“The Promise Keeper?” Jeremiah 33:14-16

S-1521 1SIA/3C 11/29/15 Hymns: #331; (S) #332; L.S.# 341; # 342;(C) #348

Texts: Jeremiah 33:1-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36

Theme: “The Promise Keeper?” Jeremiah 33:14-16

Question: “How many promises have you Kept?” (11^th sermon at Trinity).

Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Blessed The text for our homily today is from the O.T. Reading: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’” (Jeremiah 33:14-16).

In Nomine Iesu

Precious Bride of Christ, YOU, God’s Advent people in this place. This sermon is written for me personally and perhaps it might touch your heart which is my prayers also. Promises, Promises. The world seems to be filled with promises. As the retail and cyber frenzy of Christmas shopping has started, there comes with it the promise that the perfect gift will be under that glittering tree in less than a month. That is also accompanied by the promise that there will be a hefty credit card bill due soon.

Promises, Promises. We heard many of them by Pastors and Politicians, athletes and agents, contractors, candidates and sales people. Promises that we hope they keep, but since we have been disappointed many times before, we become pessimists at any promise made.

Yet Scriptures oozes with promises that are important for us to know. Certainly, the Church of Jesus Christ is built on the promises made by our heavenly Father. Today, on this First Sunday in Advent, by the grace of God, we stand at the beginning of a new year with our ears, eyes and hearts full of promise.

And this promise is so much more than just the promise that we will soon have pews full of people gathered on Christmas Eve. This promise is so much more than just O Little Town of Bethlehem and Silent Night. No, on this First Sunday in Advent, we stand here knowing that the

Promise is on both sides of us. The Promise of Advent is that God HAS KEPT His promise to send the long expected Messiah—the heaven sent Visitor. PAUSE.

Jesus, the Babe of Bethlehem, IS that promise. But we also know that on this day we are looking forward to the fulfillment of a final promise. That promise is the glorious return in judgment and victory of our Lord Jesus. These are the precious promises in which the Church lives and moves and has its being. We really are nothing more than the people of the promise.

Beloved in Christ over the centuries God’s people have lived under these promises: There are past promises, present promises and future promises. The odds of any of God’s promises to be fulfilled are astronomical. Peter Stoner, the chairman of mathematics and astronomy departments at Pasadena City College up to 1953 said, the odds are 31x 10²¹ (that is 31, 21 0s behind it.) Yet more promises have been fulfilled in Scripture than in ANY other book or religion.

We have Past Promises:

God stated that He will send a deliver in the Garden of Eden and He did. He promised Abraham that his offspring’s will be as the stars in the heaven, he will be the Father of many nations, and the Savior would be one of the descendants of this childless old man. Today, these offspring’s are over 2billion and counting. He told Moses He will guide the Israelites and He did. Promises of the Past have been fulfilled. That is why the Apostle Paul states: “For all of the promises of God find their Yes in Him [Jesus]. That is why it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God for His glory” (2 Cor. 1:20).

But history tells the sad story of many of Abraham’s seed—those who heard the promises from kings, rulers, princes and people alike, forgot these promises and lived in the pleasure of pleasing themselves. And that failure was very costly and God judged them severely.

In fact, it is in the face of God’s judgment on Judah’s unfaithfulness that Jeremiah speaks as God’s very mouthpiece. And yet, Jeremiah here speaks a word of promise to God’s people. “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, rand Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’”

The disobedience of God brought God’s wrath upon Israel and Judah so that they were taken into captivity for a long period of time. And the judgment would be complete. Even Jerusalem would be destroyed. The Temple would be taken down. The best and the brightest would be carried off into a land of exile. But even before that happened; Jeremiah carried God’s Word of promise to Judah. This promise of destruction and exile would not be God’s last word, like it was for the northern tribes. No, even as God promised judgment, He also promised restoration. With the Law comes the Gospel. Promises of the Past fulfilled.

Then there are the present promises. God promised to be with us as we go in His name and make disciples of all nations. This is being carried out today by baptizing and teaching. Through this marvelous work the church grows and the promise of our Immanuel will be with us always. We see it even today, when the Savior comes to us in the humble means of wafer, wine, body and blood and declares I Am among you here today. I will not abandon or forsake you. I will forgive you, your many sins. This is our comfort of hearing and believing this promise from the lips of Jesus Himself.

We know that the Lord has kept His promise in the sending of Jesus. We know that at the cross the head of the ancient serpent has been crushed. But we also know that we live in the now/not yet reality of Advent. Jesus has indeed come. Jesus has indeed won the victory. Jesus has indeed accomplished everything that the Father said He would.

Future promises to be yet fulfilled:

But it isn’t done. We know it isn’t done because the Word of an even greater prophet than Jeremiah. Jesus Himself promised: “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven” (Mark 13:26). The same Jesus who did the work of redemption will also lead the charge in restoration. As the people of Advent we live between the promises fulfilled and their ultimate fulfillment. PAUSE.

But as we look into the mirror of God’s law, we know our own current ability to be unfaithful to God’s promises. How often have we mouthed promises to our Lord that we could not or would not keep? How many confirmands promised to die rather than fall away from the faith, only to chase after the things of this world? How many spouses promised “till death do us part” only to have that divine union rent asunder by sin and selfishness? How many parents promise at the font to place in their children’s hands the Holy Scriptures and bring them to the services of the Lord’s house only to not be seen again until confirmation starts? And this is just the tip of the capabilities of our unfaithfulness.

Yet in the face of all of this, He who is the Promise Keeper—our Loving and gracious Savior, calls us to repentance. His Word of promise still stands. As He restored Judah and Jerusalem, He promises to restore you. And this is the Advent promise that we live in for the Lord Jesus has come to give you and me a new name. We see a glimpse of that in our text.

