Ash Wednesday mid-day

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church-Friedheim
Celebrating our 169th Year
Chartered February 25, 1838

A 21st Century Parish with a 1st Century Faith
Acts 2:42

Ash Wednesday-Mid day
February 6, 2008
Luke 18:31-34
Jesus I Will Ponder Now

Introduction: Today we begin a six week process of observing our Savior’s Passion, suffering and death during the discipline of Lent. Under the theme: “Jesus I will Ponder Now” we will focus on six aspects of the Savior’s Passion as rendered and presented in six beautiful Chorales – four of which were penned by Johan Sebastian Bach. It is my prayer that as we focus on Jesus’ suffering through Scripture and song we will grow in a deeper appreciation of what Jesus has won for us on the bloody and cruel cross of Calvary.

In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 18, Jesus explains to His disciples, “Then He took unto Him the twelve, and said unto them, ‘Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished.” {V.31}

As we consider Jesus’ Passion we observe His work in terms of sin and grace.

I.        If my sins give me alarm and My conscience grieve me.

A.     It is sin which causes us to be alarmed

1.      Sin of commission –committed and  done by

a.       Thoughts

b.      Words

c.       Actions

2.      Sins of omission

a.       When we had opportunity to do good but failed.

b.      When we could have prevented sin but failed to act or didn’t want to get involved, or the time was not convenient.

B.     Our conscience is troubled when we consider past wrongs, failures, and the nagging question, “What will God do to me at the end of my days?”

Transition: How do we receive a clean conscience and peace of mind? Our hymn verse gives us a clear answer.

II.     Let Thy cross, my fear disarm peace of conscience give me.

A.     The cross of Christ disarms our fears.

1.      At The cross the wrath of an offended God was poured out on Jesus Christ God’s own Son.

2.      Paul puts it this way; “God was in Christ reconciling us to the Father not counting our sins against us…”  2 Corinthians 5:19

3.      As Christ has taken our sin there is nothing for us to fear.

B.     Peace of conscience is what Christ alone can give.

1.      He gives us His peace – “Peace I leave thee, My peace I give thee…” John 14:27

2.      This is the only peace which will sustain us – all other forms or attempts at peace - pale in comparison.

Transition: Christ suffered for us once for all. Yet the Devil will attempt to trip us up reminding us again and again of past failings. He will quote for us chapter and verse where we have sinned. That’s why we need a continued reminder of Christ’s work.

III.   Grant that I may trust in Thee and Thy holy Passion.

A.     All Jesus asks of us is to trust Him.

1.      Trust is nothing more then another word for faith.

2.      Faith is nothing more then taking God at His word.

B.     We trust that what Christ accomplished at the cross is all that is needed to win for us salvation.

1.      Jesus’ words: “It is finished!” says it all!

a.       There is nothing left to be done. Jesus did it all at the cross.

b.      Trusting in Jesus’ work and merit is what our faith must focus.

Transition: As we focus on what Jesus has done we learn an eternal truth – the love and compassion of Christ.  

IV.  If His Son so loveth me God must have compassion.

A.     Smile - God loves you! Best summed up by Christ Himself in John 3:16-18

B.     He has had compassion. The Passion of the Christ is motivated by the Father’s compassion for a fallen world. When He gave up His own Son He did the very best. The Father shows that;

1.      He cares for us

2.      He loves us

3.      He sent us His own Son who redeemed this world to save us.

Conclusion: As we begin the discipline of Lent we focus on Jesus’ Passion. He has redeemed us lost and condemned creatures and has purchased and won us from sin, from death and from the power of the devil. A great and mighty wonder is to unfold during this Lenten season we watch in awe and wonderment.

+Soli Deo Gloria+

Ash Wednesday

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church-Friedheim
Celebrating our 169th Year
Chartered February 25, 1838

A 21st Century Parish with a 1st Century Faith
Acts 2:42

Ash Wednesday
February 6, 2008
Genesis 2:4b-9, 15-17; 3:1-7
The fall of humankind
The problem of sin

“Lord God, our strength, the battle of good and evil rages within and around us, and our ancient foe tempts us with his deceits and empty promises. Keep us steadfast in your word, and, when we fall, raise us up again and restore us through Your Son.”

