“Children of the Light!” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6)

S-1277 22SAP/3C 11/13/11 Hymns: (O) #8; S#20; LS. #451; #497; #498; (C) #52

Text: Zephaniah 1:7-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30

Theme: “Children of the Light!” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6)

Question: “How much do you appreciate the light?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for the 22^nd Sunday after Pentecost is the Epistle lesson: “But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

Oh my beloved and His, what a joy to be among you again and bring to you the glorious and precious life-giving Word of truth and light and life. Having just returned from Israel, my mind is still in a whirlwind at what I had seen and discussed with fellow travelers, friends and family.

While there, we visited the Shrine of the Book Museum just outside of Jerusalem. This museum was built after 7 years of planning and finished in 1965. The Shrine of the Book houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered 1947–56 in 11 caves in and around the Wadi Qumran. The shrine is built as a white dome, covering a structure placed two-thirds below the ground that is reflected in a pool of water that surrounds it. Across from the white dome is a huge black (basalt) wall. The colors and shapes of the building are based on the imagery of the Scroll of the War of the Sons of Light against the Sons of Darkness; the white dome symbolizes the Sons of Light and the black wall symbolizes the Sons of Darkness.

That war is still going on not only by the Jewish sect, the Essenes who wrote and hid the Dead Sea Scrolls in the caves in first century Palestine, but in every heart of the sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve till today. It is a war that rages between the light and darkness; light that gives life and hope and darkness that brings about hopelessness and despair.

I saw that firsthand while in Israel. One of the nights in Bethlehem I was invited over to my friends George’s house. We had a great time around the meal and began to visit afterwards about the differences between Catholics and Lutherans.

I explained in a most simple way that the differences among many is that we don’t worship Mary the mother of the Lord, nor do we consider her to be a co-redeemer, but she is a vessel used by God to bring about the everlasting light of salvation.

At that my friends took offense. They began to bombard me with all sorts of questions about Mary, if she remained a virgin after the birth of Jesus; if she had other sons besides Jesus; if she married an older widower Joseph? I explained that we adhere to Scripture for it is the light that shines in the darkness. That the Scriptures alone are the truth of God’s work and words of our salvation. The more I explained the more adamant they became with me that I don’t know what I am talking about. Finally, I asked do you have a Bible that I can show you what it states!? Do you believe that there was no Bible in the house! I then asked, have you ever read the Bible? Again, I was amazed at their response of “NO!” I wonder how many people in the USA would find themselves in the very same position. They THINK they know what the Bible says, but really they confess a faith of their own creation.

How tragic that answer was to me personally. Here are the Christians in the Middle East—in the Holy Land of all places, and yet they are in darkness because they don’t have the Word and neither know the rich treasures of the Word of the Living God and the light it sheds on the people who read it.

This was sad enough for me. But then, I went home to my father’s house. While there, I noticed a book called “The Virgin Mary” written by Charlie Casta a Baptist minister who declared that he had come to some revelation that Mary was, is and remains a virgin.

In the book, Casta states that according to the apocryphal Gospel of James (a second century document) Mary was the daughter of Joachim and Anna. Before Mary’s conception Anna had been barren. Mary was given to service as a consecrated virgin in the Temple in Jerusalem when she was three years old, and was married to a widower at age 14 to Joseph, but she had no other children with him. PAUSE.

I share this information with you, not to make us proud and arrogant that we Lutheran Christians are better than our Catholic Christians, but rather because many people are still children of darkness and not children of the light.

Indeed, Paul, the great preacher of truth tells us today “But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.”

You and I are not in darkness and for that we thank Him who is the Light of the World, Jesus Christ who shines on our darkened hearts. Our light comes from His light. It is He who gave us the light that removed us out of the darkness of death and despair. He, through the working of the miracle of Baptism has given us the light by which we become Children of Light. Thus this is the place of our witness—as Children of the Light we live in this light and grow in this light and mature by this light. This is not a light that originates inside of us. Rather, it is a light placed in us by the Holy Spirit—a light then that we reflect to the world. As Paul says: “Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:14-15).

By the grace of God, the Holy Spirit has revealed to us the truth of Scripture which testifies about Jesus who came into the world as the light bearer. According to Saint John we read these blessed truth: “In Him [Jesus] was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:1-4). This is the absolute truth confirmed by Scripture alone and not by a 2^nd century legend. The truth that you and are Children of the Light.

How important therefore, it is for us Children of the Light to read and learn of Holy Scriptures and know its teachings firsthand. How valuable is the Word of God to be placed in your hearts and heads to read and study it—because this Word leads to life and light. The light that can’t be extinguished by the darkness, but shines ever brightly on the darkness of Good Friday and shows us the True Light that came from heaven to die for us and win our salvation. Jesus the Christ is that Light that was extinguished for few hours so long ago on Golgotha’s Hill, but burned brightly on that First Easter morn and still does in the hearts of those who trust and believe His Word. PAUSE.

For this reason, Paul, the minister of light exhorts us to encourage one another in our witness to the Christ our Savior and Lord. This is the fruit of the Spirit at work in us as it was in the life of Mary. Indeed, we rejoice in Mary’s great confession when she sang the Great Magnificat: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…,” (Luke 1:46-47). Likewise, we too, rejoice in her great confession and praise God our Savior who sheds upon us His light of Grace and Mercy.

By the shedding of this light we know the truth of Scriptures that we are saved solely by God’s work of redemption on the cross. We see this even clearly today in the Gospel lesson of the parable of the talents: Now if we make this text about making money, we have missed Christ and will leave our hearts bankrupt. So, this is not an economics lesson. And yet it is! The economy of God’s Grace. This parable sheds the light and mark my words about it; “It is all about the Word of God in our lives and not about us.” IF THE PARABLE FOCUS IS NOT ON GOD’S WORK, YOU’RE READING IT WRONG. Let me repeat that. IF THE PARABLE FOCUS IS NOT ON GOD’S WORK, YOU’RE READING IT WRONG.

Therefore, remember this: You and I and all Christians are Children of the Light. Yes, we are. As Children of the Light we know our fallen state and sinful condition but we also know the grace of God that is revealed to us in His Holy Word. There we behold Him as the Light of the World. There we see Him as the Savior of the World. There, we worship Him as the ONLY true God. And by the working of the Holy Spirit we confess Him as Mary and others have throughout all generations.

Oh my beloved and His beloved. Today, I’m thankful that the gracious God has brought us back together not to sleep, but to grow in wisdom and knowledge of the truth of His light and having basked in that light, we go forth as little lights to the world and sharing the hope of glory with one and all.

God bless our labors of teaching and pointing others to the ONLY source of light, love and life—Jesus the Christ, our ONLY Savior and Lord, Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

Encouragement Words Part II

S‑1079 11/16/2008 27SAP/3A Hymns: (O) #446; (S) #611; (C) #508

Texts: Zephaniah 1:7-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30

Theme: “Encouraging Words ‘B’” (1 Thess. 5:11).

Armour, SD. SOLI DEO GLORIA.

Question: “Are there any words you never get tired of hearing?”

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen! Indeed! Alleluia! The text for our meditation is from the Epistle Lesson: “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thess. 5:9-11).

Saints in Christ, some times a movie is so good, that the producer and director decide to have a follow up. Movies such as: Back to the Future, Rocky, Jaws and others. These producers and directors know they have a good script and people would come and watch them. Paul, too, the producer and director of this Epistle, has great news to share, a follow up from the previous chapter to give to the Saints at Thessalonica with a Script that will help them with their lives. This news is the reason to speak of Encouraging Word Part II.

During my years of seminary training and the fifteen years I have been a pastor, I have never had the same title for same sermon back to back. Remember last week’s sermon title was “Encouraging Words ‘A’” and today’s title is “Encouraging Words ‘B’”. Why? Because the text demands it. The text of Paul highlights the emphases of encouraging one another and building each other up.

What a privilege the Lord of the Church gives us His followers to share such encouraging Words with those around us. What an honor to be used by God to make a difference in the lives of others. What a blessing when we can be used by God to encourage another person to walk in the walk of faith and to know their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ better.

It is such a critical thing among Christians to be an encourager to those around us. The reason, there are so many things that just drag us down. So many things that take our eyes from the end prize, the 2^nd Coming of our Savior to earth to take us with Him to heaven again. It is for this reason that the Apostle Paul emphasizes these words for us: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

Paul doesn’t want us to lose focus of this encouraging aspect. He knows the world and its enticements on the believer’s life. He knows the challenges we face. So many discouraging events going on in our world that we forget that God is STILL in total control and that God is working in these events to bring us to a closer walk with Him.

Watch TV, read the newspaper, listen to the radio, and all you get is but bad news. It is better if you shut the TV, radio, and quit reading the newspaper so that you don’t feel as badly. Because every time you watch, listen and read about the events in our world, we get discouraged. The stock market is in shambles, our economy is in disarray, our world’s situation is unbalanced to say the least, and we find ourselves anxious about these situations and not knowing what we need to do, or what to say.

On the one hand there are many people who are discussing the end of the world. They spend so much emphasizing this aspect that they forget about the rest of the News God has in His Word. Paul, however, highlights the implications of Christ’s Second Coming for daily living. Since we know who we are and whose we are, let us seize the day in being always prepared for the Master’s return as mentioned in our Gospel reading (Mt. 25:14-30), let us be self-controlled (5:8), and not controlled by things.

Paul admonishes us to be awake and sober. Does the world tranquilize us with its vanities and pleasures? How easy to get wrapped up in hunting, (here I am applying the law to myself), TV programs, sports, shopping, work and travel. These activities in and of themselves are fine. However, they can divert us from God’s plan for us. Satan tempts us to succumb to the sins of the night—partying, drunkenness, sexual sins and the like.

Not only that, but Paul also encourages us to put on the whole armor of God. The breastplate of faith enables us by the Holy Spirit’s power to trust God with each day’s problem and afflictions. The breastplate of love flows from faith. Love penetrates the darkness as nothing else can. The helmet of hope equips us to live soberly each day. No matter how dark the day, the hope of Christ’s return keeps the light burning.

Finally, Paul asks us, invites us and bids us to “… encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (5:11). The world discourages us and tears us down. But we have the precious Gospel message to share with one another. We know that Good News! By the grace of God we have heard it a 1000 times before. We know from Holy Scriptures that Christ died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him (5:10).

You and I as believers are blessed indeed. We are blessed more than we even know or desire; all on account of Christ’s death and resurrection. This is why Paul wants us with these words to encourage others and build them up as we have been doing. PAUSE.

On Thursday evening, I got a phone call from my son David. He said, “Dad, I have something to share with you! Today, we had ‘Parents/teacher conference.’ In his school there are two fifth grade classes. A father of child in the fifth grade not his own came to David and said: ‘Mr. Nour, are you by any chance related to Nabil Nour?’ David smiled and responded, “you bet, he is my pops!’ The gentleman then proceeded to tell David saying, “I want you to know that your father was my youth counselor at Redeemer, Sioux Falls (this is over 20 years ago) for five years. He has really had a greatest influence on my life to bring me to a closer walk with my Lord and Savior.’”

David related that story and said, “You know dad, I had goose bumps and a lump in my throat.” When David told me that story, I had wet eye and a lump in my throat too.

Those were encouraging words to me. They affirmed again what the Apostle Paul exhorts us to do in this text “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

Encourage them with the message of the Good News of our salvation. Encourage them to realize that they have a God who loves them that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die and rise for them. Encourage them to know what is written in God’s holy book. Encourage them to come often to the Lord’s house and kneel at His table and receive from His hands the Good News in, with and under the bread and the wine.

Why should we do what Paul tells us? Because we are the hands and feet of Christ in this world. The message of the world is gloom and doom, pain and problems, trials and temptations. But the message of the producer and director of our text tells us otherwise. We are a people of hope. Hope anchored in the cross and the empty of Christ. Salvation given in the name of Jesus to all who believe in Him as their Lord and Savior. Victory earned to by Jesus death on the cross and the empty tomb and the spoils are given to those who bow the knees before Him.

The movies producers and directors know when they have something good. When they do, they follow it up with another. So, too, does our message. We have the greatest news the world needs to hear—the salvation of our souls. PAUSE.

Beloved in Christ, as we face the end times, whether it is the end of our life in death or the end of all time, we face it with the encouraging Word that is Jesus Christ. And here is the best part; these encouraging words are here for us all the time. We hear the encouraging words of the forgiveness of sins in Holy Absolution. Encouraging words are read and proclaimed from pulpit and lectern. We taste those encouraging words as we feed on the foretaste of the eternal feast that is the Lord’s Supper.

We are awash in this encouragement. We live and breathe and pray and sing in this HOPE. And hope does not disappoint. Life will be full of things that will challenge our comfort zones, steal our peace and even raise serious doubts. But we have the answer. It comes in the Encouraging WORD that is Jesus. He is the ultimate answer to everything that would frighten us, scare us and even seek us to doubt God.

Hear these encouraging words. Take them to heart. Taste them and see. In Christ, the crucified and risen One, we have all the encouragement and hope we need. AMEN

Now the peace of God…

Encouragment Words Part I

S‑1078 11/09/2008 26SAP/3A Hymns: (O) #1; (S) #370; L.S.# 199; #206; #201; (C) #57 S.O.B.

Texts: Amos 5:18-24; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13

Theme: “Encouraging Words A” (1 Thes. 4:18).

Armour, SD. SOLIE DEO GLORIA.

Question: “When in your life could you have really used a word of encouragement“?

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen! Indeed! Alleluia! The text for our meditation is from the Epistle Lesson: “Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 Thes. 4:18).

Saints in Christ, Tuesday night was a sad day for SD. After the election was over, it was clear that many in SD don’t regard life as precious. Initiated Measure 11 was voted down by the biggest lie that I have ever heard from the opponents, who said, “The people have spoken for healthy families.” Now tell me what is “healthy” about killing an innocent baby in the womb? What is “healthy” about the destruction of lives of mothers and babies? Yes, the people of SD have spoken, but be assured that the fight is not over, because life is very precious in the sight of God and should be to us also.

On Wednesday I was in Sioux Falls. While there I stopped at the Alpha Center (pregnancy Crisis Center the leader of Initiative 11 VoteforLife.org campaign). When my wife and I stopped at the office, the ladies had sullen and downcast faces. I told them, “Not to lose heart, because God is in control even if we don’t like the end results!”

On Thursday, I got an e-mail from the Alpha Center. Here is a snippet of the message: “I am writing you today with truth and courage on my heart. I am feeling extremely disappointed about the results of Initiated Measure 11 in South Dakota, as I am sure many of you do, too. This Measure would have eliminated 97% of abortions being used as birth control in South Dakota and would have protected hundreds of unborn children and their mothers. But it lost at a margin of 55 to 45.” (By Kimberly Martiniz via e-mail).

These ladies and the many volunteers, who have worked very hard for two years, needed an encouraging word during this sad time in our State. While with them at the office, we all held hands and began to pray together for God’s guidance and direction for what He would have us do.

Encouraging words are very important because they change our outlook on things. Encouraging words are essential to help us on our journey. Encouraging words are valuable for both the head and the heart. Encouraging words, we all need to hear daily.

In the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament, we read of the Jewish people’s return to the land of Israel and their attempt to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Many opponents rose up and attempted to distract them from their labor. But the Prophet Nehemiah, would not allow anything to get in the way of finishing the project—the building of the walls. He kept encouraging those who were working hard not to give up. As the walls were getting closer to completion, the opposition grew louder and stronger and began to do everything to thwart Nehemiah’s efforts. But to no avail. Finally, Nehemiah spoke and said: “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” (Nehemiah 6:3). These words of Nehemiah were sufficient encouragement for the workers to complete the wall.

In the text before us today, Paul gives us an encouraging Word. Not a word about the outcome of an election, or the building of a wall; but rather an encouraging Word about the Eternal Life, that Christ has given us through His resurrection from the dead. This is not just any encouraging Word, but the Word that speaks clearly and completely about what happens to those who die in the Lord.

In the beginning of the text, Paul by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit writes these words: “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thes. 4:13). Paul wants to encourage his readers and his listeners not to be discouraged, but to be encouraged in the reality that on account of Christ we have hope that we will rise again.

Paul told the believers in Thessalonica that on account of Christ, those who die in Him have fallen asleep. What comfort that is! What rest that is! What encouragement that is! Those who fall asleep in the Lord will rest from the temptations of the devil and the trials of this world. They will experience no more pain or sin. They will experience no more the afflictions and agonies of the world we live in. This hope that Paul wants to encourage in other believers is also our hope.

Today, as believers in Christ, we speak that encouraging Word to others as Paul has done in the past. We speak it because it is the ONLY Word that will help us keep on going when our lives and nation are falling apart. We speak an encouraging Word so that others may know the same loving Father, who sent His Son to relieve us, deliver us, and rescue us from the eternal damnation of hell. The encouraging Words we speak are… PAUSE

Take time to read and study the Scriptures and you will find many authors who speak an encouraging Word to us. Consider this: In Peter’s first epistle he writes these Words; “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Chris” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

Peter is speaking from first hand experience. He knows disappointment and discouragement and even fear. His life is an encouragement to me who has fallen into sin. We meet Peter as a prisoner of the Lord in Rome not long before his execution under Nero. It is Peter’s final exam in the school of faith. His faith in Jesus enables Peter to face death. The memory of Jesus’ revelation at the Sea of Galilee enables Peter to encourage other believers. Peter holds out to them the hope that is ours in Christ’s empty grave and beyond our own grave.

Our faith may be tried in different ways. We may be in our own prison, hospitalized with an incurable disease, or awaiting the outcome of major surgery. Peter, Paul, and Nehemiah encourage us to realize that even in these trials and temptations there is a divine purpose that God will mold us and fashion us to be a light to Him and His Gospel.

To encourage others is a blessing for us Christians, even when we least think we should be doing so. But to encourage others is so important. PAUSE

A mother was preparing to go to her father’s house to help him celebrate his birthday. Her 15-year-old daughter Kathleen wanted to go with her boyfriend to pick up his brother from school. The mother agreed but said, “Go straight to Grandpa’s house.” Before the mother went to her dad, she picked up her husband and went to the grocery store. While at the store she heard the sirens of police, ambulance, and fire trucks. She said to her husband, “Someone is in need, let us pray.”

As they got to her dad’s house, her father met them at the door and said, “There was a terrible accident and someone lost his life,” and that they needed to get to the hospital as fast as possible.” Her heart sank as she thought about her daughter Kathleen. As they pulled into the parking lot, one of the paramedics, someone they have known for years, met them at their car.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” he said with tears streaming down his face. They quickly walked into the hospital and began to talk to the doctor in the hallway of the ER. He asked them if they believed in God, and with that the mother’s knees gave way. “No,” he said, “You don’t understand, do you believe in divine intervention?” “Yes,” was their response; not having a clue what he was talking about. The doctor smiled and asked, “Do you know what shirt your daughter was wearing, tonight?” Shaking their heads no. The doctor replied, “Go down the hall and look. Your daughter is blessed with angels and so are you. From what the emergency personnel told me, there is no way that your daughter should be alive, let alone only have a few scratches.” When her parents got to her, they hugged and sobbed. As they checked their daughter’s shirt, they read these words, “JESUS SAVES.”

Yes, Friends it is Jesus who saves. He saves us not from car accidents, not from fires, not from tragedies; but He saves us from the eternal fires of hell. It is Jesus who wipes away our sins by His blood. It is Jesus the Savior whom Paul wants us to know about and what He has accomplished for us through His death and resurrection from the grave. There are no greater words of encouragement that we can speak to others about today, than what the Apostle Paul has shared with us in this text. And what an encouraging message God gives us—we are forgiven! We are saved! And we are heaven-bound! For this reason Paul says, “Therefore encourage one another with these words. God grant us the grace to encourage others with these Words. Amen.

Now the peace…