“An Audience With God” (6:1-3)

S-1499 TS/3B 5/31/2015 Hymns: (O) #239; (S) # 246; LS. #496; #312; #237; (C) #244

Texts: Isaiah 6:1-8; Acts 2:14, 22-36; John 3:1-17

Theme: “An Audience With God” (6:1-3)

Question: “Have you ever someone important?” The Festival of the Holy Trinity

IN NOMINE IESU

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for the Holy Trinity is the O.T. reading: “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above Him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:1-3).

Precious, beautiful and blessed children of the heavenly Father, in 1988 as I was considering entering the ministry I needed to be interviewed by the then District President Ray Hartwig. As I was preparing to visit with the DP, I was nervous, fearful and a little apprehensive to walk into that office.

In 2010, I met the President of our LCMS—Pastor Harrison. Again, as I was about to have an audience with him fear and trepidation overtook me as I walked into his office.

Now after all these years, I know that the fears of that day were overblown. Both of these men who are faithful in their service to the Lord and the Church. I really had nothing to fear. In fact, we turned out to be on the same team. Today I count them more than just colleagues in the ministry. I regard them as brothers and friends!

But on those days in my history the fear was real. You know that kind of fear. It grabs you and causes you to swirl with emotions. It manifests itself in beads of sweat, your heart beats faster, and your blood pressure rises. While there are times when fear is irrational, there are indeed times when fear is real. If we were to stand before judge in court with the power to throw us into prison that would be a healthy time for fear!

This kind of real and healthy fear is what we have in the text before us today. The prophet Isaiah is having an audience with the Holy God—the Only True God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. At the sight that he sees, Isaiah is terrified and cries out, “Woe to me! “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” A terrifying moment for Isaiah. This prophet standing in the presence of the King eternal is shaking in his boots because he knows he is toast on account of sin. Sin and holiness have nothing in common. How can he a sinner stand in the presence of God Almighty?

This holiness is manifested with the echo of the seraphim as they called out to each other speaking of the everlasting King, this Father, Son, and Holy Spirit the God who is greeted with the three times spoken, “Holy, Holy, Holy!” His holiness, His very being, repeated three times: Nowhere else in all the Old Testament is a name repeated three times. The Father is Holy, the Son is Holy, the Holy Spirit is Holy! This is what we just finished confessing in the Athanasian Creed. But in Scripture, only here in Isaiah 6 and in Revelation 4:8 is His Holy Name repeated three times - once for each member of the Trinity. PAUSE.

By the grace of God we have been brought here to this place to have an audience not with presidents of Districts, or Synod and not even the President of the US, but with God Himself—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We have every reason to be terrified just as Isaiah was—for we too, are sinners and we have no right to be in His presence.

By the Spirit’s power we have an audience with Jesus. Here we stand fearing for our very lives because of the sins we have committed. Our accuser the devil mount the charges but Jesus stand between us and God and gives us what we don’t deserve—forgiveness of sins and life and salvation.

However, since we have come here by God’s invitation—we come with joy and gladness realizing we come not to be judged or condemned but to receive from the only true God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit, His grace and compassions.

In the majestic means of the water and the Word we were washed and cleaned. As we gather in this holy place to praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit we receive the gift of His body and blood to take away our sins and assure us of our future with Him forever.

Children of the heavenly Father, on this Holy Trinity Sunday I remind you again of the honor and privilege you and I have an audience with God in the flesh. This is similar to the Gospel lesson where Nicodemus has an audience with Jesus. PAUSE.

This is glorious and marvelous indeed! By the grace of God both Isaiah and Nicodemus are shown miraculously how sins are forgiven. God touched Isaiah with the coal from the Altar and made Him pure. Likewise Nicodemus was told to look at the cross like the O.T. snake-bitten people looked at the bronze snake and were will be healed.

We, too, are the recipients of this glorious and amazing grace. God touches us by putting His body and blood on our tongues and lips and our sins are removed. He says to us: “Take and eat, take and drink this is My TRUE body and blood for the forgiveness of your sins!”

That is why when I commune I don’t like to take the body in my hand, I want it placed on my tongue just as the thrice Holy God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit did for Isaiah; and removed His sins from him.

In this house of worship we have an audience with God. He meets us here. Is this not what Jesus taught that He only eats with sinners?  He eats with us sinners because He knows we need Him desperately.  Only those aware of their sin and seeking the forgiveness and life offered by Jesus in His body and blood should come forward. We come forward singing, “So who am I, That I should live and He should die. Under the rod? My God, my God, Why have You not forsaken me? O taste and see the Lord is free.”

Yes, we come with joy and gladness because we know God intimately—Jesus has made Him known to us. He described the Father’s love in this way: “For God so loved the world, and yes, that is you, that He gave fully His only-begotten Son, yes, the sinless Son now as the full payment for our sin, for your sin, so that everyone who believes in Him, and this faith is revealed through this gift of the Cross, would have not eternal condemnation, but would have the very Father of Jesus as our own Father, and this because we have been loved by the gift of this Son. We seldom give the 17^th verse its due. For this loving Father did not send this beloved Son into the world to condemn us... rather, He came that we would be saved through Him.”

Precious, beautiful and blessed children of the heavenly Father, an early Christian Father, named Tertullian said of the Trinity... “Try to understand it and you will lose your mind. Deny it and you will lose your soul.” Thank God we don’t have to understand it but by faith worked in us through the Holy Spirit, believe and rejoice in it.

Remember, then, how easy it is to forget just how loving this Triune God is. We have the One God in three Persons whose whole being is to love His dear creation. He loves you. As you confess your faith using this long and precious Creed, I want you to think about its care and precision making Him known to us so that we would ever and always rely on the fact that we are saved through Christ; and by His pierced and loving hands makes it be possible for us to have an audience with God—even so, Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA!!!

“An Awesome God!” (Isaiah 40:21, 22b…28)

S-1475 5SAE/3B 2/08/2015 Hymns: (O) #35; (S) #549; LS. #134; #129; #307; (C) #43

Texts: Isaiah 40:21-31; 1 Corinthians 9:16-27; Mark 1:29-39

Theme: “An Awesome God!” (Isaiah 40:21, 22b…28)

Question: “How often do you use the term “Awesome”?

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen! Indeed! Alleluia. The text is from the O. T. lesson: “Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth…Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable” (Isaiah 40:21, 22b…28).

Saints in Christ, I am very reluctant to use the word “Awesome” because it is often used without any consideration to its meaning. Often I hear, “This is awesome!” But what does “Awesome” really mean? According to Webster’s dictionary it means: 1. “inspiring or displaying awe” and 2. “excellent or outstanding” However the Patriarch Jacob who used the term long before any of us did, or Webster defined it; gives us the true definition of the word: “It causes fear and dread in the heart of man.” This is the way Jacob used it when he dreamed of the ladder that is stretched between heaven and earth: ^“And he [Jacob] was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven’” (Gen. 28:17).

When the Scriptures speak about being Awesome, we are not just saying this is really cool or beautiful but it should also give us dread and fear. Luther got it right when he gave us the explanation of the Commandments using both Law/Gospel, “We should fear, love and trust in God above all things.” We should fear, because God is holy and we are sinners. A sinner can’t stand in the presence of the Holy One of Israel. But the awesomeness continues because He loved us first in Jesus at the Cross; and He remains faithful to us so that we can trust in Him! That is why Jacob is afraid and yet delighted to be in the presence of God—the Awesome One.

That is precisely what we have in the text before us from the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah reveals the Awesomeness of God with these words: “Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth…Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable” (Isaiah 40:21, 22b…28).

Don’t you know who you are dealing with? Don’t you understand that this is the ONLY true God who does wonders, who sits enthroned on the circle of the earth and who does the impossible? Though many claim there are many gods out there, in truth there is ONLY one, God Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And this God is Awesome and then some. PAUSE.

On Tuesday, I was the Bible Study Leader on “Thy Strong Word” on our Synodical radio station and the worldwide web and a God—incident happened that is indeed Awesome! A saint Cheryl called the show. In the conversation with her she mentioned what an awesome God we have and what He has done for her and she quotes a portion of the text v. 28 which: Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.”

I told her, “Saint Cheryl, this is an awesome day indeed.” Only God could do this. Here she quotes the verse I am preaching on and even the title of my sermon. What a beautiful day that was. After the show I contacted Cheryl and asked her to tell you her story. Please listen to Cheryl describe our Awesome God:

Mom is 97 years old and has been living for almost a year at an assisted-living facility. Mom constantly complained about all the wrong things I do and that I don’t care about her. However, Monday evening was different. While I replaced both of her hearing aid batteries, Mom kept repeating how astonished she was to see me alive because she had heard that I had committed suicide. She asked to hug me. (She never hugs me--only my brother.) She asked me how everyone was doing. She said she loves me. She thanked me for all I do. She kept saying “Praise the Lord.” God’s love for us is so amazing: I had prayed for emotional strength for my visit with Mom, but He gave so much more.

As awesome as this story is, it is a small drop in the ocean of God’s grace and love towards us sinner. PAUSE.)

Beloved in the Lord, a long time ago I heard this: You need two things in life to make it meaningful and endearing: 1. Love and 2. Forgiveness. And these things we have from the One who is Awesome indeed—the God Isaiah spoke of and the Savior who revealed Him to us.

To be sure our God is awesome and then some! Why you may ask? Because when you compare the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob...the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; our only Savior, there are no comparison. “To whom will you compare Me? Or who is My equal?" says the Holy One. v.25.