Introduction: People, as they are want, ask these days, “What, is sin?” or, they will place themselves into any number of given scenarios, putting forward the question, “Under these conditions…is it a sin if I were to ...”?  As we can well guess, we already know the answer, clearly. Yet, we as humans are always trying to create for ourselves a way to justify ourselves.  

Is it a sin for one set of circumstances and not for another? People ask and ponder.  [Hence the obsession with situation ethics of our day, in which certain conditions determine the correctness or the incorrectness of any particular position]

Some may ask “Is it a sin, for example, if you feel good in doing it? As if to say, if I find pleasure in a certain activity, it can be justified as being legitimate.  Is it a sin, some might ask, if both parties consent or participate in a particular activity? As if to say, if you can justify the activity - it might be correct.  Such issues, raised in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s were expressed most vividly in the words of the hit song which simply said, “If loving you is wrong – I don’t wanna be right.”[1]

Our text for this evening gives us the biblical outline for the guidance of God’s people today. Throughout our Lenten journey in which we will ask the Savior to walk with us; this year we will focus on God’s dealings with His people in the Old Testament. Tonight, we focus on man’s plight and his problem with sin. And, as we shall see, although sin would always hurt us God is able to give life to man.

What does the Bible, or, for that matter, what does God Himself consider to be sin? According to the Biblical account of man’s fall, the Bible describes sin in three specific terms.

I. By definition sin is - Disobedience to God’s law

II. By definition sin is - Doubting God’s Word

III. By definition sin is - Desiring to be like God

I.    By definition sin is Disobedience to God’s Law — vv. 1-4. “Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ” “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. Genesis 3:1-4   Eve believed the lie the devil was telling her.

A.  Satan, “the father of lies”, continues this tactic to this very hour. He puts a little truth in every lie, and a little lie in every truth so that we become convinced that his fibs are worth believing. 

1.  He does this subtly. “The serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made” Give the devil his due, he works in cunning and scheming ways.

2.  He does this judiciously. 

a.    He uses the wisdom of this world.

b.   He judges in a way the world accepts as fair.

c.    He asks us to trust our own “good judgment.”

B.  How can we defeat the devil’s wiles?

1.   Stay connected to God’s Word – this is where He speaks today.

2.   Listen only to your shepherd’s voice. “My sheep hear My voice…” says Jesus, our shepherd. “…and they follow Me…”

3.   Do not be misled by imposters. They are hirelings; they care nothing about and for the sheep.

II.  By definition sin is Doubting God’s Word — v. 1. “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 3:1 Eve’s yielding was the result of Satan’s causing doubt in her mind.

A.  Doubt causes us to hesitate.

1.   Doubt causes us to become suspicions of the Father’s clear word.

2.   Doubt causes us to become skeptical of the Savior’s clear words.

3.   Doubt causes us to question what the Spirit has clearly inspired the holy writers to speak.

B.     How can we defeat the devil’s wiles?

1.   Remember, the Savior’s Words are both valid and certain.

2.   Have faith in God’s promises, which is nothing short of taking God seriously – taking Him at His Word. 

III.   By definition sin is Desiring to be like God — v. 5. “God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” –Geneses 3:5 This is nothing more then appealing to pride.

A.  Pride says, “I can make my own decisions”, the self-made person becomes confident in one’s own actions and has the will to do so.

1.   This is the downside of this focus and fascination on the self-when we are fiercely independent and self-sufficient, our disappointments loom large because we have nothing else to focus on. We have become our own gods…expressed by the individual who simply explained, “I pray…to myself!”

2.    Our world speaks. For so long we have been taught to expect more out of life at the very time when good jobs, nice houses and a sufficient retirement fund are increasingly difficult to obtain. All too often, the result is crippling anxiety and crushing depression.[2]  That, my friends is the best our world can give us – crippling anxiety and crushing depression! We must turn to Christ who offers us a peace this world simply cannot give.  

