Christmas Day

Christmas Day

December 25, 2002

Luke 2:1-20

"The Reality of Christmas"

INTRODUCTION:  A common opinion among "enlightened" people in our post-modern world holds that Christmas is only a story, a myth, a legend - something akin to the story of the sugar plum fairy and Santa. Such folk believe that Jesus is no more real than Rudolph the red nosed reign deer.

The reality happens to be that Jesus came to this earth as He broke into time and space. Consider, from the original Christmas story, how real Christmas happens to become reality. The Christmas story is based on concrete, specific details.

1.      First consider the political realities. - There were specific political realities and circumstances happening at the time Christ was born in Bethlehem.  Luke puts it this way: "And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed".

The Lord Jesus was born at a time in which the Romans controlled the world.  Jesus came to this world when a tyrant ruled the world from the safety and security of Rome. Nothing but Caesars' rule and Caesars' reign mattered.

Yet look closer.  Jesus the Lord of life is being born into this world. He is the mighty God who spoke the world into existence - yet He comes into this world like all of us. He is born as an infant, a baby; born to take on our nature. The apostle John puts it this way: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us - full of grace and truth" (John 1)

Jesus was also born at a specific time. Luke tells us: "And this taxing took place when Cyrenius was governor of Syria".  Jesus' timing couldn't have been better. He came at a specific point in time - He came into this world when the world was held in sin and darkness.  In the midst of this world's sin and darkness Jesus Christ - the Very light of the world - burst forth His divine light to dispel the darkness of sin and death. Isaiah the prophet simply tells us: "The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.  The people dwelling in a land of deep darkness, upon them the light has shined".  When He created this world the Lord spoke and said: "Let there be light".  At Christmas He became that light which brightens the souls of men and draws men to Himself. 

Transition:  There were political realities, there are also principle characters - Mary and Joseph.

2.      This couple will make the trip up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea unto the city of David called Bethlehem because Joseph was of the house and lineage of King David.  Mary and Joseph engaged to be married found themselves in a troubled relationship before the marriage even began!  Matthew will tell us that before they came together Mary was found to be with child by the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph knew only two realities. First, his fiancée' was pregnant.  The second reality - he was not the father!  That's why we find Joseph in Matthew's gospel contemplating how to put Mary away quietly.  He's at a crossroads and appears to be a man in crisis. He has deep emotional feelings for the girl - he cares for her immensely. But at the same time He fells betrayed and broken. Frightened and confused, feeling slighted and betrayed Joseph ponders what he should do.  What should he do? 

A divine intervention is needed.  An angel appears to Joseph in a dream and tells him: "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit".  There you have it!  Joseph and Mary will marry - they will become a family and as far as the rest of the world is concerned folk will assume that Joseph is the father of his son Jesus. But you and I know better. We're reminded of this divine intervention every single time we confess the creed together!

3.      Then there's the place where Jesus is born. The delivery room is an out building connected to the house where the animals were kept. A barn would be too elaborate a description.  It's more like a pen or a lean-to. Jesus is born there for there is no other place for Him to be born. The street is the only other place available.

What does this mean? You can never be too low for Jesus! No matter where you have been and no matter what your circumstances - you can never sink too low for Jesus. His birth is a predictor of His death. His birth among those of humble means will not diminish the fact that He alone is a priceless treasure!

4.      Then there are those, whose lives were forever changed due to the circumstances of these events.  They all saw it - they witnessed the greatest miracle of Christmas - they welcomed the Lord Jesus into their lives - never again would their lives be miserable again.  Sure there would be sad and lonely times but in an instant they were granted audience with the Lord of life. They had witnessed a miracle - God coming to man in the presence of His Son Immanuel - God who is with us.

CONCLUSION:  That's what makes Christmas so special - it's not the gifts, the noise the lights - it's the story just as it happened - God coming to man in time and space. We have seen it too and beheld the wonder of it all!  A blessed Christmas to one and to all! 

Mid-week Advent 3

Mid-week Advent 3

December 18, 2002

Psalm 146

"When you care to send the best…"

INTRODUCTION:  "When you care to send the best choose FTD!" So says the American floral group.  We are just one week before Christmas. In our mad dash to make everything perfect we want to make sure that we choose someone who will send our cards, gifts and goodies the best. As we place our confidence in Him who broke into time and space we see Him in all of His glory as He delivers the goods in triumph, trust and truth.

1.      Triumph in the form of praise (Psalm 146:1-2)

A.     Praise Deliberately Provoked V.1 

1 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul.

B.     Praise Distinctly Promised V.2

2 I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

2.      Trust

Misplaced Trust Vv. 3-4

1.      Subtle enticement -V.3 

3 Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.

