Pr. DFD

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Thursday of Lent 3

When Peace, like a River – Lutheran Service Book #763

Isaiah 26:3; Luke 2:29; Romans 5:1; Colossians 3:15

When peace like a river, attend-eth my way;

When sorrows, like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou last taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul

There are many challenges the Christian will face in life. There are many obstacles in our way. Yet the Lord has promised to direct our life. He orders your days He directs your life all is well when Jesus leads us. Circumstances as they are cause some to question, “is God with me?” There is suffering. There are persecutions. There is violence in this world. Jesus is the one who brok the darkness of our world to enter time and space. He came into this world to take on flesh, to bear your sin, to take on your pains, and sorrows, to bear your sin in His own body. He is the Savior that you need. You need not look for another. He came to be your Savior, friend and brother.

It is well with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.[1]

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Psalm 23,4

Psalm 23:4
The Good Shepherd prepares us for a Happy Death

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (KJV)

26 March, 2014

We are now half way through our pilgrimage of Lent. The Good Shepherd shares His life with us. He also prepares us for a happy death. David now directs our attention to the tomb. The Scriptures remind us: “It is appointed for men once to die and after that comes judgment.” {Hebrews 9:27} How can we be assured of a happy death? David reminds us the assurance we have as we look at verse 4 of our Psalm for tonight. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” -Psalm 23:4 (KJV)

1. Death brings about parting and separation – “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.”

There are numerous definitions of death. Some may suggest that death is the absence of specific functions of the body; such as no pulse, or that the person isn’t breathing, or that there isn’t any heart beat. Still other may say that the definition of death is the absence of brain waves.

Yet the Scriptures give us a concise definition of death. In the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 12 reminds us that the definition of death for the believer is the separation of the soul from the body. “then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7 NAS)

When the body and soul are separated the Christian can safely assume that death has occurred. Parting is also a part of the entire dying process. It has been observed that especially when an elderly person, who had been married for some fifty, fifty-five, or sixty years looses a spouse often they quite frankly loose the will to live. The Lord commenting on the marriage union tells us in Genesis 2:24: “For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” (NAS) The bond of marriage grows stronger over the years. When death occurs after a half century of memories are made there is a parting that brings immense sorrow.

David is correct, when death draws near, though it be a shadow, it casts a long silhouette and we walk through a deep valley filled with loneliness and sorrow. Even we Christians grieve at death. St. Paul says in 1Thessalonians 4:13-14: “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.” (NAS) Paul acknowledges that we grieve and sorrow at the point of death. We face separation and parting yet we grieve differently then those who have no Christian hope. We mourn our dead differently. We have a hope in the resurrection.

2. Yet, there is peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ – David reminds us: “I fear no evil”

The evil which men experience as death draws near is the prospect of facing God. It is amazing what men have said as they realized the certainty of their own demise. Consider what men have said on their deathbed.

Ø Francis Voltaire, A French unbeliever said to his doctor: "I am abandoned by God and men! I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months' life. Then I will go to Hell; and you will go with me. O Christ! O Jesus Christ!"

Ø Thomas Paine, An American author and unbeliever: "I would give worlds, if I had them, that 'The Age Of Reason' had never been published. O God, what have I done to suffer so much? But there is no God! But if there should be, what will become of me hereafter? Stay with me, for God's sake! Send even a child to stay with me, for it is Hell to be alone. If ever the Devil had an agent, I have been that one."

Ø Edward Gibbon, author of "History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire": "All is dark and doubtful!"

Ø Dwight L. Moody: American Evangelist said: "Earth is receding, Heaven opens before me. God is calling...”

Ø Paul the Apostle. -- AD 66: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness." (II Timothy 4:7,8).

Ø John A. Lyth: "Can this be death? "Why, it is better than living! "Tell them I die happy in Jesus!"^{^[1]}

3. David reminds us. We are protected, even in death – “For Thou art with me”

We do not walk alone. We walk through the valley of death with the Good Shepherd who took on death at the cross and defeated death and the grave once and for all. Jesus has promised: “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20) We are never alone. The Good Shepherd has promised us “I will never, no never leave thee, nor ever forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5) Here are no fewer then five negatives heaped together. They confirm a great promise. The believer in Christ shall have the gracious presence of God with him in life, at death, and forever!