B.  How can we defeat the devil’s wiles?

1.   Trust not in your own self, rather trust only in Him.  Thus writes the hymn writer when he says, “Trust not in rulers; they are but mortal; earth-born they are and soon decay.  Vain are their counsels at life’s last portal.  When the dark grave engulfs its prey. Since mortals cannot help afford. Place all your trust in Christ, our Lord.”[3]

2.   Learn humbleness of heart as we come broken before the Father’s throne, and plead for mercy, clemency, compassion and pity. 

Conclusion: This is why today is called “Ash Wednesday” for we come in our brokenness and plead for the Lord to have mercy. Adam’s fall is the fall of every man. In Adam we are all one. Adam fell because of himself. If we are to live, with God and for God, we must look to a second Adam – Jesus Christ our Savior - for salvation, rescue, and life.

+Soli Deo Gloria+

[1] Song written by Homer Banks, Carl Hampton and Raymond Jackson. It has been performed by many singers, most notably the late Luther Ingram, whose version topped the R&B chart. Ingram's version rose to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1972.

[2] From Generation Me Jean Twenge, PhD © 2006 Simon & Schuster

[3]  Praise the Almighty LSB 797 stanza 2

Transfiguration

Our Coming Lenten Pilgrimage
Matthew 17:1-9

Introduction: We have now come to the end of the Epiphany season, a season in which we have witnessed Jesus’ glory made manifest. Jesus demonstrates His glory so that we might believe in Him. As we witness His might acts, as we follow His teaching, we come to this conclusion –“ Jesus, You are my Lord and my God!” {John 20:28}

Now we set our sights on Jerusalem and that green hill far away outside the city wall – where our dear Lord was crucified, He died to save us all.  In just three days we will begin our Lenten pilgrimage where we will walk with the Savior to the cruel and bloody cross and we will stand at the mouth of an open tomb. How shall we describe this journey?

Our coming Lenten pilgrimage

It is a going up.

It is a going back.

It is a going down.

I.    Our coming Lenten pilgrimage is a going us. After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. Matthew 17:1

A.   We go to be with Christ for guidance. He has promised to be with us. He has commanded us to pray. God would by these words tenderly invite us to ask as His true children ask their dear Father. We pray because of His command – “Call upon Me in the day of trouble...” Yet we also pray because of His promise. “…I will deliver you and you will honor Me.” {Psalm 50:15} He has promised to answer every prayer. His desire is that we call to Him in our time of need.

B.   We go to be with Christ for assurance. His assurance to us is that He will act on our behalf and always for our good. The hymn writer reminds us, “The will of God is always best, and shall be done forever; And they who trust in Him are blest; He will forsake them never. He helps indeed. In every need; He chastens with forbearing. They who depend On God, their friend, Shall not be left despairing.” [LSB #758]

Transition: Our coming Lenten pilgrimage is a going up. It is also a going back.

II.     It is a going back. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Matthew 17:3 

A.  We go back to Moses and Elijah to get to our roots. Moses and Elijah are the chief spokesmen of the Old Testament. Jesus will tell us Moses and Elijah and all of the Old Testament speaks clearly of Himself “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about Me,”- John 5:39   

B.  These two prophets of old served God’s people at two important points in the history of God’s people. Under Moses the Lord led His people from the hand of bondage to a promised land flowing with milk and honey. Elijah, on the other hand, had become convinced that he was the only one left. Still the Lord reminded him that he had reserved 7,000 who had not bowed their knee to Baal. In both instances the Father was with them.

C.   As we recall the stories of these prophets of God we remember that the cross is grounded in the Father’s ancient promises of deliverance. Isaiah the prophet writes, The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2  David reminds us, He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. Psalm 40:2

Transition: Our coming Lenten pilgrimage is a going up. It is a going back. It is a going down.

III.   It is a going down. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”  Mtathew17:9

A.  It’s a going down to witness. Let is a time of reflection.  It’s an excellent time to share your faith with a friend. In Lent our focus is turned squarely on the cross. St. Paul encourages us when he writes, For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. – 1 Corinthians 2:2  During Lent we fix our focus on Christ and His cross. Share that message with a friend.

B.  Our Lenten pilgrimage is a going down to service. During Lent as we focus on Christ’s sacrifice. We respond in service toward our neighbor. Jesus died for you so that you can now love and serve your neighbor. Jesus is the stone the builders rejected so you now become living stones in His structure the Church.