2.      Simple error - V.4 

4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Meaningful Trust Vv. 5-7

1.      Our song -V.5

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,

2.      His strength - Vv.6-7

a.      strength to create a universe – 6

6 the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them- the Lord, who remains faithful forever.

b.      strength to control a universe – 7

7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free,

3.  Truth

God's infinite mercy - V. 8a

8a the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, 

God's inflexible morality - V.8b-9

8b the Lord loves the righteous. 9 The Lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. 

God's invincible majesty - V.10 

10 The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord.

God of glory and power, happy indeed are those who have put their trust in You. Shine the brightness of Your light upon us, that we may love You always with a pure heart and praise You forever through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For All the Saints A Prayer book for and by the Church, Year 2: Advent - Pentecost American Lutheran Publicity Bureau - Delhi, NY © 1995

Advent mid-week 2

Mid-week Advent 2

December 11, 2002

Psalm 19

Glories in the Heavens

INTRODUCTION:  The company of the angels who sang to the shepherds concerning the Savior's birth said: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good will toward men."  Our Psalm for this evening, Psalm 19 sings the same new song.  As we count down the days before Christmas we consider the Lord of heaven and earth who has come to visit His people. He has made His revelation known in the heavens and in the Scriptures, which give light to the life of men. Consider the glory of God made known to men.

1.      God's revelation concerning Himself in the heavens

A.     An Unmistakable witness V. 1

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

B.     An untiring witness V. 2 

2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

C.     An understandable witness Vv. 3-6

3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, 5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.

Transition:  God is made known in the world. But we know Him best through the testimony of the Scriptures.

2.      God's revelation of Himself in the Scriptures

A.     God's Word is precious  Vv. 7-10

1.      It challenges us V. 7 

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

2.      It cheers us V. 8 

8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

3.      It changes us Vv. 9-10 

9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure 

and altogether righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

B.     God's Word is powerful Vv. 11-14

1.      It convicts us V. 11

11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

2.      It cleanses us V. 12 

12 Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.

3.      It corrects us  Vv. 13-14

a.      It will keep me from folly V. 13 

13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

b.      It will keep me in fellowship V. 14 

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Heavenly father, You have filled the world with beauty. Open our eyes to see Your gracious hand in all Your works, that rejoicing in Your whole creation, we may learn to serve You with gladness, for the sake of Him through whom all things were made, Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

For All the Saints A Prayer book for and by the Church, Year 2: Advent - Pentecost - American Lutheran Publicity Bureau Delhi, NY © 1995

Advent mid-week 1

Advent mid-week 1

December 4, 2002

Psalm 98 

The Magnificat of the Old Testament

INTRODUCTION: As we turn our sights toward Bethlehem's manger we prepare ourselves to celebrate once again the coming of the Christ child into our heats at Christmas. Mary upon hearing that she was chosen to bear the Son of God responded in a song of praise call the Magnificat. This was not the first time such a hymn was sung.  In fact, our Psalm for this evening, Psalm 98 is such a hymn of praise. As we remember all of the tender mercies, which the Lord has showered down on us let us too join with the Psalmist offering to the Lord our praise and thanksgiving.

1.      The Lord's might (Psalm 98:1-2)

A.    The Song of the Lord -V. 1a 

1a O SING to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things

B.     The Strength of the Lord -v. 1b 

1b  His right hand and His holy arm have wrought salvation for Him.

C.  The Song of the Lord - V. 2 

2The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness has He openly shown in the sight of the nations. (Luke 2:30-31)

2.      The Lord's mercy (Psalm 98:3-6)

A.    The remembrance of that mercy - V. 3 

3He has [earnestly] remembered His mercy and loving-kindness, His truth and His faithfulness toward the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have witnessed the salvation of our God.  (Acts 13:47; 28:28.)

B.     The result of that mercy - Vv. 4-6 

4Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy, yes, sing praises! 5Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the voice of melody.6With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!

3.      The Lord's majesty (Psalm 98:7-9)

A.    The jubilation of the earth - Vv. 7-9a

7Let the sea roar, and all that fills it, the world, and those who dwell in it! 8Let the rivers clap their hands; together let the hills sing for joy 9a Before the Lord, for He is coming to judge [and rule] the earth;

B.     The judgment of the earth - V. 9b

9b  with righteousness will He judge [and rule] the world, and the peoples with equity.

1.      The Lord will rule faithfully

2.      The Lord will rule fairly

Lord, we sing to You a new song, for Your victory is ever new. In the empty tomb You have given us a glimpse of Your future and in Your victory over death You have shown us how we shall overcome the last enemy.  As the seas roar and the hills sing together, we too will praise You for Your great triumph; Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen

For All the Saints A Prayer book for and by the Church, Year 2: Advent - Pentecost American Lutheran Publicity Bureau Delhi, NY © 1995

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day

November 28, 2002

Psalm 116

"For what are you thankful?"