Jeremiah promises a new name for Jerusalem. That name? The Lord is our Righteousness. Notice that name isn’t about Jesus. It is Jerusalem that is called The Lord is our Righteousness. This is God’s gracious promise. You and I are also a part of this Promised Restoration. For this restored Jerusalem is more than just a city in the Middle East. No, it is MUCH more than that. The Jerusalem which will be called the Lord is our Righteousness is none other than the Church.

In this Church relishing in promises made, promises kept and promises to come, we are given the name The Lord is our Righteousness. That is what happens at the baptismal font. Another rebellious sinner has the restorative name put on them. In this restored name is a promise. This promise is nurtured in the preaching of the Word and the reception of the righteousness of God that is the feast of the Holy Supper. These are the ongoing promises to which we cling.

Beautiful people of the promise, on this First Sunday in Advent, by the Spirit’s power keep your eyes on the Promise Keeper—Jesus Christ and that His promises are true tested and tried. This promise won’t come wrapped in shiny paper followed by a credit card bill. This promise carries with it the sure and certain hope of no more promises broken by sin and stolen by death. In that day there will only be the fulfilled promise to you and to me that we will be called The Lord Our Righteousness. This promise is given you by the Promise Keeper Himself—Your God and Savior—for this Advent, this Church Year and for eternity!

By the Spirit’s power we say, blessed be the name of the Promise Keeper—the heaven-sent Savior—Jesus Christ. AMEN.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Be Careful in How You Live?”

S-1508 8SAP/3B 7/19/2015 Hymns: (O) #16; (S) #333; (C) #47

Texts: Jeremiahs 23:1-6; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-44

Theme: “Be Careful in How You Live?” (Jeremiahs 23:5-6)

Question: “Do you care what others think of you?”

IN NOMINE IESU

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for the 8^th Sunday after Pentecost is from the O.T. reading: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness’” (Jeremiahs 23:5-6).

INTRODUCTION 

Beautiful and Beloved people of God, a long time ago someone gave me this sign (Show) that has been hanging in my office. The sign reads: “Be careful how you live—you may be the only Bible some people read.” This is so true for all time! But now more than ever, we, Christians need to pay close attention in how we live and act in the public square. It is so vital for us to be in the ways of the Lord and give witness to His life-giving Word. While our good deeds do not save us, while we in no way earn our salvation, knowing that indeed, the Lord, He is our Righteousness, our being made right, pure, whole, complete – our Restoration to that which was lost in Eden. With that gift, we are indeed equipped to live in the light of His merciful victory! So often we downplay the full victory of Christ on the Cross! That is why I greeted you with the Easter Greeting: “Christ is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!”

With that as our backdrop, we can look at our witness in and to the world, our witness to Christ’s victory on the Cross! Yes, we have seen a major shift in the world in general, and our country in particular. So many people no longer hold to the truth of Scripture. No longer do they believe that God is God and Jesus is His heaven-sent Savior. No longer do they adhere to the truth taught in the Bible. But raise themselves above God and His mighty Word.

Things continue to deteriorate in our world. We see evidence of this all over. On Thursday we heard again of the evil that was unleashed on the four US Marines and one US Sailor who were brutally murdered in the name of that liar and false god of Islam in Chattanooga, TN. We just heard of the Jury’s decision of James Holmes who 3 years ago walked into a Colorado theater and killed 12 people and injured 76 others. We have seen Bruce Jenner change his physique from a man to a woman saying he likes himself better this way. In essence, he said, “God made a mistake when He made me!” And if this not bad enough, the media on Wednesday (7/15) honored Bruce Jenner or whatever you want to call him/her “Caitlyn” with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs.

Indeed, the world we live in has lost its moral compass. Now anything goes because God is no longer the Supreme God, but instead He has been pushed out of the lives of people who have elevated themselves above Him. How sad is this! Still, the Lord, He is our Righteousness, and that righteousness shines now through His Christians, through you and me, shining brightly in this darkened world!

So then, if ever there is a time for us as Christians to live and give witness that we are followers of Jesus, it is now. Now more than ever, we the minority must speak in love and truth who this God is and what His Son has accomplished for us on Calvary’s cross. And yet, with the minority of One dead corpse on a Roman Cross about 2,000 years ago, He won the victory. “Christ is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!” PAUSE.

Let this truth sink into your heads and hearts. There is BIG difference between living for yourself or living in the reality of your Savior and His victory. There is a mega difference if you only think of yourself and not others. So many people are serving the gods of this world. Just this week I heard a lady who had cosmetic surgery saying: “Nobody is going to hold me back in getting what I want out of my life. THIS IS MY LIFE AND I WANT TO LIVE IT THE WAY I WANT TO!”

This is the problem the Lord God addresses in the text before us through the prophet Jeremiah. God warns the unfaithful shepherds of the imminent disaster that is coming because they have NOT held to the truth, taught the truth and lived by the truth. God warns of the demise of all these people, the unfaithful, the ungrateful and the untrue under-shepherds. He then offers Christ, the Righteous Branch, the Lord, our Righteousness!

The problem of unfaithful shepherds, and deep confusion and darkness in the hearts and lives of folks is not limited to these leaders but to us also. Many parents neglect their responsibilities and let their children do what they want to do. Too often, even in the Church of God, His Bride is unfaithful - We are no longer holding the Word of God before them as the compass for all of life. We have given up our role of leadership in the home, in church and in the community and have permitted the world to take over and affect how we live and what is right only in their eyes. Why don’t we stand up and live as the confessors and followers of Jesus? Why don’t we teach ourselves and our families what Scripture has to say about sin and its consequences? Why do we close our eyes about the evil around us without saying a word? PAUSE.