C.  In our going down our pilgrimage through Lent allows us to carry the cross. What burdens, what trials would the Savior have you carry?  Do not carry them too long. Deposit them into His hands. He will bear them for there we find strength and endurance as we focus on what He endured for you and for me on that cross of Calvary.

Conclusion:  How shall we describe this journey on which we will embark in three day?  Our coming Lenten pilgrimage is a going up. It is a going back. It is a going down. We walk with Jesus to the bloody and cruel cross and the mouth of the empty tomb. There we shall find peace with God, absolution for our sin, and salvation for our souls.

+Soli Deo Gloria+

Epiphany 3

Epiphany 3
January 27, 2008
Isaiah 9:1-4
Some Day You’ll Be Glad

“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.”

Introduction: When people are struggling, when they are in the midst of trouble, they cannot imagine things will so improve that the sorrow, pain, fear, and anxiety will change to joy. It’s almost as if they are babes lost in the woods. They can’t see the forest for the trees. All seems hopeless and so pointless.  

In the words of our Old Testament lesson a message of hope comes to a people who had lost everything and for whom there was little hope or promise. What was that promise? It was the promise of God to a people living in the oppression of darkness. The point of Isaiah’s message was designed to encourage and uplift those who may have had reason to despair. Where do people turn today when they contemplate their condition?  Our text for this day says to you who find yourselves to be in trouble —

1. God promises you’ll be glad some day.

2. There are good reasons for your hope.

3. Light will replace the darkness.

4. Liberation from oppression will come.

1.        God promises you’ll be glad some day – Vs. 3 “You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.” Isaiah 9:3                    

When we are in the midst of some trouble, we can’t imagine that things will so improve that the sorrow, pain, fears and anxiety will change to joy. Everything seems so overwhelming. Yet to this very situation of hopelessness a message of hope arrives…It comes in the form of a promise from God to a people living in the oppression of darkness.

What is the source of joy of being a Christian? It is the joy we have in knowing Christ. He is the Light of the world and the end of our darkness. To know Christ is to be free from the power and condemnation of the Law and from the consequences of sin, which, of course, is death. Scripture is quite clear on this matter. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) In Ezekiel 18:4 God said, "Behold all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sins, it shall die". The soul that dies is the soul that sins. Therefore, in order for a soul to die, sin would have to occur by that soul. The apostle John states it much clearer - in 1John 3:4 he says, "Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law". Sin is something that you do. Says St. Paul; “By the deeds of the Law no flesh will be justified.” (Romans 3:20)

God gave His Law to hunt us down, find us out, corner us, and kill us. The Law is powerful, but it is a deadly power because of our sin. In the end, the Law exposes us as the enemies of God we really are…In the end, the Law leaves the sinner utterly sinful, utterly condemned, - utterly dead. The Law leaves the sinner without hope in himself or the Law. There is no hope – except for one – our Lord Jesus Christ.[1] Again, Scripture is quite clear, “God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)   Joy is a by-product of Jesus’ preaching the good news of salvation, His teaching the truth of both sin and salvation of Law and Gospel  helps us begin to understand such joy even in the midst of sadness. Jesus entered this world and began His mission to redeem me a lost and condemned creature. He came for only one purpose which was - to save me from sin, death, and the power of the devil.

Transition:  God promises you will be glad some day.  Christ Jesus entered our world to deal with our sin and all which is broken in this world and in particular in our own lives. There is reason to hope.

2.        There are good reasons to hope.  Consider the historical background of our text for today. In 734 B.C. Assyria took into captivity Zebulon and Naphtali. It is a dark time of their history. But, the people see a light in the coming of a great king whose coming means great joy. He is their Messiah, their Savior. In the darkness of conquest, a light is seen bringing great joy.

Today’s Old Testament Lesson is in part a repeat of Christmas morning. Then it was used as a fulfilled prophecy of the birth of the Messiah Jesus of Nazareth. Here it is used as fulfillment of the glorious time for the land, “Galilee of the nations.” St. Matthew, in today’s Gospel lesson, sees the start of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee as the fulfillment of this great promise.   