If you could only harness what this text shows us about this Awesome God! He is the only true God. He is Holy, Everlasting, gives hope eternal; and the Only God who gives promises and prophecy and then fulfills them all in His Son, Jesus Christ. (v. 25, 28) He even raises the dead! He is the One who is Compassionate, suffers with us, for us, and by us...41:13. We see it clearly in Isaiah’s Suffering Servant Songs (Isaiah 53). He is the Only One who is Present everywhere...v. 22. He is not limited to time and space. As He was with the people of Israel He is also present with us every day.

As awesome as God is as we look at His role and place in creation, there is a point in history when God is even more awesome! That place is the cross. There this Awesome God who is Lord of all creation willingly became part of that creation. He came to fix it in the only and most awesome way possible! He became flesh. He lived within this fallen world. Then, bearing all the sins which broke it, He was willing to die for that same creation. He offered His life for me and for you and for all creation! How awesome is that! How fearful that is for us! How loving He is toward us! Oh how we can trust this One who has done such awesomeness for us!

He is the God who does not snore but enables us to soar. He is the God who won the victories over the all the armies of the world. No god could compare to Him. Yet, at times we are fooled because we focus on our problems and circumstances and the finite side of things, that we don’t see the hand of Him who is infinite in saving us and giving us the victory over death and the grave.

Think of it brothers and sisters in Christ, our God is an Awesome God and yet some. He names every star...40:26. He is Awesome in power and presence, but in compassion...Ps. 147:3-4). Though He names every star and can tell you where every one of your three hundred trillion cells in your body are...every star, every scar, physical or psychological...that awesome... and then some. He is near and far and we see Him through His Good Friday scar.

Someone defined circumstances as “those nasty things you see when you get your eyes off of God.” Wait upon the Lord...Wait does not mean sit and do nothing. It means root your future in His promises, see the perfect past record and see the awesome things coming your way in the fullness of times. It is this AWESOME GOD that we fear, love and trust by His grace through faith!

Indeed, Isaiah helps us see with eyes of faith this Awesome God—the One who comes to us sinners and chooses to be with us. As Jacob spoke when He woke from His dream saying: ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven’ so too, we say the same. In this house of God, we stand in awe and fear. As sinners we stand in this holy house, because here in this place He comes to us with His gifts of body and blood. Here in this house He invites us to dine with Him. Here in this place we stand in awe and declare what an Awesome God and then some. PAUSE.

Martin Luther once said, “That the sweetness of the Gospel is in the pronoun. For YOU!” This Awesome God—Jesus is exactly the Savior you need. He’s the Savior tailored just for you. He is the One who welcomes you a sinner to change you to be a saint. Indeed our God is an Awesome God—He Awesome to save, Awesome to forgive and Awesome to love—YOU forever. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Matters of the Heart” (Isaiah 40:1-2)

S-1472 SOHLS/3B 1/18/2015 Hymns: (O) #234; #535 vvs1-4; #535 vvs5-9; (S) #61; (C) #47
Texts: Psalm 51:1-6; Isaiah 40:1-2; 2 Corinthians 4:1-18; John 14:1-7
Theme: “Matters of the Heart” (Isaiah 40:1-2)
Question: “Do you have heart troubles?”

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen! Indeed! Alleluia. The text is from the O. T. lesson: “Comfort, comfort My people, says Your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and cry to her that her warfare is ended that her iniquity is pardoned that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins” (Isaiah 40:1-2).

Precious children of the heavenly Father, I ask you to look at the back cover of your bulletin and read the portion that deals with: “About the Cover:” We are told that Philip’s joy cannot be contained: “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote” (John 1:45). But Philip issues the invitation: “Come and see” (v. 46). This is the heart of the Church’s Mission in the world: To invite the skeptics to come and see, to meet Jesus as He still comes to be among us with His saving gifts in Word and Supper.”

Indeed, the Church’s mission is a matter of the heart—a heart that is broken and blackened by sin; a heart that bleeds and burst due to damaged relationships with God and others. The Church of God has been planted on this earth to help others know who Jesus Christ is and turn hearts back to God’s, to worship Him, fear Him and serve Him with heart, mind, body and soul.

Today as we observe Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, we confess and teach that this is not a political or a personal issue, it is not a secular or choice issue, but a matter of the heart that chooses to be disobedient to the Living God and His precious Word. In this way there financial gain through the slaughter of unborn children and indulge in sexual immorality.

I ask you to brace yourself; because this is not going to be pretty. A nation that snuffs out its next generation is one whose torch won’t burn long. A nation that puts to death unborn children who are helpless is one who will endure severe punishment at the hands of the One who said, “Let the children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God” (Matthew 18:16). A nation that disobeys the Word of the Lord will endure His wrath. Actions have consequences in this life too. 

According to the Center for Disease Control, abortions performed in our nation from 1976 through 2012 ranged from a little over 500,200 to more than 700,000 per year! That amounts to obliterating Seattle, Denver, Louisville, Baltimore, Tucson, Nashville, Milwaukee, and Las Vegas—one city every year for 36 years and counting. All this, with the sanction and blessing of the US Supreme Court, the joy of many secularists; and the uncaring approval of liberal churches. How sad that life created in the image of God can be disposed of like a dirty diaper in a dumpster.

Martin Luther, that great German monk, who set the Church back on the right path, once remarked that this world is nothing but a large graveyard. It’s rather hard to disagree, isn’t it?

Yet into this fallen, bloody world of death, the God of free and faithful grace sent His Son, to show us the way, and fix our hearts to love and obey Him. PAUSE.

Saints in Christ, today’s text calls us to repentance and drastic change in our lives and the lives of people we know. God comes to do the impossible for us, exchange our hearts because our hearts are full of evil and wickedness.

Through the prophet Isaiah, God tells him to cry out to His people saying their warfare has ended. Inside of each of us is a spiritual struggle for first place in our hearts, for who or what will be God in our lives. When we arrive at the place of repentance, knowing we cannot save ourselves, we have reached the point of surrender. We are captive to Christ and no longer insist on our own wisdom or our own way. There is no longer a need to resist or rebel. We have lost the battle and He has won the war for our eternal salvation.

Isaiah calls us today to look up and outside ourselves to the One who created us in His image to love life and care for it. Isaiah exhorts us to fight the fight to protect and preserve life. But alas, it is impossible for us because none of us have hearts that love God or desire to serve Him constantly. The prophet Jeremiah said this: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah. 17:9). The Spiritual Cardiologist—Jesus Christ scans our hearts and finds deep disease: “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,  coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness” (Mark 7:21-22). He describes our problem in gigantic proportions: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God” (Romans 3:10-11). You see it is a matter of the heart.

We live in a day and age where sin is not talked about. People and even churches are silent about sin and its consequences. Some mental-health professionals mock our need for divine forgiveness. At the same time we are destroying life that God created whether planned or unplanned. This is life in the womb—life in the image of God. PAUSE.

Today, in our observance and celebration of Life Sunday we acknowledge that we are all participants in a culture that promotes values that lead to the acceptance of abortion as a right. In many ways we have all failed to speak up in opposition, all accepted it as inescapable, all compromised in part by believing it is possible to accept both the values of the secular culture and Christian faith. Instead of pointing the finger of judgment at others, we realize we too are convicted by the wise counsel of God through the prophet Isaiah and need to hear these words. This is truly a matter of the heart, our hearts!

This is a matter of the heart that is more than a book by Danielle Steel, more than a song by Tracy Chapman. It is more than our feelings, our pleasure, or our preoccupation with our own desires. This is really the greatest matter of the heart, the everlasting and Ruler God in our lives. This is the issue raised in the first commandment. What place does God have in our lives? Luther makes clear in his explanation to the first commandment that an idol is anything that we give priority over God’s rightful place.

If God occupies our hearts completely, then He alone rules our lives. His Word guides and directs our lives, our behaviors, thoughts, emotions, and desires. His Word shapes our values and decisions. When His Word conflicts with the values of the world we oppose the world and follow Him.

Above all else, His Word proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the profound nature of His love for us. In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we receive the promise of salvation and redemption. His love for us in Jesus Christ has the power to free us from the bondage to all other idols, all competing cultural values, all self-destructive behaviors. This is the greatest word of comfort for our hearts.

“Comfort, comfort My people says Your God.” The Holy Spirit is the Comforter Jesus promised to send. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that transforms our lives and guides us in the paths of righteousness. To those who admit their sins and struggle to turn in the direction of faith in Jesus Christ, we are called to “speak tenderly.” To those who grieve the fact they have compromised their faith to worship idols, embraced culture above Christ, and participated in perverse sexual activity, including those behaviors that contribute to the acceptance of abortion and now long for transformation and for the redemptive embrace of Jesus, God speaks a tender word into our hearts.

We, who are His chosen and precious children, by the Spirit’s power hear the comforting message that deals with our hearts saying: “Comfort, comfort My people says Your God.” For the sake of Christ our Savior, the Lord has comforted us by exchanging our wicked and evil hearts with His and now we live with the hope of sins forgiven and salvation received. All because He let His heart be torn open on Calvary’s beams and place in our heart the love that leads us to honor, serve and worship Him forever and ever. Amen.

Now the peace of God…
SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Equipped for Ministry by God” (Isaiah 45:1-7)

S-1453 19SAP/3A 10/19/2014 Hymns: (O) #5; (S) #400; (C) #52

Texts: Isaiah 45:1-7; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22

Theme: “Equipped for Ministry by God” (Isaiah 45:1-7)

Question: “How many tools do you have?”

