“The Messengers Carry the Message” (Daniel 10:10-11) St. Michael and All Angels

S-1383-19SAP/C 9/29/2013 Hymns: (O) #254 vv1-5; (S) #506; L.S. #255; 257; (C) # 254 vv 6-7

Texts: Daniel 10:10-14; 12:1-3; Revelation 12:7-12; Matthew 18:1-11

Theme: “The Messengers Carry the Message” (Daniel 10:10-11) St. Michael and All Angels

Question: “What message do you have for the world?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text is from the O.T. lesson: “And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. And he said to me, ‘O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.’ And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling” (Daniel 10:10-11).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I would like to say that I have not spoken to you the truth in love. As a messenger of the Gospel I have hurt you by what I have said and done. For that I pray that you would forgive me all of my sins and continue to join me in getting the true message of God’s grace to the world.

On this St. Michael and all angels day, there is only ONE message worthy of being proclaimed. It is the message that we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb! We have been saved from our enemies—satan, sin and death! We have been marked as belonging to God through the gift of Baptism! That our sins have been forgiven through the brutal event of the cross and the empty tomb! This message has been proclaimed throughout generations by angels, prophets, apostles and evangelists. The message is the same, but the messengers change from age to age. The messengers’ concern is only with the message. It is the message that is important. By the grace of God we too, have heard the message, and are called upon to continue proclaiming this blessed message.

Throughout all of Scripture we see God’s messengers carrying this message. Moses had a message to Pharaoh, “Let my people go” (Exodus 5:1). Joshua had a message to the people of Israel, “Choose you this day whom you shall serve” (Joshua 24:15). Nathan had a message to David, “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7). Isaiah had a message to the exiled, “Comfort my people says Your God” (Isaiah 40:1). The angel Michael had a message to Daniel “To stay firm” (Daniel 10:10-14). The angel Gabriel had a message to a young woman in Nazareth, “You shall conceive and bring forth a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save the people from their sins.” (Luke 1:31). Another angel appeared to Zacharias in the temple and told him, “Your wife Elizabeth will conceive and bring forth a son,” (Luke 1:13). The 7 angels spoke the message to the seven churches in Revelation (2-3). And the Apostles and Evangelists carried the massage to every corner of the earth. PAUSE.

Certainly, there are other messengers out there. We hear of wars and rumors of wars. We hear good news someone just had a baby, your brother or sister is getting married. Your aunt is celebrating 50 years of wedded bliss. You hear the message the crops are going to be good this year. All of these are good and wonderful messages, but they don’t compare with the ONLY true message of life and salvation. There is nothing like hearing the angels who shared the message with the shepherds outside of Bethlehem, “Fear not, for we bring you Good News of Great joy, today in the city of David a Savior has been born.” (Luke 10-11). Yes indeed the Savior of mankind has come. He lived among us. He suffered for us. He died for us. But the greatest news of all, also carried on the voices of angels at the empty tomb, “He is not here. He is risen, just as He said!” This is the greatest message that needs to be proclaimed in the loudest voice from the highest rooftops and moutaintops, from every pulpit to every person in the pews and on the streets!

This message will not be broadcast across the screen from Scott Pelly, Brian Williams, or Diane Sawyer. You will not hear it on CNN or Fox news, but you will read it in God’s holy book. God’s eternal message of love, forgiveness and salvation is stated clearly in it. You will hear it as you come to God’s Holy house to nurture your soul with the heavenly manna. You will benefit from it as you gather Bible study. And you will greatly rejoice as you pick up this precious message in the palm of your hands, read, learn and inwardly digest its comforting and life-changing message.

Isaiah said it well, when he spoke, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion. “Your God is Your King!” PAUSE.

Though we are called in baptism to live our lives as the messengers of Christ, yet at times we feel inadequate to share this good news with others. Satan even tells us we are NOT equipped to spread the message. Besides, you got a pastor that is his job let him do it. But brothers and sisters in Christ hear me well; the message can’t wait, it needs to be proclaimed, it needs to be shared, it needs to be uttered. How many people are dying daily without hearing the greatest message in the world? Think of the terrorists who are killing in the deceitful and evil name of Allah thinking they are doing his work. How many people are dying trying to get to heaven by their own righteous work, power and position in life? But none of these things will do, except the message of the Good News, that Jesus Christ is our ONLY savior. And He alone can open heaven’s doors for us.

Sadly, at times you and I get in the way of the message. We think, if only we can be less stringent, not teaching all of its truth, or calling sin for what it is—damming, then, we will reach others. We hear from many pulpits that sin doesn’t matter, as long as you have good intentions. Sin still kills damns and separates us from our holy God.

