrase really mean? What are we asking for when we pray that God’s name would be kept holy?  In a nutshell we pray that God’s name would be hallowed among us. This happens when we keep from profaning God’s Word.

How is God’s Word Profaned?

A.     God’s Word is profaned when anyone teaches otherwise than what God’s Word teaches. There is but one plan of salvation, one doctrinal standard, one message for the ages. That message speaks of sin and grace; of law and gospel.  That message says that we are all sinners for there is none that does good and does not sin. The wages of sin, the bible reminds us, is death, for all have sinned. Yet the gospel tells us that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting our sins against us.  That is why we can clearly and plainly say that in Jesus Christ all sin is forgiven period!

When we teach other then this clear message we profane the Word of God. We need to place a clear message before the world today as our former Synodical President Al Barry put it “keep the message straight and get the message out” We do not want to add nor subtract from what is clearly stated in God’s holy Word. 

B.     The faith is to be taught – it’s also to be caught.  We can profane the name of God when anyone lives otherwise than God’s Word clearly teaches.  Luther in his hymn reminds us “that man a godly life might live God did these Ten Commandments give” the Word of God gives us a clear directive. It teaches us what we are to do and what we are not to do and how we are to live. We want that Word of God to direct us so that our lives may reflect what God’s Word truly teaches.

TRANSITION: The Word of God is profaned when we teach and act contrary to it. How is God’s name hallowed?

II.     God’s Name is Hallowed

A.     God’s name is hallowed when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity. God’s Word is true and pure in and of itself. That’s the beauty of God’s Word.  It needs nothing added to it. It speaks for itself. It is in and of itself clear, pure and bold. All the Lord asks of us is that we present it whole and undefiled. That’s what we pray for in this first petition. 

B.     God’s name is hallowed when we; that is you and I lead a holy life according to the Word of God.  “Savior, lead, I follow Thee” is how the phrase from the hymn reads. God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light to our path. We hallow God’s name when we are directed by the Word in our daily living.

Jesus our Lord and Savior perfectly lived His life according to God’s Word.  He lived a holy and a perfect life. He followed in the ways of the Law of the Lord. Then, He went to the cross and offered up His life as a ransom for us all. He exchanges His perfect life for your and my life of sin. In His suffering, death and resurrection He gives us salvation and life. It is His life and death, which has saved us. It is His Holy Spirit, which fills us to be the men, the women, the body and girls of faith.

CONCLUSION: “Hallowed be Thy Name”. May we use God’s Word correctly.  May the faith among us be taught as well as caught. May we hallow God’s name by honoring His Word in our reading, our study, our teaching and in our living.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday

February 13, 2002

Lenten Series of the Lord's Prayer

Introduction

Psalm 142

  

INTRODUCTION Today we begin a forty-day pilgrimage, which we call, Lent. With the Savior we will walk with Him as we observe His passion, suffering, torture and death.

Lent is a process. It is a six-week spiritual adventure where we become reflective and introspective. We will focus during the next six-week on two points; our need and the Savior’s solution. To help us in this process we will focus this year on the Lord’s Prayer.

Certainly we all need to pray. The Lord’s Prayer is a simple prayer – it was given to us by our Lord as a model prayer - as He has taught us so to pray. However this prayer is one of the most profound and serious prayers, as we are called to meditate on it daily. This evening we begin with the introduction: “Our Father Who art in heaven…”

To help us focus on this introduction let us consider for our meditation Psalm 142.  David was a complex individual. He knew great success. He was acquainted with failure. He was placed into the seat of power and encountered enemies; even those from his own family would try to wrestle it away from him.  He experienced every human emotion imagined.

The Psalms are windows to his soul. As prayers they direct our focus to God. As Scripture they are the answers to our prayers. Consider David the man of prayer – who invites us also to come to the Father.  In this Psalm we see David as he prays total and complete.

I.        Consider David the Distressed Man.  [Psalm 142:1-2]

A.     In his distress David gives his spoken request to God: “I cry to the Lord with my voice; to the Lord I make loud supplication” God would by these words tenderly invite us to believe that he is our true Father, and that we are His true children, so that we may with all boldness and confidence ask Him as dear children ask their dear Father.

B.     As David cries to the Father, he makes a specific request.

1.      There is a complaint on his lips. David says: “I pour out my complaint to Him” (v.2a)

2.      It appears to be a complaint about his life as he says: “I declare before Him my trouble”.  Do we take our troubles to the Lord? David encourages us to do so – to take every trouble to the Lord. 

Transition:   David was a distressed man. He was also a desperate man. Desperate times did not cause David to take desperate measures. He was a man of quiet resolve. He took it to the Lord in prayer.

II.     David was a Desperate Man.  [Psalm 142:3-4]

In his prayers he was forced to face his doubts and his fears.

A.     David was truly fearful.

1.      There were pressures within.  David felt the pressure: “When my spirit was overwhelmed within me. Then you knew my path” (v.3b) The Lord knew what troubles us internal as well as external.

2.      There were also troubles without. “They have secretly set a snare for me” (v.3b) People were lying in wait for him. There were enemies in David’s life. He needed his Lord to sustain him

B.     In his desperation David felt all alone. He felt he was friendless. He was treated with social as well as spiritual indifference.

