Lent mid-week 4

Lent Mid-week 4

March 17, 2004 

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)

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!" (*)

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.”

The shepherd’s rod was an effective tool. At times it was used to prod the sheep and keep them moving. At other times the shepherd used it as a hook to bring them back into the fold. Never was it used to strike the sheep. Only the Good Shepherd would be struck down.  On the night of His betrayal Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 26:31-32: “You will all fall away because of Me this night for it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered’ But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Thus our Good Shepherd comforts us.  He was struck down on Good Friday but raised to life on Easter Sunday. The Good Shepherd, hours before His own death promised them His Easter! When we anticipate our own death we place our hope in the resurrection!

Death is so limited...

it has not crippled love,
it has not shattered hope,
it has not corroded faith,
it has not eaten away peace,
nor destroyed confidence.

It has not killed friendship,
it has not shut out memories,
it has not silenced courage,
it has not invaded the soul,
nor reduced eternal life.

It has not quenched the Spirit,
it cannot, has not,
nor will not lesson the power of the resurrection!

(*) Quotations from "Knight's Master Book of New Illustrations" (c) 1956  Published by Wm. B. Eardmens  Company

Lent mid-week 3

Lent Mid-week 3

March 10, 2004 

Psalm 23:3 

The Good Shepherd who puts His life in us

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (KJV)

St. Paul writes in Romans 6:3-5 “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with {Him} in a death like His we shall certainly be reunited in a resurrection like His” This passage speaks of baptismal regeneration. In baptism we died to sin and were made alive in Christ. That happened to me personally as I was baptized at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, New Haven, IN. - March 10, 1957 - forty-seven years ago today. Baptismal regeneration calls for us each day to recall what happened to us in and through our baptism and then to daily live in our baptism as redeemed children of God.  – That’s what we call sacramental living – Experiencing daily the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation as Christ comes to us in and through the sacraments. As we continue looking at the Shepherd Psalm tonight we focus on verse 3. 

Tonight we hear of the Good Shepherd who puts His life in us

1.    The Savior makes this personal - He restoreth my soul

Jesus our Good Shepherd restores me when I wander. No creature will lose itself sooner than a sheep. We often refer to them as “stupid sheep”!  Sheep are so apt to go astray, and then so incompetent to find their way back.

The best saints are sensible of their predisposition to go astray like lost sheep. It’s more then an inclination. It’s what we call our sinful nature. David writes in Psalm 119:176:  “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Thy servant, for I do not forget Thy commandments.” (NAS)

Isaiah writes: “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” (Isa.53: 6 - NAS)  That’s the story of Lent. We are all like wandering sheep. We have gone astray; each of us has turned to his own way. What shall be done? The Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. We miss our way, and turn aside to a different road. But God shows people their error, gives them repentance, and brings them back to their duty again, He restores the soul; and, if He did not do so, they would wander endlessly and be eternally lost and undone.

When, after one sin, David's heart smote him, and, soon after another, Nathan was sent to tell him, “Thou art the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7) God restored his soul. Though God may endure when His people fall into sin, He will not tolerate them to lie still in it.  Through contrition repentance and faith we are restored back to the Father.

Our Good Shepherd recovers me when I am sick, and revives me when I am faint, and so He restores the soul, which was ready to depart. He is the Lord our God that heals us.

In Exodus 15 we are reminded: “So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" Then he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree; and he threw {it} into the waters, and the waters became sweet. There He made for them a statute and regulation, and there He tested them. And He said, "If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer."  (Exodus 15:24-26 -NAS) Many a time we should have fainted unless we had believed; and it was the Good Shepherd that kept us from fainting.

2.                  The Savior places real and abundant life in us - He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

God’s honor is at stake. It’s His reputation, which is in jeopardy. Thus He must act and act judiciously and appropriately. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake

 See here the courage of a faithful saint. Having had such experience of God's goodness to me all my days, “in six troubles even in seven.” The Christian will say: “I will never distrust him.”

We learn to say by faith: “Because all He has done for me, even though it was not for any worth or merit of mine, but purely for His name's sake. In the pursuance of His word, in the performance of His promises, and for the glory of His own name and for the good of His people. That name therefore shall still be my strong tower, and shall assure me that He who has led me, and fed me, all my life, will never, ever, leave me.” This is how the Good Shepherd has placed His life in us. 

