“I Can’t Do It!” (Leviticus 19:1-2)

S-1413 7SAE/3A 2/23/2014 Hymns: (O) #388; (S) #276; L.S. #324; #307; #246; (C) #54

Texts: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18; 1 Corinthians 3:10-23; Matthew 5:38-48

Theme: “I Can’t Do It!” (Leviticus 19:1-2)

Question: “Have you ever said, ‘I CAN’T do it!?’” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia! The text for the 7^th Sunday after the Epiphany is from the O.T. lesson “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD Your God Am holy’” (Leviticus 19:1-2).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Children of the heavenly Father today’s text is a hard pill to swallow. The Lord God Almighty asks a hard thing of us mortals. He asks us to be holy as He is holy. He asks us to love Him with our whole heart, mind, body and soul. Love our neighbors, our enemies, not to lie, not to gossip, not hurt or cheat others. This is not only hard, challenging, difficult, but it is downright IMPOSSIBLE.

Certainly it is harder said than done. I don’t have to tell you the difficulties that we face daily as sinful human beings who want to serve God always but can’t. I don’t have to remind you of the burden of being obedient to the command and will of God. All you have to do is look into the mirror of God’s Law. Though it is hard, God’s request is not a laughing matter. He is not kidding with His request of us. He is serious. He asks us to be holy, perfect, righteous and blameless. But how can we be when we daily sin much in thought, word and deed.

“I can’t do it!” You have said it too. Last year after my open heart surgery, I had many health and physical challenges. There were many days when I couldn’t do what I wanted. Oh, I tried, but eventually, I cried and said, “Lord, I just can’t do it.” The older I get the more I realize I can’t do what I once was able to do. It is true. If you are honest you would admit that you, too, have limitations and can’t do what once you use to do. Even Ann Lander’s once joked about an elderly lady who had bent down to get an item of the ground, and said, “Lord, what else can I do while I am still down here?” PAUSE.

We have a major problem on our hands. God is asking us to do the impossible, yet we fail miserably because we can’t stop sinning. We often joke saying, “I am not perfect!” But God demands perfection. Know this: if you are NOT perfect you can’t enter the Kingdom of God. The problem is we daily fail to do the will of God. And if we haven’t done it completely, we haven’t done it at all. (James 2).

But we are not alone. When God asked Moses to go to Egypt and free the Israelite, he cried out saying: “Lord, I can’t do it. Send someone else.” (Ex. 4:13). When Jeremiah was asked to be a prophet to Israel, he complained to God saying: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” (Jer. 1:6). Elijah, the mighty prophet of Israel, who challenged with courage the prophets of Baal and put them to death ran for his life from queen Jezebel saying “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” (1 Kings 19:4). And Jonah when God called him to go to Nineveh ran away from God and the responsibilities to preach repentance. (Jonah 1) All of these great men of God in essence said, “I can’t do it!”

But wait there are more men of God who said the same thing. When Mark John had joined Paul and Barnabas on their missionary journey, he too cried out, “I can’t do it!” Mark wasn’t prepared for the work, and when the going got tough the young John Mark got going (Acts 13). And let us not forget Paul, that great preacher who traveled the world over proclaiming that salvation is by grace alone, by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), through Christ alone. In his letter to the church at Rome cried out, “I can’t do it.” I try not to sin, but can’t. (Romans 7) PAUSE.

Let’s not forget Luther, the great Augustinian Monk and theologian before he understood the grace of God and the sweet Gospel cried out, “I HATE GOD! I HATE GOD!” Listen to Luther’s own voice saying: “I could not believe that He was placated by my satisfaction. I did not live, indeed, I hated the righteous God who punishes sinners. Secretly, if not blasphemously, certainly murmuring greatly, I was angry with God.” Luther in essence was saying: “I can’t do it!”

Luther got this so well that when he was writing the Catechism in his explanation of the 3^rd Article of the Creed wrote, “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.”

As you can see, there is not one of us who has kept the Law of God perfectly. None of us are holy like God demands. Indeed, can a mortal be in the right before God? Can anyone be pure before His or her Maker? No, not one of us is guiltless, not one has true integrity, not one is without sin; no not one. Who then can stand before the presence of a holy God (Psalm 24)? Who then can survive His punishment and wrath? Who then can live without fear of destruction?