INTRODUCTION:  Once again we have been permitted to gather together for yet another national thanksgiving.  For what are you thankful?  How has the Lord blessed you?  How do we review the past year with respect to all that has happened to us?  Our Psalm for today, Psalm 116 helps us sort through all that we have experienced this past year in for significant areas of life; in our gratitude, in our grief, in our goals, and in our gladness. Let's review shall we?

1.                  The Psalmist's gratitude (Psalm 116:1-9)

A.     The dangers he experienced - Vv. 1-4

1.      his present assurance - Vv. 1-2 

1 I love the Lord , for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. 2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

2.      his previous anguish - Vv. 3 

3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

3.   his prayerful appeal - V. 4  

4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: "O Lord, save me!"

B.     The deliverance he experienced - Vv. 5-9

1.      a word about his Savior - Vv. 5-6

5 The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. 6 The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.

2.      a word about his soul - Vv. 7-9

7 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. 8 For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, 9 that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.  

2.         The psalmist's grief (Psalm 116:10-11)

A.     What he had suffered - V. 10

10 I believed; therefore I said, "I am greatly afflicted."

B.     What he had said - V. 11

11 And in my dismay I said, "All men are liars."

3.         The Psalmist's goals (Psalm 116:12-15)

A.     His assessment of his duty - Vv. 12-14

12 How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. 14 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.

B.     His assurance about his death - Vv. 15

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

4.         The Psalmist's gladness (Psalm 116:16-19)

A.     His position - V. 16

16 O Lord, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.

B.     His promise - Vv. 17-19

1.      to live a sacrificial life - V.17

17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord .

2.      to live a sanctified live - Vv. 18-19

18 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the Lord - in your midst, O Jerusalem.

God of power and mercy, through the Passion and resurrection of Your Son You have freed us from the bonds of death and the anguish of separation from You. Be with us on our pilgrimage and help us offer You a sacrifice of praise, fulfill our vows, and glorify You in the presence of all Your people; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For All the Saints A Prayer book for and by the Church, Year 2: Advent - Pentecost American Lutheran Publicity Bureau Delhi, NY © 1995

Thanksgiving Eve

Thanksgiving Eve

November 27, 2002

Psalm 65

"Sing Hallelujah at the Harvest"

Introduction:  The harvest is complete - the crops are now in. It is now time to evaluate the past planting, growing, and harvest season - and what a season it has been. When measuring yields from previous years, factoring in weather conditions, stress on crops, what the market will bear it's easy to loose track that God is involved in all that we do.  Our Psalm for this evening Psalm 65 gets us back on track as He urges us to sing Hallelujahs at the Harvest.

1.                  We sing our Hallelujahs as we approach God.

A.     We approach God a silent people 1)  "Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled."

B.     We approach God a seeking people 2) "O you who hear prayer, 

to you all men will come."

C.     We approach God a sinful people 3) "When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions."

D.     We approach God a satisfied people 4)  "Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple."

Transition: Not only do we approach our God this night we come seeking to know Him.

2.                  Apprehending God

A.     We apprehend God's power to convert

1.      First the Hebrew people 5a  "You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior

2.      But also the Heathen peoples  , 5b  the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,"

B.     We apprehend God's power to create 6 "who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength,"

C.     We apprehend God's power to control

1.      The restless waves - 7 "who stilled the roaring of the seas,"

2.      The restless world - 7b-8  " the roaring of their waves, 

and the turmoil of the nations. Those living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy."

Transition:  Having approached and apprehended God we appreciate all He has done for us. This is the secret to true thanksgiving.

3.          Appreciating God

A.     Appreciating the wealth of the heavens - 9 - 10   "You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops."

B.     Appreciating the wealth of the harvest - 11-13  "You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.

Lord God, joy marks Your presence, beauty, abundance, and peace are the tokens of Your work in creation. Work also in our lives, that by these signs we may see the splendor of Your love and may praise You through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For All the Saints A Prayer book for and by the Church, Year 2: Advent - Pentecost American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY © 1995

Reformation

Reformation

October 27, 2002

Romans 3:19-28

True Freedom

INTRODUCTION:  We are all familiar with the quest of Martin Luther. His was a single question. How do I find a merciful God? Plagued by his sin and terrified by the Law, Luther sought after a gracious God. He found a gracious God when he finally learned that we gain access to God not in our own doing but in the righteousness, which comes to us by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Of course Luther found this message in the clear passages of the Word of God; the Bible.