Lent mid-week 2

Lent Mid-week 2

March 3, 2004

Psalm 23:2

The Good Shepherd who provides for us

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. (KJV)

At the cross on Calvary’s hill the Son of God Jesus Christ was suspended between earth and heaven. There He bore the sins of the entire earth in His body. He carried your sins and mine on His own back that we might have salvation and life. The Shepherd-King David describes how that was carried out for us in the second verse of this most beloved Psalm. Here we see how the Good Shepherd who gives His life for us. David speaks to us tonight reminding us: “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”

There is a great benefit in being in the Savior’s presence. The Christian knows that God is with him and that He will take care of him now.  But what about tomorrow? What about tomorrow?   As we look to the future we can expect the benefit of the Savior’s mercy and care especially when we need it the most.

1.      With the Savior by our side David can speak of a position of security - “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures”

Consider the happiness of the saints as the sheep of God's pasture. They are well placed, well laid: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. We have all the supports and comforts of this life given to us from God's good hand.  Our daily bread comes from Him, as He alone is our Father. This greatest abundance is but a dry pasture to a wicked man, who will relish only in that which pleases the senses.  But to a godly man, who tastes the goodness of God in all his enjoyments, and by faith relishes that, though he has but little of the world, to him, it is a green pasture. Ps. 37:16 reminds us: “Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked.”  And in Proverbs 15:16-17 we are reminded: “Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, than great treasure and turmoil with it. Better is a dish of vegetables where love is, than a fattened ox and hatred with it.”

God's ordinances are the green pastures in which food is provided for all believers. The word of life is the nourishment of the new man. It is milk for babes, pasture for sheep, never barren, never served up bland, never parched, but always a green pasture for faith to feed in. God makes His saints to lie down; He gives them quiet and contentment in their own minds, whatever their lot is; their souls dwell at ease in him, and that makes every pasture green.

A question for us to ponder. Are we blessed with the green pastures of the ordinances of the Good Shepherd? Let us not think it enough to pass through them, but let us lie down in them, abide in them; this is my rest forever. It is by a constancy of the means of grace that the soul is fed.

2. David now speaks of the progress of Salvation “He leadeth me beside the still waters”     

We are well guided, well led. The shepherd of Israel guides Joseph like a flock; and every believer is under the same guidance: “He leadeth me beside the still waters.” Those that feed on God's goodness must follow His direction. He leads them by His providence, by his word, by his Spirit. He disposes of their affairs for the best, according to His counsel. He disposes their affections and actions according to His command. He directs their eye, their way, and their heart, into His love.

The still waters by which He leads them, is not only a pleasant prospect, but a cooling portion, a reviving cordial, a refreshing drink when they are thirsty and weary. God provides for His people not only food and rest, but refreshment also and pleasure. The consolations of God, the joys of the Holy Ghost, are these still waters, by which the saints are led, streams, which flow from the fountain of living waters and make glad the city of our God.

God leads His people, not to the stagnate and standing waters that corrupt and gather filth. Not to the troubled sea, nor to the rapid rolling floods, but to the silent waters; for the still but running waters agree best with those spirits that flow out towards God and yet do it silently - the prayers of His saints.

We lie down in security – “Come unto Me...” Jesus has told us, “...all Ye that are weary...” wearied by the troubles and burdens of life. “Come unto Me... all who are heavy-laden...” Heavy laden with the guilt and burdens of sin.

“Come unto Me...” the Good Shepherd has said “ ...and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light." {Matthew 11:28-30}  He will supply us with all that we will ever need for our soul. “It is well, it is well, with my soul.” He alone will lead to the quiet waters, which give us the Father’s peace.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday

February 25, 2004

Ps 23:1  (KJV)

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

The Good Shepherd who shares His life with us.

INTRODUCTION: Tonight we begin the discipline of Lent. We begin a forty-day pilgrimage as we walk with the Savior observing His Passion, suffering and death. During our Wednesday evening services we will focus on one of the most dearly loved Psalms in the entire book of Psalms, Psalm 23, the Shepherd’s Psalm.

