CALL DAY ONCE MORE

I wrote this article for our church’s newsletter called GOEL (Hebrew) for REDEEMER.

CALL DAY ONCE MORE

"And He who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I Am making all things new.' Also He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.' And He said to me, ‘It is done! I Am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment'" (Revelation 21:5).

As I write this it is Tuesday afternoon and only mere hours before some men will receive their first calls to serve in our LCMS churches. These men have been preparing for the Office of the Holy ministry for the past four years. Tonight and tomorrow their names will be called and a manila envelope given them with a name of a District and congregation to whom they will go and be God's mouth-piece in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I remember vividly how it was for me in April of 1994 just before I got my call. For about two weeks there was excitement in the air. Many of my family members had traveled thousands of miles to come and be a part of this special night, in my life and theirs. It was a special night that I can still replay in my mind all of the events that led to the call.

At the Divine Service on April 27, my name was called, Nabil Subhi Nour, South Dakota District, heading to Armour, SD. What excitement! I am going back home to SD and will be close to our families.

On my way to my seat, my oldest son Tony, reached for the manila envelope and took it from my hand and I never saw it till late that night. But by the time I had gotten home, my family knew a lot of information about the town of Armour and the congregation of Redeemer Lutheran Church to which I had been called.

In a very real way, this is call day all over again for me. For the past 113 days, I have been out of the office convalescing from my two surgeries. The first one was scheduled and the second emergency.

But through these surgeries, trials and suffering the Lord has taught me patience and dependence upon Him even more. I have spent more time reading the Bible in depth and praying more fervently. This experience also made me aware of how long the journey of suffering is at times. I have learned to be more kind, compassionate and merciful to those who are experiencing hardships and afflictions.

Through these surgeries and recovery I have changed–hopefully for the better. I remember the first change from Nabil the painter to Nabil the pastor. But there is more, I am keenly aware of the joy and privilege the Lord has given me through this call to proclaim His life-giving Word.

In a true sense, this is CALL DAY ONCE MORE. Now, I get to stand before God's beloved saints and share with them the well spring of water, word, wine and wafer. I get to share with YOU the love of Jesus who endured all things for our sake. I am privileged to share the hope of the resurrection with YOU and fill YOU with His Gospel message. Once more, I will be taking up rod and staff and leading the Sheep of the Great Shepherd to His green pastures. This dear family of faith has stood by me, with me, ah, now that is church!

What a privilege to be called the first time to be your pastor. What a blessed to be called again after having a new heart placed not by Dr. Steve Feldhaus (though he performed the surgery) but the Divine Physician, Jesus Christ through the water and Word changed my heart to follow Him and live for Him.

Thank you for calling me to be your pastor. I assure you that I have prayed for you as you have prayed for me. And now I am so excited at the honor and blessing to begin serving you anew.

I share with you few words written by the President of the St. Louis Seminary, Dr. Dale Meyer on May 1st, call night.

    "Last in, first out." That's one of the perks of being Seminary president. Today is "Call Day" when our students learn where the church is sending them. The announcements happen in a festive service, joyous but anxious for students and their families, and the presidential perk is that I'm the last one to process in for the service but the first one to recess out. When I walk out, I head straight up to the balcony so that I can watch the students, calls in hand, walk out two-by-two.

They are going into a world they do not know and into experiences they cannot imagine. Some go with maturity; others have maturing ahead of them. Their average age is about 32. Some are A+ students but will need to learn better interpersonal skills. Others may not be good at parsing Greek or Hebrew but do have emotional intelligence, a characteristic of a good pastor...

    "Last in; first out" also happens to be the goal of people who go to church grudgingly. May these new pastors keep walking, walking in their communities, walking among their people, so that when Sunday comes more and more people will say, "I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!'" (Psalm 122:1)

"Lord God, You have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

That is my prayer for these young men and myself as I resume my ministry once more among you and with you.