At other times we compromise what we stand for as Christians. We turn our faces away from the sins we are committing, or a brother is involved in. We say we don’t have to do what the Bible teaches. We don’t have to be faithful stewards of His good gifts. We don’t need to be in church or in Bible study. It is enough to give an hour in Church, but don’t you dare ask me to do anything else. I want to live my life without any restrictions.

On this Saint Michael and all angels day, you and I are indeed blessed, because God calls us to honor Him with our lives of service. Yes, the honor and privilege is for us as the redeemed of God to share the good news of our salvation.

To be sure God has called you in baptism to be a message carrier. You and I by the grace of God are the means and vehicle to share the great and most awesome news in the world with those around us. Just like a smile is contagious, so you and I ought to be carriers of this message of grace, love, hope and peace.

Unlike the dread of certain disease that can be contagious and deadly; you and I have a message to relate to others. We are simply messengers of the Message. And what is that message? That we have been saved by the mighty and precious arms of Christ from our sins. You and I have been bought back. You and I are guaranteed the eternal mansion in heaven that our Lord is preparing for us.

Yes, we are called to go out of our way and share the blessed news with all the world. Then begin by the Spirit’s power here in this place, in your home and your community and what the Lord will do through you. Don’t rely upon your own efforts to accomplish this blessed task, but look to the Savior who has equipped you in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. As children of God we can do no less, except joyfully share this message with the rest of the world.

Think, what would have happened if the apostles and evangelists didn’t do what the Lord asked them to proclaim. Where would we be? Lost, like many others who don’t know or believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior; on our way to hell. You and I have a great and blessed opportunity of sharing a message that will change the world. A message that will comfort any troubled soul. A message that will give hope to the hurting; help to the lost.

Conclusion:

Indeed, brothers and sisters in Christ. There is only ONE MESSAGE to be shared, spoken and proclaimed. It is the message that Jesus Christ is the Only Savior from sin, death and the power of the devil. The angels of God could not wait to proclaim that a Savior was born to save mankind. And neither can we! I have a message for you today from God who said, “I have given my Son for you because I love you so much!” Jesus has a message for you, “I love you with every ounce of blood in me!” He loved you so much that He was willing to go to hell for you, rather than go to heaven without you. He loved you so much that (open arms) He died on the cross telling you, that He will not spare anything to have you with Him in heaven. What a wonderful Good News we have today. A Message of hope and peace! Calvary’s message is this: “Son, be of Good sheer, your sins are forgiven you!” Wow! What a message God gives us. Go home empowered by the Spirit’s power to be “messengers who carry the message.” What a message. A message that opened heavens doors for us. A message that has blotted all our sins from the Holy God of Israel. A message that tells us Satan has no power over us. To Him alone be all glory for now and throughout all eternity. AMEN.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Shining Like Stars” (Daniel 12:3)

S-1343 25SAP/3B 11/18/12 Hymns: (O) #400; (S) #441; (C) # 803 LSB

Text: Daniel 12:1-3; Hebrews 10:11-25; Mark 13:1-13

Theme: “Shining Like Stars” (Daniel 12:3)

Question: “Are you letting Christ’s light shine through you?

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for our Meditation is from the O.T. lesson: “And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3).

Precious children of the heavenly Father, in his devotional book “God Grant It” C. F. W. Walther writes: “If you want to learn to know God’s heart and will toward you, look at Christ in the manger, in the circle of sinners that sur­rounded Him, in Gethsemane, and on the cross. There you can read God’s heart as in an open book. For whoever sees Christ also sees God the Father. As you find nothing with Christ but kindness, love, and grace, so you can be certain that you will find all of this with the Father. Christ calls sin­ners to Himself, and He does not condemn them; instead, He forgives them their sins. And this is also what God does. He, too, wants to have mercy on you. Christ desires to take you up into His heavenly kingdom and so does the Father. To know the disposition of God’s heart, you need only to look at how Christ is disposed toward you. His mercy is the reflection of the mercy of God. The sympathy of the Father is reflected in Christ’s tears over the misfortune of the sin­ner. Christ’s blood, which flowed for the atonement of the world, washed away the wrath of God, so He could pro­claim, ‘I am reconciled with men!’” (P. 879). With these words, Pastor Walther shows us a little more of who God is and what He does for His precious children—that is you.

In the text before us we see the great and profound mystery that our world denies. It denies the truth of Scripture. It denies that Jesus is the ONLY Lord and Savior. It denies that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. It denies that there is going to be a Judgment Day. It denies that there is heaven and hell. And it denies the teaching of the Church. How tragic!

Yet, “In a culture that encourages people to celebrate the idea that life has no goal and urges each individual to find meaning wherever he or she can, the Church offers a very different description of reality. Our author, Daniel, gives the shocking prophecy that at the end of time the dead will rise; some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt!”