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia. The text for our meditation is from the O.T. Lesson: “I Am the Lord, and there is no other, besides Me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know Me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides Me; I Am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I Am the Lord, who does all these things” (Isaiah 45:1-7).

What a joy it is to be in the Lord’s house. We rejoice at the kindness of God’s grace for us sinners in giving us His Word and forgiveness and the blessings He pours upon us daily to enrich our lives. Today’s text is one of those glorious gems that show the mighty power of God in our lives by equipping us for the ministry for the sake of His Gospel and glory of His name. To help us grasp a better understanding of the words of Isaiah we call upon the Holy Spirit to empty us of ourselves, and open our ears and hearts to hear and heed His Words.

Beloved in the Lord, the next few days stop by the True Value Hardware store here in Armour. When you do, you will see a wonderful array of equipment for just about any task. If you need to drive a nail, they have a hammer. If you need to tighten a screw, they have a screwdriver. If you need to do some plumbing they have pipe wrenches. While this is not a commercial for Wilson’s True Value, the truth is the store carries just about everything and anything in the form of equipment to complete the task you have at hand.

But you don’t walk into the hardware store and pick up the one hammer that they carry. They have a vast selection. You can choose from a claw hammer or ball-peen hammer. Or you might need to choose between a finish hammer and a tack hammer. And if you have a really big job you might need a sledge hammer or an air-hammer. But even then you have to decide how big a hammer you need. So when you go to the hardware store to buy a hammer, you also need to know the task at hand and just which specific tool you need to complete the project before you.

Those hammers hanging on the racks at the hardware store have no idea about the job that you have to do. They are just there hanging out looking for the right person to come along and purchase them for the task that they were created to accomplish. The tools don’t have any input. They are only as good as the hands that they are placed in. A master carpenter will do wonders with a hammer. A novice will only get bruised and battered hands with the very same hammer. It is all about being in the right hands.  PAUSE.

Cyrus, the king of Persia, is a bit like those hammers. Cyrus was a pagan. In fact, at the time the Prophet mentions him, he isn’t even born yet. But the Lord has already planned a task for Cyrus. Cyrus doesn’t know it, but he will be the sledge hammer God uses to break the bonds of captivity for God’s faithful remnant in Babylon. This Persian sledge of a King will challenge and break down the mighty Babylonian Empire. At the time of the Lord’s choosing, when God’s people were humbled and ready to once again sit under the gracious hand of the Lord, Cyrus would be just the right tool in the hand of the Almighty! Cyrus didn’t know that! But the Lord did! The Lord reached for the right tool and accomplished His will and task.

In this text you see how God is the Agent behind the scene in bringing about Salvation as He did creation. God alone who does these acts of creation, redemption and salvation. God’s righteous rule is over three realms: nature, history, and over the hearts of people. Those who do not acknowledge Him will come under His work of doom. The Law serves the Gospel. His Left hand rule is for the sake of His Right hand Kingdom. This can only be seen through eyes of faith. His way is hidden to the world that is under the spell of the devil and ruled by his power. However, this text assures that God’s plan through His Messiah will be accomplished through His heaven-sent Son--Jesus, who now reigns and rules over the Church, Creation, and History.

Through the work of Cyrus, the unwitting yet useful tool, the Lord set His people free. But they were set free for a purpose of their own. Cyrus was the instrument that would set things in motion to return Judah back to the Holy Land just in time for the fullness of time. That fullness of time is what would take place when our Lord’s greatest equipment would come into the world, our Lord Jesus Christ! He would be the One who would accomplish a work that dwarfs all other work in creation. The flesh and blood of Jesus would be the instrument that would work the work of salvation. He would be the hammer that broke the bonds of captivity to sin and death. He would also be the tool that would rebuild God’s people into the same relationship with the Lord that was a part of the original creation. In the instrument of Jesus in the flesh, God walks and talks among us in this world so that we might walk and talk with God in eternity! All of this is done by Jesus at the cross. 

And when you are redeemed by the blood of Jesus, you too are created to be the right piece of equipment in the hand of the Lord. Now, you are not called to go to the cross bearing the sins of the world like Jesus did, but you are called to accomplish a task. The task that you are to accomplish is at the Lord’s direction and for the Lord’s purposes. What you are to bear, in a way that is specific to you, is the Gospel. You carry that Gospel in your body as you bear the cross of Holy Baptism on your forehead and upon your heart. You are a tool for the delivery of this precious message. You are that important!

As important as you are, you are also unique. While you might look like a hammer, you are not just any hammer. You are the right tool for the right task. Like Cyrus, you are placed in a unique position and place by the Lord to carry the Gospel. It might be as a parent to your family. It might be among your relations at a family meal. It might be sharing your faith in the workplace. It might even be that you are being equipped by the Lord to do a random act of mercy that leads someone to ask the question of who this Jesus is for them. PAUSE.

Saints in Christ, while at the seminary one of our professors Dr. Nagel used to say: “How humble the tool when praised for the work of the Master.”  That is what we are tools in the hands of the Master—Jesus Christ equipped by Him for ministry. But let us be clear about one thing: This text does not call on Israel or us to do anything except believe. They and we are in prison and in darkness; yet God through the great Messiah—Jesus Christ has set us free forever from the bondage not of captivity but of death and hell.

The writer to the Hebrews captured this thought beautifully with these words: “Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21).

And the Apostle Paul wrote these gracious words to the church at Philippi: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose” (Phil. 2:12-13).

What a joy to know that we are been equipped to be used by God as His tools for the glory of His name and the building up of His kingdom. To Him alone who does all things well be glory now and forever. Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Making a Difference” (Isaiah 58:3-6)

S-1411 5SAE/3A 2/09/2014 Hymns: (O) #7; (S) #412; L.S. #310; #377; (C) #48

Texts: Isaiah 58:3-9; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12; Matthew 5:12-20

Theme: “Making a Difference” (Isaiah 58:3-6)

Question: “What gifts are you using to make a difference?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia! The text for the 5^th Sunday After the Epiphany is from the O.T. lesson “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I Am’” (Isaiah 58:3-6).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Beloved in Christ, we live in a world where it seems that almost everyone does something to get noticed. It happens at home all the time. The husdand or the kids on one occasion want to score points with mom so they make sure the dishes are done, the beds are made, the laundry is washed, dried and put away and the house is generally set in order when mom is at work, or away at the store. I know when this happens at my house, my dear wife’s response falls into one of three categories. 1). What did you buy? 2) What did you break? Or 3) what do you want? If it isn’t actually said, it is most likely thought because this is not the normal program. Mom is often stuck doing the work almost all the time. But on the few occasions when dad or the kids pitch in, it is often to manipulate something to their advantage.

And this just doesn’t happen at the home. It happens in the workplace when the employees work extra hard when the boss is watching because they might want that pat on the back that could lead to the big promotion and the big raise. It happens in school too when the kids are extra well behaved when they think the teacher is looking but when they think the teacher isn’t, they are plotting their next caper. It even happens in the Church. People make sure they are seen in worship and in serving in the hopes of making an impression on people rather than on falling on their knees in confession before the Lord, seeking forgiveness for all their sins and experiencing that sweet forgiveness in the Divine Service.

Why does this happen? Well, ever since the fall into sin our human nature only seeks to serve ourselves, our appetites and our desires. We look out for ourselves. Being selfless doesn’t achieve those goals. Other people cease to be people and are simply a means to an end. There is great truth in a saying that is going around that goes like this. “God made us to love people and use things. In our world today, we use people and love things.” That is how backward the sinful life is.

This even relates to our relationship with God. Reflect on your prayer life. How often do we use our prayers in a thinly veiled attempt to manipulate God into doing the things that we want when we want them done, rather than praying as Jesus did “Thy will be done.” This is what was happening in the Old Testament lesson for today. Israel trusted in their fast days as a means of motivating God to answer their prayers and petitions. But while they sought God’s favor, what they actually received was a bust in the chops! God is not too pleased and He responds, “Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the lord?” (v 5c), and of course the answer is absolutely NO! God labels Israel’s “days of fasting” as unacceptable to Him.

Why doesn’t Yahweh accept these contrived acts of fasting? It is because they are manipulative and fake! They did all the right things in all the right ways. They made a really good show of it. You could say the music was catchy and the liturgy was perfect! But the problem was it was not the kind of worship that the Lord was seeking. In fact, according to the Laws of God there was only one required day of fasting—the Day of Atonement. But these people tried to outdo God by fasting more and covering themselves in sackcloth and ashes—all for show. However, God was not impressed.

God sees through the false worship, the false motivation and even the false piety. So He bursts their bubble in complete fashion! He sends Isaiah to tell them all of these externals means nothing to Him. What God desires is that we make a difference in the lives of those around us—being little Christ’s to the world—sharing the Gospel, caring for the poor, feeding the hungry, reaching out to the needy and inviting the homeless to our homes.

God does not call His people to put on a show of repentance. God calls His people to do something much more meaningful, much more selfless, and much less manipulative. He calls His people to bring light and healing. The Hebrew word that is used to bring relief to those in need and let them see the light of day can be translated as “a long bandage” such as applied by surgeons to heal a wound. This ministry is carried out to make a difference in someone’s life by restoring them and bringing about healing. PAUSE.