What a dilemma we have. God demands perfection, and we can’t enter the Kingdom of God without being perfect. But we are far from it. This causes us troubled hearts and guilty consciences. I know the truth and at times I want to throw my hands up and cry out, “Lord, I CAN’T DO IT!” But wait. Before you throw the towel in the ring, listen to the Rabbi from Nazareth as He invites you saying: “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28).

But don’t stop there, lift your eyes up and see the shadow in the distance. Look and see the bloody body barely moving. Look and see the hunched body carrying a heavy cross. Look and see Him drag one foot after another as He climbs up crucifixion Hill. Look and see His eyes reaching out to those who are hurting on account of sin. Look and see as Roman soldiers strip Him naked, lay Him on the wooden beam and with a huge mallet drive 6 inch spikes into His hands and feet. Look and see the God Man hanging on the cursed tree. Look up and see…and hear Him say, “I CAN! I WILL! I HAVE! I AM GIVING MY LIFE FOR YOU!”

Hear Your Savior say “I lived the perfect life for you. I have fulfilled the Law of God in your place. I have washed you from every stain of sin. I have redeemed you by my shed blood and glorious resurrection. Remember though, I stood before Pilate who covered Me with a robe to mock and humiliate Me. But today, I in love and joy put on you My robe of righteousness and holiness to present you perfect in the presence of My Father. I AM THE ONE WHO MAKES YOU HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, BLAMELESS AND PERFECT NOW AND FOREVER.”

As stated above, we can’t enter the Kingdom of God unless we are perfect. Well, I have good news for you today. You are perfect because Christ has made you perfect through His suffering, death and resurrection. Yes, you can’t do it, but He can, He has and He will. Take comfort then because you are perfect and you will be in the presence of the PERFECT Savior, Jesus Christ. FOREVER. Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“You Are Different!” (Leviticus 19:1-2).

S-1234 7SAE//3A 02/20/11 Hymns from LSB (O) 706; (S) 851; L.S. #620; #638; 633; (C) #783

Text: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18; I Cor. 3:10-23; Matthew 5:38-48

Theme: “You Are Different!” (Leviticus 19:1-2).

Question: “Do people see you as being different?”

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Mt Calvary @ Richfield, MN

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for the 7^th Sunday after the Epiphany is from the Gospel lesson: “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them You shall be holy, for I the LORD Your God am holy’” (Matthew 5:21-22).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

You who are the most beloved congregation in the Lord Jesus, today’s text challenges the preacher and the people of God to be different. In these words, Moses tells us that we are to be holy, because the Lord is holy. These are strong words for the believer living in this politically correct society where everyone should be treated on equal level. These words pierce our hearts to be different because God demands of us—His redeemed and blood-bought children to be like none-other in the world.

If you study people you will notice that many people want to be the same. People get haircuts similar to movie stars or politicians. Others want to dress like them, or drive the same kind of vehicle. Some even want to act like them—walking, speaking and behaving like them.

In a sexually saturated society, many fall prey to the desires of the flesh and sleazy life-style that is promoted and publicized on TV. Perhaps you have noticed that so many of the TV programs are not wholesome or God-pleasing. On top of that, almost 60-80% of TV programs are reality shows. People want to be part of the crowd, they want to be noticed and tell their story which is not a story at all.

However, we who have been forgiven and redeemed by the ONLY Savior, Jesus Christ have been called to be different. We shouldn’t be following the ways of the world, but the ways of the Lord. The Word of the Living God should be our guide and blue print. We should stand out like a sore thumb. For we, too, have a story to tell—not a sleazy story, but salvation story. But we can’t tell that story and make it powerful if we don’t obey the will of the Lord our God by being holy and different. PAUSE.

Max Beerbohm wrote a story which he entitled, “The Happy Hypocrite.” It is a story of a man whose face personified evil. He was faced with a dilemma. The woman he loved refused to marry him because he didn’t look saintly. To solve the problem the suitor put on a mask with a kind face. The young woman married him despite the face beneath the mask. Her husband proved to be an attentive, caring and unselfish husband.

One day in a moment of rage an enemy abruptly tore of her husband’s mask before his wife’s eyes. Instead of a cruel, grotesque face, the man had become what he lived for many years. Kindness, not evil, radiated from his face. PAUSE.

What is our goal for life as Christians? To be holy even as our God is holy. As God said to Moses, ‘Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them You shall be holy, for I the LORD Your God am holy.’” And what does it mean to be holy and set apart for God? To love –– to love God and neighbor.

