“The Perfect Gift”

S-1529 CD/3C 12/25/15; Hymns: (O) #387; #370; #361; #374 vv. 1-2; (S) #383 vv1-3; L.S. #619; #623; (C) #383 vv4-5

Texts: Psalm 2; Isaiah 62:10-12; Hebrews 10:11-14; Luke 2:8-20

Theme: “The Perfect Gift” (Hebrews 10:12-14; Luke 2:10-11)

Question: “Did you get the gift you wanted?” (18^th Sermon at Trinity).

Faithful followers of the Savior, Merry Christmas to one and all, the text for this blessed celebration of the birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ is from the Epistle and Gospel readings. “And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until His enemies should be made a footstool for His feet. For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified…And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (Hebrews 10:11-14; Luke 2:11-13).

Most precious children of the heavenly Father, may I be bold to ask you a couple of questions: “Well, how did you do? Did you get the gifts that you wanted? Were you surprised at all by a gift that you received? Are you quietly looking for a gift receipt so that you can return that one certain gift that, well shall we say, “Missed the mark?”

No matter how you did in the gift getting department, there are some stark realities about the gifts you just opened. Think about the best gift you received this Christmas season. The truth is they will not be as pristine as they were the very moment they came out of the box. Those gift cards will be spent and be nothing but a cheap piece of plastic that might do in a pinch if your ice scraper goes missing this winter. That super toy that you feverishly unwrapped will, in time, be off in the corner of the room gathering dust like last year’s toys. The game system you want to spend every waking hour playing will become old hat and will spend untold hours of disuse near the television. That wonderful sweater that you may even be wearing this morning will fade with wear. What’s worse, there is the very real possibility that you may find that it even shrinks between now and next Christmas. The rest of the clothes may well go out of style before they are worn out. I don’t mean to rain on your Christmas gifts. I am just trying to be realistic. We need to be realistic, especially since we finally are through the UN-realistic pre-Christmas season.

In my 60 short years of life I can’t say that I actually remember a gift from the past that really stand out today and that I can’t live without. Certainly, I am thankful for the gift of my wife, children, daughter’s-in-law, grandchildren, family, friends; and of course the saints of Trinity. But none of these gifts are eternal this side of heaven.

Spouses pass away, family and friends move away, relationships breakup and even church members decline and some even leave the faith. Though they are special gifts from God they are not lasting ones. PAUSE.

A story is told of a young lady by the name of Jennie. Jennie’s death was a sad event in her family’s life. Yet, Jennie before she died, marked that her body would be used as a donor. After her tragic death, her body made a difference in the life of at least sixty (60) people. That is certainly good. However, think of the impact of the Son of God, the Ultimate and Perfect GIFT He makes a difference not only in the lives of 60 people, but for all the people of the world.

Here is how the Author to the Hebrews put it: “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until His enemies should be made a footstool for His feet. For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:12-14). Through the GIFT of heaven, God has done what we couldn’t do—earn our salvation; remove our sins from us, live a righteous life before God and have eternal life

But through the Babe of Bethlehem we receive the Perfect GIFT by the Perfect Savior, who makes us perfect forever. Through His life, death, resurrection and ascension He makes us perfect.

Today, the Holy Spirit reminds you once more, that God is in the business of giving. He gave life to Adam and Eve. He gave deliverance to Noah and His family. He gave freedom to the Israelites. He gave Joshua victories over his enemies. He gave David a kingdom, land and property and He still offers gifts today.

Indeed, our loving Father is in the business of giving, and we are the recipients of His gifts—God’s great and perfect gift is found in the manger. The greatest and most perfect GIFT ever received is a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. This is the PERFECT gift. It never runs out, it never rusts, goes out of style, or be out of use. You don’t have to exchange it or take it back. Its benefits are complete and useful. It always fits, always gives blessings, always comforts, always brings joy and lasting peace. PAUSE.

Beautiful people of God, few days back, I got a Christmas card from an elderly lady. What she wrote was so blessed and beautiful—I was moved by what she wrote, and wanted to share it with you. Here is a snippet from her letter: “…Well I don’t get excited about the run around and the shopping and all that goes with it. What I get excited about is Church and the True meaning of the Holiday. Services, Christmas Eve program, Christmas Day Services that is what it means the most. I don’t care if I get gifts. There is only one gift I need and that is the GIFT of our Dear Lord and Savior.” Isn’t that wonderful? She knows what she needs—Her Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ—the Babe of Bethlehem.

During Christmas we prepare different gifts, for the little ones one kind, for the older children another, and yet other kinds for parents and older folks. But it is not so with this highest—the Perfect GIFT, of which the angel here speaks! “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke2:10-11). It is one and the same great gift for all, for young and old, for rich and poor, for the shepherds at Bethlehem, for you and for me.

Children of God, today, hear the truth and keep it in your hearts. The Perfect GIFT is so unlike the others we get or give. Most of the gifts we get eventually wear out, become weary in our use and eventually either ends up on a rummage sale or in the garbage. It was God who first gave us His Ultimate and Perfect GIFT. Read the Christmas Tag from God, “Whoever believes ...” (Mark 16:16; John 3:16). That is a GIFT that you don’t put away after Christmas is over. Never wears out, never becomes weary, it will never be sold at a rummage sale. But always useful!