The Epiphany theme of light is evident in both Gospel and Old Testament lessons — the people, “have seen a great light.” Jesus is the fulfillment of all the promises of that light.  Christ is the Epiphany (or the manifestation) of light. Epiphany deals with the revelation of the glory of God in Jesus.

God’s glory is seen in the ministry of Jesus — He brings the kingdom to people through His threefold ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing, a ministry to the whole person: soul, mind, and body. Paul sees the glory of God revealed in the cross — the means of deliverance from the oppression of sin, Satan, and death.

Transition: God promises you will be glad some day.  Christ Jesus entered our world to deal with our sin and all which is broken in this world and in particular in our own lives. There is reason to hope for in this Epiphany season we discover that Jesus is God’s manifestation of light. You are given a reason to hope as you are drawn to Christ’s light.

3.        Light will replace darkness – Vs. 2   “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2 When Isaiah wrote these words, there was much darkness in the land. Assyria had conquered Zebulon and Naphtali and carried off the people to bondage. There was the darkness of oppression, homelessness, and forced labor. In today’s world there is also much darkness: and therefore very little light. There are many experiencing loneliness, pain, bereavement, poverty, and addiction to drugs or alcohol. We rejoice that in Christ the light has begun to shine as Jesus begins his ministry.

Transition: God promises you with a glad future. Christ entered this world to deal with you misery and sin. Christ the Son of light came to disperse the darkness of sin as He took your sin to Himself. As He carried those burdens and cares He frees you –

4.        There will be liberation from oppression – Vs. 4 “For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor.” Isaiah 9:4  In today’s society we often hear the word, “broken,” to describe the human condition: families are broken up by divorce; parents’ hearts are broken when rebellious children misbehave badly; nations are in turmoil because of broken relations — embassies are closed, ambassadors are called home and soon war is declared. In this verse, “broken” is a good word. Because of Christ the power of sin is broken. The broken relationship between God and humanity is healed.

Conclusion: Epiphany’s light will be short this year – next Sunday – already is the Transfiguration of our Lord. That light already is directing us to the cross on which we witness that great exchange – God’s mercy and forgiveness purchased at the cost of His own Son!  “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.” (John 3:16)  AMEN.

+Soli Deo Gloria+

[1] Issues, Etc. Journal Vol. 6, No. 1 “The Law’s Accusations: God’s Perfect, Specific and Unavoidable Demands” by Todd Wilken pp. 9-10

Epiphany 2

Epiphany 2
January 20, 2008
John 2:29-41
Called to Witness

Introduction:  What is our calling as Christians? We are to bear witness to the things of God. Today’s theme: “Called to witness” simply expresses what you, as a redeemed child of God, have been placed into this world to do. Yet, sharing our faith can be one of the most distressing things we could do. What do I say? Might I say the wrong thing? What if someone asks me a question of which I can not answer?  In our gospel lesson John teaches us how we can witness in a winsome way.

I.        From the example of John – who pointed to Christ. Vs. 29

II.     From the example of John - who told of His experience. Vv. 32-33

III.   From the example of Andrew - who invited a friend. Vv. 40-41

I.        From the example of John the Baptist – who pointed to Christ. Vs. 29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

A.     He spoke little of Himself.

B.     Why should he? He knew he was a sinner “I should not be baptizing you, rather you should be baptizing me!”

C.     Why should he? Jesus was more important, “I am not worthy even to untie His sandals…He must increase I must decrease.”

D.     His focus was fixed firmly on Jesus.

1.      “Behold the Lamb of God…” Jesus is meek, mild, innocent, and spotless.

2.      “…who takes away the sin of the world” Only He can bear the sins of the earth in His body. Only He can exchange His perfect life for your tainted life. Watch! As He takes each sin to Himself.

Transition: We take the example of John the Baptist who pointed to Christ and who told of his experience.