In Christ's love and in His service,    
           

Rev. Nabil S. Nour Pastor and Foot Washer Phil. 1:6       

“The Gospel Changes Hearts and Lives!” (Acts 16:14-15)

S-1360-Sixth Sunday of Easter/C 5/05/2013 Hymns: (O) #360; (S) #297; (C) #644

Texts: Acts 16:9-15; Revelation 21:9-14, 21-27; John 16:23-33

Theme: “The Gospel Changes Hearts and Lives!” (Acts 16:14-15)

Question: “How well do you like change?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for the Sixth Sunday of Easter is from our first reading: “One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay’” (Acts 16:14-15).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

People of the Resurrection, it is such a joy to be back in the pulpit. After an unusual sabbatical and change of life, it is indeed an honor, privilege and blessing to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with you again. If it has ever seemed over the years that I have taken this privilege for granted, please forgive me. I treasure the undeserved call to be your pastor. I am humbled beyond measure that God would grant me once more to resume the ministry among you and to proclaim the Gospel that changes hearts and lives.

Yes, it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that changes hearts and lives. It is the Gospel—God’s good news that changed 12 ordinary men to become the heroes of the faith. It is the Gospel—God’s good news that took these 12 uneducated, common fishermen and changed the world through the preaching of this Gospel, so that those who heard the message became followers of Jesus and People of the Resurrection. And it is that same Gospel—God’s good news preached from this pulpit week in and week out that has changed us from sinners to saints. PAUSE.

But change is not an easy thing. Having gone through some personal changes in my life, I know full well it isn’t painless. We are creatures of habit and DON’T like changes. We don’t like change because we like to be our own little gods and do things our way, not God’s way. God doesn’t change us just for the sake of change, like the world changes clothing fashion styles every year just so you have to buy new clothes  (or think you do!) whether your old ones are worn out or not. God changes us for our good, like a doctor cutting out cancer, when He points out our sin, and calls us to repentance and new life. Having had open heart surgery and another unexpected was not without its difficulties and hardships. As a result of these surgeries I had to go through many changes.

People of the Resurrection, did you know that my life has more value to it now? I am bionic and worth over ¼ of million dollarsJ. Here are some of the changes I have gone through: I needed help with so many things, it was almost embarrassing to ask—pride got in the way. But I had to admit, I couldn’t do it on my own. I am thankful for those who helped me. I have a new mechanical valve instead of the one God gave me at birth. I have changed from being healthy to becoming sick, from being strong to becoming weak, from not taking any medications to having to take my 8, 5, 8, and bed time meds. Being laid up for months going from this doctor to the next, along with rehabilitation and doctors appointments was a change, but was necessary and good. Many changes that took place were physical, emotional and spiritual. PAUSE.

Consider this, every single day we have certain routines. We rise @ a specific time. We sit in the same chair, drink coffee from the same cup and perhaps have the same breakfast. When we go to work we drive the same route, however if there is a detour, we are forced to change and we do not like it. Change is not easy for most, change can be very painful and we do not like pain.

Even as we attend church, change is not easy for us. We almost always sit in the same pew almost always do the same things week after week. If we deviate from this pattern we tend to become disappointed or uncomfortable. Even as we have tried to change various things to benefit and encourage growth in our own congregation, it involves change. If we don't like it we are uncomfortable and rub us the wrong way, even if it is good for us.

But, People of the Resurrection, you should know with certainty that change can be good; as it was in the life of the Apostle Paul. By the power of the Gospel, this man went from persecuting the Church to becoming the greatest preacher of all time. He went from unbeliever to a believer in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Today, you, as People of the Resurrection are invited to listen to the Holy Spirit who works in the life of Paul and sends him to Macedonia to help someone in need. Through the preaching of the Gospel—God’s good news, the life of Lydia was changed forever. This change in her routine was the surprise of joy.  She already knew the Word of God and worshiped, but felt like an outsider, maybe like, someone in a sick bed, remote, outside, disconnected - somewhat how I felt during these past 113 days - yet she was truly connected, and surprised by that joy of knowing that as Paul came under her roof, she knew she was fully in the Family of Grace. 