David will demonstrate for us the secret of a happy life. More then money, riches, honor or fame the secret is found in a magnificent spiritual relationship centered in Jesus Christ. David points to us the Good Shepherd who shares His life with us.  We focus this evening on verse 1: “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want”

1. A Good Possession - The Lord is my Shepherd. David speaks of the great care that God takes for believers. He is their shepherd, and they may call Him so. There was a time was when David was himself a shepherd; he was taken from following the ewes great with young.

“He also chose David His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds; From the care of the ewes with suckling lambs He brought him, to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance.” (NAS Ps. 78:70-71), David knew by experience the cares and tender affections of a good shepherd towards his flock. David remembered what needs sheep had of a shepherd, and what a kindness it was to them to have a true shepherd that was skilful and faithful; he even once ventured his life to rescue a lamb.

By these words David illustrates God's care of his people; and to this our Savior refers to Himself when He says, “I am the shepherd of the sheep; the good shepherd,” (John. 10:11). He is the shepherd of Israel, and of the whole church in general: “Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel, Thou who dost lead Joseph like a flock; Thou who art enthroned {above} the cherubim, shine forth!” (NAS Psalm 80:1), He is the shepherd of every particular believer; even the meanest is not below His awareness, “Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs, and carry {them} in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing {ewes.}” (NAS Isaiah. 40:11).

We are sheep who have gone astray. Lost in the rebellion of sin we have become wayward sheep. Isaiah the prophet explains in

Isaiah 53:6 “All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.”

As the Good Shepherd Jesus rescues the sheep. He takes them into His fold, and then takes care of them, protects them, and provides for them, with more care and devotion than any shepherd can. He makes it his business to keep the flock.  Thus we pray: “into Thy hands I commend myself {placing} my body and soul and all things {into Your care...}”                                

Transition: If God is as a shepherd to us, we must be His sheep, inoffensive, meek, and quiet, silent before the sharers, yes, and before the butcher too, useful and compassionate; we must know the shepherd's voice, and follow him.

2.         A Good Provision -    “I shall not want” David speaks of the great confidence which believers have in the Good Shepherd: "If the Lord is my shepherd, my feeder, I must conclude I shall not want any thing that is really necessary and good for me."

Sheep can not do one thing to provide for themselves. They need a shepherd who will provide for them. Of themselves they can do nothing. They are lost, confused and would soon be destroyed without Him. Thus the Good Shepherd will provide for all that we need to support our body and life; both physical but especially spiritual necessities.

When the Christian considers that God is his shepherd, he can boldly say, “I shall not want!” We need not fear. We don’t have to worry about starving; God upon finding us supplies all our needs. We have Him as our feeder. More is implied than is expressed in this little phrase. Not only can David say: “I shall not want”, but also, "I shall be supplied with whatever I need. If I have not everything I desire, I may conclude it is either not fit for me or not good for me currently or I shall have it in due time."

David, a king of his own right acknowledges that the Lord is his Shepherd-King. Jesus, who suffered and died on Calvary’s cross has become our good shepherd. We walk with Him as we observe His Passion. We need not worry about being in want. To the contrary, we will enjoy goodness and mercy each and every day of our lives. As we begin the discipline of Lent walk with the Good Shepherd -He guides and directs your path.

Christmas

Christmas

December 25, 2003

Luke 2:10

A Heavenly Message

“Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy"

INTRODUCTION: The message of the angel to the shepherds was significant to say the least. The angel said “behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy” The same message which came to these watchers has come to us this day. What would this message say to us today?

I.        The message comes to men who were wide-awake.

A.     They were “keeping watch” over their flocks. That was their vocation, their job, their life’s calling. When the message came to them they were found faithfully performing the duties of their chosen craft. Where have you been placed?  The Gospel message is not for only one small aspect of our lives.

We cannot compartmentalize, placing Christ’s birth into only one small portion of our complicated life. Christ came to men, as they were busy doing their job, performing their task. The message of salvation was given to theses men where they lived. It fit into the environment into which they lived. Likewise, the significance and importance of Christ’s birth comes to you and me in our life, where we live and work.

B.     The time for the appointed message had come and it was given. It was given to them that they might believe. Likewise the message of the Savior’s birth has been given to you and to me, at this time and for this same reason that we might believe and live.

