“The GREATEST Story For You” (Genesis 3:9-10)

S-1501 2SAO/3B 6/07/2015 Hymns: (O) #901; #615; #613; #614; (S) # 914; (C) #917

Texts: Psalm 130; Genesis 3:8-15; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35

Theme: “The GREATEST Story For You” (Genesis 3:9-10)

Question: “What is Your favorite story? Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Centennial, CO

IN NOMINE IESU

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for our meditation for this morning is a portion of the O.T. Reading: “But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself” (Genesis 3:9-10).

Precious children of the heavenly Father, the 2^nd worst and tragic story in Scripture is found in Genesis chapter 11. It is the story of Babel. The people were trying to build a tower to get to God and make themselves gods. And God confused their language and dispersed them all over the land. This story is bad, but it is not the worst one.

The worst story in all of Scripture is when Adam and Eve listened to the devil instead of God. It is when God’s wonderful creation doubted God’s love and His Word that it will do what He said He would do. It is when the devil tried to break God’s heart by saying, “Now, what will you do with that naked woman and man—Your precious Trophy?”

Moses gives us insight into the heart of God. A heart that is holy and pure. A heart that demands absolute obedience. But at the same time he also shows us the nature of God that He is outgoing, caring and engaging. Into this messed up world God came to rescue His fallen creation from an eternity of hell. And in His coming we see his amazing and awesome love to His ultimate creation--mankind.

This is love par excellence. God didn’t wait for Adam and Eve to come to Him, but He came to them in spite of what they have done. Though the punishment was severe that they were driven out of the Garden of Eden and the glorious, intimate company with God; with this inquiring question God came to save them with the promise that is hidden.

What you see in this tragic and terrible story of the fallen man, is the faithfulness of God in keeping His Word, “The day you eat of it (fruit) you will die” and death is the consequence of sin and separation from God. But in that faithfulness of our loving God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit He offers the greatest absolution given to Eve is the promise of a son: You are going to have a son. That son is going to be the doom of satan. Satan knew he was finished. He knew he was toast. He knew he had lost. Eventually, the promise of Eve’s child will be revealed. PAUSE.

People of the cross, it is interesting to note that while man was the one who sinned, only the serpent and the ground are cursed. Man is not. He bears the consequence of his sin, but no curse. We still see that consequence all around us. Broken bodies, broken hearts, broken homes and broken peace. Every single one of us knows this kind of brokenness. There are those times when God feels far away, but it is only because like our first parents we want to keep the shame of our sin hidden from Him. These words of Genesis 3 are the reason we feel this. Adam and Eve didn’t die that day. But we experience the taste of that death every day.

But if you look closely, buried not too deep in the curses of these familiar words, there is also a promise. Yahweh talks about a Seed who would come and crush the head of the ancient serpent. Now from our perspective, we know that this Seed is Jesus. However, to grasp the fullness of this, we need to take our time a bit before we go running off the Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

As we look at the curse of the serpent, God promises that there will be many seeds of the weed tree of evil. Luther is right in his hymn, devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us. There is no comfort in that part of this curse. But then again, with this in mind, all of the sin and grief that we deal with on a daily basis is confirmed. Those dastardly demons are there to work us harm.

But look at the other half of the curse. He speaks of ONE Seed. That is the very essence of the curse on the serpent. Yahweh makes it clear that ANY ONE of the seeds of this woman COULD be the One who would crush his head. Imagine that! Every time a child was born from that point on, it might be the One who would end him. What a curse! 

But for our sake, the Lord sets about narrowing the field of candidates. First they thought it was Cain, but he turned out to be the first murderer! So there were more seeds. Eventually the Lord located the promise in the seeds of faithful, yet childless Abraham. Then came Isaac, and Jacob, and Judah. Then eventually came David. And the line continued to narrow through the testimony of Scripture until we find ourselves peering over the manger while being watched by Joseph and Mary. Through the centuries God was keeping this promise/curse alive. It is a curse to satan, but promise to us. That is the way God works! The promise is fulfilled. The serpent’s head is crushed! PAUSE.

But the effect of that curse is still visible in our lives. You and I, God’s fallen creation, haven’t changed from the time of Babel. We are still trying to build ladders to get to God. But every time we build a ladder the rung keep breaking down. And we are still trying to fashion our own clothing made out of fig leaves just like our parents did.

In the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve were hiding behind fig leaves but it is a poor remedy to cover our shame. These leaves are not any bigger than a bikini. And yet we fool ourselves just like Adam and Eve did. Now can you envision me or you walking around in fig leaves garments; or your pastor (Brad/Greg stand up)? I shudder to think of it.

But thank God it doesn’t depend on us to cover ourselves or make a way to God. The Promised Seed-Jesus—the God made flesh comes into our world to remove our sin and shame through His shed blood on Calvary’s cross. He comes into our world to restore the broken relationships we have with our heavenly Father. He comes into our world to redeem us from the punishment of the forbidden tree so that we may eat from the Tree of the Cross.

Just like God in the Garden needed to kill an animal to make a covering for our forefathers, so it is true that a life was given for us to cover us—and it is the Seed of the woman—the Lamb of God slaughtered for us to cover us, not with fig leaves, but with His garments of salvation.

In Baptism He clothes us with his white robes of righteousness. And He invites us to come to Him and dine with Him so that we may be certain His love is real and eternal. And that is the beauty for us as His people. We know Jesus doesn’t work with the living, but with the resurrected dead—that is you and me.

Though this is a tragic story, but it is your story and mine. It is the story of the outgoing God who comes to your aid, to rescue you, restore you and redeem you and make you His forever. This is indeed the GREATEST story for you. And when people ask you why, you may tell them, because God loved me enough to die for me, rise again on the third day and gave a me new life with Him—life that satan can’t take away from me EVER.

Today, beloved children of the heavenly Father, rejoice, celebrate and give thanks for the GREATEST story for you. Amen and Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLE DEO GLORIA

“God Does ALL Things Well.” (Gen. 1:3-4; Rom. 8:28)

S-1494 5/1/2015 Hymns: (O) #53; (S) #57; C) #32

Text: Genesis 1-5; Romans 8:26-30; John 10:7-18

Theme: “God Does ALL Things Well.” (Gen. 1:3-4; Rom. 8:28)

Celebration of New Life for Roy Johnson

Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia amen!” The text for the celebration of Roy’s new life given by His loving and faithful Good Shepherd Jesus is from Genesis and Romans. “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.” (Gen. 1:3-4); And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

St. Shirley, family and friends; today is a bitter sweet day for you. It is sweet because we know that Roy is no longer on this earth suffering with the terrible disease of cancer. No longer does he have to endure the pain and aches of body that was falling apart. No longer will he take medicine, be pocket by nurses and doctors visits to make him feel better. That is sweet indeed!

But it is also a bitter day for you. It is a bitter day because your husband of over 30 years is no longer with you. He will no longer go to the store to get things. No longer will he be able to help you around the house. He will no longer be able to sit and visit with you about life and its challenges. No longer will he smile at you, hold your loving hands and bless you with his presence.

And yet as you consider the bitter sweet day, I want you to pay close attention to God’s glorious promises that Roy as His baptized child is with Him NOW. God’s glorious promise to do everything well for Roy has been fulfilled perfectly on Calvary’s cross! We can be certain without a doubt that God does all things well.

As many of you knew our departed brother Roy struggled with the dreaded disease of CANCER. Cancer was taking its toll on him. It made him very weak. He lost lots of weight and was unable to care for himself. He needed help!

Even though cancer had attacked his body and slowed him down, by the power of the Holy Spirit, he still put his hope in Christ His Savior. Often when I visited him I would remind him of Pastor Paul’s message. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose;” that God indeed has done all things well for him in spite of his condition, and he would smile and say: “Yes Pastor, the Man upstairs knows what He is doing and He does it well.”

Last Monday night, I got a call from you Shirley telling me “Roy had fallen and if I could come and help him.” I said, “I could! However, I don’t think it is a good idea. I should call 911 because he needs more help than I can offer.” You finally agreed. I called and they took him to the hospital and then to the nursing home.

When I visited him on Tuesday afternoon, we had a great visit and shared with him God’s comforting Word from Psalms 46 and 121. We held hands and prayed. He was smiling and said you know Pastor: “God does all things well!” I looked at him and said, “You know Roy that would be an excellent sermon title for the celebration of your new life.” He smiled and said again, “I like that Pastor!” Thus the theme for this celebration is, “God does all things well!” PAUSE.

Saints in Christ hear me well. I am not saying that God is the author of this bad disease that has attacked Roy. God is not punishing Roy because of His past sins. God did not condemn him because He didn’t like Roy.

No! On the contrary God loved Roy so much that He sent His Son to earth to redeem and restore Him. In Genesis chapters 1 and 2 we often hear the word, God in His creative activities Has done good things for His beloved people. In Paul’s message to the Romans God uses every situation and condition for the good of His people. Furthermore, Jesus in John chapter 10—in the discourse of the Good Shepherd declares: He will lay down His life for His sheep.

Roy IS one of His sheep. Please notice I am speaking of Him in the present tense because He is alive with Christ now. Jesus in love and mercy has done everything good for Roy. He permitted others to cause Him to suffer terribly. He has done all things well by permitting others to crucify Him. He has done all things well—He carried Roy’s sins and ours upon His shoulders. Christ has done all things well—He died for Roy. He has done all things well—He was buried in a cold grave. He has done all things well—He rose from the grave for Roy. He has done all things well—destroying the power of death.

Jesus has done all things well…overcome our arch enemy—Satan. He has done all things well—done away with the punishment of sin. He has done all things well—He forgave Him all of His sins. He has done all things well—offered Him eternal life. He has done everything well—welcomed Him to His table to dine and drink with Him. He has done all things well—wrapped His arms around Roy and said: “Roy, you are Mine! I have purchased your life with My blood. You are My child forever and nothing can separate you from My love and pierced hands!”