Beloved in the Lord, at John Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore, Maryland) is a man by the name of Benjamin Carson. He is the renowned Pediatric Neurosurgeon. Someone made a difference in His life that turned this poor financially and academically young man to be the best in his field—his mother. Though undereducated, she pushed her sons to read and to believe in themselves. Carson went from being a poor student to receiving honor and he eventually attended medical school. As a doctor, he became the Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital at age 33, and became famous for his ground-breaking work separating conjoined twins.

This man is not only a doctor but He is a believer in Jesus Christ. Dr. Carson has made a difference in many families and brought hope and help when it seemed impossible. He made a difference because he applied the gifts the Lord has given him for the Lord’s glory and help of others.

Today, by the power of the Holy Spirit we can relate that story of one Benjamin that is Dr. Carson, to another Benjamin. Well He isn’t really named Benjamin, but He is One who comes to work out the meaning of the word. Benjamin in Hebrew means “son of my right hand.” This One Who acts as a Benjamin didn’t go to an Ivy League school. Instead He was educated in a carpenter’s shop. He became a healer of both body and soul. This Son of the Right Hand and great Physician is none other than Jesus who makes the greatest difference in our lives!

The Son of God—who is seated at the right hand made a difference in the lives of many by willingly going the way of the cross without retribution or revenge, He offered up to our heavenly Father the different Day—acceptable in God’s sight—the Day He would be crucified on Calvary’s brutal block of wood and become our righteousness. He makes a difference in us that we don’t rely on our self-righteousness or good works, but on Him alone. For on the cross is all the difference in the world. We become healed. Our eyes are opened, our hearts are cleansed and our souls filled with faith.

Jesus makes a GREAT Difference through His redemptive work and also through the Body of Christ. Again it was Christ’s love that gave birth to the technology of science to advance medicine and His love that inspired the modern day hospital movement. Look at the names of the hospitals in the past: St. Luke, Lutheran Hospital, Presbyterian Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital and on and on.

And now, this local hospital known as Redeemer Lutheran Church (Armour, SD) is called upon to make a difference. Yes, you heard me right. God by grace has called us to be like His Son the Divine Physician and reach out to others in His name. It is not easy. At times it is not pleasant, but God calls us to make a difference in the lives of those around us.

Look around to those you can touch with the power of the Gospel of Christ. Look around to those you can restore with a Word of hope from Scripture. Look around to those you can restore with the grace of God. And you will see them. Then ask the Divine Physician to use you in a special way to make a difference in the lives of those around you. To make a difference is indeed an honor and a privilege. PAUSE.

A woman was enthusiastically telling some friends about the value of a first-aid class she had recently completed. “Just yesterday,” she said, “I was driving down 52^nd Street when I heard this awful crash. I jammed on the brakes, ran back, and found a car wrapped around a telephone pole. When I got to the injured driver, I saw a horrible sight. My knees went limp, and I didn’t know what to do. But all at once I remembered something from my first-aid training. Immediately I bent down and put my head between my knees, and it worked! I didn’t faint!”

That’s not the conclusion you expected, is it? In a similar way, the Israelites had failed to grasp the wider implications of their spiritual training. The prophet Isaiah charged them with looking after their own interests but disregarding the needs of others. Their enthusiasm for God was nothing more than hollow ritual. The condemning evidence of their sinful neglect was the poor, hungry, and afflicted among them who remained oppressed and unassisted.

True religion doesn’t end with a love for Sound Doctrine and proper worship. It DOES BEGIN THERE, but is doesn’t end there. It moves beyond this place and out into the world. It includes first aid to our neighbor. That’s the strongest evidence that our spiritual training is not being misapplied. To that end, we call on the Divine Physician, Benjamin to use us for our neighbors benefit and for His glory. Because this Divine Physician has never stopped healing us from the deadly disease of SIN and He will continue to do so always. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Increase My Joy!” (Isaiah 9:2-3)

S-1409 3SAE/3A 1/26/2014 Hymns: (O) #106; (S) #574; LS #87; #315; (C) #512

Texts: Isaiah 9:1-4; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-25

Theme: “Increase My Joy!” (Isaiah 9:2-3)

Question: “What fills your heart with joy?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia! The text for the 3^rd Sunday after the Epiphany is from the O.T. lesson “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil” (Isaiah 9:2-3).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Beloved in the Lord, it happens when you least expect it. At times you are despondent, disappointed and discouraged and don’t know what to do. Then something out of the ordinary happens. You get a phone call, a card in the mail or someone stops over and the dark cloud is lifted and your heart is joyful. You are at the hospital for tests and are expecting the worst. Then the doctor comes in and says, “All is well!” This has happened to me numerous times. On January 3^rd after picking up the mail and going through it, I was dumbfounded with two letters. The first contained $250.00 check for the roof project and the second almost caused me to fall to the ground. In it was a check for $2500.00 to be used in any manner for the church without any stipulation. The irony was that these gifts were neither sought out nor expected. They were a gift from the Lord and He certainly increased my joy that day. I was so joyful I couldn’t help but call someone and tell them.

To be sure, the increase of my joy is not because of the funds that came in; but because they came in when least expected from the most unlikely people. This incident shows again how God uses people to lift the burdens from our hearts and fill it with joy. To Him Alone Be All the Glory.

Today, the prophet Isaiah tells us what God is going to do for His people of old and us. He will increase the nations and fill them with Joy. This joy is brought about by the One who causes salvation—God Almighty. Isaiah describes this joy as of a farmer harvesting his crops and a warrior dividing the spoil. This joy is tangible, touchable and true. This joy is rooted in an activity that brought about a change in one’s life. PAUSE.

Beloved in the Lord, what causes you joy? What causes you to be happy? What changes need to take place in your life to fill your heart with joy and happiness? By the power of the Holy Spirit, listen to Isaiah describing the God who is on a mission of increasing the joy in our lives. Isaiah proclaimed to the people of Israel, that God is the active agent in doing this. Isaiah states God is behind the scenes demolishing and destroying the enemy of Israel. Isaiah confesses His God is a warrior God who crushes and crumbles every force that attacks His precious children.

The message of Isaiah is not only to the people of Israel but also to us here living in Armour, SD. Isaiah’s message is one that increases our joy because it shows our God is fighting our enemies —Satan, the world and our sinful nature. This God gets involved in our lives by sending someone to fight our battles. Few verses after our text (For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.) it tells us that a special Warrior will come forth. Under His reign, peace and joy will be evident. His kingdom will have no end and He will rule over the nations in justice and righteousness. Through this special Warrior, the people have won a great military victory over their oppressors and therefore have every reason to be joyful. Through His grace He increased their joy.

It is hard for us to understand this kind of joy, because we often allow the events around us to rob us of the joy that God provides through the special Warrior—His Son—Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus our joy has increased and multiplied and will continue to increase. PAUSE.

Yet, yet, we don’t always believe this message. It isn’t that the Heavenly Father is angry with us any longer. Oh, no. It is much more than that. It is much greater than we know. We are His children through faith in the salvific work of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, what a caring father is ever angry enough at His children to hate them? Rather it is the old man left in us whose desires is to sin against God. Sin...like the advocate of satan seeks to rob us of the full joy our Good Shepherd gives us.

Perhaps we fell short this past week and got into an argument with a friend or family member. It could be we had some kind of financial dealings where we sought to get more money than we deserved. Maybe we’ve been lax in our duties (huh) and we feel a little guilty about it. Whatever the transgression be it against God or neighbor, it often causes us to feel like we come short in the sight of God…and we do.

Grasping this, Satan comes into our conscience and accuses us before God—you can’t be serious about being joyful. Look at your life and see what a terrible sinner you have been. Satan is right you know. But because of the Warrior and Champion Jesus, we can take God at His Word that He is the active Agent behind this joy. Satan can’t accuse us. Our sins can’t condemn us. The world can’t enslave us because Christ has paid the payment on our behalf in giving His all and forgives our every sin.

We Christians have real joy in spite of living in this sin-polluted world. Only a life that is faith- filled, love-filled and hope-filled can be joyous. Such a joyous life is found only in Christ our Savior. For this Warrior Champion has increased the joy of many through His earthly life. He increased the joy of the couple who invited to their wedding in Cana. He increased the joy of the parents whose daughter lay dead but was raised. He increased the joy of the crippled man who waited 38 years to be free. He increased the joy of Bartimaeus when He opened His blind eyes to see the Son of God in person.

For this reason, God’s promise is true—He has increased our joy. Our joy is increased on account of the Warrior God who fought our fight against the evil one—satan and demolished him, destroyed his domain and once and for all removed his bite of death from us. Our joy is increased in knowing Christ has done everything to save us and redeem us through His death and resurrection. Our joy has increased in knowing there is not a sin that I or you have ever committed that is not forgiven.

My joy is increased as I visit other Districts and see the gracious work of God carried out by many. My joy is increased when I hear of the blessings God is doing in your lives. My joy is increased when I see some of you living the faith, inviting a friend and forgiving others. The fruits of the spirit are wonderful and they are mighty in the lives of the saints. What a blessing for me to see them in all of you. PAUSE.

Yes, our joy has increased because of the Savior who made us His very own in the waters of Baptism. Today, our joy is increased at the blessings of being in His house, hearing His Word, receiving His forgiveness and dinning at His table. Today, our joy is increased on account of the grace of God being poured upon us.

Oh, the joy that fills the heart of God’s people. Paul could even be joyful while in jail and facing death. He rejoiced as he remembered the saints at Philippi and the fellowship he had with them. Likewise our joy increased on account of the fellowship we have with Christ and one another.