4. Life is but a pilgrimage. In death we take a walk from one end of the kingdom to the other; from the kingdom of grace to the kingdom of glory – As we take this walk we are comforted by our Good Shepherd: “Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”

Wednesday of Lent 3

How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds - Lutheran Service Book #524

Acts 4:12; John 14:13; Acts 2:21

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds

In a believer’s ear!

It sooths our sorrows, heals our wounds,

And drives away our fear.

"There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved." Acts 4:12

You can't help but notice the passion and exuberance of the Apostles in the weeks following the resurrection. Their lives had been changed by a man named Jesus! They wanted to share how we too could be saved. This season of Lent is an excellent opportunity for us to tell others of the hope that is within us. As the early Christians’ lives were changed by experiencing Jesus’ death and resurrection we ask the Lord Jesus, allow me to know Your great love for me and help me to share Your love with those I encounter. The very name of Jesus gives us peace, comfort and assurance. How sweet is the name of the Savior in the ear of the believer.

Almighty God, You gave Your only-begotten son to take our nature upon Himself. Grant that we, Your adopted children by grace, may daily be renewed by Your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.[1]

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Tuesday of Lent 3

Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer – Lutheran Service Book #918

Exodus 15:13; John 4:14; 6:32-35;

Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer,

Pilgrim through this barren land.

I am weak, but Thou art mighty;

Hold me with Thy pow’rful hand.

Bread of heaven bread of heaven,

Feed me till I want no more;

Feed me till I want no more.

Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. Psalm 25:8-10

What else might we ask of God? We follow the example of the Psalmist and pray that God would also guide us all our days. Sadly ,we don't always keep our promises. We say we will, we intend to, but we don't follow through. We fail.

The Lord, is always upright and good. He is faithful and true. He always keeps His promises. We can always come to Him confidently. He encourages us to call upon Him in the day of trouble (Psalm 50:15). He promises that He will hear and answer. We will have reason to glorify Him as a result.

Almighty and ever-living God, You make us both to will and to do those things that are good and acceptable in Your sight. Let Your fatherly hand ever guide us and You Holy Spirit ever be with us to direct us in the knowledge and obedience of Your Word that we may obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. [1]

Monday, March 24, 2014

Monday of Lent 3

Glorious Things of You are Spoken- Lutheran Service Book #648

Psalm 87:1-14; 132:13-18; Isaiah 33:20-21; Exodus 13:21-22

Glorious thins of you are spoken,

Zion, city of our God;

He whose word cannot be broken

Formed you for His own abode.

On the Rock of Ages founded,

What can shake your sure repose?

With salvation’s walls surrounded,

You may smile at all your foes

Picture springs of grace and mercy that flow down from heaven to God’s people along with springs of joyful praise that flow up to the presence of God. From God flow streams of blessing that supply abundant life along with our every need. Jesus spoke of rivers of living water that would flow to His people (John 7:37-39). James reminds us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James. 1:17).

Lord God, Your Son wept over ancient Jerusalem, and He established the New Jerusalem firmly upon the rock and made it the mother of the faithful. Make us rejoice in Your Church, and grant that all people may be reborn into the freedom of Your Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord. [1]

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Time in the Word - Lent 4

Light to See

The Fourth Sunday In Lent was formerly known as Laetare Sunday, taken from the first Latin word of the Introit, Laetare, meaning to “rejoice.” It was also known as “Refreshment Sunday” because of the Gospel lesson of the feeding of the 5,000.

The second half of Lent begins in a lighter mood in preparation for the depth of sorrow coming in the Passion. Today’s three Lessons harmonize on the theme of light, vision, and insight. Samuel is given the insight to see that of all the sons of Jesse, David was the one to be king. Jesus brought spiritual vision to the man healed by blindness. Paul exhorts Christians as children of light to walk in the light of goodness. Since David was called to be the shepherd of Israel, Psalm 23 is appropriate. We pray in the Prayer that we may be cleansed from the darkness of sin that we may be children of the light, which is Christ. From the light of spiritual vision, for the cure of our spiritual blindness, we can rejoice — Laetare!

Collects for Lent 4: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children, and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Father Creator, You give the world new life by Your sacraments. May we, Your Church, grow in Your life and continue to receive Your help on earth. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives, and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

God of all mercy, by your prayer to heal and to forgive, graciously cleanse us from all sin and makes us strong.

Collect for Psalm 142: Lord Jesus, hanging on the cross and left alone by Your disciples, You called on Your Father with a mighty cry as You gave up Your spirit. Deliver us from the prison of affliction, and by Yourself our inheritance in the land of the living, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit You are blessed now and forever.