What about man today?  From the 1963 Helsinki gathering of the World Lutheran Federation we read: “man today no longer asks: how do I come to a gracious God?  The person asks more radically and fundamentally.. where are you God?” This has caused Pastor Robert Rosin to write:  “it only seems to be a more radical question if the sense of sin and guilt is lost and there is no fear and trembling at the prospect of standing before the Almighty.  One ought to be careful about what one seeks. He may find it and then what? Luther and we as well know full well what we’ll find if we go hunting God on our own. The specter of success in finding Him on our terms should (as it did Luther) terrify us to death."

The wonder of our faith is realized when we consider that God in His love and mercy operates not because but in spite of who we are for Christ's sake! That endless grace and love that gives us the righteousness we need is something we’ll never really understand, but something that again, by God’s grace, through His Spirit, we will believe. In describing this grace of God Luther said it was “As if the gates of paradise were flung open" This morning let us consider the liberating power of God’s almighty Word.

I.        There is some liberating that has gone sour.

A.     God our Father from the very moment He created time and brought this universe into existence had a divine plan. That plan was to dwell with man; to be one with Him, to be in harmony with him. We find in the book of Genesis that it was a habit of the Lord to converse with man.

All that changed when in the cool of the day the Lord sought after Adam and his wife Eve only to find that they had fallen headlong into sin.  "Have you eaten of the fruit from the tree which I had forbidden you not to eat?" the Lord had to ask.

Man's fall into sin is what set into motion a direction that went sour. True, that forbidden fruit gave the appearance to be something liberating. The Scriptures describe how the cunning and lies of the devil seduced Adam and Eve. "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye and also desirable to make one wise, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was (there) with her, and he ate it" (Genesis 3:6)

The sad reality is that man's fall has created a rift between the Lord and man as well as man against his neighbor. Separated by God and alienated from each other the Lord gave fallen man His Law. That Law was quite clear. That Law tells man what to do what not to do and how to live. What the Lord expected and demanded of our first parents Adam and Eve He still expects of us today.  Despite what modern man desires to think; namely, that he is a law unto himself; diluting himself into thinking that there are no moral absolutes or that moral decisions are all relative the demands of God through His Law are quite clear. We are to live righteously before God. The question which each must have presented is simply this: "how well do we fare?"

B.     On the surface most people would claim that they stand quite well before God and His Law. Consider the prayer of the Pharisee. As he stood before God he rattled off the supposed good qualities that he could offer to God. " I thank Thee that I am not created as other men…I fast twice a week, I tithe of all I possess, not like that poor tax collector over there…" On the surface it would appear that this man had his act together however his motives were all self directed. This is the problem that includes every man and every woman, every boy and every girl that we are all under the curse of sin. Try as we might we can not measure up to the scrutiny of the Law.

Transition: What then is man to do?  He can not live up to the demands of the Law by himself. He can not make it null and void by choosing not to follow it. Nor can he choose to follow only those aspects of his own choosing. The Law, plainly stated, can never bring liberty. The Law only produces punishment, banishment and death. If we are ever to be free we need something outside of us that will bring a true and lasting peace.  

II.     Consider then Liberation that's been achieved.

A.     Christ’s righteousness frees us from self-justification which only leads to failure. We need not look to ourselves anymore. Our own works couldn't cut it before God. As the hymn writer reminds us so well: "Not the labors of my hands could fulfill Thy Law's demands". That is why we turn our entire focus on Christ. He fulfilled the requirements of the Law Himself. He lived the perfect life we could not live.

B.     Christ’s righteousness frees us for new life with God and with others. In His suffering, crucifixion, death, and resurrection the requirements of the Law are fulfilled once and forever. The righteousness, which Jesus Christ won for us by His perfect obedience to the will of the Father has won for the world salvation and life which, is now passed on to us as a gift. We have not earned this gift nor have we deserved it. But thanks be to God for His mercy and grace. He now expressed to us His love and mercy by giving us a new life. Jesus said: "I came that they might have life and have it abundantly"  (John).  That is His free gift to us.

C.     Christ’s righteousness frees us from fear of death and points to paradise open. The Law only produces fright and fear. We need not fear when death draws near. We need not be frightened about the consequences of sin. Death has lost its sting. Death is swallowed up in victory. Thus Paul can tell us in 1 Corinthians 15: "Where O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting? The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (Vv. 55-56)

CONCLUSION: What is this thing we call Reformation? It's simply the realization that God in His Word has given us a clear and certain message, which leads to life and salvation every single time. Man by his sinfulness will be inclined to misunderstand, distort, and pollute this simple message. But God will not allow that to happen. He simply draws us back to His Word; that Word where the truth will always make one free.  Rely neither on yourselves nor in the precepts of men. Back to the Word - it is there, in the Word - where that the clarion call of liberty, and life are truly found.