Indeed, God in mercy and compassion has increased our joy no matter what our situation in life and status before the world. It is my fervent prayer and I might say the wish of the Savior...that you go forth this week and through His Spirit be able to take your joy to others; while remembering that Satan is wrong, he cannot take the joy which you have received from CHRIST. Amen!

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“She Chose Life” (Isaiah 49:1)

S-1408 SOHLS/3A 1/19/2014 Hymns: (O) #394; (S) #725 LSB (C) #398

Texts: Isaiah 49:1-7; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42a

Theme: “She Chose Life” (Isaiah 49:1)

Question: “What value do you put on life?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia! The text for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is from the O.T. lesson “Listen to Me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called Me from the womb, from the body of My mother He named My name” (Isaiah 49:1).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Precious children of the heavenly Father, today we give thanks to our mothers and fathers who gave us life through the grace of God. Today, we observe Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Today, we declare to the world that every life is precious in the sight of God no matter how that life is brought forth—whether in the confine of marriage or out of wedlock. Today, we declare to the world that life is God’s gift to us and we have no right to destroy life by any means including abortion. To that end, we call upon the Holy Spirit to use us in spite of us to protect the life of the unborn, and provide support to anyone who find themselves in unexpected pregnancy.

In the most unusual place, under the most difficult situation, in her hour of desperation she spoke only four words. But oh the power of these four words. These four words brought light in a dark room. These four words brought peace to a troubled heart. These four words made a difference in someone’s life. These four words changed life for the person who spoke them, and to others. You know what these four words were: “I CAN’T DO IT!”

“I can’t do it!” Were the words spoken by a very frightened and scared young girl. She was only 13 and got pregnant. She was afraid to tell her mother of what had happened. Her fear drove her to an abortion mill to get rid of the evidence. But as she visited with the people at the butcher shop, she struggled with the thought she is about to murder the precious life that is growing in her womb. She was about to snuff the life out of a baby that is developing within her. Therefore, instead of death, SHE CHOSE LIFE. And we give thanks to the Lord for the godly decision.

Nine months later the 13 years old gave birth to a baby girl. Ultimately she chose not only to give her life, but to give her up for adoption—and a family that would be able to care for all of her needs. The fortunate couple was the singer John Elefante and his wife. Recently John dedicated a song to his adopted daughter Sami called “This Time”. (I will show you the video after the Divine Service). https://www.dropbox.com/sh/urt3xynuq2q2zxs/uKGpYBNarp

This young 13 years old girl chose life. How thankful we are that she did. Just ask John and his wife how blessed they are because she chose life. Ask John and his wife how they felt when they held her in their arms, wiped away her tears, rejoiced at her uttering “daddy, mommy.” That life is so precious that her dad dedicated a song to his daughter in thanksgiving to the goodness of the Lord. PAUSE.

On this Sanctity of Human Life Sunday we hear the prophet Isaiah proclaiming God’s Word saying: “Listen to Me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called Me from the womb, from the body of My mother He named My name.” God the Father and Author of life, created man in His own image, declares to us that life is precious. Even from the womb He has known us, given us a purpose and called us by name. That purpose is not clear at times in our lives only to God, but He has given us this purpose. This was true of the people of Judah in their Babylonian captivity. It is true of our lives, and even true in the case of those unplanned pregnancies!

With these words Isaiah states that the Servant joins others who were set apart at birth for God’s purposes. The expression “from the womb” connects the Servant with Yahweh’s choice of the nation, as well as with Isaiah’s Immanuel prophecy (Is 7:14) and other Messianic texts that reference birth. Because the Servant was set apart to be our Savior, we have likewise been elected before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in Christ (Eph 1:4–5). This Servant is Jesus our Immanuel—God with us—who comes to us to bring about salvation.

From the womb Jesus was set apart to save every person in the whole wide world. What Israel as a nation couldn’t do, the Messiah, the Suffering Servant would accomplish through His birth to a young girl who was not married, through His perfect life on earth, through His brutal demise on Calvary’s cross, and by rising from the grave on the third day; He gives us LIFE. Precious life. Eternal life. PAUSE.

The prophet Isaiah makes it clear that God loves life-even life from the womb. For He knows each and every one of us. In the book of Jeremiah we hear these words: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (1:5), again the Psalmist declares: “For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (139:13-16). Yes, God loves life. That is why He created it in the first place.

But not all people love life. At least not human life. Just recently I saw an ad from the The American Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals that turned my stomach upside down. Here is some of what I heard in the commercial: “Every single day of the year, we are rescuing animals from a lifetime of cruelty, violence and pain. Your commitment makes it possible for our life-saving programs to create happy endings for those innocent lives touched by cruelty. 60c A Day Saves lives, give a little to make a big difference for animals. 12 Gifts in 12 months, Give a little, change a lot.” I’m not against supporting animals if you are an animal lover. But what about the unborn? Daily about 3500 babies are burned with sailene, cut in pieces and put to death. But you don’t hear of the cruelty and pain they experience they call that a woman’s choice.

How tragic that we have disregarded the Word of God and followed the ways of the world. Rather than supporting and protecting life-born and unborn many are busy destroying it. That is why it is important for us today to hear the word of Isaiah again: “Listen to Me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called Me from the womb, from the body of My mother He named My name.” Yes, listen and hear God’s Word of promise. The lord, who formed His only-begotten Son in the womb of the Virgin, has called Him to come forth and be a great light in the midst of the darkness, a great light shining throughout all the earth. The darkness has reigned far too long. The evil one has extended his rule and set his throne upon our earth. His governance is oppression, and he enslaves the citizens with his wickedness. For too long he has roamed about, seeking to devour, terrorizing the people of the land. They cry out, they groan under the load, they gasp in pain—how long, O Lord? How long?

Daily we have seen this darkness. Daily we have known the evil of this world. Life has been deluded, discarded and destroyed. It seems like we put more value on things than life. Even more shameful, is how often our world values the life of an animal over human life. PAUSE.

But on this Life Sunday, let me stop and say: “To each of you here today, welcome in the name of Him who values life—Jesus the Christ. Some of you are burdened because of abortion. Some of you are burdened because of adultery. Some of you are burdened because of gambling, pornography, alcoholol or whatever your secret sin is. I’m glad you are here. You see it is not the sin of abortion that separates us from God, but it is sin period.” I’m so glad the Holy Spirit has moved you to come today, to receive His grace and forgiveness.

O Life Sunday, I announce to you in the name of Christ Jesus the One who was appointed before the foundation of the world and called YOU out of the womb, YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN!

I am so thankful to the good Lord that this 13 years old girl chose life. I am so thankful that John Elefante chose to love his daughter Sami and dedicated a song for her. But I am most thankful on this Life Sunday that Christ chose death for you and me so that we may have everlasting life with Him beginning now and forever in eternity. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Shining the Light of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:1; Matthew 9b, 10)

S-1406 EOL/3A 1/05/2014 Hymns: (O) #126; (S) #127; (C) #129

Texts: Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

Theme: “Shining the Light of the Lord” (Isaiah 60:1; Matthew 9b, 10)

Question: “Are you letting the light of the Gospel shine?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia! The text for the Epiphany is from O.T. and the Gospel lessons “Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you…And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Isaiah 60:1; Matthew 9b, 10)

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Most precious people of God, today we observe and celebrate the Season of Epiphany. This Greek term means: “To appear, to manifest or to reveal.” And the church throughout the centuries have observed January 6^th as a Christian feast celebrating the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi. Thus, Epiphany is about light. That means Epiphany is about life! Without light there can’t be life in our world. Light is the first of God’s creative gifts that we see in Genesis 1. From light comes life. Did you know that without light we cannot breathe? Light is the main component in the process of photosynthesis. That is the process where plants use the combination of light and carbon dioxide to give off oxygen! No oxygen and there would be no life! Light is that powerful!

Epiphany is about light. That means Epiphany is about safety too. When a room is awash in light, you can see where all the dangers are. You are far less likely to step on a toy that your kids got for Christmas, or stub your toe in a light filled living room, as opposed to the middle of the night as you try to make your way to the kitchen for a glass of water. Light can also keep us safe when we are away from home. When walking at night and you have a light source, you can see all the dangers that lurk: That raised section of sidewalk that could trip you as you walk that not-so-friendly dog that belongs to your neighbor or even that person who is intent on doing you harm. When there is light, you can see the dangers and avoid them.

Epiphany is about light. That means Epiphany is about exposure too. That very same light that would give us life and keep us safe is also the same light that can reveal things about ourselves that we really don’t want others to see or know about. When the light is shined on those things we do in secret, we are exposed to the world. That light is what will show the world that we are doing something that is illegal, immoral or both. That light shows that we are not always who we make ourselves out to be. Underneath the façade of goodness, holiness and righteousness that we like to portray, the light of God’s Word is searing! It exposes all of what we like to keep in the shadow. It doesn’t leave anything hidden. It exposes us to all of the shame and guilt that our sins deserve. That is why St. John tells us that we prefer darkness to light! We like to hide in the shadows.

But Epiphany is about light. Light exposes! While this exposure can be painful, it is also the only thing that can bring about true, lasting light. When our sin is exposed to the One who is the Word Made Flesh and the Light of the World all at the same time, the death of our sin and the dangers of the world and flesh are revealed. But they are not just exposed for a divine “gotcha!” They are laid open so that the light can heal. When the disease of our sin is exposed the Lord of Life heals us! His Word of forgiveness and life overcomes our sin and death. That is why we can hear the Word of the Prophet and rejoice about this light that has come! This Light has not come only to kill us, but also to make us alive. And the life that we receive from this light will be the life that lasts forever!