1.      He found himself treated with social indifference. “I look on my right hand and see for there is no one who acknowledges me” He was abandoned by all of his friends.

2.      David also knew of spiritual indifference: “refuge has failed me. No one cares for my soul”

TRANSITION:  Truly David found in his plight a desperate situation. He turned to the father in the depths of his despair. As he opened himself to the Lord he was given discernment and discretion.

III.   David as he prayed was a Discerning Man [Psalm 142:5-6]

As he wrestled, pleaded and cried out to God he found two eternal truths

A.     He found a satisfying portion: “I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, You are my refuge” (v.5)

B.     He also found a secure protection: “Attend to my cry, for I am brought low. Deliver me from my persecutors for they are stronger than I” (v.6)

TRANSITION: In this season of Lent we need to pray.  In our prayers may we not only speak but also listen as the Lord extends to us His mercy and grace.

IV.  As David came to the Lord, he found himself a Delivered Man. [Psalm 142:7-8] He was brought into the prospect of freedom, fellowship, and fullness.

A.     He was directed to freedom – “Bring my soul out of prison” (v.7a) David cried. Our freedom comes at the cross where our Savior suffered and died.

B.     As he found this freedom he was brought into a new found fellowship of knowing and experiencing God. As we know of this hope and freedom we rejoice along with David “…that I may praise Your name” (v7b)

C.     This brought David into the fullness of having a loving relationship with God our heavenly Father. David concludes “The righteous shall surround me for You shall deal bountifully with me” (v.8)

CONCLUSION:  As we begin this spiritual pilgrimage called Lent may the Lord so direct us to come to Him in prayer.

Lord Jesus, hanging on the cross, and left alone by Your disciples, You called upon Your Father with a mighty cry as You gave up Your Spirit. Deliver us from the prison of affliction and be Yourself our inheritance in the land of the living where with the Father and the Holy Spirit You are blessed now and forever. Amen.  For All the Saints A Prayer book For and By the Church; The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau © 1995 Delhi, NY vol. Year 1 The Season After Pentecost p. 754

Transfiguration

Transfiguration

February 10, 2002

“Hide & seek”

Matthew 17:1-9

INTRODUCTION At times it would be nice to be able to hide from everyone and everything, to crawl up in a corner and go unnoticed.  Life is a struggle. Life as a Christian is a struggle. Life as a Christian is a constant battle over the forces of sin, death and the devil.  Peter found life to be that way.  One time he was patted on the back for confessing Jesus to be the Christ (Matthew 16:16) and a short time later he was scolded for offering to defend Jesus from those who would try to put Him to death (Matthew 16:23) As disciples of Jesus we sometimes feel it would be best in dealing with life’s struggles and confusions, to say: “Let’s Hide and maybe It Will All Go Away!”

I.        The Desire To Hide

A.     Who would want to hide?

1.      In the Old Testament David prayed for escape from his struggles (Psalm 55:6)  “And I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.”

2.      Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration wanted to remain there.

3.      All of us at one time or another, feeling the pressures of life, think that it would be easier if we could be insulated in some way from all of it.

B.     Why would anyone want to hide?

1.      Peter had reasons for wanting to hide.

a.      Peter was possibly tired of traveling, of being hassled by crowds, of being challenged by Jewish leaders.

b.      Peter was confused as to what all the Lord’s teachings meant for him and the other disciples.

c.      Peter was afraid as to what might become of him and Jesus if they journeyed to Jerusalem.

2.      We have reasons for wanting to hide.

a.      We too are often weary of standing against the sinful flow of the world around us.

b.      We are frequently confused when life is difficult. How do divorce, unemployment, drugs, and forms of blatant sin creep into Christian’s lives?

c.      We are afraid that God will change His mind about us, afraid that our faith is not enough, afraid of life.

TRANSITION:  Peter thought he had found a safe haven there on the mountain. But hiding does not work. Hiding does not change or remove fears, frustrations, or struggles; it only heightens them. Even when we use religion as our hiding place; it does not work. God in His grace wants to equip us so that we will not need to hide but rather we can cope with and ultimately overcome our fears, frustrations, and struggles.

II.     The Power To Live Through Christ

A.     Because the power to live comes through Christ, hiding does not work; God intervenes with His grace.

1.      He intervened in Peter’s life.

a.      God intervened in Peter’s life when Jesus called him to be a disciple.

b.      The moment on the mountain was designed to strengthen and reaffirm the faith given to Peter.

c.      Peter himself identifies the event as a revelation of God’s majesty and glory. “we were eyewitnesses of His glory” (2 Peter 2:10)

2.      He intervenes in our life.

a.      God has intervened in our lives by working faith in us in order that we can know Jesus as our Lord and our Savior.

b.      We are given moments in our lives that allow us to see that God is there active in our lives, forgiving us, loving and strengthening us.

(i)         Absolution – the pastor’s words are as certain as if God spoke them Himself

(ii)       The Word- the Scriptures are still able to give comfort and strength

(iii)      The Lord’s Supper-the mean nourishes the struggling spirit

B.     Coming out of hiding is not easy but we are not without help

1.      Peter was being equipped to go to Jerusalem.

2.      We are being equipped to face the challenges of our daily lives.

CONCLUSION:  God in His grace gives us a glimpse of His glory. He transports us to the mountaintop so that we by grace may overcome in the everyday struggles on the plains below.