Daniel says it like it is the time is coming when we shall stand before the Throne of Grace and receive the judgment for our actions. He also tells us what our Awesome God will do—deliver the world from the tyranny, oppression and cruelty of the devil. He will deliver us by the mighty deed of Him whom the Star over Bethlehem’s manger identified as the long expected Messiah.

This Messiah shined brighter than the sun. In John we read, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (1:4-5). On the Transfiguration Mountain we are told, “And he [Jesus] was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light” (Mt. 17:2). And Jesus Himself taught saying: “I Am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Those who know Jesus, those who follow Jesus, and those who worship Jesus will shine like the brightness of the stars. That is the same message Daniel conveys to us today: “And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Indeed, we who have seen the light of the Gospel should be shining like the stars in the heavens. PAUSE.

Now you do not have to be an astronomer to know that stars shine. All you need to do is look up to the skies at night and you will see the stars shining. They don’t have to be told to do so, that is what they are.

Likewise, we too, are called to shine with the brightness of the stars. Sadly, however, most often we don’t. We have lost the holy fear of offending our gracious God. Rather than living in the light, we walk in the dark. Rather than letting the light of Christ shine through us we let the black deeds of the devil overcome who we are and manifest itself in our actions.

It saddens me when I see us (ALL of us) getting angry and upset with one another over stupid stuff. Rather than talking with the one who hurt us (intentionally or otherwise) we go downtown to the Bowling alley, Blue Moon, at the Coop or by our cars and cut others down. Some even post things on Face Book denouncing what they don’t like about the Church. It is the gossip of the town. It breaks my heart when we let the devil take over our lives because we are not happy with this or that. Why is it necessary for us to feel we have to hang our dirty laundry for the world to see? Why is it necessary to break the 8^th Commandment by not speaking well of each other or putting the best construction on everything? PAUSE.

Oh precious, precious children of the heavenly Father, that is not who you are. You ARE God’s beloved children. You are the Baptized by God. You are the Redeemed of God. You are the reconciled by the Savior through His death and resurrection. You have your names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Kindly don’t let the devil rob you of the joy of working together and letting your light shine. Don’t let Satan get in the way of the mission and ministry of this Church. Don’t let an evil thought or an angry moment to dwell in your heart. Instead, bring it to Christ, lay it at His feet and let Him carry that burden so that you may shine in this dark world.

Please, always look to the opportunities the Savior gives us—to build each other up rather than tare each other down. Always think the best of your brother and sister in this place, not that they are trying to hurt you but as ones who want to honor God by serving you.

We may not always do things the way you think it needs or should be done. But that doesn’t mean it is wrong. We may not always be the kindest and gentlest of people, but that doesn’t mean we are hate you or uncaring about you. This is who we are as sinners who have been made saints by the blood of the Lamb. PAUSE.

Precious, precious, children of the heavenly Father, one day, a group of tourists were viewing the Great Cathedral and the guide was explaining all of the saints in the stain glass windows. When the guide was done, a young girl hollered to her dad saying: “Daddy, I know what a saint is!” His response was, “who are they?” The girl smiled and said, “Saints are people who let their lights shine.”

That is you my beloved saints. Therefore, as Christ dwells in you, shine His light on those who are still in darkness. As you hear and heed His Word, shine like the stars in word and deed. As you partake of His Body and Blood you are strengthened for the ministry of letting the Gospel light ooze out of you. May God continue to use you as you shine like the stars in this dark world now and forever; Amen and Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA.

“The Heat Is ON” Daniel 3:13-18

S-1037 2/27/08 5SMIL/3A. Hymns: (S)#427 vv 1, 5, 7; # 516 ; (C) #552 vv 1, 4, 8

Texts: Psalm 48; Joshua, 3:1-4; 2 Corinthians 4:6-11; Matthew 27:11-31

Theme: “The Heat Is ON” Daniel 3:13-18

Armour, SD. SOLI DEO GLORIA (5th sermon in series on “Singing the Songs of Zion)

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us ...” Dan. 3:17

In July of 1989, I, along with my wife and two sons headed to St. Louis, MO., to begin my seminary training. Our apartment was on the third floor and the temperature was very hot; and we had no air-conditioner. It’s sweltering and sizzling, suffocating and sticky; it’s a scorcher for sure! The sun is out, the temperature is up and the sweat is rolling’ down. It feels like a five-alarm fire and it’s as hot as hell! All because the heat is on!