And we are called to reflect this light. We don’t originate it. It doesn’t come from us. No, by grace through faith this light is placed in us by the Holy Spirit like a flame is placed in a lantern. The lantern’s job is only to reflect the light that it has been given. Through us the Light of God’s word then does its work. It gives life to others as they see the light in us and are led by the Lord to repent of their darkness. Through us the Light of God’s Word gives safety as it leads our family and friends and neighbors and co-workers out of the perilous, sin-filled world into the Light of Life that only comes through Jesus the Christ. The Holy Spirit uses that light that shines through us to expose sin in others so that the death in them might be revealed and healed.

Epiphany is about light. It is about a light that has been revealed to all peoples. It was a light that first shone brilliantly in creation. While sin and death cast a dark pall over creation, that Light would not be extinguished. That light was carried through the ages in the promise of the One who would be that light. The arrival of that Light was first announced in the glory of angels talking to shepherds in the Judean hill country. But that light could not just be contained there. That light was revealed to the Gentiles, that’s you and me, through the light of a brilliant star that led Magi from the East all the way to Bethlehem, where they would see the Light of Men in the face of Jesus.

And that light still shines for all people. It shines in the proclamation of the Word of God even here today. This light will expose and give life. It will do that for you today! And then that light will be carried out by you as you too go home by another route. Like the Magi of old, you can’t head back to the certain death that Herod promised. There is a new way for you to go. It may be uncertain. It may cause you to do things that you would never think of doing. But it is the way the Light of Christ—who is the Light of the world is calling you to go.

For some that might mean heading into the Office of the Holy Ministry. For others it may simply mean reaching out to that brother or sister in Christ that has wronged you and you shine the Light of God’s forgiveness on them so that you might be reconciled to them. It could be like a friend of mine who called this week, saying, “Nabil, I was going through my checkbook and I realized I haven’t sent any money for the Bike-For-Life. I will be dropping the check in the mail today!” On Thursday I received a check for a $1000.00. Praise The Lord (PTL). Or even like the Jewish convert to Christianity from Tel Aviv, who was harassed for reading the New Testament by a Rabbi Slovstowski who hated Jesus and the mention of His name. But when this Rabbi confronted the new believer and told him how much he hated Jesus Christ. You know what this new believer who had seen the Light of Christ did? He gave him the Hebrew New Testament to read. When the Rabbi started reading, he couldn’t stop. He read till 3 a.m. and then said, “I have found 270 reasons, why Jesus is truly God and Messiah.” PTL.

Epiphany is about Light. Epiphany is about life: Life with our Lord, Life in the Church and life in the world. By the grace of God, you and I have seen this light. You and I have daily opportunities to the let the Light of Christ shine through our words and actions as we are exhorted by Matthew saying: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to Your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

Having seen the Light, the Holy Spirit sends us out to speak of the glorious Epiphany to those who are still in darkness. Therefore, Epiphany is about Light. Epiphany is about life: Life with our Lord, Life in the Church and life in the world. This light is life. Life for now and life forever. It is the gift that the Lord gives us each and every day in Jesus WHO is the Light of the World. AMEN.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA.

“Count Your Blessings!” (Isaiah 63:7-9)

S-1404 1SAC/3A 12/29/2013 Hymns: LSB, (O) #94; (S) #36; LS #377; #92; #308; (C) #567

Texts: Isaiah 63:7-14; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:13-23

Theme: “Count Your Blessings!” (Isaiah 63:7-9)

Question: “How Blest Are You? Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for the first Sunday after Christmas is from the O. T. lesson: “I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord, the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that He has granted them according to His compassion, according to the abundance of His steadfast love For He said, ‘Surely they are My people, children who will not deal falsely.’ And He became their Savior. In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old’” (Isaiah 63:7-9).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Most precious people of God, a high school class mate of mine posted this on FB on 12/5/13. Listen to Diane (Furman) speak: “I just got back from Wal-mart, had to pick up my meds. While I was waiting in line to check out, the guy ahead of me was having the lady ring up his items one-by-one. He was making sure he had enough money to pay for his Roman-noodles and cans of vegetables. He ended up having to put one can of corn back. All I could think of was how I have never had to wonder where my next meal was coming from, or having to eat Roman-noodles. I was too slow to pay for his groceries so when he was done giving the cashier his $17.53 I handed him a $20.00 bill and said Merry Christmas! I cried all the way to the car. We must all count our blessings!”

As I was reading the post, I wept. I even wept again when I wrote the sermon. I sent a message to Diane asking permission to use her story and this is Diane speaking again. “You most certainly may use my experience in your sermon, Nabil! The Lord works in mysterious ways; I feel I was given an opportunity to put some joy in that man’s heart, but at the end of the day...I was the one Blessed!”

Diane stated it well. “At the end of the day...I was the one Blessed!”I wonder how many of us truly know how blessed we are. How many of us here truly count our blessings daily. I wonder how many of us lift our eyes heavenward and say, “Thank you, Jesus for being my Savior, Redeemer and Lord!” PAUSE.

By now most of you have opened up your gifts and some have even exchanged them for something that you like better. But today, in God’s holy house, there will be no returns or exchanges. Today, instead we want to lift our voices to heaven and once more thank the Lord for blessing us with every spiritual blessing.

Today, hear how the Holy Spirit uses the Prophet Isaiah to lead us to “count our blessings”: “I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord, the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord Has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that He Has granted them according to His compassion, according to the abundance of His steadfast love.”

The counting of our blessings can’t be limited to one or two days out of the year like Thanksgiving and Christmas. It can’t be limited to these because every day our Lord visits us as His very own people. He is faithful in making and keeping every promise. Nowhere do we see that promise making and keeping more clearly than what we just saw as we once again traveled to Bethlehem to behold the great Gift of Heaven to man. PAUSE.

On this 29^th of December, now that Christmas has been celebrated and we turn our thoughts to a new year, it would be a great time for counting blessings! As we look back on the year past, we might well see it as a good year. But others because of heartache and hurt are eagerly wishing 2013 over. In the process it would be very easy for us to look at the past as “the good old days” and see the future as uncertain. Or we might see the past hurts and see the future as limitless joy and potential. But either way we are overlooking one very important thing: the participation of God in our world and in our lives. But today Isaiah calls us to consider both our past and our future not in the light of our current setting in history, but in relationship to the kindness and mercy of God!

Just as it was in the time of ancient Israel, so it is for us today. Our lives cannot be measured or analyzed without considering God. Isaiah began by praising God. “I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord, the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that He has granted them according to His compassion, according to the abundance of His steadfast love.” It is interesting to note that Isaiah actually is setting out to pray for his people, and ask God to rescue and help them, but he begins his prayer by remembering their relationship with God. And that relationship is marked by the kindness of God’s steadfastness.

Just what does this steadfastness look like so that we can count it properly? First and foremost, it consists of God’s gracious choice of Israel to be His people! Isaiah says, “So He became their Savior. In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old”. The steadfastness of God is in His gracious choice of His people, which always results in God taking their side and being their Savior. Notice how much like the Gospel the description of God’s relationship with Old Testament Israel sounds; In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the angel of His presence saved them; In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them. God was present among them. He suffered with them and for them. He redeemed them by sending His Son, the Babe of Bethlehem—to be their Savior and make them His very own. PAUSE.

Today, as we have been brought to the Lord’s house, we have a joyful opportunity to remember how God works in the lives of His people and us. King Solomon had plenty of wealth and could buy anything he wanted including plenty of wine. Instead, I ask you today to recall the miracle at Cana where we behold Solomon’s greater Offspring produced wine in abundance by His creating will. He is, indeed, the Divine One who can provide for us even what Solomon’s gold could not buy.

Every day, is a good occasion for us as God’s beloved, chosen and redeemed people, to count our many blessings and then take into account this realization: Only Jesus can give us something that is far more nutritious than what sits on our tables, far more warming than what is placed on our shoulders, far more powerful than what sits in our driveways and far more valuable than any of our wealth. That tremendous and invaluable gift is what He delivers by His humble birth in a stable, His perfect life, His bitter suffering; His undeserved death on the cross and by the glory of His resurrection. It is none other than the forgiveness of sins and eternal life!

King Solomon had to leave all of his wealth behind. Jesus, on the other hand has gained for you and me a royal legacy that lies ahead. In some ways we are even more prosperous in physical things than Solomon ever had. We are no more deserving; therefore, we have ample reasons to acknowledge with thanks the things that make this passing life more pleasant. But they are trifles compared to what God’s Son has gained for us.

Enjoying plenty now or doing with less, in a family circle or all alone, today we reassess Paul’s reminder: “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). And it is this richness that helps us count our blessings. But at time, we stand in line, not at Wal-Mart, but in the presence of the God Almighty and we count our good works to get a pass at life. But no matter how hard we try to buy our way into the Kingdom we fall short like the young man in our opening story. Into the line steps Jesus. He takes His pierced hands and feet, His bruised face and punctured side and says: ‘FATHER, THIS IS MY PAYMENT FOR THIS CHILD AND EVERY CHILF OF ADAM AND EVE! THE PAYMENT IS MADE IN FULL!” Thus we get a pass into the glories of heaven.