II.     Take an example John the Baptist who told of His experience. Vv. 32-33 “And John bore  witness saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and He remained upon Him. I did no t know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “upon who, you see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him., this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”

A.     John only told the crowd what the Father had told Him.

1.      He would see the Holy Spirit descend and remain on a man.

2.      He would be the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit.

B.     We too simply share what the Father has spoken to us.

C.     Of course we don’t hear voices, have visions, look for signs etc. We don’t need to!

D.     We go to that source where the Father has clearly spoken – we share and tell what the Father has clearly spoken.  

Transition: We take the example of John the Baptist who pointed to Christ and who told of his experience. We also take the example of Andrew who brought his brother to meet Jesus Christ.

III.   Take the example of Andrew who simply invited a friend Vv. 40-41 “One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah (which, is translated ‘the Christ’)”

A.     Having had such an experience he couldn’t keep it to himself.

1.      He had found Christ.

2.      What an impact Jesus had had on Andrew!

B.     Likewise, we impact others as Christ has had such an influence on us.

C.     You might be the only Bible another person reads.

D.     Impact your world, where you live, work, and go to school. Share Christ, draw others to Him.

Conclusion:  By these men’s examples we now have been given examples on how to impact our world for Jesus Christ. May the Lord direct you as you witness for Him!

+Soli Deo Gloria+

Epiphany 1

Epiphany 1
January 13, 2008
Acts 10:38
The Baptism of Our Lord

“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power”

Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him 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; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Introduction: Today in the calendar of the church – we remember this day as the 1st Sunday after the Lord’s Epiphany - the Baptism of our Lord. What is so important concerning this day? Why do we observe it? The Baptism of Jesus marks the beginning of His public ministry.

Almost everybody wants to be a success in life, be it the college student slaving away at his studies, the independent truck driver hauling his load, a farmer marketing his crop, or the small business man finishing the deal. Each, in his own way, wants to be successful. 

How do we mark success? How do you know you have made it?

The one who has the greatest success in history was Jesus. He succeeded in living a perfect life, in overcoming sin and Satan, in accomplishing His mission on earth. What was His secret? Our text gives us the foolproof secret for every person. “Because God was with Him”

I.        God is with Jesus in Spirit – “anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit”

A.     Jesus succeeded in living a perfect life. In every respect was He perfect and obedient.  Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, Jesus was both God and man in one person. It was His will to fulfill the will of His Father. As a young boy He remained at the temple sitting at he feet of the elders listening to them and asking them questions. When His frantic parents at last found Him, He remarked, “Why were you searching for Me? Did you not know I must be about My Father’s business?” And yet, we are reminded that “He returned to Nazareth with them – and was obedient to them.”

B.     Yet, for you, He overcame the power of the Devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh. “He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” This is God’s great exchange – our sin for His righteousness. Everything Jesus will do in His earthly ministry will be a singleness of purpose. He has only one mission, one goal – to win for you salvation.  Isaiah, the prophet, will remind us with “His stripes ye have been healed.”  

Thus, His miracles of healing are those deliberate acts He works to defeat the works of the devil. If it would take a miracle to work the Father’s will He performs a miracle. Yet, He can not be forced. When He knew that even a miracle would not persuade the people, He chooses not to perform any miracles. His ways are just – yet we can not press Him- or force our will upon Him.    

Transition: Jesus was successful because God as with Him, enabling Him to live a perfect life – enabling Him to die the perfect death. The Spirit is given to you for the same reason “Because God is with him…”

II.     Likewise the Holy Spirit gives you power – “and with power”

A.     This was promised to the 1st Century disciples. “And ye shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…but stay here in Jerusalem…And you will be witnesses in Jerusalem, and Judea, and Samarian, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.” God worked in these 1st Century believers as witnesses of the resurrection. They were not super heroes. To the contrary; often time they were weak. Quite often they quarreled amongst themselves. They were persecuted and often martyred for their faith. Often, they were abandoned by friend and family alike. What made them so different? They were witnesses of the resurrected Christ. They had seen Jesus die. They had seen Him alive. Their message was simple, direct, and life changing. This Jesus whom God raised from the dead –has changed our life and will change your life too.

B.     The power of God has been made manifest in you – in your own baptism. St. Paul put it this way, “When we were baptized into Christ Jesus we were baptized into His death. We were buried with Him in our baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father we too should live a new life. For, if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.” Your baptism into Christ Jesus is the power of God manifest in you. It is a birth certificate – it is a death certificate. In baptism you died to sin. In baptism you were raised to new life. In baptism we consider ourselves dead to sin but alive to God.  Every time we make mention of our baptism, every time we remember our baptism, every time we come to God confessing our sin, pleading for His forgiveness, it will be granted to us. This is the power of God’s Holy Spirit being made present in your life.  