C.     God did not wait for the world to wake up. The angel would herald the message of Jesus’ birth without warning and it was given directly to these shepherds. It was important that these men knew that the Savior was born – immediately the message went out.

In your life, the Savior did not wait for another opportune time for you to hear this message of salvation. At the appointed time at the acceptable hour this message of salvation was given to you for your redemption and life. It was given to you directly – through the clear message of the Gospel – which is found in the pages of Scriptures and in the blessed Sacraments.

D.     If men sleep when the Lord comes, it is not His fault. The message of salvation has been delivered at the proper time. The carols, the greeting of this season; “merry, happy and blessed Christmas” as an expression is direct that all might know and believe that the Savior has been born, and has come to us for our salvation. The message is clear – Behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy - for you a child is born, for you a son is given”, still many refuse to receive this message with joy.

II.     The message came to disinterested workers

A.     These men loved their flocks more then their own comforts. They worked the long hours because they felt a sense of duty and obligation to their jobs. Not much has changed over the years. There are countless people dedicating themselves to their jobs because they too feel a sense of obligation and purpose. Like these shepherds there are many people putting in long and tedious hours working at lonely and isolated jobs because of a sense of obligation and duty.

B.     The visions that have blessed the world came to these men who watched while nations slept!  The world hardly noticed that its Savior had been born. These men watch in wonder as the rest of the world slept. To us the announcement of Savior’s birth has been given. Does the world notice? Does this world seem to care? The only way in which the people of this world will know that to us a child is born and unto us a Son is given is for the Christian citizens to respond as these shepherds.

As nations slept these shepherds watched.  As this world sleeps we need to be vigilant waiting for our Savior’s visitation, and then telling other of the wonderful things we have heard and seen. As these same shepherds returned back to their jobs, “glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen as it was told unto them” we in kind respond with the same message.

III.   Is the fact significant that the message came to shepherds?

A.     What inference should we draw from this fact?  The Scripture is quite clear. “The Lord opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble”. While James mentions that God has chosen those who are “poor” in the eyes of this world to be rich in faith. (2:5)

Paul explains in 1Corinthians 1 “Brothers think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; nor many influential; not many were of noble birth…But God chose the foolish things of this world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of this world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one many boast before Him” (vv.26-29)

These shepherds were by no means wise, or influential by the world’s standards, nor would we guess that they were of noble birth.  By the world’s standards the Savior was none of these either! Yet, the Savior makes Himself known to us in these hidden ways so that “no on may boast before Him”. No one would guess that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem. No one would guess that He would be born in a stable. And no one would guess that His birth would be announced to shepherds. 

But that was exactly the way in which He chose to make Himself known – in these hidden ways; in words from the pages of Scripture, in the water of baptism, in elements of bread and wine; in absolution, which is spoken.

B.     This message has changed us. It certainly changed the shepherd’s lives. They had been told and they beheld the King, the Savior of the world, “wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger”. We too have heard and believe. For He has changed our life – as we have been drawn to Him.

CONCLUSION:  The message the shepherds received is for you this day “Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy…” To common shepherds this message was given. To people of a common faith we hear and believe. A blessed Christmas in Jesus’ Name.

mid-week Advent 3

Advent Mid-week 3

December 17, 2003

Zephaniah 3:14-15

“Rejoicing in God’s Mercy"

INTRODUCTION: The times in which the prophet Zephaniah lived were filled with challenge and intrigue – similar to our life and time. Sitting on the throne over Judah was a young king by the name of Josiah. He served at a time when the people’s hearts had grown cold as they had wandered far away from the Lord.

Yet, often we find that men are chosen in history to live and serve and lead at such critical times. It was during King Josiah’s reign that the book of the Law was discovered. Josiah found the long-lost books of the Law just before the faith in the land would have been snuffed out.

It was Josiah’s task to reform the people back to God and for this challenge God raised up the prophet Zephaniah as part of the effort to call Judah and especially Jerusalem back to God. It is within this context that our text for tonight was recorded in sacred Scripture.

As we are counting down the days before Christmas parties are in full gear – there are office parties, club and classroom celebrations not to mention family gatherings that are soon to commence. 

Yet how many times do people have parties only to complain about the company! “Did you see what she wore? How cheap could he be - serving that! Who do you think they were truing to impress? They only show up when they want something!  Sound familiar? Sadly it is true - people simply do not have reconciliation parties to celebrate true joy.