Monday, 24 March 2014—Psalm 84:1-4; antiphon, Psalm 84:5—In the Introit for Sunday, we pray, My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He will pluck my feet out of the net. Those who have come to know the Lord as their deliverer and the sustainer of their lives place their confidence in Him. This is the definition of faith. In this Lenten season, the cross looms closer. Place your confidence in Him and Him alone.

Tuesday, 25 March 2014—Psalm 142—key verse, verse 5, I cry to You, O Lord; I say You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. This is David’s prayer for rescue. The Lord is the sustainer and preserver of David’s life. We place our confidence in Him for He is the one who preserves us.

Wednesday, 26 March 2014—1 Samuel 16:1-13—God gives light to see character—Samuel anoints David to succeed Saul as king. Here is a story of a shepherd boy who is made a king. Because God was sorry he ever chose Saul to be the first king of Israel, he instructed Samuel to secretly anoint a successor to Saul. He is sent to the home of Jesse in Bethlehem to anoint a replacement for Saul. Which one of the eight sons of Jesse did God want as king? All seven sons were interviewed but none satisfied God’s choice. The youngest, David, was in the fields caring for his father’s sheep. Samuel ordered him brought to him. Seeing the handsome youth, Samuel at once recognized him as God’s choice, anointed him king, and then departed. The Spirit that enlightened Samuel now rested mightily upon David.

Thursday, 27 March 2014—Ephesians 5:8-14—Christians live in the light of Christ. Christians are the children of light. Paul writes to people who have become Christians. He refers to their former lives of sin as “darkness.” Now they are children of light and are to live as lights in terms of what is good, right, and true.

There is a contrast between before and after Christ, between God and Satan, light and darkness, good and evil. Christians are to have no part in the works of darkness but rather they are to expose evil to the light. In his closing words, Paul calls for the dead (“asleep”) in sin to rise in the light of Christ.

Friday, 28 March 2014—John 9:1-41—In the Gospel lesson Jesus, the Light, gives spiritual vision. A man born blind receives physical and spiritual sight. It takes a whole chapter to tell the story of how Jesus brings spiritual light to a man born blind. The actual miracle is told in a few verses, but the healing gives an occasion for Jesus to bring a man from agnosticism to faith. We see the formation of faith: from “the man called Jesus,” to “prophet,” to “a man from God” to “Son of Man.” In contrast to the light of the healed man, the Pharisees are in the darkness of sin and unbelief.

In Jesus’ day the popular view was that sin caused suffering. In the case of the man born blind, the disciples asked whose sin caused the handicap. Jesus answered that no one sinned in this case. Some suffering is caused by sin, but we should see suffering as an opportunity for God’s healing.

Saturday, 29 March 2014—Romans 8:29; 2 Peter 1:4; Ephesians 4:24; 2 Corinthians 3:18—Sunday’s Hymn of the Day is On My Heart Imprint Your Image (LSB #422). The knowledge of God is not an abstract concept but is couched in love and mixed with purpose. God not only knew us before we had any knowledge of Him, but He also knew us in the sense of choosing us by His grace before the foundation of the world. The reason God foreknew, predestined and conformed believers to Christ’s likeness is that the Son might hold the position of highest honor in the great family of God.

Sources:

Schnorr von Carolsfeld, woodcuts © WELS Permission to use these copyrighted items is limited to personal and congregational use.

Sunday of Lent 3

May God Bestow on us His Grace – Lutheran Service Book #823

Psalm 67:1-2; Psalm 96:10-13; Isaiah 55:1011; 62:1-2

May God bestow on us His grace,

With blessings rich provide us;

And may the brightness of His face

To life eternal guide us,

That we His saving health may know,

His gracious will and pleasure,

And also to the nations show

Christ’s riches without measure

And unto God convert them.

The goal of the Christian life is the appreciation of the Savior’s amazing grace and then sharing the Savior’s story with others. God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their sins against them and has given us this message of reconciliation. Today, celebrate your salvation in Christ. Thank the Lord for His mercy and grace. Then live your life as a redeemed child of God and share His story with others.

Almighty and everlasting God, You desire not the death of a sinner but that all would repent and live. Hear our prayers for those outside the Church. Take away their iniquity, and turn them from their false gods to You, the living and true God. Gather them into Your holy Church to the glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.[1]