Conclusion: Jesus Christ was the most successful person known to man. His secret? He followed the will of His Father. As you have been baptized into His Name you now have become children of God and heirs of His kingdom. Jesus was “successful” because God was with Him. What’s the secret to your success? It must be one and the same…because God is with you – in your baptism – calling you to repentance –calling you to be a part of His family the church.  

+Soli Deo Gloria+

Epiphany

Epiphany
January 6, 2008
Matthew 2:1-12
Christ – Before and After

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 the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Introduction: What is man’s condition before and after Christ? Consider the Wise Men of our Gospel lesson for this morning. Their lives were changed. What has happened to you before and after you have considered this baby born for us on Christmas morning? For those touched by Christ, like these wise men there is a before and an after.

I.        Before…

A.     Before the Wise Men came to Bethlehem. “they went their way” (Vs. 9) Why are they called “wise”? As in the Gospel Lesson for today, the Wise Men were more than men who studied the stars. History has called them Wise Men because they made a quest for God. 

Today men are wise if they seek God in Christ. The foolish ones of this world seek other gods — power, prestige, possessions.

B.     Before we are confronted with Christ we too can be tempted to go our own way in life following our own agendas, plans and directions. We find ourselves in a New Year. What would you determine to do this year in 2008? Is Christ a part of your future? Wise Men follow guidance. They saw a result of humble acceptance of guidance; they reached the Christ-child. Moreover, Wise Men then and now worship the King.

Transition: There was life before these Wise Men confronted Christ – there was life after they met Him.

II.     After

A.     Then the Wise Men came to the child Jesus, worshiped, and gave gifts. In the Gospel for today we can see two kinds of worship. The one is a false worship based upon insincerity. Herod told the Wise Men to seek after the child, “that I too may come and worship him” (v. 8). Out of fear for his position, Herod wanted to know where the new King was born. Today worship can be a guise for evil intentions.

B.     They departed to their own country by another way. (Vs. 12)  On the other hand, there is true worship practiced by the Wise Men: “They fell down and worshiped him.”

Transition: The Wise Men’s lives were changed from before to after they had met the Christ child. How does this confrontation play out in your life today?

C.     For us today.

1.      When you bow down in worship before Christ, life is never the same again. No, the same challenges, failings and frustrations of the past year might still be ours today. But we have a relationship with a Savior who has borne our iniquities and carried our sorrows. We need not strive with Him for His desire is to carry us – and accompany us along this journey of life. Will you walk with Him this season?   

2.      Christ makes the difference in your life. These men had their lives changed – they had encountered the Christ – this is what made them wise – they were humbled in the presence of Christ and offered to Him their treasures gifts and praise.

Conclusion: Just what is the difference in your life? At Christmas we receive the gift of God in Jesus. Epiphany is the time for believers to give a return gift to God by presenting gifts to Christ, as the Wise Men did. It is noteworthy that the Wise Men gave their gifts as a part of their worship.

Giving something to God when we worship is a vital part of worship, an expression of faith and love. It should never be a collection we take in church but an offering, the offering of gifts to God in gratitude for the gift received.

Note the price of the gifts the Wise Men offered — nothing cheap: “Opening their treasures the offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (v. 11).

These gifts were meaningful, full of symbolism: gold because he was a king, frankincense because he was a priest offering the perfume of prayer, and myrrh because he was a redeemer who died to save the world. What can you offer to one who has everything?

What can humans give to God? For the affluent at Christmas, it is a problem what to give to one who has everything. The Wise Men had the answer. Their gifts were fit for a king. They offered to Him their very lives.

On mine heart imprint Your image
Blessed Jesus, King of grace,
That life’s riches, cares, and pleasures
Never may Your work erase;
Let the clear inscription be;
Jesus, crucified for me,
Is my life, my hope’s foundation,
And my glory and salvation.[1]


+Soli Deo Gloria+