Roy’s confirmation verse affirms this blessed truth. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” With Jesus as your Good Shepherd there is nothing that you need. He supplies what is lacking in us—His holiness and righteousness. His love and kindness. His grace and forgiveness. His faith and eternal life

Yes, indeed, Christ has done everything well—not only for Roy; but for you Shirley and you saints in Christ. Know the truth and hold it tight. Your salvation is guaranteed by the Good Shepherd Jesus. Not because you have done something good, but because He is good ALL the time. He is so good that He works in His creative activities to give us all that is good from the sun and rain, family and friends. Everything around us is used by Christ to make our lives better.

But the greatest is when we gather in His house, confess our sins and receive all of the blessings He has given us out of His goodness and mercy--ALL that we need for this life and the next. Here in this house we hear the clear and pure message that God indeed has done all things well and He continues to do.

Around His Word and Sacraments we learn anew the promise of God that Roy knew so well that in every situation and in every condition He does everything well for us for today and always.

Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed Alleluia! Amen.

Now the peace….

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Numbers of Hope-969” (Genesis 5:27)

S-1485 5MIL/3B 3/11/2015 Hymns: (O) #140 vv 3-4; (S) #370; (C) #141

Texts: Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16; Genesis 5:21-27; Matthew 5:17-20

Theme: “Numbers of Hope-969” (Genesis 5:27)

5^th sermon in sermon series on “Numbers of Hope”

Beloved children of the heavenly Father, this evening we find ourselves once more in the presence of the One who gives us the Numbers of Hope—Christ our Suffering Servant, who would go to Calvary’s cross and the tomb to give us living hope.

Moses tells us: “Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and became the father of Lamech. THEN Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-two years after he became the father of Lamech, and he had other sons and daughters. SO ALL the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years, AND HE DIED!

To be sure, THAT’S a number of hope! After the fall and before the flood people lived long, long lives. The Lord Jesus enabled Adam to live to be 930 years old, Jared 962 years old, and Noah 950 years old. In a strange way these lives of longevity points us to the lively hope Jesus brings, namely, of having a forever young new body that will live forever! That is coming because Jesus was kind enough to take on a human body for us and absorb all our sin in His body and now takes us into His body through the majestic miracle of baptism.

As the Holy Spirit guides our Lenten journey, He reveals to us these blessed connections...all kinds of threads of hope come forth. However, we are getting ahead of ourselves. It is necessary that before we look at the oldest man who ever lived namely, Methuselah, that we back up to his father—Enoch.

Enoch was a huge example of hope in the Old Testament—because by the grace of God in Christ Enoch conquered death. In fact, Jesus and Enoch walked together in a very close communion. For 365 years Enoch walked with Christ and suddenly was taken out of this fallen world into heaven without seeing death! What a blessing that was! Now that is a trip I would love to see. Walking one day with Jesus and the next you are with Him forever. Woof he is gone!

Isn’t that interesting? Enoch lived to be 365 years old, walked with Jesus, and was taken to heaven. Here is encouragement for us—as the Children of the heavenly Father; to walk with Jesus every day of our 365 days each year until we too by grace are translated into the Kingdom above. PAUSE.

Now bear in mind that this Enoch was not the first Enoch of the Bible—Cain’s son, an unbeliever. This Enoch descended from Seth and preached about the gift of righteousness Jesus brings and how God’s people are moved by faith and the power of the Holy Spirit to live righteous lives. They are to walk with God in holiness, love, and kindness.

Also, we should note that Enoch, the believing Enoch of the 7th generation, like Noah, was a great preacher of righteousness. He preached how God’s people are clothed in Christ’s righteousness and saved by grace through the eternal promise of salvation. In the Book of Jude, one of the last books of the Bible, we get the impression that Enoch lived at a time which was awful, lawless, cutthroats to the max. It was Sodom and Gomorrah on steroids! The people were boastful and bigots; always grabbing for the biggest piece of pie, stepping on the little guy, and lusting after the pretty gal.

In the midst of this, Enoch walked by faith not sight; in the midst of this, Enoch lived a life of repentance. In the midst of this, Enoch set his eyes on Jesus and the eternal big picture. When Enoch is taken to heaven it is a beautiful picture of hope showing once more how the Old and New Testament message of life after death through God’s grace in Jesus is central and foundational. Moreover, Enoch walked with the God who walks on earth, Jesus our Lord!

Now the name of Methuselah is important to ponder. It means “His death shall bring.” Okay...his death shall bring what? It will take 969 years before Methuselah, son of Enoch dies. But when he does, his death will bring forth one of the most spectacular events in the world’s history—a worldwide flood.

Now in Genesis 5 there are ten patriarchs listed in the Genealogy of Adam. From Adam to Noah there is a huge gospel message set forth. Listen to the genealogy and the meaning of the names:

Adam means “man/dirt”

Seth means “appointed.”

Enosh means “mortal.”

Kenan means “sorrow.”

Mahalael means “the blessed God.”

Jared means “shall come down.”

Enoch means “teaching.”

Methuselah means “His death shall bring.”

Lamech means “the despairing.”

Noah means “Comfort or rest.”

What happens when we put the meaning of the words of the TEN generations together? We get a picture of how God is working everything in history together for the good of His redeemed. Here is the message of the ten generations when spliced together.

Starting with “Adam” which means man/dirt: Man was appointed (Seth) “to be mortal” (Enosh). This was very “sorrowful” (Kenan). However, “the blessed God” (Mahalael) “shall come down” (Jared) “teaching” (Enoch) that “his death shall bring” (Methuselah) “the despairing” (Lamech) “comfort and rest” (Noah) PAUSE.

God created a genealogical billboard (like ones on the interstates) with a John 3:16 like message upon it for people to see for hundreds and hundreds of years. Perhaps the people were badly distracted for a number of reasons. Sinful desires, pleasures of the worlds and love of self. Flood was never on their mind, because rainfall never came before. Why? The water came from artesian springs and heavenly dews.

The God who provided all this lush and plush, green and serene, comparatively stunning landscape was the God who said in the beginning “Let US make man in OUR image.” It was the Three-in-One God, the Triune God. For 969 years the message had gone forth that the Spirit of God would not continually strive with man and put up with the rank wickedness of humanity. The Father spoke to Noah and the Son walked with his grandfather Enoch in a most personal matter. The three in one revelation is there already in Genesis.

So here we are with the number of hope: 9-6-9. The number nine is prominent in the Bible. There are nine fruit of the Spirit—a gift of Jesus’ love. There are nine gifts that St. Paul lists in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10. There were 9 widows, 9 blind people as well as 9 people stoned. There are key words like lightning, ungodly, and bottomless pit used 9 times connected with “judgment.”

The 9-6-9 speaks of a double judgment with the two nines. The six in between signifies the number of sin and imperfection. Methuselah’s name, meaning, “his death shall bring,” judgment—in this case to a world out of control. God’s wrath is poured upon this world that is ruthless and lawless. This is a picture of how the world will be before the glorious return of our Lord. PAUSE.

When Methuselah was 850 years old God appeared to Noah (his grandson) to tell him to build the ark, and Noah was busily constructing a vessel that will save him and his family. For 120 years Noah faithfully built the ark, while enduring mockery, humiliation, and bore his cross for Christ’s sake with faith—like Abraham believing in the seemingly impossible. Methuselah who means “His death shall bring” dies 7 days prior to God closing the door of the ark. The flood came as God unleashes His judgment against sin, the world and the evil Foe.

Methuselah’s 969 years is a testimony to the profound patience of God. It is also a testimony of His grace. His longevity was no accident. He is not in the Bible simply to show that his age was the oldest recorded in the Bible but to show the incomparable grace, patience, and mercy of God to put up with a world so evil, so turned inward. Methuselah is a picture of the grace of God at work in the life of this man who was faithful unto death. Be thou faithful unto death—even 969 years and I will give you a crown of life.

God calls us by faith to live our lives like the patriarchs to trust the God of all grace and mercy. But how often are we truly caring and loving? Do we always live our lives as today could be our last day on earth? Do our words and actions glorify God? Do the people we come in contact know that we are Christians? How many times do we live like the people of Methuselah’s and Noah’s day—in lawlessness and looseness, chaos and confusion? More often than we care to mention.

But thank God, the God who took Enoch sent us a Savior who lives in righteousness and holiness. This Savior would teach us how to live and how to die. He reveals to us the intimate love He has for us—sinners.

You, who are the royal priests, remember that Jesus our beloved Lord would die at age 33, an age and set of numbers from which the numbers 969 all get their character. It shows that in the end the only judgment that counts is the 777 judgment of the One who was 33, namely, “there is now therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus!” (Rom. 12:1).This is the hope that Christ’s suffering and passion brings. On Good Friday Jesus suffered a severe judgment for 9 hours. He was sentenced to die at 6:00 am during the time of the morning sacrifice. He was nailed to the cross at 9:00 am and willed to die at 3:00 pm. NINE hours of agony in love for you and me. Jesus suffers the perfect nine for all time to overcome the imperfect 666 ways of mankind. What a Suffering Servant and Savior He is. In His death He brings life eternal. In His Suffering He brings salvation; and His empty tomb, He brings hope—living hope—resurrection hope, preached two thousand years ago and this evening.

In this house of worship this evening, the Holy Spirit takes this number 969 and gives us hope, eternal hope—resurrection hope for us and for our children. What joy fills our hearts because through the merit, mercy and message of the Christ of the Bible we have hope in the Numbers of Hope! Amen!

Now the peace

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Kings Will Come From You?” (Genesis 17:3b-6)

S-1480 2SIL/3B 2/15/2015 Hymns: (O) #145; (S) #130; (C) #149

Texts: 2 Kings 2:1-12; 2 Corinthians 3:12-13; 4:1-6; Mark 9:2-9

Theme: “Kings Will Come From You?” (Genesis 17:3b-6)

Question: “Do you have any royalty blood in your veins?”

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen! Indeed! Alleluia. The text is from the O. T. lesson: “And God said to him, ‘Behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you’” (Genesis 17:3b-6).

Saints in Christ, Moses, the author of the text before us today reveals to us, the God we serve, is the God of the impossible! He creates out of nothing. He brings light to a dark world and He even opens wombs to be a blessing for generations to come.

The truth of the matter is that every problem of faith humans have regarding the living God, how He works, and what He does is a result of people forgetting aspects of His infinite love, His infinite compassion, His infinite care and His infinite involvement in our lives. The story of Abram today reaffirms this blessed truth.

At the time of our text Abram was now ninety-nine years old. By the standards of his day the time for him and Sarah to pro-create had passed them. Although Abram had fathered Ishmael, this wild son with warring children was not the son of the promise. As a couple with the promise of a child Abram and Sarah were over the hill and from finite human standards...hopeless.

But, God had given a promise. He promised them a child from Sarah’s womb and Abram’s seed. For this promise to be fulfilled a miracle was necessary. The God of the impossible would have to show His hand to fulfill His plan.

Now, bear in mind that the name Abram means “The exalted father.” Abram was seventy years old when the God of all grace called him out of the darkness of polytheism. The gracious splendid call was so moving that Abram and his family packed up their belongings and walked a thousand miles to the land of promise.

Keep in mind also that Abram had all kinds of servants, wealth, was rich in cattle, in silver, and gold. He was the head of a caravan. He was a rich merchant. This is the man Jesus called out of darkness into the marvelous light of grace. Yet he has no sons out of Sarah’s womb. PAUSE

Into this life of heartache, empty arms and even emptier womb, God intervenes. Now after decades the God of the impossible comes to Abram and reveals to him another promise. Notice it is God coming to Abram—this is the movement of grace. His salvation was by Grace—God calling him out of the darkness of worshipping false gods. Now God amps up the promise—amplify the promise—add to the promise.

“Abram, I want you to change your name!” God said,

“Oh?” Abraham answered.

“Yes, I want you to change your name from Abram “The exalted father” to Abraham something more spectacular “father of many nations or father of great multitudes.” From a human point of view, this promise to Abraham and Sarah to see and hold their own offspring, and this child to multitudes of nations and people... seemed impossible. It was as challenging as a salvation by works, camel going through the eye of a needle. However, the same Person saying, “With man this is impossible,” said Jesus, “But with almighty God all things are possible.” PAUSE

By the Spirit's power through a Christ-centered promise Abraham is given a new lease, added joy, increased hope. He took God at His Word and put that promise in His heart. But God in His infinite love and power had more to give. God promised Him saying: “I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you.”

Whether incarnation, salvation, or the birth of a nation, the God of the impossible would bring grace, almighty power, and powerful promises to bear.

Out of this man and his wife who were as good as dead, God will raise nations, multitudes and kings. You can still see the effect of this promise even today and even here. We have the story of Abraham’s descendants in Scripture. We have read of some of these nations, multitudes and kings who have come from Him. The history of these kings can be summed up under the title of a Clint Eastwood movie: the good, the bad and the ugly. The Scriptures share with us the fame and the infamy of these kings: the Good—David, the bad-Manasseh, and the Ugly—Ahab; who was constantly pouting. But the promise is real and certain. Through all of the good, the bad and the ugly, by the power and promise of God, kings came from this faithful, former pagan, elderly Chaldean and His wife.

This line of kings ran through those offspring. Generation after generation they were born, they reigned and they died. And by God’s promise this line was leading to an ultimate king. Finally, that king was born. In all royalty, the King of Kings robed Himself in flesh descended from Abraham. This King, Jesus, born to what looked like peasants, grew to wear a crown, not of gold but of thorns. He would be enthroned not on a golden chair, but on a rough-hewn cross. Instead of being hailed, this king would be heckled! Instead of being cheered, this King would be crucified. And it was all part of the promise! For through this King that came from the promise of God to an old man and his wife, all nations of the world would be blessed! AND WE ARE!!!

In fact we are blessed by this line AND we are part of this great and glorious promise. By virtue of our adoption through Holy Baptism WE are part of that Royal priesthood. We are part of that great line of kings, part of the Kingdom of God, by way of King Jesus.

Every child of God baptized into the body of Christ is a fellow Israelite, royalty, forgiven, an heir of eternal life, and a member of a Kingdom that will last forever. The Apostle Peter put it this way as a reminder of this great promise: “But you (every one of you seated here) are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10). PAUSE.

This promise is ours even when we look back on our life as princes and princesses and realize that we have not always lived like it. When we think on our sin, we find ourselves much more like the old person at the end of life that is full of regret and remorse. Even as the baptized, where we should be seeing and realizing our potential, it is clear that we daily fall short in sin. As kings, we would be more likely listed with Manasseh and Ahab than David, let alone Jesus! It might well seem impossible for you to be a faithful part of this noble line of royalty! But our God does the impossible! We have His word of promise on it!

This glorious promise is ours today because God in His infinite love and mercy made an eternal Covenant with Abraham. By the Spirit’s leading, like Father Abraham, we are able to take God’s Word at face value! Because of this grace we can rejoice with St. Paul who said: “… in Messiah Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ—the Messiah, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-28).

This promise, given to Abraham 3,900 plus years ago is for you! You are in Messiah Jesus through baptism. You are made part of Abraham’s seed. You have been purchased with the treasury of the Kingdom—Christ’s crimson blood. You have been clothed with the righteousness of Jesus which He earned through His suffering, death and glorious resurrection. In God’s sight you are children of God and you are princes and princesses, members of the Royal Kingdom of Christ who is King of kings and Lord of lords!

Let this be your identity.

Let this be your serenity.

Let this be your foundation for eternity.

This connection to Christ in baptism brings us joy today and always! It is a joy we feel here in the Lord’s house. It is a joy we feast on in the Holy Supper. Fellow princes and princesses of the King of kings hear again and taste again the joy of a promise made and kept to Abraham and Sarah and YOU! May it ring and make your heart sing! The God of all grace is the God of the impossible. He spoke creation into being. He gave life through and old man and woman and He gives life in Christ to you for this world and for eternity! Amen and Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“The Moriah Messiah?” (Genesis 22:1-2)

S-1478 1SIL/3B 2/22/2015 Hymns: (O) #40; (S) #245; L.S. #311; #427; #309 (C) #155

Texts: Genesis 22:1-18; James 1:12-18; Mark 1:9-15

Theme: “The Moriah Messiah?” (Genesis 22:1-2)

Question: “How many things has God provided you without you expecting it?”

This sermon will be preached as a first person narrative. Abraham is the speaker. (He enters the room slowly and look out at the congregation. Pulling his beard he begins to speak).

It is so very hard to make it through life without having one of those moments...one of those moments where you simply feel...God you are really going too far...really asking too much...stretching me beyond what you have designed a body, mind, and soul to be able to go through.

My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?

I felt that way. I felt like God had just thrown me over a cliff and my world was coming to an end. I didn’t have the book of Job to comfort me as you do. I didn’t have the message of the cross to steady my thoughts. Nor did I have the end of the story as it is now written in your book in Genesis 22. Except for the flashlight of faith I was in utter darkness.

My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?

For fifty years MY God had shown Himself to be loving, reliable, powerful, and perfect in keeping His Word. I had the sense when I talked to God or God talked to me this was the God who created the universe, who held the stars in their patterns, and gave life to all things. The miracle birth of my son some thirty years earlier sealed the deal for me and my Sarah. Yes, this God works in strange, mysterious ways, but He keeps His promises. He even humbles Himself to visit me and break bread with me as He did when He declared a year in advance Sarah would give birth to Isaac.

This God was all-powerful, yet intimate. This God was holy. He is different by far from all the other gods around me. BUT I, ABRAHAM, WONDERED… PAUSE.

Has God now taken leave of His senses? He wants me to do the unthinkable! This is how I felt some time ago when God came to me and said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you” (Gen 22:2). (Abraham moves and looks up and down)

When God first commanded me to do this...I felt utterly forsaken, utterly shaken. The instructions seemed seemingly senseless. How can a good God ask me to sacrifice the dearest thing in the world to me—and to my wife Sarah? All these years God has been teaching me to trust...to take Him at His Word. Fair enough.

If He asked me to take a trumpet and march around a city seven times blowing that trumpet and expect the walls to fall—I would do it! If He asked me to take 3,000 soldiers and whittle it down to 300 and take on 30,000—I would do it. If He told me He could make the sun stand still for 48 hours—I would be on board for He is ALL-mighty.

But this...asking me to sacrifice my dearest treasure, my only son, for no good reason other than as a test of faith—this seems to be...pardon the Hebrew,...to be absurd…unheard of …unthinkable…unimaginable. How can the Giver of logic be so illogical? How can the changeless God, change His mind? How can He demand such a test? He promises Sarah and me a son—from whom nations will come with people of faith—as many as the stars in the sky and the sand on the sea shore. PAUSE. (Abraham look directly at the crowds and speaks)

Pray tell me this. How on earth will this take place if the son of promise is burnt up as an offering on some mountain called Moriah? The whole night before my journey to the place called Moriah my mind waged war making my brain feel like it was ready to explode. I tossed and turned. I studied the night with my ears. One solid and confident voice entered my ear canal and said, “You know that God keeps all His Words of PROMISE. He has protected you. He has shown love to you. He has given you the Son of promise with a miracle birth.”

Yet, within me raged another voice—a voice of humanity that screamed at God: “What good is a promise if the son is dead? After waiting 25 year to hold the gift of a son in my hand, 25 years later He asks me to slit his throat and offer him as a lamb on an altar. This is absurd…unheard of…unthinkable…unimaginable.” How can you trust in a God who would ask such a thing? I bet He wouldn’t sacrifice His Son upon an altar on Moriah? No way? Not in a million years.

My God, My God, why have You forsaken me—was the abject feeling of despair that left me almost bleeding drops of blood. PAUSE. (Abraham climbs the stairs slowly)

It was a long uphill exhausting journey to Mt. Moriah, a place that one day three hundred years later be named Jerusalem. On Moriah one day the temple of Solomon would be built...forty cubits long. On Moriah the Messiah one day would be the supreme sacrifice for the world. But none of this I knew when God called me to go up there with a donkey, my two servants, enough tree wood for a sacrifice.

On the third day I could see the mount on which the sacrifice was to take place. On the third day I could see where the acid test of faith was to occur. On the third day a thought crystallized in my mind. The Spirit of God took everything I knew about God and pressed it deep into my heart, a deeper logic to contend with God’s seemingly illogical request.

This gospel born conviction was this. I was persuaded that if I went ahead with the sacrifice—yes, even the burnt offering—that the God of all grace would raise my son from the dead—bodily! Without a doubt, He who took the dead womb of my wife and brought forth life was able...moreover, I had His promise to hold before Him. I would hold Him to His eternal oath.

Resting on this resurrection hope, I told my servants that Isaac and I would return from that mount—both of us and worship with them. Isaac and I scaled the final stretch together—father and son, my only son. Isaac carried the fire and knife. When he asked me “where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” my pulse quickened, stomach sickened, brain thickened, but I kept my answer on this one truth, “God Himself will provide.” He will provide the Lamb—son. Indeed, He who is faithful and true will PROVIDE!

For fifty years He has abundantly provided. I had learned that every time I tried to help Him along with His promises, I just made a mess of things. Be patient. Remember His perfect record. Recall His perfect love. Recollect His might.

When we reached the summit I began to build an altar. Quietly, quickly I constructed an altar. I arranged on it the wood. Binding my son Isaac and placing him on the altar was the most agonizing thing I ever did laying him on that altar in the cruciform shape of a cross. Amazingly my son trusted me—obediently submitting... like a lamb... to the slaughter. PAUSE.

In fear and trembling, quivering and shivering, I paused. The knife felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. With the ultimate promise of Isaac being the father of more descendants than the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, I was able to lift up the knife. But before I could do the unthinkable and the unimaginable, before I could bring the knife down, that Mysterious Messenger of the Lord, the very One who dined with me over thirty years before bringing the good news of Isaac’s birth, appeared. With solemn Divine authority He called out to me, “Abraham, Abraham, do not lay a hand on your son. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from Me your son, your only Son.”

Then out of nowhere God provided a ram caught in a thicket...This Messenger, this Eternal I Am provided a Ram... With laughter both in my heart and face, I rejoiced at His providing what I couldn’t imagine. The Great I Am, assured me what I knew deep in my heart. Furthermore, His promise would come true; namely, through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed Me.

On the third day it was like Isaac rose from the dead, a grave was opened, and the Lord provided a different, unexpected sacrifice on the Mountain. Later, I would learn that on this very mountain the most extravagant display of God’s love in history would take place. Indeed, the Great I Am would kill His Son. Talk about absurd…unheard of…unthinkable…unimaginable. Here, God would Passover the sins of the world. Here the Promised Messiah would atone for the sins of the world. Here the very One who provided the ram would become the ultimate Lamb...the eternal I Am. He, my Deliverer would be my ultimate Descendant who rises from the dead on the third day to overcome death for all the world.

My test was a picture of the test that God’s only SON would go through for all mankind, all nations, all peoples. God so loved the world that He gave His only Son to die on the cross of Mt. Moriah (the very same mountain) that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. On that mountain indeed the Lord did provide. And all the blessings of that Moriah death and Moriah resurrection, the Moriah Messiah bestows to you today. In the Gospel you hear the One who provided for us speaks to you. In the body and blood of the Lord’s Supper you receive the Moriah Messiah Himself. Giving you manna greater than what the children of Israel received in their wilderness journey.

I am so thankful that the Moriah Messiah is my God and Lord. (Abraham leaves quietly)

“Forgiveness Needed” (Genesis 50:15-17)

S-1450 14SAP/3A 9/14/2014 Hymns: (O) #5; (S) #32; LS #312; #315; (C) #416

Texts: Genesis 50:15-20; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35

Theme: “Forgiveness Needed” (Genesis 50:15-17)

Question: “How badly do you need forgiveness?”

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia! The text is from the O. T. lesson: “When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, ‘It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.’ So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, ‘Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you” And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him” (Genesis 50:15-17).

Precious children of the heavenly Father, it often happens between siblings—fights break out, evil things are done and harsh words are spoken. These evil things and harsh words break up relationships and wound hearts and sometimes forever. However, when the Holy Spirit convicts us of this sin, and we come to our senses; acknowledging our wrong doing, seeking peace, crawl back and ask for forgiveness, we find that forgiveness is waiting there for us in an inexhaustible supply! Forgiveness is a gift we all need. Yet sometimes we don’t think we deserve or can be forgiven because of how bad we have been and the evil we have done.

A week ago Saturday, I attended (in Huron, SD) my 40^th high school class reunion. After greeting many of my classmates and catching up with some of them, I settled down and sat across one of my classmates (Roger) who I wasn’t really close to in high school.

As the evening progressed I visited with him about what he has been doing. He introduced me to his wife who happened to be sitting right next to me. I then asked, “Roger, how long have you been married?” He answered, “Since last November.” I followed with another question. “Is this your first marriage?” “No!” was his response. I asked, “What happened, do you care to share?” He then proceeded to tell me “of the many mistakes he has done. How terrible he was and how sorry he was to do what he has done to himself and her. He took ownership of sins and mistakes.” I reached out to him and said, “You know Roger, there is forgiveness with the Lord for ALL sins!”

At that moment Roger started to weep—tears were running down his cheeks. He said, “You know Nabil, the hardest thing to do is to forgive yourself of the stupidity and foolishness of living to please yourself.” At that moment, I held his hands and said, “Roger, listen to me carefully, with Jesus there is no limit to His forgiveness and His grace; with Jesus you can go to Him anytime and seek His touch of forgiveness.” I went on saying, “Roger, when you get home, I would like you to do this for me: take a piece of paper (I took a napkin at this time) and write on it every sin you have ever committed. Then take a couple of pieces of 2 X 4’s and make a cross out of them (as I have done here. The cross is sitting in the center of the sanctuary) then take a hammer and nail the piece of paper to the cross (as I will do during my preaching) and walk away knowing full well that Jesus’ death has removed every stain of sin from you and you are redeemed, restored, and forgiven.

John the beloved disciple of Jesus wrote this for our benefit: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). At that moment Roger said while still weeping, “Nabil, you got me with this one.” I said, “No Roger, I don’t have you, but Jesus has you in His loving and pierced hands!” PAUSE.

Saints in Christ, “forgiveness” is the gift my friend Roger needed and that is the gift the brothers’ of Joseph needed—for they too had done many evil things to him. They tore his special coat of many colors, put him in a well, desired to kill him, sold him into slavery for 20 pieces of silver (Gen. 37:28) and lied about it to their father! From there on his life went down the drain. He was purchased by Potiphar, accused by Potiphar’s wife of rape, which landed him in prison for many years. But the God of His fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob didn’t forget him, but redeemed and restored him for the purpose of saving many lives.

Now the conscience of the brothers’ is troubling them. Though they have seen the kindness of Joseph in providing for them and their families, yet they weren’t sure if this is real or not. Add to this, their father Jacob has been called home and they are terrified that Joseph will take vengeance on them since their father is no longer alive.

So they sent a messenger telling Joseph that their father (another lie) had asked that he would forgive them the evil they had done to him. These troubled brothers needed a gift—the GIFT of forgiveness and they found it in the man they had done wrong too. Joseph was a gracious and loving brother. He wept when he heard them ask for his forgiveness and he offered them the assurance and confidence that he holds no grudges against them with these words: “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” (Genesis 50:19-20).

With these words Joseph was giving them a message of hope and help. You are forgiven. You and your families are loved. What you did to me, you did to harm me, but God used your wickedness and evil to save many people. This again demonstrates the awesome power of at using everything for our good. PAUSE.

Precious children of the heavenly Father, it is not only Roger and Joseph’s brothers’ that need this gift, but so do WE. For we have done many evil and wicked things in life. We have done evil and hurtful things to others, but more importantly to Christ Himself. We have denied Him, we have forsaken Him, and we have lived to please ourselves.

But take heart, I have good news for you. For there is another who was sold into the hands of the Jewish leaders for 30 pieces of silver (Mt. 26:14-16), so that He might be put to death. Like Joseph, Jesus was betrayed and sold by one of His closest companions—Judas. Judas being greedy sold Jesus for the price of a slave. Jesus was put into prison overnight, stripped of all of His clothing, whipped, beaten, flogged, His beard plucked and eventually drove nails into His hands and feet and hung Him on a cross like a common criminal to die.

On a far grander scale than Joseph, Jesus uttered these words before anyone asked for forgiveness saying: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). From the parched lips of Jesus we receive the most blessed gift that we need—forgiveness of sins. This is the greatest gift we sinners need to hear and receive from the gracious Savior who died and rose for all of our sins.

Mankind meant evil by the cross, but God used this instrument of torture and death to bring about the saving of the human race from spending an eternity in hell. Only through the cross there is redemption. Only through the cross there is restoration. Only through the cross does the Lord deliver His peace, mercy, love and FORGIVENESS.

Know this, precious children, with God there is no limit to His forgiveness, mercy, love and grace! Jesus takes all of our sins to the cross. He invites us to bring all of our hideous, evil deeds, wicked things and sins we have ever committed and give it to Him. And He with His shed blood removes that sin away from you and me.

By the grace of God we have received the gift that we need—His forgiveness. If you doubt that you are worthy to be forgiven, or don’t think that you can forgive yourself, I encourage you to do the same as I told Roger, take a piece of paper and write on it all of your sins, and come up here (you can do it now or when no one is here) and nail it to the cross and know for a fact that all of your sins have been washed by the Holy innocent blood of the Lamb—Jesus Christ who takes away the sin of the world—YOURS.

Today, you have received a marvelous gift from Christ Himself—the gift of forgiveness. But He is not done blessing you—through this gift; comes many other gifts—His love, peace, joy and eternal life. On top of that, He has prepared a table for you to dine with Him as Your host and servant to remind you He holds no grudges against you, but loves you and wants you to know you are indeed, Redeemed, Restored and Forgiven.

Thanks be to Jesus for His GIFT of forgiveness now and forever. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“A Mighty Creator” (Genesis 1:1-2)

S-1437 TS/3A 6/15/2014 Hymns: (O) #244; (S) #39; (C) #744 LSB

Texts: Genesis 1:1-2:4; Acts 2:14, 22-36; Matthew 28:16-20

Theme: “A Mighty Creator” (Genesis 1:1-2)

Question: “Have you created something?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed! Alleluia! The text for Trinity Sunday is the O.T. Lesson: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:1-2).

Beloved in the Lord, perhaps you have seen and touched something someone has created like a beautiful quilt, a china cabinet, a dress, or a stained glass window. When we see them and touch them we say, “Wow! What a creation! What workmanship! What beauty!”

Indeed many people are gifted and have crafted amazing creations with their own hands. We admire them and at times even envy their talents and wish we have their creation abilities.

On this festival of the Trinity, we see the Mighty Creator, our God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit at work in creating not only the world and all that is seen and unseen, but creating faith in the heart of man so that he may know God has made him in His image.

We see His mighty creation all around us. We see the touch of His fingers and the care of His hands in the marvelous work of creation. What would our world be like without the imagination of God? What if everything was black and white? You would not see the stripes on the Zebra, the spots on the leopard, and the majesty of a swan. You would not see the beauty of the rose, lily, carnation and Iris. Think of the butterflies, the bees and the birds.

All of this has been given to us because God is the Mighty Creator. But He has also created faith in our hearts in the same miraculous and mighty way. Through the Word that is connected to the water our Mighty Creator rained down forgiveness of sin upon you and spoke faith into your once lifeless, sin-scarred heart! We see this faith born also through the mighty and powerful Word proclaimed. In the Epistle lesson as Peter preached his sermon; faith was created in the hearts of the listeners. We see it as God commissioned His Church to go out into all the world and in His mighty name preach, teach and baptize the nations; so that the nations will know their Creator. These are part of the mighty creation God did and does even today.

Moses, the author of the text tells us of the Mighty Creator who created the heavens and the earth. In Deuteronomy 34:9-10, we are told that Moses got the creation account as he visited with Jesus face to face. Through that encounter we have the movement, the means and the message of God creating all things for the benefit of His children—you and me. And through these acts we get to realize how deeply God is in involved in our lives that He pours upon us His undeserved GRACE in everything that He does.

We behold this Grace from the angle of Creation in how deeply we are dependent on Him for everything to sustain our lives. We see this Grace from the angle of Redemption through the act of the cross; that is 100% a pure GIFT as Paul tells us in Ephesians: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (2:8-9). Through this gift our sins are forgiven and we receive life and salvation. We observe this Grace from the angle of Preservation through His continual providence. Paul in Colossians tells us, “For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (1:17). Everything that we have and hold unto is a gift of His loving hands. Paul even states that God will keep us in this faith according to Philippians 1:6.

This is our God. He is the Mighty Creator of life and love, faith and hope. No wonder the Psalmists describe Him with such marvelous descriptions that defy human logic. “But You are the same, and Your years have no end” (Ps. 102:27); “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God” (Ps. 90:2). The writer is telling us that our God doesn’t change. He is not like man or the world constantly changing. But our God is mighty, powerful, faithful, loving and gracious. PAUSE.

Beloved, you may have heard the expression: “God is good; all the time. All the time; God is good.” Psalm 136 declares, “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever” (Psalms 136:1). That doesn’t mean that everything that happens in our corrupt, confused, and chaotic world is good. Far from it! But it does mean that, in the midst of everything wrong, everything evil, and everything painful, God’s goodness appears as a light shining in the darkness. God’s goodness is present as living water in a barren desert. God’s goodness appears as love and hope in the wilderness of pain and suffering. God’s goodness is revealed in the most selfless act, causing His Son, His ONLY Son to come to earth and don upon Him human flesh and blood to save mankind and give them a future.

Through the mercy of the creating power of God, Mary conceived and bore a son—God’s Son would grow up and fulfill every promise God made to Adam and Eve in granting them forgiveness and restoration after falling into sin. His promise was fulfilled when Jesus laid down His life for the sins of humanity. Jesus’ mighty acts were evident as He crushed the grave stone and burst forth to remind us every promise made is a promise kept. But, He also creates faith in the hearts of His children. PAUSE.

A pastor told a story of a terrifying day at a New Jersey beach for a father, his son, and his daughter. The kids were 8 and 10, but they were good swimmers. In fact, they enjoyed swimming together in the Atlantic Ocean quite a lot. On this particular day, a few years ago, they went swimming like they had done so many times before.

As they swam, they got farther and farther from shore. Suddenly the father realized that the tide was carrying them out to sea. It had also separated them from each other. Trying to stay calm, he searched for both children, and realized that he had to help his son back to the beach for his safety and then return to rescue his daughter. So just before turning to the shore, he called out to her, “Mary, I am going to shore for help. If you get tired, remember what I taught you, stay calm, turn on your back, and remember you can float all day long. And I promise you, I promise you, I’ll come back for you; trust me.”

He and the boy made it to shore and then there was a frantic search for the girl. Finally, after four hours, they found her far out in the ocean, away from the shore. But, they found her calmly swimming on her back, not frightened at all.

There was a tremendous amount of relief when the calm girl was finally back on shore. Everyone wondered how she could be so at peace. And they were even more stunned when she gave such a simple answer. She said, “Daddy said he would come back for me and, like he said, I could float all day, so I swam and I floated because I knew he would come.”

That little girl knew that her father would do all in his power to come for her no matter the cost to himself. But, when it comes to things like forgiveness, life, and salvation; it’s going to take more than merely the love of a good mom or dad; it’s going to take the love of a Savior, God in the flesh, for you and me. The Bible says that the work of Jesus isn’t merely the best efforts of the best human being that ever lived. It’s infinitely more than that. He doesn’t merely show the way, share the truth, and shed some light on a situation. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Through Jesus we see the mighty work of the Father and the Holy Spirit as they continue to work in our lives by strengthening our faith and keeping us in the faith. That is the work of the Mighty Creator, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Today, as we observe and celebrate Trinity Sunday, we bow in humility before Him and praise Him for what He has done and continues to do. Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA.

“A Face to Behold!” (Genesis 32:30)

S-1387-22SAP/C 10/20/2013 Hymns: (O) #350; (S) #341; (C) #50

Texts: Genesis 32:22-30; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5; Luke 18:1-8

Theme: “A Face to Behold!” (Genesis 32:30)

Question: “What face do you like to look at?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text is from the O. T. lesson: “So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, ‘For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered’” (Genesis 32:30).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Most precious people of God, just recently I was reading through the Scripture in a year and I was in the book of Ester. The narrator tells of the plight of the Jewish people who were about to be destroyed by Haman the Persian. Haman was a high ranking official in the King’s court. As much power he had, he wasn’t satisfied because, at the door of the palace, sat a Jewish man—Mordecai who would not bow before Haman. Haman hated Mordecai and wanted more than anything else that he would honor him and bow before him.

One day, as the king told Haman he is the most important man in the province and had given him signet ring to do as he pleases with anyone—namely has enough power to destroy the Jews. He was so happy, until he walked out the palace and saw Mordecai and he was beside himself. That is what happens when you hate someone, you can’t stand to look at their face.

Jacob, the grandson of father Abraham and the son of Isaac knows all too well what it means not to look at your enemy face to face—his brother Esau. Perhaps you remember what Jacob had done to his brother. Jacob had stolen his brother’s birthright. He had walked away with the big time blessing of his father that had been intended for Esau. But that was then, and this is now.

It had been twenty years since they last saw one another. At that time Esau was livid with his brother. Last time he saw Esau was a bad news kind of day. But now, Jacob was going to be seeing his twin brother in less than 12 hours. He was nervous! He was afraid! And He was in a dilemma!

Being afraid was nothing unusual for this patriarch. What was different was that Jacob was different. After being dealt with shrewdly by his Uncle Laban, Jacob had learned his lesson. Jacob would rely on God and not himself. So he divides his family and herds and sent them ahead of him and sent a big gift to his brother. And he stayed behind for a time of prayer and reflection about seeing the man he has been running away from for the last 20 years. PAUSE.

Alone in the darkness of night, Jacob paced, pondered, pleaded and prayed. Judgment day was upon him. He needed Divine help. Then something strange took place. Out of nowhere a mysterious Man, utterly unlike anyone he ever met, appeared. Likely he remembered how the Lord appeared to his grandpa Abraham, mysteriously, out of nowhere, prophesying the miracle birth of his father—Isaac.

It would be a pattern. It would be how He appeared to Moses, Joshua, Gideon, and others—out of nowhere. It would be how He appeared to the disciples post Easter—out of nowhere. But this visit was no social call. It would be a night of struggle. This Man started to wrestle with Jacob.

This wrestling match would be the most unusual wrestling match in the history of mankind. The two men wrestled throughout the night in even-steven fashion. This, in itself was a miracle. Anyone who has done serious wrestling knows that after 8 minutes a person enters into a physical state of feeling like a wet noodle, even if you are in excellent shape. But Jacob and the mystery Man keep on wrestling.

Agony, fatigue, sweat, blood, almost like the Garden of Gethsemane ensue as the two men rolled in the dust in the most symmetrical chaotic match one could imagine. The mystery Man wrestling Jacob could not get the upper hand of Esau’s brother, even though in reality He was upholding the universe at the same time in the palm of His hands.

Binding Himself to the same rules of mortals, the Stranger from outside of time and space had humbled himself to wrestle with the rascal called Jacob. Holiness was wrestling with unholiness. This mystery Man would one day come into the world as a baby. In a most unusual way, He enters our world, putting on flesh and blood. Oh how strange that the Divine would take on humanity.

He who would come into the world in the fullness of time, likely during seasons when lambs were born, dying likely in the season when lambs die, on a Passover Friday as the Passover Lamb, willing to die at the exact second the high priest sacrificed the Passover Lamb in the holy of holies.

The point is: He has things in full control even when it does not seem so, down to the exact second. This Man touched the socket of Jacob’s hip. Jacob screamed. Jacob felt like he needed a hip replacement that very moment. Worse yet, by grace, despite the pain, he realized this was no mere mortal with whom he wrestled. Something cosmic was going on. The Man who bound Himself to the rules of men and mortals said, “Let go of Me; because the darkness is lifting.”

Jacob said something akin to what Peter would say 1800 years later, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus would respond and say, “Blessed are you son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you.” Jacob cried out, “I will not let you go until you bless me.” Until you bless me. PAUSE.

The mystery Man blesses Jacob in spite of the all night wrestling match. This Man’s face is masked in the darkness. But as the darkness is lifted Jacob sees the face, and couldn’t take his eyes off Him and shouts aloud, ‘For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” Wrestling that intimately, he couldn’t help but see the Masked Man, the Mystery Man as none-other, than the Pre-incarnate Christ.

Like Jacob, you and I wrestle with God daily. We wrestle with sin, pain, and anguish and question God. We want Him to bless us but on our terms. We don’t realize that Jesus is in total control of our lives. Even in our trials and pain He reminds us that everything will work out for our good. And so we pray, Lord, when I forget and turn from your face bring me back to see the radiant glory.

Today, in this place, you, too, see the Masked Man face to face. You see Him bloodied and bruised. You see Him in His full glory. You see Him as One who has wrestled with the evil forces and won the victory for all the son’s of Adam and the daughter’s of Eve.

Here is this place once again He delivers the sweet truth that the devil will not win the battle. In His mercy, He will lift the darkness of death, gravity of the grave and the stench of sin. All this is gone from us again this day because of this Not-so-mystery God-Man Jesus!

This Jesus we see is the One who wrestled on yet another occasion on our behalf. In the midday darkness of a Friday we call Good, the same God-Man wrestled on the cross of Calvary and won. We behold in the face of Christ a glory that pierces the darkness of Good Friday so that we can see Him today face to face. And like Jacob, we live! We live in the blessings He has in store for us. We live in Him eternally. We live with Him both now and in eternity!

Oh, that we would by the power of the Holy Spirit, continue to behold the face of God and live. Amen and Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“SomeONE For the Journey” (Genesis 2:18) LWML SUNDAY

S-1339 19SAP/3B 10/07/12 Hymns: (O) #20; (S) #457; (C) # 922 LSB

Text: Genesis 2:18-25; Hebrews 2:1-13; Mark 10:2-16

Theme: “SomeONE For the Journey” (Genesis 2:18) LWML SUNDAY

Question: “Who are you traveling with?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for our meditation this morning is from the O.T. lesson: “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him’” (Genesis 2:18).

A story is told of an event that occurred in the Garden of Eden: Adam was walking around the Garden feeling very lonely, so God asked him, “What is wrong with you, why are you downcast?” Adam said, “Father of grace and compassion, You have given me a beautiful place to live. It is gorgeous and serene here, the flowers and trees are out of this world; and all the animals around me are lovely and beautiful. But, I don’t have anyone to talk to.”

God said “that He was going to make Adam a companion and that it would be a woman. He said, ‘This person will gather food for you, cook for you, when you discover clothing, she’ll wash them for you. She will always agree with every decision you make. She will bear your children and never ask you to get up in the middle of the night to take care of them. She will not nag you to death, and will always be the first to admit she was wrong when you’ve had a disagreement. She will never have a headache, and will freely give you love and passion whenever you need it.’”

Adam paused for a moment and asked God, “What will a woman like this cost?” God replied, “An arm and a leg.” Then Adam asked, “What can I get for a rib?” PAUSE.

Beloved in Christ, we may laugh at this story but the humor only covers a stark reality: we live in a broken and fallen world. Yet, the truth of the matter is that we need people. God has created us for relationships based on love, respect, mutual understanding and service.

Today, on this LWML Sunday, we give thanks to the many women who have served and are serving now in this Mission organization. I’m certain that you noticed in the name of their organization that it is not one “woman” but “WOMEN”. All along the journey there are women serving others—older women serving younger ones. Women who have gone through tragedies are ministering to women who are going through the same. Women working together making quilts, gathering mites, putting on programs that will benefit the whole body of Christ.

These women are not alone; they work with other women to expand the mission field so that everyone will get to know the greatest Servant of ALL—Jesus Christ. These women pray, plan and propose new programs each year so that their ministries can benefit many. These women work within Zones, Districts, and Synod so that others might receive the blessings of God. These women keep their eyes focused on Christ and His Bride—the Church.

For this reason, the text shows and demonstrates God’s love towards Adam in creating a help meet—someone for the journey of life. Because when you have someone journeying with you the journey is so much better and sweeter. When you have someone working with you, the work load is lighter, when someone is carrying the burdens with you, then life gets a little bit easier.

This is true if we are talking about husband and wife, the LWML, congregational families, colleagues or friends. When you have someone journeying with you it is more blessed indeed. PAUSE.

The text is clear. By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit Moses wrote, “God will make him [Adam] a helper fit for him.” This help meet is the One who will assist him in all walks and needs of life.

But if you study life and history, you realize and must admit that even a blessed couple can’t always meet each other’s needs. The LWML can’t always meet the needs of all their mission projects, congregations don’t and can’t always meet the needs of all its members; and even pastors can’t meet the needs of all who have been entrusted to their care. This is because sin looms large in our lives and hearts. Sin always takes center stage in our thinking and doing. No matter how hard we try to honor God with our service we fall short.

It is for this reason that God promised to give us a Helper that meets our needs. This Helper will be flesh of our flesh and bone of our bones. This Helper will be born in the same way you and I were born after 9 months of gestation. This Helper will live among us yet without sin.

This Helper will be able to meet the entire world’s needs—including every couple, family, The LWML, congregations and pastors. This Helper will be able to meet the needs of every soul, past, present and future—this Helper is the Incarnate Son of God—Jesus Christ ordained to be born before the foundation of the world.

The Incarnate Son of God did meet every person’s need when He walked this earth. He helped the sick and sorrowful, the blind and burdened, the leper and the lame, the downtrodden and downcast, the troubled and tormented. But He did more than just help relieve them from their ailments and afflictions. He helped them by serving them not only in giving an arm a leg, but His all on the cruel and torturous instrument of the cross. He served them by forgiving them their sins. He helped them by opening the gates of heaven and reconciled them back to God. He helped them by promising to be available to anyone at any time because He is able to provide all that we need; and His hands are NEVER too short to meet and exceed what we need.

The Apostle Paul reminds us of this truth in his letter to the church at Ephesus: “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (3:19-20). Yes, indeed, Christ has served us and met our every need.

This is even made sure in the words of our sermon hymn: “Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged—Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer” (What a Friend We Have in Jesus vs. 2).

Beloved in Christ, you have the greatest SERVANT of all times—He has come to walk with you on the journey of life and leads you to the Promised Land—heaven.

What a privilege to be here today not only to observe and give thanks to the Lord for the labor of love of the LWML, but for our privilege to serve along with them all who journey along the path of life. What an honor to be the humble and helpful servants to anyone who is traveling in this wilderness and point them to the One who is always with us even to the very end of the age as He promised (Mt. 28:20).

To the One who walks and talks with us along life’s narrow way—Jesus Christ, be glory and honor, now and forever. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“From Tragedy to Triumph!” (Genesis 50:19-21)

S-1270 13SAP/3C 9/11/11 Hymns (O) #123; #239; S#339; LS.#39; #348; #341 (C) LSB # 922 vv. 1-4

Text: Genesis 50:15-21; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35

Theme: “From Tragedy to Triumph!” (Genesis 50:19-21)

Question: “How do you cope with tragedies?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for the 13^th Sunday after Pentecost is from the O.T. lesson: “But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them” (Genesis 50:19-21).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

People of God, chosen, cherished, loved and adored in His sight and mine; today, as our nation remembers the tragic events of 9/11, many of you here have hearts that are heavy and broken, some are angry at the atrocity done against our nation, and some are even weeping at the loss of life and the life-style we had.

While today marks the anniversary of tragedy and terror, death and destruction, ashes and debris of the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and flight 93; we can’t lose focus of why we are in God’s holy house. Not only to observe and remember the Day of Tragedy, but more importantly to keep our eyes focused on our hope and help, and faith and foundation rooted in Christ our Savior and His life-giving Word as recorded for us in Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose”. Yes, indeed, God’s Word of promise and power is our confidence and conviction that the Lord of the Universe is 1000 steps ahead of us planning out His plan of redemption.

On this 10^th anniversary of 9/11 we remember all of the evil that has occurred against this great nation. We pray for the families that have suffered loss of loved ones and property that the God of all grace would hold them in His powerful hands, and the wounds of Christ would be the ointment of healing and forgiveness.

If anything is evident from that tragedy of 9/11 it is this: THAT SIN LIVES IN EVERY HUMAN HEART, AND WE ARE POWERLESS TO REMOVE IT. Yes, sin is in us and not only in the hearts of those terrorists who carried the atrocity and brought so much carnage and bloodshed to many lives.

We see this sin clearly visible throughout history and even among believers of the God of the Bible. In our Old Testament reading, we have Joseph’s brothers coming to him after his father’s death (their hearts are troubled) and ask him to forgive them for the tragedy they caused him. But even in this they are being deceptive. I am not aware that Jacob made any such request of Joseph.

Remember, my beloved, these were the sons of promise—the sons of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who served the great God of heaven, yet in their jealousy against their brother Joseph, they wanted to kill him. They threw him into a pit and eventually sold him as a slave for 20 pieces of silver. Right there in their hearts lies sin, active and vicious to destroy life—the life of their own kin and blood-brother. What a tragedy!

But how does Joseph answer: ‘Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them”

Out of this tragedy comes triumph. How could have Joseph known that he would go from dreams to dungeons to diadems in order to save the remnant? He couldn’t have known that, not at that time at least. In our text he states clearly that God used this tragic event in His life to bring about the salvation of many—not only the 70 members of his immediate family, but after 400 years of slavery the deliverance of over 2.5 million people.

Yes, God works everything for our good, from tragedies comes Triumph. We may not see the good at the time, but it is there.

Remember 10 years ago, after our President George W. Bush was informed of the Twin Towers, the Pentagon attack, he said: “AMERICA HAS BEEN ATTACKED!” As he spoke those words, you could see the anger in his voice, and the tears in his eyes. Here is the Commander in Chief. His heart is bleeding for those whose lives ended and property destroyed. PAUSE.

But did you know that our heavenly Father had the same sentiment: He had created a beautiful world. Filled it with every blessing and set Adam and Eve to enjoy it and all it had to offer. But one day, the fallen angel Lucifer came disguised as a snake and caused havoc upon the lives of God’s creatures and destroyed the relationship with their loving and gracious Father.

That day in the garden without any media present, without any microphones and without anyone to observe, God said: “My world has been attacked!” And from this tragedy comes Triumph—God promises to send a deliverer to redeem the world and His most precious creature-man.

There are other tragedies mentioned in the Scriptures. In Genesis chapter 11, men lived in the Plains of Shinar and wanted to build a name for themselves by erecting a tower that reaches the heavens. That was a tragedy. Yet out of this tragedy the gracious Lord confused their language so that many languages are spoken now and people are able to hear the Gospel in their language.

Faithful follower of Jesus, in a strange way beyond our human understanding, it takes a great tragedy that makes us understand the grace and love of God. Again, this is a reminder of God’s Word of promise, that His ways are not like our ways and neither are His thoughts like our thoughts (Is. 55:8).

We don’t understand God’s ways, His plans or what He does sometimes. If you want to talk about tragedy that has turned to triumph; travel with me to Jerusalem. There, hear the voice of God saying my world has been attacked and He did something about it. He sent His Son—His only Son—Jesus to rescue this world from the attacks of Lucifer.

Jesus does just that! In the face of the profound suffering He would undergo for the sins of the world, prayed, “Take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Thine be done” (Matt. 26:39). And so it is human and by no means wrong for those so terribly hurt by the senseless carnage 10 years ago, to lament their loss and pain even today, and to cry out, “Why, Lord?” Somehow, in an unfathomable way, the Lord’s hand is not shortened and His universe is still His, despite the carnage of a few madmen. And like His very cross—which appeared to be a tragedy, senseless and pointless in the end brings about the greatest triumph the world has ever known—your salvation and mine.

Joseph understood this. By God’s grace alone He turns the tragedy that his brothers brought upon him, as a triumphal mission of bringing salvation to many. He learned the art of forgiveness and applied the medicine to his own heart and his brothers. Joseph would not and couldn’t put himself in the place of God and exact revenge. He would put himself in the place of God however to exact mercy and live out grace! He received a greater richness and wealth than yellowish metal could ever offer - his brothers and father and their families! God gave to Joseph the true treasure - His own heart!

Today, in this place of comfort and solace, where Christ comes to us in His Word and Sacrament we remember that God turns tragedies into triumph. By His power we learn the true meaning of love and forgiveness and we learn to apply and dispense it to one and all. PAUSE.

We can and we must apply this, not just to the big issues that run across our TV News reports like 9-11, but more importantly, every day and in every way with one another. By the way, I love how you forgive. You make me proud ... and you make me thankful. You, my fellow sinners know what it is to be forgiven much. You can and you do, go out like Joseph by speaking tenderly and gently to others. Take no pride in this, but rejoice in it, for the Lord has remembered you... and now... now He is living through you. You are Baptized. You have been bought with a price, you are not your own (1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23), so you can resist the devil. His heart now owns your heart! I love seeing Joseph’s heart beating in your chest, and just like Joseph, you cannot put yourself in the place of God to Judge, and just as importantly, He has put His only begotten Son in your place, on your cross, to call you home. Remember, as far as the East is from the West, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. In this gift, from this gift, because of this Gift you and I can love, and love, Divine agape love is the source and completion of your new heart. In the name of the compassionate and forgiving Jesus, we say AMEN AND AMEN.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA.

“Lost in the Garden, BUT Found by the Gardener!” (Genesis 3:8-9).

S-1238 FSIL/3A 03/13/11, (O) #658; (S) LSB #744; LS #522; #200; #383; (C) #649

Text: Genesis 3:1-21; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

Theme: “Lost in the Garden, BUT Found by the Gardener!” (Genesis 3:8-9).

Question: “Have you ever lost something valuable?”1^st in Sermon series Lost and Found

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! The text for our First Sunday in Lent is from the OT Lesson: “And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the Garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” (Genesis 3:8-9).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

You who are the most treasured possession in the sight of the Lord, Jesus the Lamb of God, consider all the places where the “lost and found” items are gathered: school, church, gym, work, and convention hall. Having been lost they are gathered. Sometimes when we go looking for our items they are there and sometimes are not. When we find our lost item we are elated and joyful. But when our item is lost we are saddened and disappointed.

But what happens when Man is lost, who seeks him? Who will go looking for lost man? Where will they look for the man who is lost? The answer to these questions and many others are found in the greatest book ever written—God’s Holy Book—the Bible. In this love letter we hear such comforting and wonderful promises. The prophet Ezekiel tells of God’s grace saying: “I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak.” (Ezk. 34:4). Dr. Luke paints the most vivid picture of Jesus looking for the LOST, by giving us the parable, of the lost coin, lost sheep and lost son (Lk.15). And again we are told: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Lk. 19:10).

But nowhere do we see God searching for lost man as is in our reading this morning. Listen again to Moses please. “And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the Garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” Here you see God Himself intervening to save lost humanity from the eternal damnation of hell and death.

From this we learn that it is God who goes looking for the lost. God is the One who relentlessly pursues the lost. God looks everywhere for His lost, beloved creation. God loves His creatures the ones made in His image and seeks them out before they destroy their lives by eating from the Tree of Life. God gets involved in the act of seeking and saving that which is so precious to Him—Adam and Eve and you and me.

Here you behold the Gardener looking among the trees and bushes for lost Adam and Eve. They are in hiding. They have broken the Law of God. They have sinned. They have done what He said they shouldn’t and now they run for cover. Not only that, but they try to cover their nakedness and shame.

But the gracious and caring Gardner doesn’t leave them alone to their demise and death. The merciful Gardener seeks them out, calling them by name; to protect them because He loves them unconditionally in spite of what they have done. PAUSE.

In the cool of the day the God of the universe walks in the Garden and speaks to the first man Adam and continues to speak to man today, because He is a living God.  You and I are blessed to worship our living God who has conquered death for us by sending His Son Jesus to find us. In these verses we see God’s very first question to man: “Where are you?” God asked this question to Adam, not because He did not know where Adam was, but rather because He wanted Adam to recognize his lost condition and terrible situation.

God created man to have an intimate relationship, constant fellowship and eternal life with Him.  At some point after God created him, Adam fell in sin and lost this fellowship, this relationship and the promise of Eternal life.  He could no longer be in the presence of the holy and just Lord.  This is why Adam was hiding.  God, however, is merciful, compassionate and gracious and wants to restore this lost fellowship and relationship. This is why God looked for him and asked him: “Where are you?” Those of us who are far away from the presence of the Lord are also like lost Adam because we try to hide from the presence of God.

Being lost happened in the life of Mary, who came to a garden, a garden tomb; to anoint the dead corpse of her beloved Teacher. She came with the oils and spices to hide the stench of decay, to cover up death. She was alone. It was not “Adam where are you?” but “Lord, where are You?” She asked the question that our sin nature demands to be answered, “Dear God, where are You?” His answer is the intimate one of Resurrection and sure hope in the face of human fear and pain.

In the most intimate Psalm (as I call it the Ultra-sound Psalm) David said: “Where shall I go from Your Spirit?  Or where shall I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me” (Ps. 139:7-10). And the answer? NOWHERE! We may hide from God, we may think we can stay away from His presence, but He, out of love for us, will not leave us. He seeks us out so that He may save us from the eternal destructive forces of evil and death.

Yet, we try often. We try to hide behind closed doors. We try to hide in our bedrooms? We try to hide in the dark places where the light of the Gospel is absent. We try to hide in bushes of our own making and cover our shame just like Adam and Eve did. But God loves us a lot. He cares for us and will seek us out. He will not leave us alone—but sent His Son, His only Son to save and to seek that which was lost—on the cross of Calvary.

This is the fulfillment of the promise given to Adam and Eve in the Garden when God spoke saying: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Gen. 3:15). This is the reason the Lord continues to seek us lost and condemned creatures because He promised to save us.

It is important to hear the voice of God in the Garden. The Gardener is calling even today. He continues to call sinners to come to Him and receive His blessings. He calls them to restore them to a blessed and wonderful relationship and fellowship with Him. PAUSE.

“I heard Your voice in the Garden, and I was afraid.” Were the words of Adam when He heard the voice of God in the Garden! After disobeying the command of the Lord, suddenly Adam’s eyes were open to the fact that his flesh was exposed.  Adam was in sin.  He could no longer be in the presence of the Lord.  In spite of that, Adam still had hope—he heard the voice of the Creator God in the Garden.  There is also hope for people today.  God knows your situation too. He wants to deliver all from that situation just as He did for Adam, and as He does for us.

He also knows our other needs.  Each of us has different needs, and God speaks to us with answers that fit these specific needs.  Regardless of the situation, the solution is provided by the Lord Himself. He gives us the Holy Spirit to hear His voice when He calls. He is speaking today, yet many do not hear, because in the world there are many noises that prevent them from hearing.  This is what occurs physically when we expose our ears to loud noises for a long time.  We begin to lose the ability to hear, and can eventually become deaf.  The same thing applies spiritually.

Therefore, we cannot hear God’s voice in the world. We can only hear Him in a special place like where Adam was in the Garden.  The Garden talks about the presence of the Lord.  It was the place where the trees clustered together.  There were not only trees, but also flowers and birds and animals.  The Garden is a beautiful place, which spiritually speaks of the Church where man is gathered and the gifts of the Holy Spirit blossom like flowers.  Only in the Body of Christ can we hear the Lord speak.  Only there can our needs be satisfied. Only through Him can we find solutions to our deepest problems.  He rescues us through His Son’s death on the cross of Calvary and the empty tomb.

Today, the Gardener is searching for you. Today, the Gardener is calling for you. Today, His voice of forgiveness is shared with you. Today, the Gardener comes to you with His peace offered in simple humble means—water, wafer, wine and Word. Today, the Gardener takes you back again and covers your shame and says to you, “You were once lost but now are found by Me.”

No wonder, that the sermon hymn (Amazing Grace…) has become a favorite to many. Therefore, with great joy having heard the voice of God in the Garden, let us rise again and sing once more the opening stanza of this comforting hymn and thank God our Gardener who has found us lost creatures.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see. Amen. And Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLRIA.

“The Question is: Justice or Mercy?” (Genesis 4:8-9)

S-1215 22SAP/3C 10/24/10 Hymns (O) #2; S#403 LS #341; #371; #315; (C) # #456

Text: Genesis 4:1-15; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-17

Theme: “The Question is: Justice or Mercy?” (Genesis 4:8-9)

Question: “Why do you come to worship?”

SOLI DEO GLORIA, Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for our meditation this morning is from the O.T. Lesson: “Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, ‘Where is Abel your brother?’ He said, ‘I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?’” (Genesis 4:8-9).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

People of God, chosen and beloved, as a Pastor I have been privileged to travel often to preach, teach and lecture around the country. I often encourage the saints to raise up any questions they may have. In all the years I lectured and taught, or attended workshops, I have never heard a stupid question. However, I have heard a stupid answer.

Today, we hear a stupid answer to the question asked by God. The Lord God came to Cain and asked him, “Where is your brother?” And Cain’s response was. “Why, am I supposed to be my brother’s keeper?” Indeed that is a stupid response since Cain knew exactly where his brother Abel was—buried somewhere in the dirt.

And this brings us to the very important question that the text asks: Is it justice or mercy that we need? Do we want God to be a JUST God or a MERCIFUL God? Today, let us call upon the Holy Spirit to help us with the answer. The truth of the matter is: if we are to be saved, we need the mercy which comes from Holy Spirit-given faith in the risen Lord. By His power, may all of us be moved to say, “Lord, have mercy upon me a sinner!?” God grant this to us all.

We don’t want God’s justice. Because if we did get justice this is what will happen to us! The Just God can’t help but cut us in pieces, put us in the frying pan and after cooking us all up throw us to the sharks to devour us. If you want justice in the sight of God, you are doomed, damned and dead. If you want justice for what you have done, look out, because you have failed miserably. If you stand before God showing Him why you are so wonderfully good, then be very careful of what you get. No, we don’t want justice. we WANT MERCY FROM GOD HIMSELF.

Mercy is what this sermon is about. And how do we describe, depict and define mercy in human terms so that we can understand it and appreciate it. Simply put, MERCY is receiving relief from what you do deserve; but the GRACE of God, is giving you what you don’t deserve. PAUSE.

Study the Scriptures, and you will see God’s trade mark on humanity showing mercy to them when they didn’t deserve it. How often in Scripture God pours out His mercy on the children of Israel? Again and again they wonder from Him, they do their own thing, they run after other so-called god’s. Instead of banishing them, He blesses them. Instead of murdering them, He showers them with Mercy.

Mercy oozes from God’s Holy book. We see it here in our reading when God in mercy comes to Cain and offers him repentance before it is too late. But instead of receiving the Mercy of God, Cain wanted to offer God his worthiness. He wanted to prove to God his hands can fulfill God’s demands. That he is worthy to stand before God on his own good works. But God offered him the opportunity to turn away from his fallen nature and turn from his jealousy towards his younger brother. Indeed, with this simple task, the Lord was providing Cain pardon and peace. This is nothing but true and Divine Mercy.

Mercy is the stock in trade of heaven. Our Lord wills it for all His children. Cain was given by God to Adam and Eve - their firstborn. Eve thought him to be the fulfillment of the promise of Genesis 3:15, the first pronouncement of Jesus - that Jesus would be bruised on his heel by the serpent (the Cross) but that from His place on the Cross Jesus would crush the head of the serpent, He would reverse the curse, give life for death - show mercy to fallen mankind.

However, Cain didn’t want mercy. I suspect he wanted justice - fairness - the feeling that his offering was “just as good as” his brother’s gift. We dare not ask God for justice; else He will pronounce the sentence on our self-imposed mortal wound. We must not think we have earned nor deserved His favor by what we have done (I fast twice a week, tithe of all I get, yes I’m so glad I’m not like other men, extortionists, murderers, slanderers...). “Lord, You know me. I come to church every Sunday. Lord, You know I serve on the Board. Lord, You see how much of my money I give to the work of the Kingdom. Lord, You know that I don’t skip church to go hunting. Lord You know…” All of the things we do for the Lord has its proper place as a way of thanking Him for all He has done for us. But to call it my justification for God to bless and honor me, that will exclude God from being Merciful to me, a sinner! That means I will deny God the right to be my Father, my provider, the One who loves, cares, and provides for me, just because He is love. He is merciful and He is Mercy. His love is lavished undeservedly upon us, unrestrictedly! Behold the man on the Cross: undeserved love, given without limit, without restriction. PAUSE.

When the tax collector comes to the Temple he knows he has earned no right to be there. Even his blood line is not the “golden ticket.” He deserves wrath! What he pleads is Mercy, on me, a sinner. This man with the bowed head and heart wants what he knows he cannot and does not deserve as well as not having to pay for what he does deserve: Grace, given in Mercy. Or is it Mercy, given in Grace. In receiving both he receives Peace! He receives the Peace of God in Christ Jesus!

As we stand here today, in this holy temple, we stand with the tax collector and cry out to God not for Justice, but for MERCY. The Divine Worship Service is a cry for mercy. Our liturgy speaks of this mercy. Our corporate confession begins this way: “O almighty God, merciful Father, I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess to unto Thee all my sins and iniquities…” We continue by crying out, “Lord, God have mercy upon us.” And before the Lord’s Supper, we cry out: “O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.” (Divine Worship pp. TLH 15ff).

Oh, yes, what a blessing to receive the mercy of God instead of His Justice. God’s Son gets justice, and we get His mercy. We want love and mercy when we don’t deserve it. And we get it because God Himself intervenes in our life by giving us the Ultimate Sacrifice.

In our reading, we read that Abel offered to God a Lamb—the first-fruit and the Lord was pleased with it. But today know and learn this absolute truth God took the Lamb—His ONLY Son, Jesus and offered Him to redeem humanity from death and destruction. And with certainty we say to Him, “Lord, I don’t deserve anything good from You, but accept this Lamb’s death instead of mine. Be merciful to me a SINNER! And our cries of mercy are heard by the One hanging on the cross—Jesus the True and Eternal Sacrifice—God’s pure and holy Lamb. PAUSE

Right here and right now you and I don’t get justice but receive mercy. Here in this place you receive forgiveness through the Lamb of God—Jesus Christ. He gives it to you through His Word. He showers you with it in the waters of Baptism, and He supplies it in the beautiful bread and cup of blessing on His Altar.

Oh, my beloved and His beloved thank God with me that you have a loving Father who doesn’t give us what we deserve, JUSTICE, but He gives us something to take away our punishment—MERCY. Know this truth, the heart of Scripture is a God who loves you, cares for you and seeks you out. See in them that He is a God who takes the initiative in reaching out for sinner. He is the lovesick Father who runs to meet His runaway son. He is the Landlord who cancels a debt too large for His servant to repay. He is the Employer who pays the 11^th-hour worker the same as the 1^st-hour workers. He is the banquet GIVER who goes out to the highways to find bums, beggars and bag ladies to be His guest. He is the Priest who washes us, cleanses us, and sends us home justified as if we have never sinned.

Humanly speaking, there is no way you can explain this unbelievable mercy of God. God does not condone the sin of those He loves nor does He compromise His standards. He doesn’t ignore the rebellion of His chosen ones nor does He relax His demands. Rather than dismiss our sins our Brother’s keeper—Jesus Christ assumes them—He takes them on His shoulders; He carries them on the cross and buries them in the tomb forever.

No wonder, Jeremiah writes: “Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him’” (Lamentation 3:19-24).

Yes, this is our hope going home justified because we know what our Savior our Brother’s keeper has done. Today, reap the fruit of the Cross, where God offered His first-fruits, His Son for sinners. Here is mercy for sinners. Here is the gift that enables sinners like you and me to join with that poor tax collector and cry out with certainty, “Be merciful to me, a sinner!” Here is the grand invitation to come as a child, as His child! Amen.

Now the peace of God…

Soli Deo Gloria