But this heat is not as bad as others have faced. You don’t believe me; just ask Hannaniah, Misheal and Azariah. Don't know who they are? Perhaps you know them by their Babylonian names—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Well whatever you call them they are standing in the heat. They are Hebrews in exile. Remember God had the Babylonians sweep over their homeland and take the people into exile because they failed to keep the God of their Fathers as their God. Instead they worshipped every other god they could get their hands on. These three, although they were faithful to God, were swept away with everyone else. Now they are in a hot spot as they are trying to hold on to their faithfulness to the God of their Father’s Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They are three in the midst of 300, 000 people. They had better blend in, bow down and sell out because King Nebuchnezzar has made a golden statue that is 12½ feet wide 125 feet high and issued this decree, “At the sound of music everybody must to bow down and worship my statue or else in the same hour they will know, first hand, that the heat is on!”

As they sweat bullets we can imagine these three Hebrews conversing, Shach: “What does it matter if we bow down to a statue just this once?” Meshach: “Besides, what a great opportunity we have to be a part of this stadium event!” Azariah, (speaking like a seminarian): “And besides, I’d rather cooperate and assimilate and tolerate and then graduate rather than hyperventilate!”

When the heat is on us and we are the three in the midst of the 300,000 – when we’re called to “not be ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe” – when we’re called to “not be conformed to this present evil age” – when we’re called to “confess the Son of Man before men with the promise that He will then confess us before the Father in heaven” all too often we shrink back like cowards, not wanting to be known or stand out or bow down. We would rather compromise and be comfortable, rather stand up, or stand out. There’s a part of us that soaks up the “air conditioned Christian life” where there is no sweat, no perspiration with plenty of ice tea and Pepsi to go around for everybody!

When faced with moral compromise – like internet pornography … when faced with ecclesiastical compromise – like character assassination … when faced with doctrinal compromise like “anything goes” … we say, “It won’t hurt if I DO IT JUST THIS ONCE. Besides, it’s fashionable to be “undecided” these days. Besides no one knows what goes on behind closed doors. And besides, I’ve seen what happens to marshmallows at campfires – hamburgers at barbeques – and yesterday’s leftovers in today’s ill-timed microwave ovens, they all burn up when the heat is on!”

In spite of these temptations Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are ready to take the heat: Listen to their bold witness and the words that will put them to death: “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us.” At this point our heroes appear to be hanging on for dear life, for all of the cards are stacked up against them. It appears that they are falling fast from the favor of the King. Everything around them is crumbling fast and they are surrounded by those who want to devour them. It’s that bad because Nebuchadnezzar is filled with rage and orders the furnace to be heated seven times hotter. This death chamber even has a window on the side through which spectators can watch the baking, the broiling and the burning when the heat is on!

Refusing to blend in, bow down or sell out Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are tied up and thrown into this blazing heat. And get this; the fire is so hot that it kills the men who take them up to the opening of the furnace!

Now what happens when just a few stand up against so many? What happens when people take a radical stand and turn neither to the right nor to the left? What happens when believers say, “Enough is enough! I will not sell out! I will not bow down! I will not bend!” I’ll let Nebuchadnezzar answer that for us: “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth one looks like a Son of God.”

Amazing! Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are saved by the same Son of God whose kingdom Daniel earlier describes as, “… a kingdom that will never be destroyed …. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” This is the same Son Daniel sees in chapter seven, “… coming with the clouds of Heaven, approaching the Ancient of Days and led into His presence. He is given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and people of every language worship Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” And this is the same Son of God whom Daniel says in chapter 12 writes our names in His book so that He will completely deliver us on the day when our bodies awake from the dust of the earth and enter the fullness of everlasting life!

And the result of their bold stand? The hair on their head isn’t singed, their clothing is unaffected, and they don’t even smell like smoke! I can’t even leave a bowling alley without smelling like smoke, but the Son of God’s protection is so thorough, so complete they don’t even smell like smoke!

This same Son of God climactically entered the furnace once again – only this time it was one against the world. Look. The heat is on; it’s sweltering and sizzling, suffocating and sticky, it’s a scorcher for sure because the Palestinian sun is out, the temperature is up and the sweat is rolling down His bleeding, battered and butchered body. It’s as hot as hell literally because Jesus Christ is taking the heat for your sins and mine. His cracked lips and parched throat cry out one word in John 19:28 – DIPSO – in Greek – in English two words, “I thirst!”

Three days later this Jesus came out of the fire alive – forever unbound – to make this promise from Isaiah 43, straight from His heart to yours – “When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego speak before a king and they are not put to shame. They not only say: “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us ...” But also – as true theologians of the cross – they say, “But even if God does not save us now, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Today God is calling and empowering us to make this same bold confession – that Jesus Christ is Lord, that there is new life in Him, and that we refuse to blend in, bow down or sell out to any person or system that would rob us of this Gospel! All to the end … that along with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego…. we are confident to sing this song all the days of our life …

“Great is thy faithfulness. Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed, thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me” (LSB # 810. refrain).