He who is LOVE—Jesus, was confronted by those who wanted to trick Him. They asked Him which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus knowing their hearts and the evil within summarized all the Law and the Prophets in two lines: “‘You shall love the Lord Your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Luke 10:27). The Bible is clear that to be God’s people means to be set apart, to be different, to be a holy people for a holy God.

And what is that makes us different? What is that sets us apart? What is that makes us holy and noticed by others? It is the work of Christ in us in spite of us. For it is Christ and His shed blood on the cross that makes us holy and different. He made us holy by taking our sins upon Himself and giving us His righteousness. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, “For our sake He [God] made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21), and again Pastor Paul put it this way: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Cor. 5:17).

The blessed news is that our story is not one that is made up like Max Beerbohm’s of the Happy Hypocrite; bur rather one that is written by the Author of Life Himself—Jesus Christ. And Christ doesn’t give us a mask to wear, but His white robe of righteousness in Baptism, so that we may live our lives differently in a world that is filled with sin and hate. Because of Christ’s work in us, we become His holy, pure and kind people. Because of Him we stand out like blossomed tulips stand out in the spring against the harsh reality of the fading winter. We are noticed like a beautiful bouquet of roses in the living room. The aroma of those roses causes people to come and smell and notice each pretty petal.

That is the life of the Christian man and woman, boy and girl. We are called to be different and not part of the crowd. We are called to live our lives as salt of the earth and light of the world in order that we might glorify our heavenly Father. PAUSE.

But, let’s be honest. How many of us live differently than the world around us? How many of us speak up when we should against the evil of the world? How many of us call sin, “SIN” rather than saying it is no big deal.

For God sin is a big deal indeed. For the wages of sin is death. Sin destroys life. Sin separates us from our Holy God. Sin sends us into the depth of hell for eternity. As the Baptized, Redeemed, Forgiven, Blood-bought and Heaven-bound children of God we can’t remain silent and say nothing against the immorality in this world and in our lives. When you know of someone living in sin, kindly speak to them about it. If you know of a couple shaking up together, tell them lovingly that is sin. When you know of someone who is thinking of having an abortion, tell them that is sin. And when people deny the inerrancy of the Scripture, tell them kindly that is not the case.

Why do we want to do that? Because we are DIFFERENT! We live under the Grace of Him who made us different Jesus through His suffering and death. We live our lives to magnify the name of Christ our Savior. We live different lives because we want others to come to know the grace and love of Jesus that forgives their sins, heals their guilty conscience and calls them to a life of holiness and righteousness. PAUSE.

In St. Paul, MN not far from here, there was a church in the heart of the city. At one time, the church was blossoming and growing and people came there by the throngs. But as the business district closed in, it began to dwindle and it wasn’t long before they had only a handful of worshippers. One cold January day, a fire started in that place and before the fire department could come to the scene, most of the building was burned. In the center of the church, was a huge statue. A larger than life size, 8 foot tall statue of the Savior with His arms outstretched. Somehow it was untouched by the flames. When the fire was under control, the firemen took the statue outside and put it on the sidewalk. You should have been there the next day. Cars were driving by so slowly to look at the beautiful statue. People who did not ever enter the church were now able to see the statue of Christ. That’s a great illustration of what it means to be different, and what being a Christian is all about. We need to take Christianity outside of the church walls and take them to the sidewalks and the byways. We are witnesses of what we have been told and what we have seen God doing for us and to those around us.

Indeed the Holy, sinless, Son of God came into the world and lived a different life-a life of humility and faithfulness to His Father. By His obedience to the will of God His life drew others to Him and caused them to become His followers. They followed Him because they heard from Him the truth that leads to eternal life. They followed Him because He showed Himself to be the Way out of hell and the way to heaven. They believed in Him because He is the truth that gives hope to all. They saw in Him the message of hope and salvation, as they witnessed the brutality of His death on the gallows of the cross.

Because of the cross of Christ and the empty tomb, Christ makes us different. His blood washes away our sins. His Word makes us strong in faith. And His body and blood nurtures us to remain different without compromising the truth that we are His precious and priceless children.

Oh, the joy of being different. Not as a laughing stock, but as the carriers of the message of hope the story of our salvation. God grant us the privilege and honor to remain different by sharing this marvelous and wonderful story with all people now and forever. Amen.

Now the peace of God...

Soli Deo Gloria