Indeed, we are rich and ought to be counting our blessings. Because of Him who became poor so that we can become rich we have been made part of the family of God. Through the splash of water on our heads, we get the privilege to dine with our Savior around His table often add to that; cases of expensive forgiveness, a wardrobe of pure righteousness fitted for rejoicing in the presence of the Designer and the Deliverer of the Universe, a crown of golden godliness—all ours to take with us.

Thanks be to God now and always as we recount our many blessings. Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA.

“Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:13-14)

S-1401 4SIA/A 12/22/2013 Hymns: LSB, (O) #592; (S) #357; L.S. 594; 618; 636; (C) #349

Texts: Isaiah 7:10-17; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25

Theme: “Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:13-14)

Question: “Why is it important for the family to be home for Christmas?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for our meditation is from the O.T. lesson: “…Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name IMMANUEL” (Isaiah 7:13-14).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Most precious people of God, someone has said that if you could convince a man that there is no hope, he would curse the day that he was born. Hope for all human beings-is an indispensable quality of life.

Years ago an S4 submarine was rammed by another ship and quickly sank to the bottom of the ocean. The entire crew was trapped within that vessel. Various ships that were in the ocean at that time rushed to the scene of the disaster, but no one really knew what that crew went through on those few hours underneath the water. Men bravely clung to all the oxygen that they could get until, slowly, it gave out. One diver who came to the rescue placed his ear to the side of the vessel and listened, and there were various tapping noises that were heard-someone was tapping in Morse code. The question being asked from that dark vessel was this: “Is there any hope?”

That is indeed the cry of all humanity from the time of the Fall! Throughout various circumstances, and in various situations, those cries can be heard: “Is there any hope?” The voice of the prophet Isaiah resonate with the message of hope in a hopeless situation as King Ahaz of Judah was being attacked by the kings of Syria and Israel.

God sent His prophet of old to bring comfort and hope to what seemed as an impossible situation saying; “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name IMMANUEL.” Most certainly, there is hope only for those who know this Immanuel personally and intimately. This hope comes not because we know Him, but rather because He comes to be with us and among us. The words of John Wesley capture this hope when on his deathbed he was able to confess: “The best of all is this: God is with us”’. He could have said various things, but he said that the best of all is this: God is with us. When God is with you, then hope is a living thing. It is not a wishful thing, but something that encourages you to look beyond the situation and circumstance to the One who holds everything in the palm of His hands including you. PAUSE.

How does this hope become ours? Isaiah states that Immanuel will be with us. Those words spoken to King Ahaz, the people of Judah, then, and now to us; is what gives us hope! What that means then, the Child born of the Virgin is God with us. That is, God comes to dwell in the Child born in Bethlehem who would be our Savior and Lord.

In this Immanuel our hope is fulfilled and revealed. It was the answer to a troubled king and his nation and it is the same answer to our troubled hearts also. This hope hidden in the Child of Christmas who many deny as the Savior and Lord of all humanity, but to us, who are in the darkness of sin this is our Morse code—God comes to be with and among us. It was also given to Mary and hidden in her womb and the lowly manger of Bethlehem; and given to us in Word and hidden in the bread and wine.

What a beautiful name for our Savior, Immanuel—God with us. In it are wrapped two comforting, consoling and encouraging truths. The first is that Jesus is totally without any dispute God. Eliminate that truth and what would that baby mean to us? He’d be just another baby, cute, no doubt, like all of them. And what would that figure on the cross 33 years later mean to us? He’d be just another innocent victim nailed there by some miscarriage of justice. No, He must be God, or else He can’t be our Savior. If He is not God, then He could only give us temporary hope. If He is not God, then His blood could hardly purify us from all sin.

The second truth in His name Immanuel is this: He’s “God with us.” What a comforting thought. God’s not far off, distant in the heavens, glancing at us from across the miles. He is with us in our flesh, on our globe, under our sin. He is with us in our sin, not to cause them or share in them but to save us from them and the punishment they bring to us—death. He knows what they are like. He has already paid for every one of them. He is with us in our sorrows and sadness, in our trials and troubles, in our agony and affliction. He is with us every step of our lives from the first breath we took. PAUSE.

Likewise, today, Immanuel is here. He is here in the simple water sprinkled upon Miliana Jo Montoya to make her His forever. He is here today to give her hope and future and guide her in her walk of faith. He is here today, as He offers us His body and blood on the altar to give not temporary hope but an eternal one.

Our Immanuel is here today in His Word. Through that Word spoken and administered in the Sacrament we have hope forever. Our Immanuel knows our weakness our failures and our sins. Yet, this Baby of Bethlehem, the Baby the prophet Isaiah spoke about in the text, chose to go the way of the cross and suffer for our sins so that we may know that in Him there is life and salvation. Because of what He endured for you and me, we can rejoice realizing the payment has been paid in full.

Our Immanuel is here today as we offer Him our services. Though we often get weary and seem to take three steps forward then five steps backward in our efforts, yet, He is here to take our hands and guide us to be faithful in our service. What a glorious name, Immanuel, Our Savior-God has, one that deserves our praise all the days of our lives!

It is such a blessing, a privilege and joy to know that no matter where we are in life, our Immanuel is with us—whether we are in the deepest valleys or the highest mountains. Whether our hearts are filled with hopelessness or filled with hope our Immanuel is with us. Whether we are lying on an operating table or lounging on a bed in the Bahamas our Immanuel is with us. That is our comfort and hope.

That wasn’t the case for the S4 that went down in 1928. As night fell over America, many prayed for their safety, rescue and freedom from the dark entombment. But, as the hours passed, so did the more optimistic call “Is there any hope?” asked S4 pathetically. “There is hope,” said S8. “Everything possible is being done.” 102 hours after the disaster, a stream of fresh air hissed into the forward compartment of the submarine. But the struggle had been in vain for the 40 men below. By 11 a.m., Thursday, December 22nd, air had been pumped into the compartment continuously for 13 hours, but still no further sound was heard. Death had come to claim the last of the crew of S4.

But unlike the efforts of man in saving man, though they tried their best, Baby Jesus, Our Immanuel saved us from a worth death-eternal death—through His entombment for three days and rising to a new life—He guarantees salvation to all who trust in Him as Lord and God.

“Is there any hope” is the question? And the answer is yes! POSITIVELY YES! Immanuel has come, and He is here even now for you. On this 22^nd of December 2013, 85 years after that tragic accident of the S4, our SI—Savior, Immanuel has the done the impossible—to rescue and free us to live with Him forever. Because He is God with us, for today, tomorrow and forever!

Lord, thank you for coming to the manger and the cross to be my only Savior My Immanuel. Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“A God on A Mission!” (Isaiah 35:3-4)

S-1399 3SIA/A 12/15/2013 Hymns: (O) #66; (S) #352; (C) #68

Texts: Isaiah 35:1-10; James 5:7-11; Matthew 11:2-15

Theme: “A God on A Mission!” (Isaiah 35:3-4)

Question: “What’s your mission in Life?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for our meditation is from the O.T. lesson: “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, Your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you’” (Isaiah 35:3-4).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Beloved in the Lord, today as the third candle is lit on the Advent wreath; we are reminded again that Advent has us on a mission. Our mission, as directed by the calendar is taking us toward a renewed celebration of Advent, both first and second. We are ready to mark the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ even as we eagerly anticipate His return in glory at the end of time to bring to conclusion everything that He has done for us. This is a time of great excitement as we mark once again the earthly beginning of God’s Rescue Mission for Mankind!

But it is also vital that amid the excitement we need to recall just why it is that God has been on this mission to save us. We see in the earliest pages of the Bible how quickly and completely man’s fall was after God granted him stewardship of His perfect creation. From the Fall in Genesis 3 it quickly escalates to the point where our Lord is forced to say in Genesis 6 that “The heart of man is always evil” (v.5). But even here we see how God was already on a mission to save us. For even amid the earth-wide flood of Noah’s day, God was providing an Ark to save the remnant of the human race. This was to keep the line alive so that He might send a Redeemer who would buy back the ENTIRE human race!

It is important for us to note that God’s mission is not just a New Testament thing. Dr. Reed Lessing, in his commentary on Jonah says,“…[God’s] gracious love toward humanity extends all the way back to Genesis, beginning with the first Gospel promise, and forward through Malachi, then through Revelation” (CPH, p. 151). In fact the entire Bible is about this God on a mission to save humanity! PAUSE.

Today we hear one of the most distinct and prominent voices in that chorus of Old Testament missionaries. Today we hear Isaiah’s voice echo across the centuries to tell us about what God is going to do. Isaiah announces that God is on a mission to save His people from the punishment of sin that will come in the form of death and hell. Isaiah’s sweet voice of promise rings out Be strong; fear not! Behold, Your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you!

This is God’s mission! He is coming to save fallen humanity, including you! This has always been God’s mission. But this is more than just throwing you a life line or plucking you from danger. No, this salvation is so much more. In the Hebrew language, Isaiah uses a word for “save” that can literally be translated, “to make alive.” The salvation that Isaiah announces is one that will bring humanity, including YOU, back from death to life, & from darkness to light!

We desperately need this! Every one of us here today are no different than the people of Genesis 6. Our hearts are always and only evil. Sure we try and mask it with good deeds and right living. All of us here today, sitting in the pews and counting the days until Christmas, still battle this evil inside. It comes out in the form of gossip and envy, slander and deceit. Sure we dress up our evil in good suits and make-up, we claim that we are right and the person that we are sinning against deserves it, but under the perfume it is still the stench of sin and death.