Most precious Bride of Christ, always remember the GREATEST GIFT you will ever receive is not found in stores, or under your Christmas tree. It is found in the Babe of Bethlehem Jesus Christ who offers forgiveness, life and salvation. Because of this PERFECT, glorious and blessed GIFT, you will cherish and appreciate the gift of your family and friends. Amen and Merry Christmas!

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“First-fruit Giving”

S-1530 1SAC/3C 12/27/15 Hymns: (O) #357 vv1-4 (S) #783; L.S. 364; 368; 375; (C) #357 vv5-6

Texts: Psalm 111; Exodus 13:1-3, 11-15; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:22-40

Theme: “First-fruit Giving” (Hebrews 10:12-14; Luke 2:8-20)

Question: “Are you giving your first-fruit to the Lord?” (19^th Sermon at Trinity).

Faithful followers of the Savior, Merry Christmas once more to you precious and beautiful people of God. The text for our meditation is from the O.T. Reading: “When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord’s. Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery’”(Ex. 13:11-14).

In Nomine Iesu

Saints in Christ, as the Holy Spirit has brought us once again to kneel at the Manger since CHRISTmas is not a one day event, but rather, seeing God drenching His world in grace by giving them the long-expected Messiah—the Savior; today, we call once more upon the Holy Spirit to help us as we take time to reflect on the Words of Moses from his second book—Exodus. In these few words the Lord tells Moses to say to the Israelites to remember and celebrate the day the Lord God REDEEMED them from the bondage of slavery from the cruel master’s Pharaoh and his henchmen.

God tells them “…when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ You shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery’” (Moses was the first Lutheran, for he asked “What does this mean?”). By the gracious and strong hand of God the Israelites were freed and so have we. We too, like Israel were in bondage. But on account of Christ the Babe of Bethlehem, we have been freed from a crueler task masters, more powerful and evil than Pharaoh; more cunning, more wicked and deadly than any Isis or terrorist group we will ever meet—Satan Himself.

On account of the mighty act of deliverance by the ONLY true God the Israelites were commanded to give the first born of the womb to the Lord both of animals and humans they are to be dedicated to the Lord. This is a constant reminder to the people of Israel and us that deliverance from the enemy comes by the outstretched hand of God. Don’t overlook that statement. See the cross already in the O.T.

You and I as the redeemed of God and made part of the family in Baptism, have been privileged to travel in Spirit to Bethlehem to see this thing that has been told us by the angels; we saw the tiny hands of the Baby Jesus. Throughout His earthly travel He used His hands to do many kind deeds and freed people from many diseases and even death. But ultimately those strong, caring and loving hands were stretched on the cruel cross of Cavalry to redeem the world from its bondage and slavery under the tyrant Satan.

Those outstretched hands were the gift that God gave you and me to be redeemed and freed from every burden that drags us down and keeps us in the dark—destined to hell. On account of those hands our sins are forgiven and we are granted eternal life because those hands didn’t remain on the cross. They were placed in a tomb ultimately to rise again. PAUSE.

For this reason, I titled the sermon “First Fruit Giving.” But what does that really mean and how does that affect us? In order for us to know what does that mean we need the Word of the Lord to teach us!

Firstfruits, was a Jewish feast held in the early spring at the beginning of the grain harvest. It was observed on Nissan 16, which was the third day after Passover and the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Firstfruits was a time of thanksgiving for God’s provision.

Leviticus 23:9-14 institutes the firstfruits offering. The people were to bring a sheaf of grain to the priest, who would wave it before the Lord. A burnt offering, a meal offering, and a drink offering were also required at that time. Deuteronomy 26:1-10 gives even more detail on the procedure of firstfruits.

No grain was to be harvested at all until the firstfruits offering was brought to the Lord (Leviticus 23:14). The offering was made in remembrance of Israel’s sojourn in Egypt, the Lord’s deliverance from slavery, and their possession of “a land that flows with milk and honey.” The day of the firstfruits offering was also used to calculate the proper time of the Feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15-16).

In the New Testament, the firstfruits offering is mentioned seven times. Paul’s meaning is that, just as the firstfruits offering was the first portion of a larger harvest, these individuals were the first of many converts in that region. James calls believers “a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:18). Just like the sheaf of grain was set apart for the Lord, so are believers set apart for God’s glory. PAUSE.

Where do we find these firstfruits offering fulfilled? In Jesus the gift of heaven who was born to die for you and me. Paul writes: “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Jesus’ resurrection has paved the way for our resurrection. Significantly, if Jesus was killed at Passover, then His resurrection on the third day would have fallen on Nissan 16—the Feast of Firstfruits. When there is firstfruit that means there is more to come. So we too, shall rise from the grave.

Therefore, we are encouraged, not mandated to give our firstfruits to the Lord. Paul even taught us in 1 Corinthians 16:2 saying: “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.” We are to set aside these gifts to the Lord’s work as our occasion of thanksgiving and gladness of what the Lord has done for us and continue to do for us.

Yet, how often do we give our firstfruit offering to the Lord? Be honest now. Is the first check you write and set aside to the Lord, or after you had paid your bills, you check what you have left over? When you do something at church, is that your first thought, priority, or is it because someone begged you to do it? If you want to know if you are giving your firstruit to the Lord, check two things: Your check book and your calendar. This will give you an indication what is important in your life.

You see my beloved; our minds are not like the Lord’s. We focus on what is good for me and not the Kingdom. The 2^nd Petition of the Lord’s Prayer—Thy Kindgom come is not always on our mind. But it should be. Nor do we even consider that we can make a difference in what we say, do and give. Often time the devil deceives us in thinking no one will notice and there is no benefit to what we say, do, and give. But what we offer to the Lord is important! When our firstfruits are offered to the Lord in humility and love, He takes what we give Him and blesses others. PAUSE.

Children of the Heavenly Father, every year around Christmas a classic movie is played on our TV screens, titled “What a wonderful life” Starring Jimmy Stewart. The movie focuses on a young man by the name of George Bailey living in a small town, but with big dreams. From an early age, he wanted to get away from Bedford Falls, travel the world, and accomplish big things. But he didn’t. He started a bank business whereby he helped people in need. He gets married and has a family. But tragedy hits the bank when his uncle looses the money.

George is mad at his uncle, the world and everyone else and decides to kill himself. But God sent an angel to show what a difference he made in the lives of many in the community. Ultimately he is thankful for what he has and what a blessing his family means to him.

You too, my beloved have a family. Bound by love and filled with blessings by the Babe of Bethlehem who offers Himself as the firstfruit from the dead, so that you, me and many others will be welcomed in the family of God.

In Jesus and His relentless love; we have a wonderful life. On account of Jesus we receive blessings galore. We get to hear the Word preached, forgiveness offered and the Sacrament dished out. Here in this place we see the harvest of the firstfruits of God—given you and me and the world because of the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. For that we say amen and amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

Theme: “Let us…” (Hebrews 10:21-25)

S-1519 25SAP/3B 11/15/2015 Hymns: (O) #744; (S) #575; (C) #510

Texts: Psalm 16; Daniel 12:1-3; Hebrews 10:11-25; Mark 13:1-13
Theme: “Let us…” (Hebrews 10:21-25)

Question: “Do you enjoy eating lettuce?” (9^th sermon at Trinity).

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text is the Epistle Reading. Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the freshly slaughtered and living way which Jesus opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to worship together as is the unfortunate habit of some, but encouraging one another big time, And all the more, as we see the Day drawing fast near” (Hebrews 10:19-25)

In Nomine Iesu

Perfect people of God, made perfect by God’s Perfect Son—the Great and Eternal I Am, through the gift of righteousness—infinitely loved, fully forgiven, and heirs of eternal life.

While I was at the Seminary, one of our Professors who taught us homiletics (the art of preaching), often told us to avoid a “lettuce sermon.” Now our eyes got wide, like a deer in headlight. We didn’t know what he was saying. A “Lettuce sermon” is when the pastor would end his homily this way. “Let us resolve to spend less time enslaved to the digital world...Let us strive to be patient, following the patient example of Jesus...Let us daily fill our minds with that which is pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, and of good report. Let us. Let us. Let us. They dubbed such sermons as “Salad Sermons;” because it focuses more on what we are doing than the work of God in saving us.

WELL....Guess what? One of the greatest sermons ever preached was a Salad Sermon. In fact it is preached not by a Pastor but by the Holy Spirit that inspired the author of the book to pen these words to encourage us on our journey of faith and give us the added measure of running the good race, fighting the good fight with eyes on Jesus, ears on God’s powerful Word—so powerful is this word that changes lives forever.

This letter to the Hebrews, this first century sermon, is filled with a let-us patch. Let us draw near. Let us hold fast. Let us consider how to grow in love. But the let-us section of the Divine menu presented in the letter to the Hebrews follows after the writer has given them a generous meat portion for spiritual amino acids, for healthy spiritual protein, for healthy holy hormones, and eternal-life giving gospel vitamins. The “Lettuce” portion follows the serving up of the meaty Gospel. The meaty gospel contains these good news faith building truths: Christ died once for all sins! Jesus made purification for all our sins! Jesus is our great High Priest who totally understands intimately our predicament in life, is able to help, and is praying for us 24/7. Jesus loved us so much so that He was willing to become lower than angels to lift us up to heaven...to be a man to save mankind. PAUSE.

And here is one more meaty portion of the gospel. It comes from verse 19-20 of our text. It is so strong, so powerful, so dynamic, so striking, that most translators try to tame it way too much. vv 19-20 reads. “Therefore brothers and sisters of the risen Christ, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary—the body of Christ by the freshly slaughtered and living way which He opened for us through the curtain, through His flesh...”

Most English translations render “freshly slaughtered” as “new.” This one of a kind word in the New Testament, when traced back to its origins means “freshly slaughtered.”

Jesus as the Lamb of God, on Good Friday, was freshly slaughtered once for all. This translation fits so well with the whole context. Now, apply it to your life. Jesus was slaughtered on the cross for you. He just didn’t die for you. He was slaughtered for you. He did not die an easy death like the lambs and rams did—one quick kosher cut and they were humanely taken out of this veil of tears. NO Jesus was slaughtered in a more ruthless way than any other human—in love, for you, once for all.

We had just witnessed some of this slaughtering on our TV screens as the children of the dark—the followers of the devil, destroyed, maimed and put to death people who had done nothing wrong. We have seen the carnage, chaos and confusion that were brought about. These people were slaughtered. But Jesus was slaughtered so that no one would be slaughtered. And we His followers must do everything in our power to stop the slaughtering of humans and introduce them to the Eternal Lamb the Great I Am.

Faithful followers of Jesus, ironically, strangely, paradoxically, the writer of the Bible that gives us added insight into the deep, deep, deep love of Christ is a prophet who saw 600 years in advance what was going to take place on Calvary. This prophet six hundred years before the fact was planted at the foot of the cross. The same prophet, who cleanly, clearly predicted the Virgin Birth of God, Immanuel, predicted all kinds of details about Jesus’ death on the cross, because he saw ahead of time. This is the image we know of what took place on Good Friday on the cross:

For you, Jesus, God is flesh, the very photocopy of God, very God of very God, was freshly slaughtered. He died in love the most terrible death in history by far and the way to bring us to God. Now that is part of the meaty Gospel that precedes the “let us” portion of our sermon. PAUSE.

So the Messianic menu moves like this...in light of the Great High Priest, the Lamb of God, being slaughtered for you upon the cross in total unconditional love, Let us draw near—we who have drunk the waters of baptism. Let us hold fast in light of all the powerful prophecies perfectly fulfilled. Let us consider how to stir up love and good works, not by becoming isolated which the devil loves to see happen but by cultivating the holy habit of gathering together—especially since the Day of Christ’s reappearing is fast drawing near.

It is a series of “Let US,” echoing the “Let us make man in our image.” Love is an US, not a ME. We are parts of a body. We are not a lone ranger, but a family united by the blood of the Lamb. We miss a major point of love when we think we can be a lone ranger Christian and thrive.

The “Let Us” portion of our spiritual diet enjoins us to let us gather together to hear the story of Jesus, let us gather together to break bread together, and let us examine the powerful promises of God fulfilled so that we are filled with high octane heavenly hope.

Now that is a Super Salad sermon. And then for good measure the writer to the Hebrews gives to his readers and listeners wonderful dessert. He describes how Abraham, Moses, Joseph, and all the Old Testament believers kept their eyes on Jesus and heaven, the better City. Eyes on Jesus’ love and the better City helped them to endure during the bitter moments of life. It helped them to suffer mocking, imprisonment, Isaiah himself being sawn in two, death by sword, beatings by chains, destitution, and more.

Precious and perfect people of God, “let us” remember in our prayers the families that have been affected by the work of darkness and “let us” be children of the light, reflecting this light to all who are still walking in the ways of the devil, and introduce them to the Lamb who was slaughtered for them.

So my beloved, enjoy the “Let US” Salad sermon of staying close to Jesus anchored by worship, prophecy, and the Lord’s Supper. Be fortified by the meat of the gospel as you consider how Christ was freshly slaughtered for you. Relish the reality of the Better City of heaven coming your way, closer every day, to free us from all decay.

Let us run the good race enjoying the meat of the gospel. Let us enjoy this salad sermon of the letter to the Hebrews. And Let us keep our eyes on the Kingdom with perfect foundations—Heaven. In the name of the Him who was freshly slaughtered for US—YOU AND ME; “let us” say, Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Celebrating the Sabbath” (Hebrews 4:1-13)

S-1341 21SAP/3B 10/21/12 Hymns: (O) #827; (S) #850; (C) #832 LSB

Text: Ecclesiastes 5:10-20; Hebrews 4:1-13; Mark 10:23-31

Theme: “Celebrating the Sabbath” (Hebrews 4:1-13)

Question: “Have you encouraged anyone this week?” Mission Sunday for Mt. Calvary Huron

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for our Meditation is from the Epistle lesson: “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 3:13).

Precious ones, when I was growing up in Israel, we had many big celebrations—baptisms, engagements, weddings etc. We would get together, eat, fellowship and dance late into the night. Often mother would come and get me out of my chair and I would dance with her. My heart danced, my body danced and so did my soul. We were having fun and celebrating. But the time came when mother was getting older and no longer able to dance, so I danced with others. Eventually mother was called to her eternal rest, and I’m unable to dance or celebrate with her anymore this side of heaven.

In today’s text the author to the Hebrews speaks of the rest that we all need to enter. And as we enter it, we celebrate the rest God has given us. God gave us the Sabbath (Hebrew: Shabbat) as a day of rest and rejuvenation, a day to enjoy His creation and focus on Him. Shabbat means “to rest”. How many times in our busy lives we don’t take time for needed rest! The pace of life today is much faster than it has ever been. Today’s families seem to never have enough time to spend together. Celebrating the Sabbath provides time to unwind, be with family and refocus on the Author of Life—our loving and gracious God.

Unfortunately, the celebration of the Sabbath is a tradition that has been lost to many Christians. We have lost the desire to be with God and in His presence. There are many things that tug at us and keep us away from God’s holy house and the peace He offers us. There are games to attend, fishing, hunting, golfing, camping and a host of things that keep us away. We no longer have the hunger or the desire to get the proper rest of both body and soul.

Sadly we have lost focus and no longer cry out like David: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” (Psalm 122:1). Neither do we heed the Word of Jesus’ teaching: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28). And above all, we have forgotten what God has instructed us “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord Your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (Ex. 20:8-11). And we can’t forget what Luther stated regarding this Commandment: “What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.”

For this reason, the celebration of the Sabbath is an excellent teaching tool about God and His plans for humanity, and a wonderful “family time” as well. The Sabbath was the first festival to be outlined by God to Moses in the book of Leviticus. It was the first festival observed by God Himself in the book of Genesis, as well as being the first to be observed by man, even before the revelation at Mount Sinai when the other festivals were commanded. The Sabbath is a time of rest and is a Picture of the Bride (God’s people) resting with the Bridegroom, Yeshua (Jesus). It is very symbolic of the ultimate fulfillment of the eternal Sabbath with Him in paradise. PAUSE.

Because of this we are encouraged by the author of our book in another chapter saying “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (10:24-25). Oh how blessed we are when we do, and how tragic and sad when we don’t come to rest in His arms and celebrate what He gives us.

But like our fallen parents, ever since the fall in the Garden, we have continued to run away from Him. Rather than coming to Him seeking His blessings and proper rest of our bodies and souls; we seek pleasures and contentment in other things. Rather than resting and celebrating with Him we vainly try to find rest in the things that wear us out and worse these things KILL us.

Because of our disobedience Christ needed to come to earth. And while here, He obeyed the will of God perfectly. He always found time to be in the Lord’s house. He who is both God and Man needed the proper rest because of the demand put on Him and He always sought God and the rest He offers. But He did more than that. He went to the gallows of the cross to pay the penalty of our disobedience and to earn for us the proper rest—eternal rest with Him and in His presence. PAUSE.

The other day, I saw a street sign saying “Inactive Catholics come home.” That is a great slogan. But a sign on the street is not enough, we need to be involved in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ and invite all to come back not because they are inactive but because they are in desperate need to rest in Christ’s bosom and celebrate the forgiveness He offers them through His Word and Sacrament.

And when we are in His presence with other fellow believers, we rejoice and celebrate daily the salvation He has granted us by His love and death on Calvary’s cross and the empty tomb. Every time we are gathered by the Lord here in this place for the Divine Service, we celebrate the party of His presence. It even comes with the present of the forgiveness of sin! Here we find the rest we need. And when the worship Service is over, we, too, can depart in peace—whether it be from the celebration of worship into the day ahead or whether it be from our days on earth to the celebration that doesn’t end.

May, He, who made the Sabbath cause us to hunger and thirst for Him as we celebrate our rest today and always. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Encourage One Another” (Hebrews 3:13)

S-1340 20SAP/3B 10/14/12 Hymns: (O) #827; (S) #850; (C) #832 LSB

Text: Amos 5:6-7, 10-15; Hebrews 3:12-19; Mark 10:17-22

Theme: “Encourage One Another” (Hebrews 3:13)

Question: “Have you encouraged anyone this week?” Mission Sunday for Mt. Calvary Huron

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for our Mission Fest is from the Epistle lesson: “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).

My beloved and His beloved, I remember the day vividly as it if t was yesterday. The year was 1997 and I was attempting my first Bike For Life (BFL) ride—a ride that is over 100 miles long from Armour to Sioux Falls, to save babies.

Before the BFL event, I sent out a message to all of the congregations of our Beloved District asking for people to pray, give financially and riders to join me. That year only one rider answered the call (David Olsen) from Our Redeemer, SF. David drove out the morning of the ride. Please remember I had never attempted anything like this before. We started out and he began to tell me what I needed to do, how to pace myself, what to eat on the road and encouraged me all along. When we got to the 70s miles, I was hurting; pain was taking its toll I wanted to quit. But David wouldn’t let me. He kept encouraging me. The pain got more intense and my bottom began to hurt even more. With each crack in the road, I would get off my seat. By the time we got to the 90s miles, tears began to roll down my cheeks and I said to David, “I just can’t go on. I am hurting; my bottom can’t take it anymore.” David was my Barnabas that day. He said, “Pastor, let’s just rest for sometimes and see what happens.” I laid flat on my back, ate two more bananas and after 45 minutes, I was ready to go. I rode the final 16 miles refreshed and rejuvenated. Completed the task and was elated! 15 years later, we are still riding with more than 40 riders to save babies and by the grace of God raised over $18.000 dollars last year and this year we are approaching $10.000. SDG.

In today’s text the author to the Hebrews writes: “But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today.” Another word, encourage one another today and not tomorrow. Use the time to change someone’s life for the better and introduce them to Jesus the Savior of the world. We need more people like David to be encouragers on the journey of life. God has put us on this earth for a reason—to make His name known to the world. To give hope to the hopeless, light to those in darkness, and life to those dead in sin and trespasses!

On this Mission Sunday I challenge each and every one of you to look at the opportunities the Savior has given you to share with others. I exhort you in the name of Christ to look for ways to be part of expanding His kingdom, edifying your family of faith and exalting Him. I implore you to be the man, woman, boy and girl for God desires for you.

You who are blood-bought and heaven-bound, I want you to join me to be an encourager for Christ. When a person is working for God we should encourage them to continue on. As the Baptized children of the heavenly Father, we want to help Christians keep going – keep on – and do their best to be a light and salt to those around them. We want Christians to become bolder and braver disciples. We want Christians to stand taller. We want Christians in Humility and by the power of the Holy Spirit to give their best effort. We want them to be the voice of Jesus in this dark world—to be an encourager. PAUSE.

Please remember, we can’t do it alone, but we have someone who will walk with us along the way—an encourager.

The word for “exhortation” in the Greek is Parakaleite that is to say someone who walks right along the road with you. It is the same root word for the Holy Spirit promised to walk with us (John 15:26). paráklētos, that can signify “one who consoles or comforts, one who encourages or uplifts; hence refreshes, and/or one who intercedes on our behalf as an advocate in court”. Although we won’t know the human writer to the Hebrews until all is revealed, yet by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit He has encouraged us to be faithful to Him in teaching others the truth of the salvation that our Savior has earned for us on Calvary’s cross.

Encouragement includes the giving of courage, hope, confidence, support and help. The apostle Paul ties the act of encouragement to the process of building up one another: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thess. 5:11).

This is what the Savior of the world wants of us—to be an encourager, an exhorter for His cause and ministry. Because life with Christ matters, it brings hope and help, it brings life and love, and it brings joy and happiness.

Once again in the name of Christ Your Savior and Lord I challenge you to be an encourager to someone else. Everybody can be a servant of the Most High God. You don't have to have a college degree to be an encourager. What you need is have the vision of Christ to expand His kingdom, a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love and a hand stretched out in mercy. I encourage you to be an encourager with this story:

Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a baseball hat, a glove and a small tape recorder. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden. As they walked Mark discovered the boy’s name was Bill, he loved video games, baseball and history that he was having lots of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend.

They arrived at Bill’s home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some shared small talk, then Mark went home. They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from junior high school. They ended up in the same high school where they had brief contacts over the years. Finally the long awaited senior year came, and three weeks before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk.

Bill reminded him of the day years ago when they had first met. “Do you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?” asked Bill. “You see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn’t want to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored away some of my mother’s sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing, I realized that if I had killed myself, I would have missed that time and so many others that might follow. So you see, Mark, when you picked up my books that day, you did a lot more. You saved my life.”

You, who are precious in His sight, we have an Encourager now and every day. He walks with us and talks with us along life’s narrow way. He is the One who guides and guards our hearts and minds to know Him as our Lord and God. He is the One who gives us His Word, assures us of our future with Him and helps us to see that there is more to life than just living on this earth—but that He prepared for us a home in heaven. For this reason, we want to be “The Barnabas” to the world” Barnabas is the Son of an encourager. In the book of proverbs we read: “As iron sharpens iron so does a man sharpen the countenance of his friend” (Pro. 27:17). Sharpen your friends to know Jesus as Lord and God.

Saints in Christ remember what President Ronald Reagan said: “No matter where we live, we have a promise that can make all the difference. A promise for Jesus to sooth our sorrows heal our hearts and drive away our fears. He promised there will never be a dark night that doesn’t end. Our weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. He promised to love us always without exceptions. And by dying for us Jesus shows how much our love should be ready to go—all the way to help others who do not know the One who was sent by God. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

I pray that the Holy Spirit the One promised to walk with us would use us to be an instrument to encourage others. What a great blessing as we are able to encourage and exhort one another daily, because the time is at hand as we share the Gospel in/with the Body of Christ!

Today, I give thanks for David who encouraged me to finish my ride, and I pray that you will be encouraged to live and share the love of Jesus, the One who loved you and still does even now and exhorts you to walk with Him hand in hand as you share His love with others. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“A Letter of Salvation” (Hebrews 5:7-10) 5th of sermon series “Letters For Lent”

S-1306 5SIL/3B 3/25/12 Hymns: (O) 377 vv 1-4; (S) 377 vv 5-10; L.S. 149; 157; 314; (C) 29

Text: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45

Theme: “A Letter of Salvation” (Hebrews 5:7-10) 5th of sermon series “Letters For Lent”

Question: “Have you saved anyone’s life?” Armour, SD.

In the name Jesus, Amen! The text for the 5^th Sunday in Lent is the Epistle Lesson. “In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Although He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. And being made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5:7-10).

You are who are cherished, loved and adored by Your Faithful God and Lord, Jesus Christ. In 1981, a Minnesota radio station reported a story about a stolen car in California. Police were staging an intense search for the vehicle and the driver, even to the point of placing announcements on local radio stations to contact the thief. On the front seat of the stolen car sat a box of crackers that, unknown to the thief, were laced with poison. The car owner had intended to use the crackers as rat bait. Now the police and the owner of the VW Bug were more interested in apprehending the thief to save his life than to recover the car.

Our loving, gracious and compassionate God is not interested in destroying us but delivering us, He is not interested in harming us but helping us, and He is not interested in sentencing us but saving us from the eternal punishment of hell and death.

It is during Lent that we see a clear picture of this love, as our High Priest Jesus, whose name means Salvation became obedient to the Father’s will. He went the way of the cross and the grave and through His merit becomes the source of Eternal Salvation—not only to the world, but my own salvation too.

The author to the Hebrews in this text defines what is the role and qualifications of Jesus our High Priest. The writer wants to show us that Jesus is a genuine High Priest, far superior to any of the descendents of Aaron, and is therefore, someone we can rely on, place our trust in, and put our hopes in because He stands before the Throne of God’s grace and speaks on our behalf and defends us against every enemy. The first qualification of Christ’s high priestly rule is that He is appointed by His heavenly Father, and the second qualification is that Christ is a perfect High Priest, able to renew, restore and revive our relationship with God.

He further paints the great act of devotion and obedience the eternal High Priest carries out throughout His earthly life—He prayed for His eternal salvation and that His prayer was answered. It was answered in His resurrection because of His “reverent submission” - He was “heard for His godly fear and total obedience in keeping the Law perfectly in our place.”

What this means is that our Lord’s Prayer was heard because of His perfect obedience, devotion and submission to the will of God. He came through the trials victorious and as such, He did not suffer annihilation.

Lent shows us again and again the cost of our salvation. It once again illustrates the price that was paid for it. Indeed, with these words, the writer of our text, takes us back into the dark Garden of Gethsemane were Jesus was “crying out with tears” to His heavenly Father in that He was “heard”. The Father heard the prayer of His Son because He was found obedient.

Many times we speak of the cross, its benefits and its blessings. But we don’t take time to view the cost of the cross or understand the price paid for our salvation. We speak of the cross; but don’t look at it as an instrument of torture; but more as a decoration around our necks, homes or churches. But don’t be fooled my beloved and His, the cross was foreboding and tormenting for the Savior—our High Priest—Jesus the Christ.

To be sure, the cross is more than just a symbol of good luck to be kissed at a BB game or football game, or making the sign of the cross as many soccer players do before entering the game. NO, the cross is our hope. The cross is our life. The cross is our salvation. The Cross is our redemption. And the cross is the BRIDGE between us and our holy God.

In the Gospel reading today, we heard Jesus say: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45) Yes, this is the Ransom paid for our salvation. Certainly Jesus had to struggle with all the temptations, tests, strife..... that are part of human existence. Faced with the cross, He chose the path of honor and integrity rather than dishonor and in so doing could stand before God as the tested and honorable Son - having emerged perfect through suffering for your sake and mine.

Oh, what a letter of Salvation the author to the Hebrews shares with us this morning: that Christ was “made perfect”. Christ is perfect in the sense that He is the fully qualified Savior of His people, having traveled the way of faithfulness unto death, and He is God’s designated perfect high priest according to the type of Melchizedek, which priesthood was not Aaronic, but rather an eternal order which was superior in nature. As God’s high priest, Christ is the pathfinder and source of a permanently valid “eternal” salvation for His people. This salvation is available to all who by faith hold on to Him as their Lord and Savior.

This is the Letter of Salvation for today and every day. A Letter that brings hope to the hopeless, light to those in darkness, wholeness to those who are broken, and life to those who are dead. This letter is yours to share with all people just like the radio station in Minnesota did when they wanted to save the thief of the VW car from eating the poison laced crackers.

What a privilege the Savior, Jesus Christ our High Priest gives us to be His Letter of Salvation to share with those around us. What a blessing that our High Priest chooses us to be His Royal priests to share His love and mercy with a world that desperately needs to be saved. What an honor that our Suffering Servant, the Lamb slain on the Altar of the cross bestows upon us to be His instrument of delivering good news to a bad-news world.

Saints in Christ, every time we are found in the Lord’s house we hear again the message of this Letter of Salvation that changes our lives for the better. Every time we are guests at His table we receive the gift of salvation. We are indeed blessed by our High Priest to have His Word, to read it and receive its benefits—the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. PAUSE. But at times we don’t feel our salvation. Our sins and situations in life cause us to doubt that God is our salvation. Don’t think that you are alone in this. But the Holy Spirit moves you to trust Him completely as David did when he was running from his son Absalom. This is what David wrote: “O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and He answered me from His holy hill. I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For You strike all my enemies on the cheek; You break the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the Lord; Your blessing be on Your people!” (Ps. 3).

Yes, our salvation IS guaranteed by the One who came to earth to redeem, restore and revive us to God. I don’t know if the thief of the VW was found. But I KNOW you and I have been found by Him who went looking for us our High Priest—Jesus Christ, to Him be glory now and forever. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

"A Powerful Promise" Hebrews 13:1-8

S-0999 9/09/07 15SAP/3C Hymns: (O) #376; (S) #370; L.S. #199; #428; #262; (C) # 49
Texts: Proverbs 25:6-7; Hebrews 13:1-8; Luke 14:1, 7-14
Theme: “A Powerful Promise!” (Hebrews 13:5).
Armour, SD.

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! The text for today’s homily is a portion of the Epistle Lesson: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Heb. 13:5).

Introduction
Saints in Christ, in the advertising business, the people behind the scene desire to sell you their products. They promise that their products are the best on the market. In the cosmetic area we have many items that don’t deliver what the advertisement states. Examples: There is a product called “TimeWise”, it is an Age-fighting moisturizer. Tell me when was the last time you saw a person that didn’t age even with the use of this product? Oil of Olay has an anti wrinkle cream. Again, those who use it in time begin to show their wrinkles. Colgate has a product called Simply White. You are to brush it on your teeth and they will be whiter than snow. But again, stop using it and the white color fades. Botox and plastic surgery keep their promises only briefly. Before long the wrinkles show, hair color changes, our bodies sag and we feel time ebbing away.

Unlike the advertising world the author to the Hebrews tells us of One who keeps all of His promise—not just any promise—but all of them. The Word of the Lord in our text tells us that this promise is not just a pie in the sky. But rather this promise is a tried, tested and true.

From the beginning of the world our loving and faithful God has proven Himself to be trustworthy. When Adam and Eve fell into sin God promised a Savior to redeem man and restore the broken relationship that man had with God in the Garden of Eden. He also went looking for them, assuring them, even though they have broken His commandments, disobeyed His Word, listened to the devil; He will not forsake them nor leave them alone.

The Apostle Paul in Galatians chapter 4 writes: “But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons” (Gal. 4:4-5). These words from Galatians assure us again and again that our loving and faithful Father didn’t forget the human race nor the promise He made.

Sometimes, we act as if God doesn’t care. Sometimes, we wonder if God really even knows the promises He has made. We doubt His power. We doubt His presence. We doubt His promise. We treat Him as we treat other men who have broken their promises before.

Many a man and a woman have broken the promises they have made. The Native Americans claim that the White Fathers have broken their treaties with them. Doctors take promises to protect life, and yet we have some even here in SD who has forgotten that promise, and instead of protecting life, they destroy it through the abortion mill. Priests and Pastors promise to adhere to a certain confession and doctrine, and soon forget what that promise was. Police officers promise to uphold the Law and keep drugs off the street, but sometimes they close their eyes when money is given under the table. Companies in China promise to make good toys, but now Metal is calling thousands of Chinese-made toys because they have led in them.

But they are not alone. How many of us here have broken our promises? Parents promise at the Baptismal font to bring their children in the ways of the Lord. But soon they forget. Confirmands promise to be in Church, but after confirmation, it becomes graduation from Church. How many have stood before the altar of God and promised, “until death parts us” only to be parted when the flames of passion grow cold.

None of us whether pastors, police officer, or parents are able to keep these promises, because we are selfish and self-centered. We always want what’s in it for me. Though we have the best of intentions, they are not enough. That is why we need always be in the House of the Lord to give us the certainty and assurance that He will care for us and give us what we need.

Saints in Christ, I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit has brought you to His house this morning. Here you will once more learn of the Powerful Promise of God. Paul reminds us of this truth saying: “Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise” (Gal. 4:28). For here the promise becomes evident as we gather around Word and Sacrament for strength and stamina for the journey of faith.

Yet, the devil doesn’t want us to believe these Words of hope. Satan wants us to think that we are all alone. The evil foe always wants us to ponder our sin rather than our Savior and think that He has left us to fend for ourselves. But that is not the case.

A young lady wrote saying, “I am reminded of the verse given to me at my confirmation: ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’ (Heb. 13:5). This promise from God has been a source of comfort and hope to me in my times of tears. As Christians, when frustration, sorrow, or regret overwhelms us, we look to the cross and remember the tears of Good Friday and the joy of Easter.”

That is a wonderful advice to remember daily. Daily look to the cross of Christ, and you will see a marvel above all marvels. There on the cross you will see the Powerful Promise of God still striving, seeking, and searching for lost man as He did in the Garden. On the cross we hear the promise of Jesus to the dying thief, “Today, you will be with Me in Paradise!”

I pray that you will not allow the devil and his cohorts to close your ears to the Powerful Promise given by our good and gracious Lord and Savior. Why do I say that? Because God’s precious Word is filled with His promises. Study the Psalms and you will see that the Psalmist knew of God’s presence and promise in the midst of great adversity. Our God doesn’t allow disease, death, destruction and devastation to be the final word. The Lord hears our cries and will not abandon us, even when all seems futile and lost. God makes a dwelling place with us, right in the thick of our problems, even though we might not feel God’s presence. God has promised to be with us, saying, “Lo, I Am with you even to the end of the Age” (Mt. 28:20). We can certainly and confidently trust this promise.

CONCLUSION:
What do we do with the worries that plague us daily? Take your anxieties to the cross—literarily. Next time you’re worried about your health or house or finances or flights, take a trip to the Hill. Next time you doubt God’s presence, power, peace and promise take a mental trip up the HILL. Spend a few moments looking again at the pieces of the Passion.

Run your thumb over the tip of the spear. Balance a spike in the palm of your hand. Read the wooden sign written in your own language. And as you do, kneel down and touch the velvet dirt, moist with the blood of the Lamb of God. Blood He bled for YOU. The spear He took for YOU. The nails He felt for YOU. The sign He left for YOU. He did all of this for YOU. Knowing this, knowing all He did for you there, don’t think He’ll look out for YOU here?

Is there any more powerful promise than what we have in the book of Hebrews? The Lord Promised, “I will NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU”. Now that is a promise you can take to the bank. Amen.

Now the peace…