Beautiful and Beloved people of God, the time is now for us to live the right way that is from and in His Righteousness, as a “twig” growing from the Righteous Branch who is Christ and thereby reflecting the truth that we are the Baptized, the Redeemed, the Forgiven, the Blood-bought and the Heaven-bound children of God. Now is the time for us to live carefully and be the Bible that people read! Because sadly many don’t know what is in the Bible. They have been duped by the devil’s wily schemes and lies, like our first parents were. We should, by the power of the Holy Spirit be vigilant calling out to the Savior who died and rose for us to be His true and faithful followers.

Listen carefully please to the words of St. Paul as he encourages the saints in Ephesus with this admonition, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:15-17), and again to the Church at Galatia: “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:16). Truer words could not be spoken for the times we live in.

Beautiful and Beloved people of God, today through the prophet Jeremiah God gives us this eternal promise: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness’” He has done that already and fulfilled this promise in the gift of His Son—Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the Faithful Shepherd who would lay down His life for the lost sheep—you and me. He is the Faithful Shepherd who died for the sake of those who ignored His Word and lived according to the world. He is the True and Faithful Shepherd who even today calls you to hear His voice and come to Him and receive the blessings He offers you.

God kept His promise by sending His Son Jesus. He is the One who has dealt wisely with us and bids us come to Him, fear and trust Him above all things. He is the Lord our righteousness who makes us righteous by taking our sins from us and giving us His holiness so that we may not spend eternity in hell but with Him in the incarnate joy of the resurrection. He is the God who in our Baptismal Grace calls us back in His Righteousness. This Baptismal reality, that sinners like you and me can be brought back. This is a clear witness to the power of the Cross and Empty Tomb. This is the witness of Easter that Christ is Risen, He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! Yes, you are perhaps the first or only Gospel that someone will read. You have been redeemed by the Lord who is Your Righteousness. Branches grow and reach out and offer shade and food. He who is our Righteous Branch is working through you in this horridly dark and dead world. Go forth then, beloved of the Lord and be careful, that is full of care, His care, about how you live!

Yes, in this Holy house we—you and I have attempted to do everything we can to live carefully and faithfully for the sake of Christ and His blood-bought people. And pray we remain steadfast in the confession of faith given us through the Great Shepherd of the sheep—Jesus Christ.

Therefore, may our prayers be that we would continue to live our lives carefully to be the Bible that people read and give glory to God alone. Amen.

Please join me in a word of prayer: “Great God, never can we thank You enough for the privilege of calling You our Father. Your love in making us unlovely ones Your children in Christ staggers our minds. Give us, we ask You, the richness of Your Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of prayer, and let Him forever move us to look up to You in childlike trust, to tell everyone what You have accomplished for us on Calvary’s cross and the empty tomb. In the name of the Righteous branch—Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.”

Now the peace…

SOLI DOE GLORIA

“Divine Details” (Jeremiah 33:15-16)

S-1346-1SIA/C 12/02/2012 Hymns: #55; #62; #64

Texts: Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:19-13; Luke 19:28-40

Theme: “Divine Details” (Jeremiah 33:15-16)

Question: “Do you like details?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for our First Sunday in Advent is from the O.T. Lesson: “In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness’” (Jeremiah 33:15-16)

INTRODUCTION:

O most holy people of God, one often hears the phrase “the devil is in the details.” A similar, yet quite different phrase that I prefer is “God is in the details.” Why this preference? Because God’s details always trump the devil’s details. Biblically speaking the Scriptures teach that God works every minute detail in the history of mankind together for the good of the church. Every Divine detail! There isn’t anything that happens in history that in the end will not serve the salvation God has won through His Son for us.

We see this vividly at work on Good Friday. Before the foundation of the universe God planned to send His Son into the world to die on the cross for our sins on a Passover Weekend. So exact were the details that Jesus wills Himself to die on the cross right at the same moment the High Priest sacrifices the Passover Lamb in the temple.

As we begin Advent Season and a new Church Year, we behold how God enlists the details of absolutely everything in history for the sake of the gospel. In Jeremiah we have a powerful prophecy. It tells how from the family tree of David will come a unique Person. Through a New Jerusalem (the Church) He will execute justice and righteousness throughout the land. He will have a huge Branch Office extending throughout the world. This someone will be set apart to do what no king in Israel’s history had ever done. Someone will be born and live a flawless life marked by righteousness, holiness, perfect love, and perfect justice.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus declared as the Son of David through both the lineage of Mary and Joseph that this was part of His gospel mission. He said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to FULFILL them.”

To the nth degree the Lord of history would fulfill even the smallest details of the law, of the prophecies related to the Messiah’s coming, and everything necessary for our salvation. So that we could stand before the Father blameless on Judgment Day, Jesus had to fulfill flawlessly the law of God. One itty bitty mistake and we all would end up in a fiery Lake—that is what was at stake.

To see the fulfillment of one set of divine details that connect together as a miraculous pattern we begin with the conception and birth of Jesus. Pious Jews who believed in the Greek Old Testament believed that a virgin born Son, who would be a suffering Savior was to be born in the fullness of times. The Bible teaches that Jesus’ birth was brought about in a virgin womb—a virgin womb set apart. We see in this Virgin born Child from the beginning One set apart for the holy purposes of a holy purpose.

The mission of Christ Jesus come into the world was “mission: holiness,” which is the same as saying “mission: love.” Holiness and love and justice and righteousness all merge together. When one does that which is holy one will march the way of love, justice, and righteousness. And Jesus was the One Jeremiah carefully foretold who would be “The Lord our righteousness”—from His family tree the Church, His beautiful bride—will emerge and grow so that under its branches people from every tribe, language, color and nation will gather to find comfort and peace. PAUSE.

Yet, there are many in our world that don’t know who Jesus is and worse yet, don’t look at others as sacred souls—children of the heavenly Father. Many have a confused view of who Jesus is and what He came to accomplish. Perhaps, you heard the blasphemy spoken this week by Actor Jamie Foxx at Soul Train Music Awards stating: “First of all, give an honor to God and our lord and savior Barack Obama” What a terrible statement to compare a mere man to the One Jeremiah spoke of in our text.