Yet, in spite of all of this sin and death that we continually amass, even after our call to faith in the waters of Holy Baptism, the Mission of God to save humanity goes forward! For this reason, Isaiah’s words are not just for then but to us also today! On this Third Sunday in Advent, the prophet reminds you that God is on a mission! That mission, spelled out by the great prophet is this: “He will come to save! Yes, save YOU!” We still need saving because of our sin.

And that mission of Salvation goes forward! Through the ages there was the search for the Savior. The prophet Ezekiel relates this search by God among us, “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; But I found none” (Ezek 22:23-31). No mere human being could do this saving! It would take a special rescuer.

This special rescuer is none other than Jesus! Advent reminds us that this Mission, planned for the ages, began by His entry into the world through Mary’s Virgin womb. This God on a Mission would be the One who would do all of the clear signs of Messiah that served as the answer to John the Baptizer’s question to Jesus of “are you the one?” (Mt. 11:2-3). Jesus pointed to the reality that the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. Jesus was then and still is now that God on a Mission! PAUSE.

God once saved humanity from a flood by the work of faithful Noah. This godly man spent 120 years building the Ark to save his family and some animals before the destructive deluge that God was sending upon the whole-wide world. For 120 years Noah gathered wood and worked on building the Ark. All along people mocked him, laughed at him and called him a fool for building a huge ship on a dry ground without any body of water near it.

By the grace of God, Noah continued to build the Ark and saved 8 souls and animals and repopulated the earth again. But even after this saving, mankind sinned again. And so it was for every rescue mission through the ages. We hear of characters like Abraham and Isaac, Jacob and David and others. The rescue they would bring to God’s people would be fleeting. That is because no mere man could rescue an entire creation!

So God sent another carpenter on a mission to save humanity—His Only Son, Jesus. For 3 ½ years this Carpenter worked, taught and showed the world His mission to save them. Much of it was done in the backwaters of Galilee. Amidst authoritative teaching and miraculous works He faithfully labored on this Mission on which the Father had sent Him. This mission was viewed with some faith, some skepticism and a growing rejection by those He came to save. But it was on a Friday afternoon that His mission that began so sweetly in the stable of Bethlehem was fully, completely and beautifully carried out. Upon the wooden beam of the cross Jesus was humiliated, laughed at and mocked but He remained obedient to the will of God. And upon that cross He gave up His life for you.

This is where the mission of rescue was different that Noah’s and Abraham’s and Moses’ and David’s. These were used by God for a time, but the work of their mission was undone by the continued sin of the people. But not this rescue mission of Jesus! On the third day He rose again. Through His Incarnation, death and resurrection, this obedient missionary saved not only 8 souls, but all who would believe in Him.

What an awesome God we have! He is never willing to walk away from the people He has promised to save! That is why He is still a God who is concerned about you! He is the One calling you to repentance and new life. He brings you again today into His presence to have the eyes of your eyes of faith restored. He brings you here again to make whole lives that are crippled by sin so that you might walk along with what Isaiah calls the Way of Holiness; in your life. He brings you here again and again so that your hearts burdened by guilt might leap like the deer. He brings you here so that you may once again feast on life in His Son, our Savior Jesus, the very God who has come on a Mission to save you!

Today, by the grace of God you and I are recipients of His grace and privileged to tell the world what this great Missionary has done for us—save us. Our Lord has been and continues to be on this mission in order for you to spend an eternity with Him. So as another candle is lit and our Advent preparation continues, by the Grace of God once again behold this God who comes for you! He comes to undo your sin and shame. He comes to crush your sin and death. He is on this mission FOR YOU! And because of this Mission our Advent anticipation can already know the joy promised by Isaiah: the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. It will. It already has! Amen!

Now the peace Of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“A Christmas Tree In Bethlehem” (Isaiah 11:1)

S-1397 2SIA/A 12/08/2013 Hymns: (O) #63; (S) #645; L.S. 73; 307; 74; (C) #70?

Texts: Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12

Theme: “A Christmas Tree In Bethlehem” (Isaiah 11:1)

Question: “Have you put up your Christmas” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for our meditation is from the O.T. lesson: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from His roots shall bear fruit” (Isaiah 11:1).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Most precious people of God, a story is told of an Englishman who purchased a 35 foot Christmas tree. Cut it in 3 pieces and put two sections on the first and second floor inside his house and the third he placed on the roof. He made it look like the tree was coming out of the roof. (an illusion)

Isaiah, that voice of the O.T. Gospel rings new in our ears today, with the glorious message of hope, restoration and renewal. The message is this: Out of the midst of cut off tree; a stump will grow and bear fruit. In chapter (10), this prophet tells us that God “will cut off the trees of Assyrian and Israel.” Yet, out of cut off tree “will” (notice that) will there is a promise here, come forth a shoot that will be unlike any other tree. For this reason I have titled the sermon: “A Christmas Tree In Bethlehem”

If you have been to Israel, especially in the Garden of Gethsemane, you would have seen new shoots coming out of old olive tree stumps. These shoots do bear fruit. Even this past summer, in front of the parsonage, after the big tree was cut off, shoots sprouted from the ground. This is what God promises in this text. And anyone who is around that Shoot will have peace for the present, hope for the future, and joy forever.

Isaiah goes on to say, upon this Shoot lands Seven (7) spirits—that is the perfect number given by God. In and through this Shoot every prophecy will be fulfilled and ultimately leads to the salvation of mankind. In this text Isaiah declares that God will do something special - in the devastation left behind after the destruction of Assyria and Israel. A branch would grow out of the stump of Jesse. A branch would be grafted into the tree that had been cut down and destroyed.

In this magnificent painting, Isaiah reveals what God will do through this branch—it will bud with fruit that is evident to all. Therefore, we must ask who was/is this branch? The answer is clear—it was/is the long expected Messiah—the promised One to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. It Is Jesus-the heaven-sent Savior. The prophecies about the coming Messiah started right after the devil seduced the first couple to disobey God by eating from the tree of good and evil. In Isaiah 7, more is revealed about this promised One stating, that a virgin would conceive and give birth to a son and we would call His name Immanuel. A couple chapters later (9), God spoke of this Child who would minister in Galilee and would be a great ruler and leader of His people. This Messiah would be a light to those walking in the shadow of death.

In the text Isaiah tells us this Messiah would be like a great tree growing out of the stump of Jesse. God was going to plant a Christmas Tree in Bethlehem. And just like the tree in that Englishman’s home, God’s Tree is a huge tree. Though the Jewish Tree was cut off, driven into exile, and almost wiped out, and even the offspring of David was about to die in the Bethlehem’s massacre, yet God intervened! And out of the stump came forth a Shoot who has changed the world—His name is Jesus. When Jesus had fulfilled His mission – when He came to die for the sins of the world and rise again on the third day from the dead - He ended up having huge influence. More influence than anyone has ever had or ever will. PAUSE.

One person described Him this way: “He was born in an obscure village. The child of a peasant woman. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. And then became an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a house. He didn’t go to college. He never traveled 200 miles from the place where He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness.”

Another person observed: Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40 BUT Jesus for only 3 1/2 years. Yet His influence infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined years of the teachings from all the world’s greatest philosophers.

Jesus painted no pictures yet some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci obtained their inspiration from Him. Jesus wrote no poetry, but Dante, Milton and scores of the greatest poets were inspired by Him. Jesus composed no music. Still Hadyn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the music they composed in His praise. Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, and the kings that ever reigned have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that One Solitary Life.

That One Solitary Life –that single Shoot that had been grafted into the Stump of Jesse - grew to such a large tree that He has changed nations, tribes, culture, history, and the world. But most importantly He changed our lives—yours and mine.

The Tree God planted in Bethlehem (Jesus) became a BIG tree. But this tree was not a new planting. The old tree, crooked and gnarled by sin and death, was cut off. But this cutting off was not to kill it. It was to make it blossom and grow again as it had originally been intended in creation. So the Master of Creation’s Garden, The Father Himself grafts this shoot on to the blessed “Stump” of Jesse…and this stump is no illusion as the story of the Englishman. He is as real today as when God made that promise. And that promise was for you and for your children Peter tells us in his Acts sermon.

Today, that Shoot and Branch is the largest tree in the world. It is larger than this year’s Christmas tree in Rio De Janeiro which stands at 278 feet tall. This tree is not that tall in size, perhaps 5 ½ - 6’. But its height reaches into the heavens. Beneath it shades people find comfort and peace. From its leaves we are given fruit that keeps us alive forever. And the benefit of that tree is eternal.

The Christmas tree that stands in Rio De Janeiro will die, be cut up for wood, and burned. But the Christmas Tree in Bethlehem was dead, but is alive forever. And from its Shoot people receive forgiveness of sins, pardon from hell and everlasting life.

No wonder Isaiah shares with us the glorious news of what this Tree will do. Bring about harmony between God and man, man and man and even animal and man. As Isaiah tells us: “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Is. 11:6-9).

From His abundant fruit we shall receive the richest of fares and drink from the eternal juices that fill us with the greatest satisfaction. That is why this Tree brings us such tremendous joy—because this Tree came to restore life to us in the midst of death and suffering. Through the death of that Tree and it sprouting to life again on the third day, He has conquered death and gives us life unending.

Today, we thank God for the Christmas Tree in Bethlehem, for this Tree is eternal, it will never dry up, it will never be cut down, it will never die, and it ALWAYS has green leaves to gather the nations beneath it and give them joy eternal, and peace everlasting. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA