“Power at our Disposal!”

S-1368-3SAP/C 6/5/2013 Hymns: (O) #451; (S) #447; L.S. #332; #307; (C) #52

Texts: 1 Kings 17:17-24; Galatians 1:11-24; Luke 7:11-17

Theme: “Power at our Disposal!” (1 Corinthians 1:18-24)

Question: “How powerful are you?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for Armed Forces’ Sunday is from the Epistle lesson: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Saints in Christ, my credentials for preaching for Armed Forces’ Sunday are slim. As a life-long civilian, I have never known what it is like to wear the proud uniforms of the Army, Marines, Navy or the Air Force. The only uniform that I have ever worn is that of the scouts. I wore it proudly and served many years.

Today, I am not here to talk about my scout’s experience, but about the faithful men and women of every military branch who have served and who will serve in the future. To those of you who have served this great nation, I am grateful for your service and we as God’s people salute you. And for those of you who will serve in the future, we pray God’s blessings upon you and your family.

Today, we observe Armed Forces’ Sunday. On this day that we pray for and give thanks for the military might that is ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice to handle any hostility, we also rejoice in another power that is at our disposal 24/7/365. This power is God’s gift to help us fight the battle of faith and remain standing. And this power is the cross that changes lives and people and nations.

The text for our reflection and meditation is from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Church at Corinth: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” Yes, there is power in that cross: Power to heal, forgive and bring peace, power to open the eyes of the blind, power to raise dead hearts, power to cause sinners to come to Jesus and bow before Him; and power to help us see that the message of the cross is indeed foolishness to the world.

Our nation has one of the most powerful military in the world. We have power to protect our security and American citizens anywhere. We have Special Forces, Elite Teams from our Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines who train for very important missions, like the one that took out Osama Bin Laden. In fact, there are standing plans in place right now that will allow for us to insert a mighty military force within hours anywhere on the planet! Indeed, we have many powerful armaments with a wide variety of force. The power of this force is indeed formidable! Aircraft carriers, B1 bombers, Raptors, Torpedoes and Drones. The military uses their power to send drones, shoot missiles, drop bombs. This power is one that can destroy any force that would seek to work harm to America or its friends. But no matter how powerful we are, we can’t win all of the wars, nor defeat every enemy that means us harm. No matter how many powerful weapons we have, they can’t always protect us from every harm.

However, there is a greater power that we have at our disposal. It is the power of the Gospel that St. Paul speaks about in the text. This is the power that is above every power, this is the power that has changed the sinner to be a child of the heavenly Father. This is the power of the cross and the empty tomb. And we should never be ashamed of this power, as Paul reminds us in Romans: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (1:16).

This is the power that is at our disposal—the Gospel at work in our lives. This is the power that changes Gentiles and Greeks alike. This is the power that destroys the enemy and opens the gates of heaven for us. Military might can only destroy and kill. The Power of the Gospel can kill and make alive! And when the Gospel makes you alive, that life lasts forever. The Gospel has the power to make an enemy a brother and bring peace to the ones in the midst of hostility and anger. PAUSE.

Just as our Commander in Chief has the power to send boots to the ground, or a Drone to destroy enemy combatant, so does our Heavenly Father has the power to destroy and put to death every enemy of ours. He sent the ultimate power dawned in human flesh as an infant. Though He appeared weak lying in a manger, yet He had power at His disposal to stem the tide of evil.

This is the glorious news for Christians to hear the message of hope and reconciliation through the power of the Gospel. His message to us is the power that our loving Heavenly Father has projected on a universal scale for all of humanity. This is the power that is found in Christ our Savior who died in our place. This is the power that destroyed the enemy Satan. This is the power that helps us overcome sin when we are tempted. This is the power that helps us see our need for a Savior.

Jesus Christ who is the Lord of the Armies of heaven projects His power both of grace and of judgment. In Christ Jesus, His love has targeted our human depravity and He has delivered to fallen man grace and upon grace; but at the same time, He has delivered the blow of death and defeat and destruction to Satan in a most astounding and unusual manner. The Father didn’t use a drone, which is an unmanned aircraft. No, this was a manned mission that involved real flesh and blood. The Father sent His Son to the cross to be crucified in our place. What looks like weakness and foolishness to the world is now the ultimate triumph of the human race. Christ crucified and resurrected is the power projection of God the Father. It is the crowning achievement of our salvation and the surpassing wisdom of God.

Today, on Armed Forces Sunday, we thank the Lord for the brave young men and women who defend our freedom at every cost. We support them with our prayers and in every manner that is possible. We want to do this, to help bring an end to the hostilities around the world; so that the wars in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan are not repeated.

All of this is reason enough to mark Armed Forces’ Day. But there is one more word to be said. Although there has always been in the Christian Church an honourable strand of tradition that is pacifist by belief and principle, most Christians have always believed that evil must be confronted, resisted and defeated. ‘Be sober-minded; be watchful”, warned St Peter in his First Epistle, ‘Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world’ (1 Peter 5:8-9).

This battle against evil is one of the great motifs of the Christian story. But we live in an age in which the big stories are seldom told, the big picture seldom seen. The posh word for the forces which shape and mould the thinking of today is Post-Modernism, which (very briefly) believes that there is no big story worth telling, or big picture worth seeing. All that matters is me and my story, and you and your story. So all the old standards and values, rules and responsibilities, are devalued.

But you and I have a story to tell: A beautiful story—that the God of heaven the mighty, powerful and gracious Father has come to our aid. He sent His Son Jesus to do battle in our place. And the arena for this battle was on a tiny hill just outside of Jerusalem. The armaments were not Drones, B1 Bombers, Missiles or bullets; no they were soldiers, crown of thorns, hammer, nails and wooden beam in the shape of a cross. On it the battle raged for six full hours and then death came and the Lord of the Armies gave up His Spirit and was laid to rest in a borrowed tomb.

Satan and all his evil forces were dancing and celebrating in the victory parade. They were giving each other high five and laughing at the defeat of the Lord of the Armies of heaven. But that was Friday, and Sunday is coming. Sunday morning the One who was defeated and placed on a cold slap returned to life and all of the enemies took flight. And now, we, the Christians can sing the victory Hymn. “Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross; lift high his royal banner, it must not suffer loss. From victory unto victory his army shall he lead, till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed” (TLH 451: v1).

Today, we thank God for those who fight for us, every soldier from every branch, but above all for the Eternal Soldier Jesus Christ who gives us the power to live with Him forever; because of His victory. Amen.

Now the peace...

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Realize Your Calling” (1 Timothy 2:7)

S-1003 9/30/07 18SAP/3C Hymns: (O) #439; (S) #442; L.S. #313; #314; #315; (C) # 416
Texts: Amos 8:4-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-8; Luke 16:1-3
Theme: “Realize Your Calling” (1 Timothy 2:7)
Armour, SD.

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! The text for today’s homily is a portion of the Epistle Lesson: “And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles” (1 Timothy 2:7).

Introduction

Saints in Christ, the Bible is a book of stories. Some of the stories are very familiar, and others are not. Today, I share with you one of these stories that are tucked way back in the first book of the Hebrew Scripture. In Gen. 24, we are told Abraham wanted a wife for his son Isaac. He sent his servant Eliezer back to his hometown and commissioned him to get a wife from among his people. He forbade him to take a wife for Isaac from among the Canaanite women. Eliezer went. Along the way he prayed for God to bless his journey. When the Lord of heaven and earth answered his prayers by picking out Rebekah, he spoke with her family to take her with him to be the wife of his master’s son. They agreed to this offer and wanted him to let her remain with them for 10 more days to help her celebrate and prepare her going away. But he responded: “Do not detain me, now that the LORD has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master” (Gen. 24:56).

The servant of Abraham didn’t forget his calling. He was called to go and get a wife for his master’s son. And he did.

Today, the Holy Spirit tells us of the calling that the Apostle Paul received from the Lord Himself. Here is how Paul speaks of his calling, “And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles” (1 Tim. 2:7).

Paul never wavered from his calling as the preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul understood the calling he received from God. Paul carried out this calling going from one place to the next, never permitting anything or anyone to get in the way of preaching the Good News to all people. He faithfully remembered his calling until he was beheaded in a Roman prison.

In the Words that are before us today, the Apostle Paul encourages and exhorts Pastor son Timothy to remain steadfast and carry on the ministry of preaching the Word of the Living God—so that all people might know the heart of God—that He wants all people to be saved. He wants people in our day and age to come to the realization that without Jesus in their lives, there is no hope, heaven, or happiness.

In these same words, Paul clearly and concisely declares this absolute truth that has become a stumbling block to many and will remain as such a scandalous to others. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all men” (v 5-6).

You see saints in Christ, Paul, Timothy and all other faithful followers speak of the calling they received from God to share the love of Jesus that took Him to the cross on their behalf.

Indeed, you and I are called to be Christ’s ambassadors to speak His message of truth to the world that doesn’t believe it. In an age of political correctness we Christians are chided for saying there is no other way, but through Jesus. But whether they agree or they don’t, the truth MUST be told—there is ONLY One Mediator, the Man Christ Jesus.

Jesus is that go-between. He doesn’t only defend and speak on your behalf before the judgment seat of God, but He does it well. The Good News is His Father listens to Him because Jesus your Mediator and Savior has already paid the full amount for ALL your sins. That’s why the Son of God came to earth. He became man to offer His life as the ultimate sacrifice for all people. As the God-man, His blood was precious and His death powerful enough to cover all of mankind’s sins. When your Redeemer—the Mediator stand between us the sinners and His Holy God, we are safe. Not only safe, but forgiven and blessed beyond our wildest imagination. For by this marvelous act of Redemption, you are counted as saints in His sight, holy to spend eternity with your loving and gracious Father.

What wonderful news the Apostle Paul shares with you today. Today, by the Spirit’s power you continue to learn the truth about your Savior, Jesus Christ and what He has accomplished for you. And because He is your Savior, He calls you to be His faithful servants.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, do you realize that you are not normal people. Don’t be offended by my statement. Indeed, you are not normal people. You are a peculiar people, called out of darkness to show His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:8-9). Normal people when challenged to do something for the Church, would respond, “How much does that cost?” Peculiar people respond, “Lord, what would you have me do!” Normal people would say, “There is a need in the church and somebody should do it.” Peculiar people say, “Lord, I will do what I can with the gifts You have given me.” Normal people see the problems. Peculiar people see God’s power and providence, and what He can accomplish in spite of them. Normal people say, “It is NOT my job to do this”, peculiar people ask God to give them the privilege to honor Him with their services.

The fact that you are here on this Sunday morning shows the world that you are not NORMAL, but PECULIAR People. Yes, you are peculiar, because you come to confess your sins, receive His absolution, give your gifts so that others might know the will of the Father, and before leaving this holy house, receive the precious gift of the body and blood of the Lord to remind you that you are truly His forever.

Do you realize you calling faithful friends? Do you understand what it is that the Good and gracious God has called you to do? Our good doctor—Martin Luther in his Small Catechism addresses these issues under the heading, Table of Duties. There he speaks about what we are called to do as husbands, wives, children, parents, pastors and even to the authority and the Church.

By the grace of God we are privileged to share the blessed and beautiful news with the people of the world. Do you want to see people’s lives changed, then share the greatest story ever told. Not the story of Abraham commissioning his servant Eliezer to get a wife for his son. No, the greatest story is His Story, and not all people have heard it. And you and I are the privileged ones who are called by God in the waters of Baptism to live our lives as His spokesperson.

We would like to think that we always live our lives most of the time, as the Redeemed of God, but do we? The absolute truth is that we don’t always live like God’s people. More often than not, we live like normal people, rather than peculiar people. It is then, that we lift our eyes and hearts of faith to God and thank Him for sending His Son, Jesus Christ who never forgot His mission or His calling and the purpose to which He was sent to earth—to fulfill the Law of God perfectly in our place. In Mark 10 Jesus said: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45). Again, Jesus said, “[I came]… to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work” (Jh. 4:34).

Faithful friends, Jesus realized His calling. He knew His mission. And nothing would deter Him from completing the salvation of man—yours and mine. Today, we were privileged to be reminded how God’s love in Christ Jesus brings us life, salvation, the knowledge we are loved, making us also His pleasantly peculiar people. What a blessing to be known not as normal people but peculiar people sharing the Good News with all. Amen.

Now the peace God…