Turning to our text for tonight the prophet Zephaniah describes Judah as a young girl who should be at a party. The prophet writes, “Sing, O daughter of Zion, shout aloud, O Israel – Be glad and rejoice with all your heart O daughter of Jerusalem.” (Vs. 14)

There is true joy to be found when God and people are brought together and reconciled. The words of our text express the true spirit of Christmas as we find God’s joy over the return of His people. Advent is not all solemnity –there are reasons for us to rejoice. This evening lets concentrate on three good reasons for us to rejoice.

1.         Danger has passed – “the Lord has taken away your punishment.” (Vs. 15a)  At Christmas we rejoice that God has come to visit His people. At Christmas God broke into time and space to take upon Himself the burden of our sin. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary Christ took on flesh and dwelt among us.  He took on flesh to be our substitute. He was human in every respect yet without sin. Thus He is perfectly equipped to take away our punishment. Where Adam fell Jesus triumphed. Where Adam gave into temptation Jesus stood up to the test even the last temptation. “If you are the Son of God come down from the cross and even now we will believe in you!” 

Transition: “The Lord has taken away your punishment.” The danger has passed because Jesus has conquered and triumphed- taking our punishment that we deserved. With the punishment taken away our enemies are defeated.

2.         Our enemies are gone – “He has turned back your enemies” (Vs. 15b) Our enemies are numerous. Sin, death, the world and our own flesh, they all rise up to condemn us. The last enemy to be defeated is death. Death awaits us all – sacred Scripture is quite clear on the matter. “The soul that sins it shall die” and “The wages of sin is death”

Working behind these evil minions, forces and sources is the Devil himself “the father of lies” who deceives the whole earth.  “And there was a war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the Devil and Satan, he was thrown down to the earth and his angels were thrown down with him.” [Revelation 12:7-9]  “For God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment.” [2 Peter 2:4] “And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day” [Jude 6]

The Devil was no match for the Savior. Advent’s rejoicing and Christmas joy only makes sense with a clear view of the bloody cross. Matthew explains it this way: “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of their tombs and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” [Matthew 27:50-53]

Transition: There is reason for us to rejoice! Danger has now past, our enemies are gone. Out God reigns!

3.         God is in our midst – “The Lord the King of Israel is with you – never again will you fear any harm” (Vs. 15c)

Jesus has given us His promise. Never will I leave you – never will I forsake you. This is the promise conferred to us. Most promises we make are made with the best of intentions but they leave us disappointed and disturbed when they are broken. Christ can not break His promises. He is bound to keep them. He can never go back on His Word. To the contrary he has bound Himself to His word. When God’s Word is preached, read, shared or applied in Baptism and consumed in the Supper there God is conferring to us His promises – promises to bless us, to guide and sustain us. He bestows on us His blessings – forgiveness, life salvation. They can never be separated! Where there is the forgiveness of sins there is always life and salvation.

God is with us. Because He is in our midst, never again, never, ever will you fear any harm. Our enemies are defeated, danger is past us – God remains with us to bless and keep us. His gift, His blessings, His benediction turns the glow of Advent promises into the brilliance of Christmas fulfillment!

CONCLUSION: How long did the rejoicing in Judah and Israel last? About 20 years – Josiah’s 30 years of reforms bought Judah and Israel just a little bit of time [about two decades] before Jerusalem was sacked by the Babylonians. Over time Judah and Israel fell back into idol worship. Their rejoicing lasted but a season. For our rejoicing to be significant and lasting may our focus remain on Christ who alone has borne our sin reconciled us to the Father and also to each other.

Mid-week Advent 2

Advent Mid-week 2

December 10, 2003

Malachi 3: 1-4

CAN YOU ENDURE?

The second candle is lit!  We are less than two weeks away from the birth of our Lord and Savior!  We are waiting with expectation!  I am like the little boy who is watching Mom put presents under the tree!  Wanting to open all the presents that belong to me, and to help others open their presents, just in case they don’t want to open theirs right away. 

We are waiting patently, but we are impatient!  Who can take the coming of Christ at Christmas?  Each year, Christmas is becoming more and more difficult to endure.  We all have experienced it with the buying and the exchanging of gifts, the cost of the gifts, what should you get that one member of the family who is so difficult to buy for, or, who seems to have everything.  And, if that were not enough, there are all the stresses and strains which come along during Christmas.  Social agencies report that at Christmas there are more personal problems that occur than at any other time of year.  It seems at Christmas there are more loneliness, more heartaches, and more disappointments.  Who can take Christmas!?

Our text from which our thoughts will focus, cuts away the fluff and focus on the real issue which is at hand, and that is the problem which all of us must deal with and that is how do you and I rest and find peace when we know that the Lord will return?  Malachi in verse two of our text asks us, “But who can endure the day of His coming?”

[1]    The first thing we must ask ourselves is this: can we endure the secularization of Christmas?  In a sense we can say that it is easy to endure the secularization of Christmas because Christians have been doing that for centuries.  The celebration of Christ’s coming to our world was introduced to the world because already pagans were celebrating the coming of Winter.  (December 21, “Winter Madness”) And times have not changed much over the years. 

It was Lutheran Christians who brought the celebration of our Lord’s natal day to Fort Wayne and the surrounding areas.  Soldiers at the fort saw December 25th, as just another day.  And other religious groups in the area believed that any type of celebration as pious and as Christianized as it was, was just not proper.

Today, it seems that merchants and store keepers, and internet businesses try to get as much “bang” for their buck as possible, offering sales and displays for their customers long before December, and in some locations long before November, or September!

Yes, it is easy for some to be distracted, and it is easy for one to focus on all of the lights, and trappings of the season, forgetting the reason for the season.  But you and I can endure the secularization of Christmas for as soon as December 25th comes around, the shopping frenzy will be over!  The real question for us is this: can we endure the refiner’s fire of cleansing of sin?  In short, can we take and can we endure the Holy presence of Jesus Christ?  That is the question, that is the issue which we must face!

[2]    When Malachi wrote this verse, he saw the coming of Christ.  He saw the Lord coming to the world, not as a baby, but as the King and Judge of all.  This is how we must see Him too!  We must see Him as Judge and King!

No wonder some are so miserable during this time of the year!  They look at their sin and they see nothing but despair and misery.  They try to be happy but they can’t.  The reality of their sinful condition jaunts them.  Who can endure the coming of the Lord?  The answer short and sweet is, NO ONE CAN!!  No one can stand before Jesus for He is a  holy and a perfect God.  Malachi tells us that.  He is a consuming and purifying fire.

That is why we need to look and see just who it is who was born there in the small city of Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago.  Yes!  It is a baby which we worship, but He is more than just a baby.  He is at the same time God made flesh.  He did not stay in the crib, but grew up to be a man.  He lived and died in our place, that we might be freed from sin and restored to be the children of God as we were created to be in the first place.

Without forgiveness we cannot come into the holy presence of our Lord.  We could not endure the refiner’s fire.  We could not endure His holy presence.  That is why if you and I are to make any sense of this celebration of Christmas – if we are to endure this season – we must look beyond the trappings and the lights and the sentimental sounds and realize with Simeon of old, that there is this little boy is all of God’s promise, all of God’s forgiveness, all of the remedies of our sin!

This is a merry Christmas for you and for me, for only one reason . . . and that is, that we see in the baby the answer to all our prayers; the solution for all of our problems; the only way out for our problem with sin.

If we focus only on trappings and the wrapping, and we cannot see God’s miracle of stamping out sin in this baby – then the misery and the pre and post Christmas blues will probably continue.

But our text reminds us to wake up and sing, rejoice, and shout!  For God has come to you!  He has been set to restore and rescue you!  He has come to bring you and me salvation and eternal life!  You and I will have a merry Christmas for here we stand, redeemed and saved and restored by a Savior who loves us with an everlasting love, who has promised to never leave us nor forsake us!

Who has promised to walk with us each day of our life!  In these days and weeks of preparation may we each see that the cross is only a few weeks away from the Creche and the cradle.  For it was at the cross, there at Golgotha, that salvation was completed.  When we do that, we will be able to take Christmas.  We will be able to enjoy the season.  And we will be able to understand that YES, in the baby Jesus, there really is PEACE on Earth and Good will to Men.  There is peace and safety for all who believe.

In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord, to everlasting life.  Amen.