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ please know Barrack Obama is not lord and savior. He didn’t create the world, he didn’t do any miracles to help the world, he didn’t suffer for the world, he wasn’t crucified for the world, he didn’t die for the world, and neither was he raised from the dead for the benefit of the world. Look at Barack Obama’s hands and you will not see the print of nails in them, and there are no puncture wounds on his forehead. Therefore, he is neither lord nor savior.

But the One spoken of in Jeremiah is indeed the righteous branch that His Kingdom will have no end. He is the One who will rule with justice and righteousness all the days of His life. For this reason it is important for us to know the truth of Scriptures; so that we can tell the world of the debauchery of sin and the destructive powers of the devil.

Yes, God is in the details—divine details to saving you and me. We see that in the life of Jesus the offspring of David. We see that in His perfect obedience to the will of the Father by completing every minute detail for our benefits. PAUSE.

I know it is easy to jump all over Jamie Fox and say what blasphemy and what atrocity; but what about us? Are we willing to be called the “Lord our righteousness” for that is what we are? Did you know that in the text, “Jerusalem” and not the Lord is called the “Lord our righteousness?” This is speaking of God’s people who have been made righteous through the blood of the Lamb and clothed by His white garments of holiness.

But if we are indeed Messianic People, why then do we not call sin for what it is SIN? Why do we turn our eyes and act as if there is nothing wrong with our world or family of faith? Why are we not willing to be the people of God declaring sin as damming, destructive and deadly? Why do we keep our mouth shut when the world makes fun of us? Why oh why, don’t we get involved in Bible studies so that we may know what Scriptures teaches?

Yes, we come to Church, but we don’t live like a church. We don’t live like the redeemed of the Lord; we don’t live with the urgency that Christ is coming back soon. We act that it is no big deal. We may get angry when we hear a statement of blasphemy like what Jamie Fox said, but we don’t get angry when our sons and daughters are living together, are not in God’s house, live as if there is no tomorrow.

Precious children of the heavenly Father, it is so important that we know the Divine Details of God and how He works everything for our good. As we read in the Gospel lesson this morning: The One who came into Jerusalem as a servant King moves us to be servants of a Kingdom that will last forever. He wants us to see that every detail in history is enlisted for the good of the church. Nothing happens by sheer chance, that in the end, Jesus Christ does not convert into our ultimate good. NOTHING!

We are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us wrote St. Paul in Romans 8. That is not only the main message of the book of Revelation but it is THE core message of the universe. It is the grand unification theory that Einstein and Hawkings were looking for in Physics we, as the children of God are able to see by the power of the Holy Spirit through faith. Every detail God takes and weaves into a Trinitarian tapestry of endless love.

Jeremiah’s words are of the utmost importance because it shows the Divine details of God. And in the life of Jesus we see it even more—Christ’s double entrance into Jerusalem at the beginning as well as the ending of His early life is a wondrous Advent thread to assure us we have splendid reasons for high confidence. These are mighty Divine details to savor through Scripture always leading us to Christ’s unending infinite love for us. May these divine details set our sails aright this day for this week to come as well as for all eternity may define our paternity. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“The Right Kind of Shepherd” (Jeremiah 23:3-4)

S-1327 8SAP/3B 7/22/12 Hymns: (O) #473 vv1-3; (S) #351; L.S. #324; #413; #314 (C) #473 vv 4-5

Text: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-44

Theme: “The Right Kind of Shepherd” (Jeremiah 23:3-4)

Question: “Has a Pastor ever disappointed you?” Armour, SD.

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text is from the O. T. lesson: “Then I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declare the LORD” (Jer. 23:3-4).

Precious little lambs of Christ, Holy Scripture employs many different images describing God as He relates to His people: Husband, Father, Deliverer, Defense Attorney, Savior, Redeemer and many, many more. But the greatest and most loved image of God is a Shepherd who cares, feeds, protects and provides for His little lambs.

In today’s text, we see God’s wrath being poured out on the unfaithful shepherds, leaders, priests and kings who have been appointed to care for His flock—but have neglected them. God is angry because they have scattered rather than gathered His flock. Rather than feeding them, they have starved them. Rather than protecting them, they have victimized them; and He is saddened by the state of affairs that has taken place.

Therefore, our compassionate God promises that He will gather them from all the world where they have been scattered to the His fold and cause them to be fruitful and provide for them the right kind of shepherds—shepherds who will do what is right for the flock. And not only shepherds but even the right kind of King who rules with justice and truth.

To the weeping Prophet (Jeremiah), God promises to do what the other shepherds failed to do. Though Jeremiah was faithful in his ministry, yet he was abused, thrown into prison, beaten, and finally taken into captivity—he never ceased to teach the message God gave Him to speak. Yet, the Lord declares HE IS THE ONE WHO WILL DEAL WITH HIS LAMBS IN A VERY SPECAIL WAY. PAUSE.

Indeed, God is the Only One who would be the faithful Shepherd who will care for His sheep. Study Scriptures and you will see false and evil prophets, rulers and kings. No matter how good they were, they all have come short.

And it isn’t any different today. I will be the first one to say to you, you don’t have a perfect pastor. The best that I can do is point to Him who is the Faithful Pastor—Jesus Christ—Your Good Shepherd. I will also remind you that I don’t have a perfect congregation, though sometimes you think you are. And certainly we don’t have a perfect faith, BUT, we do have a perfect Savior, the True and Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ whom God has sent and set over His people.

We see this faithful Good Shepherd at work in the Gospel reading for today. Jesus is with His disciples. They have just returned from their mission to prepare His way. John the Baptist has just been beheaded. A sense of tiredness and perhaps bewilderment was falling upon the Twelve. The Good Shepherd knows His own, and He calls for them to come apart, to come aside and to rest, apart from the crowds. Rest is good for both body and soul.

But here it is, in this desolate place by the shores of the Sea of Galilee that a crowd has followed them. Jesus teaches.... all day long! It is now late. The place is remote. Imagine 20,000 people descending on our little town of Armour. Sure, we have a couple of eating establishments, they may be able to feed 500-600 souls, but soon they would run out... of milk, and meat, of cereals and grains, even of candy bars behind the counter.

The disciples grasp the situation, it is late and desolate. We should send them home to get some food before darkness descends upon them. But the faithful Shepherd who looks out to the crowd and has compassion on them, says, “You give them something to eat! It’s as though He is saying, “Problem, what problem? Feed them!” He does it every day. There is a song that describes our True and Good Shepherd: “He’s got the whole world in His hands.”

The disciples see a huge problem, but Jesus sees opportunity—He is Lord of all and over all. After all, He is the God made flesh. He came down from heaven and controls everything in the Universe. He cares! He is compassionate and He is concerned for their well being. Therefore, He tells the disciples to have the crowds sit in groups of 50’s and 100’s. He looks to heaven, give thanks, and distributes such that every man, woman, and child ate to their fill. Oh, and 12 baskets of bread and fish remained! No other man could even come close. He is the True and Genuine Shepherd who leads us by the still waters, who prepares the table before us even in the presence of His enemies who are also our enemies. Truly, if ever there was a cup that overflowed, it would have to be in this remote place. Oh, wait; there was one place, more remote where the cup overflowed even more graphically - Golgotha.

Everything done here in this remote place was to point to the True Shepherd of whom Jeremiah speaks. He is our only peace. He alone has broken down the wall of separation and made us One - with Him and one with each other. Yes, the blood of Christ has brought us close and made us family. It all goes back to the Cross of Jesus. His cup of blessing overflows, for He drank the cup of wrath for us. His cup overflows!

When we are hurting, be it for family, or for our own health, when we feel lonely because one we have loved has preceded us in death, when there seems to be more month than money, when loneliness and lack sit on our shoulders crying into our ears and hearts, know this... it is not too late. We are not so remote that He cannot and will not multiply the loaves and fishes for us today. This is not the “prosperity gospel.” We may still feel hunger pangs and still have every reason to need to pray for a loved one. But we know He has us and those we love right in the palm of His hands. He is that faithful Shepherd who hung on the cross, for He alone is the “Lord our Righteousness!” Behold, His cup overflows... for you!

Let me be as candid with you as I can. If I look to my strengths as your pastor, you will find merely a man, who more often than not will disappoint you because I am sinful to the core. If you were to look to your wealth and wisdom as a congregation you will find five loaves, probably not big ones like a loaf of Wonder Bread, but flat, dry crusty tortillas, and some dried fish. We are so puny. Our faith can be so weak. Doubt can grow strong within us. Ah, but remember, He is here with us. He increases our faith in His faithfulness. He feeds us and those around us, incarnationally, in and through our weakness and smallness. Surely His cup overflows even here today! And even now at the table set before you. PAUSE.

Precious little lambs of His don’t look to me to fill you and satisfy you. My best isn’t good enough. Don’t look to yourself, your position, your power, or your possessions, they will disappoint and disappear because of fire, theft and even drought. Instead look to Him who is the “Lord our Righteousness” who alone is our strength and our song, the only One who has become our Salvation.

I hope and pray that I don’t mislead you. I pray often that I would be a faithful under-shepherd to guide you and lead you to the way that leads to eternal life. And if you in love and mercy follow me, I will point you to Him who came to be Your faithful and Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. He will bind your wounds, He will heal your broken hearts, He will forgive you your sins and He will feed you His broken body and give you to drink His life-giving and precious blood.

Indeed, He is the One who has done what God has sent Him to do. Therefore, in this place, look to Him who satisfies Your hunger and quenches your thirst. Come to Him and taste how sweet He is, Drink from His cup, for it alone refreshes, rejuvenates and restores YOU to a peace with God. Today, You come, hungry for the Word of Life, hungry for the meal that always satisfies, for the Shepherd who gathers and does not scatter. Beloved, in your need, He is here... for you. Drink deeply of the Cup of Blessing...Even so, Amen!

Now the peace...

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Memory Gone” (Jeremiah 31:34c).

S-1111 3/29/09 5SIL/3B Hymns: (O) #32 (S) #157; L.S. #315; 307; (C) #342

Texts: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45

Theme: “Memory Gone” (Jeremiah 31:34c).

Question: “How is your memory?”

ARMOUR, SD. SOLI DEO GLORIA

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen! Indeed! Alleluia! The text for the Fifth Sunday in Lent is from the Old Testament reading: “...For I will wipe away their iniquity, and I will not remember their sins again” {my own translation Jeremiah 31:34c).

Saints in Christ, one of the most memorable and gripping movies I have watched in recent years is “The Notebook” The Notebook is an epic love story centered around an older man who reads aloud to an older, invalid woman who he regularly visits in an Alzheimer institution. From a faded notebook, the old man’s words bring to life the story about a couple who are separated by World War II, and is then passionately reunited after many years. Even though her memory is gone, his words give her the chance to relive her turbulent youth and the unforgettable love they shared.

Anyone of us who has gone through this type of experience knows what I am talking about. Alzheimer and dementia is debilitating, destructive and demeaning. It rips your heart out, and tears roll down your cheeks as you consider the life of the person before you. At one time you knew them as vibrant and vivacious father or mother, grandfather or grandmother, but now they are simply a shell, a body that exists, but no memory to connect them to those before them. My heart aches for anyone who has/is dealing with a family member with this devastating disease.

In the text before us today, the prophet Jeremiah describes a God whose memory is gone. “...For I will wipe away their iniquity, and I will not remember their sins again.” God’s memory is gone, not because He has Alzheimer, dementia, or some other dreadful disease, BUT because He has chosen to forget. PAUSE.

As we grow older in years, our memory is not what it used to be. We begin to forget. Sometime we even say, “My memory is gone.” We call it, “Senior Moments.” Saying things like “I have hearafter’s disease”. When I get in the room I always ask myself, “what am I here after?” We joke about it, but it is not a joking matter, because we don’t remember all of the things we should remember. Oh, we try. How many times have you said, “Where did I leave my glasses…keys…wallet, and the remote control?”

In the days before cell phones many wives would ask their husbands on their way home from work to stop at the grocery store and pick up an item or two. And they always say, “DON’T FORGET.” The husband may write it down, or put a rubber band on their finger, or hold on to their ears in the hope that they remember.

He who made the universe and our brains to function as they do doesn’t have any trouble remembering our sins. King David wrote, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” (Ps. 51:3). He knows all of them. He sees all of them. Even the sins I attempt to hide from others, though are living in my heart; and the ones I don’t even remember. Not one single sin escapes His memory. Because of them, I deserve to die. Because of them, I deserve hell’s punishment. Because of them, I should be cast into the outer abyss of hell; through an eternity of burning fire and gnashing of teeth.

Why then does Jeremiah tell us that God will not remember our sins again? Is it because He is in some Alzheimer unit? Is it because He is getting older? Is it because He is forgetful? Is it because they slipped out of His mind? No! No! No!

To get the answer to the questions, let us listen to Jeremiah speak the words of the text: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be MY people” (Jer.31:31-33).

With these words, we get the blessed answer. God chooses not to remember my sins. He chooses to wipe my slate clean. He chooses to remove every stain of sin from my heart. He chooses in love to send the One who can remove every sin that has colored the heart of man—His Son, Jesus Christ. His Son is the New Covenant. He took upon Him the sins of the world. Each of those sins; He nailed to the tree of the cross and cancelled the hand-written code against us (Col. 2). He paid for each of those sins with blood—His blood shed for the sinners—you and me.

God chooses to let go of the sins that separate us from Him. Indeed His memory is gone when it comes to our sins. Now we stand covered before Him NOT with the stains of sin, but with the garment of righteousness—the garment given us by our Savior in the waters of Baptism; and kept alive in the meal of forgiveness-His body and blood, given to us today on His holy table. PAUSE.

Saints in Christ, what a blessing it is for us to read and re-read the Words of God before us today. These Words should be studied and printed before us lest we forget them. Because by these Words, we know we are the forgiven, blood-bought and heaven-bound children of God.

St. Augustine, one of the 4^th century Christian Fathers, on his death bed had someone write on the wall before him these words: “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit” (Psalm 32:1-2). That man, that woman is YOU. Our sins have been forgiven and God doesn’t remember them any more. He has chosen on account of His Son, to remove them from His memory forever.

Even though, we know what Scripture teaches, yet we doubt that is true. Sometimes we wish we can forget some past sin, some previous life we lived not in the presence of God, and yet the memory of the past event haunts us and hinders us from moving on. The devil keeps reminding us that we have not lived like a child of God and accuses us of our sins. And if that is not bad enough, how many times someone has hurt us and they asked for forgiveness, and we respond. “I will forgive you, but I will not forget.” That is not forgiveness. I call this sin “transference.” When we do this, the sin of the other against me becomes my sin against them. When you do that you are holding a grudge, you are keeping a score, you are not letting go of the past. We can’t live that way as the redeemed and forgiven children of God.

Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer teaches us saying, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” That is what God on account of Christ has done for us and continues to do for us even today. PAUSE.

The Red Cross was established by Clara Barton in 1881 to bring relief to suffering people not only in the United States but around the world. A story is shared about her. Someone had done a heinous act to her. When that person saw her, he reminded her of this act, but somehow she didn’t remember it. “Don’t you remember?” she was asked. “I distinctly remember forgetting that,” she responded. Thankfully God does the same for all of our sins. He remembers them no more. When it comes to sin, God’s memory is gone. And for that we thank Him now and always.

God forgets our sins, but we are not forgotten. We have the promise of God in the Words of Isaiah, “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me”. Why does God forget our sins, yet doesn’t forget us? Jesus is the reason for this memory loss. From the tree of the cross, we hear Him say, “Father, forgive them.” And He has, He does and He will. And that my dear friends, we dare not forget, not now, not ever. Amen.

Now the peace of God…

“Counsel of God!” (Psalm 73:24; Jeremiah 23:5-6)

S‑1085 12/10/2008 2MIA/3B Hymns: (O)#427; (S) #74; (C) # 75

Texts: Psalm 73:23-28; Jeremiah 23:1-8; Romans 11:33-36; John 14:15-21

Theme: “Counsel of God!” (Psalm 73:24; Jeremiah 23:5-6)

Armour, SD. SOLI DEO GLORIA.

Question: “What is easier to give or take counsel?”

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen! Indeed! Alleluia! The text for our meditation is from two Old Testament Lessons: “You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory” (Ps. 73:24), “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’” (Jeremiah 23:5-6).

Saints in Christ, as you know the Bible is full of stories—stories of God’s people and how the Lord dealt with them. These stories are there to help us in our walk of faith. These stories are there to guide us on our journey to eternity. These stories are not merely stories; but stories that points to the coming of the Savior, who will save us from eternal damnation. The whole counsel of God is to bring about salvation and redemption to mankind.

Tonight, we want to consider two specific stories: The first one is found in 1 Kings 3. At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “…Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern Your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this Your great people?” (3:5-9)What a blessed and beautiful request by Solomon. And the second story is about Solomon’s son Rehoboam. Almost immediately after the death of Solomon, the people of Israel came to Rehoboam to ask that the burdens placed on them by Solomon might be relaxed a bit. Rehoboam took counsel in two places, one with his father’s old advisors, and the other with his young friends. The old men counseled him toward servanthood. The young men counseled him to demonstrate his authority and power. Unlike his father, Rehoboam ignored and forsook the counsel of the elders. He was king. He had authority. He had power. And He would use it on his people.

To have the right counsel is of the utmost importance. We give counsel to our children as they grow up, go to school, begin to consider a mate, and going to college. You hope in time they would seek your and your counsel so that they may benefit from your life’s experience.

This past Monday, after the BOD’s meeting, I had the privilege along with President Sattgast and Pastor George Saggisor to sit at an interview of a young man who is considering enrolling at one of our Seminaries in preparations for the Office of the Holy Ministry. Pastor Saggisor on more than one occasion said, “Let me give you a little counsel!” Pastor Saggisor has many years of experience in the ministry and was trying to help this young man in being fully prepared for what he might face.

Not only do we as humans give counsel. But so does the Lord. Tonight, we hear the counsel of God from two different books of the Old Testament. The first is from Psalm 73: “You [God] guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will receive me to glory” (73:24). Here Asaph the author of this Psalm tells us the most important counsel is from the Lord who knows all things and desires the best for us. And the second is from Jeremiah: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which He will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness’” (Jer. 23:5-6).

In these portions of the Lord, we receive the proper counsel and comfort from God. Through Asaph we are given a beautiful picture of a wonderful two-part summary of our lives: our lives here on earth, and our lives in glory. Here on earth, we have been given the Holy Spirit as our Counselor and Comforter. And this is not an end to itself. Its divinely planned purpose is to set us and keep us on our journey toward eternal glory and bliss. The two are integral part that will help us and guide us throughout the life we face. We should not expect the heavenly glory if you do not want God’s counsel here on earth. If we do not want to taste some of His goodness and glory on the earth, then will we desire to dwell in the full banquet of God’s glory?

God’s very counsel to us flows out of His grace to us. We do not deserve it. We deserve to be stuck on this earth in a place above the artic circle that does not see daylight 6 months out of the year. We deserve darkness and death; condemnation and coldness; punishment and persecution all the days of lives on earth.

But God did not leave us that way. As we read in Jeremiah, God promised something wonderful. “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. And again, Isaiah gives us this beautiful picture: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

This Wonderful Counselor, who will deal wisely with His people, is none other than the Babe of Bethlehem. For this reason, God out of His love for us sent the glory of His Son upon the earth, who walked fully in God’s grace, counsel, and glory. He took the counsel of God faithfully all the way to the cross. In His life from the cradle to the cross He obeyed the counsel of God. When He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, Jesus didn’t listen to the counsel of the devil, but was guided by the Word of the Lord.

While on earth, Jesus taught us not to put our hopes in man’s counsel , but in the Counsel of God. For God’s Counsel is life-giving. God’s Counsel is best for us. God’s Counsel is the greatest because God wants what is best for us. Because Christ would not listen to the counsel of man to stop teaching the truth of God; because Christ would not cease living for the glory of God; because Christ came as the righteous branch; He was put to death on a cross outside of Jerusalem.

And when Christ rose and ascended, He promised to send us His Spirit, our Counselor and Helper, who leads us to all truth and guides us in the way we should live in obeying the Counsel of God all the days of our lives. Even as God’s beloved children we know the truth. We know His counsel, yet we at times act as Rehoboam did, and disobey the counsel of God. Because we have not kept the counsel of God all the time, we are doomed to death and destruction. But our Counselor Jesus stands before God our judge and declares us not guilty because He took our punishment instead. Our Counselor Jesus Christ assures us that because He died, we will live. Our Counselor Jesus guarantees our forgiveness of sins, in His shed blood. Our Counselor Jesus comes to us even now tonight in His Word to guide and guard our hearts. Our Counselor Jesus loves us with an everlasting love. And that is why the hymn “What A Friend We Have in Jesus” is such a comfort to all believers.”

God’s counsel leads us to see way beyond the ups and downs of a shaky world economy. In fact, it empowers us be steady through economic storms, because the Holy Spirit works in us to keep our eyes fixed on the Author and Perfector of our faith, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is God’s righteousness restored upon the earth. In this period between His First Coming and His Second Coming, it is restored through the Gospel, which in turn is spread through its proclamation. At the end of days with Christ’s coming again, He will completely restore righteousness upon the earth.

So what counsel do you listen to? I hope and pray that you will continue to be guided by the Word of the Lord. For His Word is the greatest counsel we need. As the Apostle Paul said to his spiritual son Timothy: “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:14-17).

Saints in Christ, the Counsel of God is best for us (hold the Bible up in hand). Here it is. We live by it, because it points us to our Counselor, the Wonderful Counselor, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Now the peace…

“The Taste Test” (Jeremiah 15:16)

S-1043 3/20/08 MTIL/3A. Hymns: #621; 629 LSB; L.S. #305; 159; 428

Texts: Psalm 102; Exodus 24:3-11; Hebrews 9:11-22; Matthew 26:17-30

Theme: “The Taste Test” (Jeremiah 15:16)

SOLI DEO GLORIA Armour, SD.

Saints in Christ, tonight we embark on a most holy and sacred journey. This evening, we will join our Savior in the Upper Room, travel with Him to Gethsemane, and end up by the empty tomb on Sunday morning. As we are privileged to participate in these events, the Holy Spirit directs us to the words of our meditation by Jeremiah the prophet. “When your words came, I ate them; they were the joy and delight of my heart.”

“You’ve got to taste this,” My mother said, as she dished a spoonful of spinach to my mouth. “You’ve got to taste this ….” So say our spouses now as they thrust their latest concoction of tuna casserole into our face. “You’ve got to taste this” Said my mother-in-law as she offered me her specialty of an egg salad (can’t stand it), and my mother said to my wife, “You’ve got to taste this” as she gave her a bit of a cow stomach to eat. But all this pales in comparison to the taste test conducted by a gourmet cook as she thrust dog food upon an unsuspecting guest!

One of my professor shared what happened at an elegant reception near Denver. The dog food was served on delicate little crackers with a wedge of imported cheese, bacon chips, an olive and a sliver of pimento on top. This was Alpo par excel lance. The hostess had just graduated from a gourmet cooking course and decided it was time to put her skill to the ultimate test. After doctoring up those miserable morsels and putting them on a couple of silver trays, with a sly grin she watched them all disappear, and my friend just couldn’t get enough. I don’t recall how they broke the news to him, but knowing this guy, when he found out, he probably barked and bit her on the leg!

“You’ve got to taste this,” so says the LORD as he places His Word before Jeremiah. The taste test begins with Jeremiah’s call in 1:9, “The LORD said to me, ‘Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.’” Later Jeremiah says, “When your words came, I ate them; they were the joy and delight of my heart.” “

Joy and delight” –. Jeremiah uses this word-pair four more times and each time are paired with “bride and bridegroom.” By means of this poetic word association Jeremiah evokes the connection between the exuberance, the ecstasy and the sheer excitement experienced by a “bride and bridegroom” each with the love of their life and eating God’s Word.

Having eaten this word Jeremiah is ready for what ministry would serve up. And yet his ministry was anything but troubles and hardships. People were out to hurt and harm him. They even attempted to kill him by dropping him in a well. However, when his enemies accused him God’s Word vindicated him and to came to his defense by claming that Jeremiah is echoing an earlier oracle from Micah 3:12: “Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins.” In chapter 29 Jeremiah hears about hopeless exiles so he writes them a letter with God’s word: “I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future.”

In Jeremiah’s lifetime Judah would lose everything; temple and sacrifice, their king and their cities and the biggest loss of them all their land. But Judah would still have the Word and this Word would undermine tyranny and mobilize the faithful. No wonder Jeremiah calls this Word his joy and delight, the love of his life!

To define our lives the LORD places His sacramental Word in our mouths as well. Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 10:16, “Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?” And we say, “Yes, yes, a thousand times, yes!”

But isn’t there something tastier, more appetizing, with a bit more pizzazz? Here it is. “For breakfast – one-half grapefruit, one piece of whole wheat toast, no butter, eight ounces of skim milk, coffee – black. Lunch – four ounces of lean broiled chicken breast, skin removed, one cup of steamed zucchini, herb tea, no sugar … one Oreo cookie. Snack – the rest of the package of Oreo cookies, one quart chocolate almond ice cream, one jar of hot fudge. Dinner – two loaves of garlic bread, heavy on the butter, one large sausage and pepperoni pizza, extra cheese, a large milk shake with whipped cream, and for desert – three Milky Way candy bars and an entire frozen cheesecake!”

Oh, we try, don’t we? We try to hunger and thirst for the sacrament. We try to repent and confess our sins before we approach the table. But then we slip one Oreo cookie. One crumb of coveting, one piece of pornography, one slice of slander, one sip of sarcasm, and then the rest of the package of Oreo cookies! We just can’t get enough and it’s killing us!

The enemy thrusts this junk food before us on silver trays and with a sly grin as he says, “You have got to taste this...” and watches it all disappear.

So we are reminded tonight that the LORD served up one more Word; a more vindicating Word than that written by Micah in Jeremiah’s defense, a more hopeful Word than that penned to exiles, a more victorious Word than that spoken against Babylon, and a more enduring word than that rewritten before Jehoiakim. For coming down past the galaxies, past the solar system, past the moon and the stars, this Word became flesh and appeared in the silence of a night, in the depth of a cave, in the whisper of a Baby. And as a Man His appetite is defined in Hebrews 2:9, “… so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.”

Talk about a taste test! This was it for all time! Jesus tasted the demonic delight called death; the soldiers’ spit, their cheap wine, sweat running down His cheeks, His own blood. But there was more; He drank the cup of the Father’s wrath to the very last drop. He just couldn’t get enough and it killed Him.

Jesus not only tasted death. He swallowed him up chewed him up and spit him out!!! I Corinthians 15:54, “DEATH HAS BEEN SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY!”

And now the Spirit of the Risen Christ creates in us a new hunger and a new thirst for His true body and true blood.

When we eagerly and humbly come to the Holy Supper and later we are accused by the enemy, we say – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Christ’s body and blood enlivens hope in the midst of our hopelessness: “In his great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope.” When enemies mock and deny the Savior’s true presence we have a more powerful word, spoken by Jesus: “This is My body; this is My blood.” And sustained by this meal we face the enemy realizing and knowing that the victory is ours in Christ our Savior. The enemies of our souls, that would have us eat the bread of death and to drink from the cup of poison; we know that we have been delivered by Him who said, “Take eat this is My body, take drink this is My blood.”

“When your words came, I ate them; they were the joy and delight of my heart,” the love of my life. Tonight, we will be privileged to taste this Word made flesh. And when we do, we taste LOVE. Because we have tasted this love, we can leave here and share this love with others. Tonight, we will be privileged to taste this Word of forgiveness, and because we have tasted this forgiveness, we forgive others. Tonight, we will be privileged to know that God is patient with us for His Son’s sake, and because He is patient, we leave here and be patient in our dealings with others. All because the Words of Jesus says, Come and eat and taste this food, it is sweeter than honey comb. These words are the love of my life.

The words of the sermon hymn capture these thoughts to help us realize how blessed we are to taste the gift of heaven: “Is this for me? I am forgiven and set free. I do believe, that I receive his very body and his blood. O taste and see – the Lord is good” (LSB # 629.5).

Come and taste the feast is ready for you. Amen.