While I was convalescing, I also knew that I was not remote, outside, nor disconnected.  Your prayers, your love, your carrying Christ to me, under my roof was a glorious gift and joyous surprise.  Today we continue to celebrate the change that happened because of the RESURRECTION. Paul was sanctified as he came under Lydia’s roof. I know you have sanctified my life by coming under my roof, and certainly, though we come to His house, as we have it here today, when He, our Savior comes under our roof, He sanctifies, glorifies, and redeems crippled sinners like you and me. What a glorious change He works in our lives.

People of the Resurrection, God has called you in your vocation to spread the Gospel to the ends of the world; beginning right where you live. Because only through the Gospel will hearts and lives be changed. It is of the utmost importance for us to remember that and work together to share the Gospel. By the power of the Holy Spirit may we be bold and brave, caring and compassionate, devoted and dedicated, faithful and fervent in sharing the Gospel with others. We cannot sit around and assume it is someone else’s work. God didn’t call the next person but you as the baptized and redeemed people of God to go in His name and share the blessed Gospel message—so that hearts and lives might be changed.

As People of the Resurrection, we are called by the Gospel to share what Jesus Christ has done to change our lives. He suffered, died and rose again to guarantee our future and count us worthy to be with Him in heaven. Because of His death and glorious resurrection our lives have changed from sinners to saints, from hell-bound to heaven-bound, from being enemies of God to becoming the friends of God. All of this because of the Gospel that changes hearts and lives forever. PAUSE.

3 years ago, I was invited to join my oldest son, Tony’s book club to discuss the book by Joel Rosenberg, Inside the Revolution. One of the young men who was there was an agnostic. While visiting with Justin about the love of God. He said, “You can’t tell me you believe that archaic book and all that Jesus has done. How can you prove this really happened?” I responded, “I don’t know how to prove it for you, because it is all by faith. When you are in contact with the Word, something happens to you.

I then, asked, “Justin, have you ever read the Bible?” “No! Neither do I want to.” I told him: “Justin, I am going to challenge you to read it. And I assure you if you read it you will never be the same man. Something will happen to you!” He snorted and laughed at me.

A week ago Saturday (4/27/13), we were in Sioux Falls at a surprise birthday party. While there, Justin came to me and asked, “Do you remember me?” I said, “Certainly!” He then smiled and reminded me of the challenge I put before him three years earlier. He said he took my challenge to heart and started reading the Bible. Seven months ago by the power of the Holy Spirit he became a follower of Jesus Christ. What joy filled my heart at the words shared with me! The Gospel has done its work and changed the heart and life of this young man.

I then, said, “Justin, do you know what Isaiah 55:10-11 say?” He said, “No!” I then quoted from memory the texts: “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it”. PAUSE.

People of the Resurrection, today, by the power of the Holy Spirit you have heard the Gospel—God’s good news once more. Today, you have been challenged to live as People of the Resurrection and share the glorious message with all. For there is someone out there crying like the man in Macedonia saying, “Come over and help us!” May God empress upon us the joy that comes when we share the Gospel—God’s good news that changes hearts and lives. Amen.

Now the peace…

“I Will Not…!” (Isaiah 62:1)

This sermon was written by me, just before I went in to have my heart surgery and my elders read it.

S-1359-Sanctity of Human Life Sunday/C 1/20/2013 Hymns: #465; #39 vv 1-2; #400; #53

Texts: Isaiah 62:1-5; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John 2:1-11

Theme: “I Will Not…!” (Isaiah 62:1)

Question: “Have you ever said, ‘I Will Not…?’” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for Sanctity of Life Sunday is the O. T. lesson: “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch” (Isaiah 62:1).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu

Beloved, you know this truth and need to be reminded of it—LIFE IS PRECIOUS. As you know it was only 17 days ago, our “miracle baby” was born. My granddaughter Lucy is the first girl to be born in the Nour’s household in America in 32 years. When my son called to let me know the news, I couldn’t keep silent. I had to tell the news to everybody. Anyone we saw we told because it was GREAT News.

Some of you here have had the same joy that you couldn’t keep to yourself. Ladies when your husband gave you a ring and asked you to marry him, you didn’t keep silent but told others the news. Men when your wives told you that you were expecting a baby, you didn’t keep silent but told others the great news. Grandparents when your child called to let you know you were going to be grandparents, you didn’t keep silent but told others this fabulous news. Indeed certain things in our lives compel us not to be silent but to tell others of what is going on in our lives.

For this reason on this Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, we listen to the voice of God who says, “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.” If, He, who made heaven and earth gets involved in the life His people shouldn’t we?

I pray as the redeemed people of God, that we would be moved to stand up and speak in love about the atrocity that is going on in our nation for the last 40 years. We can’t remain silent any longer. We can’t pretend that the holocaust is over. Ignoring it will not make this holocaust go away. We can’t keep our eyes shut to the vicious murder of helpless and defenseless babies in the womb. The Church cannot remain silent! That means that you, as part of the Church by the miracle of Holy Baptism, can’t be silent either! PAUSE.

The old cartoon character Popeye used to say, “Enough is enough and enough is TOO much!” It is enough! We will not keep silent any longer. For forty year we have largely ignored and continue to ignore the death of some 50 million + innocent unborn babies in this great nation of ours. When I came to this country forty years ago, I was taught in the classroom the constitution guarantees, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” But apparently not for the defenseless babies.

Almost five hundred years ago, an Augustinian monk from Germany was asked to recant the truth. He stood before emperor, pope and princes and said, “I WILL NOT AND I CAN’T…” and neither can we keep silent any longer. PAUSE.

In our January LW journal, Dr. Matthew Harrison President of the LCMS wrote these moving words. I share them with you: “By the love of God the Father, who chose a young woman to carry out His plan of salvation, a young woman who knew what it is to be confused by an unplanned pregnancy; by the grace of Christ, who while still in the womb was greeted by the ‘leaping,’ yes, ‘rejoicing’ John the Baptizer, himself unborn; by the strength of Him who healed every disease and cared for every life He encountered; by the mercy of God the Father who sent His Son, mercy incarnate for all; by the knowledge of our eternal God and Lord who knows and loves every child formed in the womb; empowered by the Spirit of life who gives me life I—a sinner no better than the next—shall speak. 1 shall intervene. I shall love all and treasure God’s gift of life, womb to tomb. For Jesus experienced it all, sanctified it all and redeems it all (He has redeemed me that I may no longer live for myself)…All for the SAKE OF LIFE. 1/1/2013

It is time that we join Dr. Harrison, Dr. Lamb. LFL of SD and other organizations and speak in love on behalf of those who are no longer able to speak for themselves. I exhort you to learn from others who have not kept silent and wouldn’t do so even at the risk of losing all. PAUSE.

From Scripture let me share with you of people who couldn’t keep silent. In Acts 4, Peter and John were taken prisoners and told not to speak in the name of Jesus Christ. However, Peter and John couldn’t. Luke put it this way: “Now when [the accusers] saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unedu­cated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” Acts 4:13 NKJV)

Peter and John had been with Jesus. The resurrected Jesus. In the Upper Room when He walked through the wall. Standing next to Thomas when the disciple touched the wounds. On the beach when Jesus cooked the fish. Sitting at Jesus’ feet for forty days as He explained the ways of the kingdom. They had lingered long and delightfully in the presence of the res­urrected King. Awakening with Him, walking with Him. And because they had, silence was no longer an option. “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (v. 20 nkjv).

Could you use some high-octane boldness? If you want to outlive, your life, you could. As long as you are stationary, no one will complain. Dogs don’t bark at parked cars. But as soon as you accelerate—once you step out of drunkenness into sobriety, dishonesty into integrity, or lethargy into compassion—expect the yapping to begin. Expect to be criticized. Expect to be mocked. Expect to be persecuted. Expect to be humiliated

So how can we prepare ourselves? Simple. Imitate the disciples. Linger long and often in the presence of Christ who loves life. Meditate on His grace that He offers you daily. Ponder His love demonstrated on the cross of Calvary for you. Memorize His words and hold them dear. Gaze into His face. Talk to Him. Courage comes as we live with Jesus.

Peter said it this way. “Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, Your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy’ (1 Peter 3:14-15 msg).

As we meditate on Christ’s life, we find strength for our own. The example of Xu Yonghai comes to mind. A Christian in Communist China, he worked to see the legalization of house churches. The gov­ernment responded by locking him in a Beijing prison for twenty-four months. His cell was eight feet by eight feet. There was no bathroom, only a pipe in a corner from which water flowed onto the concrete.

“My cell was the last stop for prisoners sentenced to die,” he said. “At times there were as many as three other prisoners in the tiny, damp room, awaiting their date with the executioner.”

Yonghai survived through prayer, meditation, and writing. On the walls of his cell, he wrote the major points for a book about God, using a bar of soap. Once he finished, he committed the thoughts to memory. Upon his release he turned his prison thoughts into a fifty-thousand-word book entitled God the Creator. Like Peter and John, Yonghai tarried in the presence of Jesus and found strength. Courage comes as we pon­der the accomplishments of Christ. (Cast of Characters Lost and Found, Max Lucado pp. 95-96).

Would you be bold tomorrow? Then be with Jesus today and stand near His cross. Slowly lift your eyes up to the person hanging there. See the blood running down; behold the parched lips and throat; look upon His aching braking body and then pay attention to what He says. “Father, forgive them…” You see, Christ didn’t remain silent. He silenced our accuser satan who stood before God and said, “This child of yours has committed many sins, and according to Your Word, He/she must pay the penalty of death. This child belongs to me and must spend an eternity in hell. But Christ comes on the scene and says, “Not so quick devil. This child is mine. I paid for her soul with my own blood. It is finished! Father, hear my words, I have bought Him from the depth of hell, He is Yours now Father!”

Would you be courageous tomorrow? Then be in His Word daily so that you soul might be fed and equipped. Be with His people to encourage one another to do the ministry. Be in His presence constantly and draw from Him strength and support. And when persecution comes (and it will), be strong. Who knows? People may realize that you, like the disciples, have been with Christ and are not afraid to speak up.

May the Holy Spirit help us not be silent any longer, but to speak up to end the murder and the butchering, the burning and the killing of precious souls in His sight? God help us to do it for the sake of LIFE. AMEN.

Now the peace…

SOLI DOE GLORIA

“You ARE Mine!” (Isaiah 43:1-7)

This sermon was preached on January 12/13. But because of the many things I had going on, it never got posted. Pray it is a blessing to you as you read it and share it

S-1358-Baptims of our Lord/C 1/13/2013 Hymns: LSB #299; #594; LS. #310; #315; LSB #605

Texts: Isaiah 43:1-7; Romans 6:1-11; Luke 3:15-22

Theme: “You ARE Mine!” (Isaiah 43:1-7)

Question: “What belongs to you?” Armour, SD

This sermon was preached at Faith in Sioux Falls yesterday and today it was modified for my congregation. I did have a baptism today also for Abel Brent Slate

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for the Baptism of our Lord is from the Gospel lesson: “But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are MINE’” (Isaiah 43:1).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu

You, upon whom our heavenly Father smiles daily, it was in the summer of 1989. I had just started my Greek boot camp at Concordia Seminary, in St. Louis for my training as a pastor. About two weeks into my classes, I got a phone call from my dearest friend from Omaha (Rod) asking me to do him a favor. A young girl that his wife was babysitting had gotten ill and had to be airlifted to the hospital in St. Louis and if I could go and make a hospital call and minister to the fearful parents because their daughter was close to death. I said “I would”.

But since I was new at this, I was afraid and wanted some assistance of what I should say and do. I went to see the Dean of Student Body, Pastor David Smith and told him of the situation. He opened his Bible to our Old Testament reading and said “Nabil, as the agent of God in that hospital room, let them hear the voice of God through you and read this portion for them.” I went to the hospital and stepped into the room, my hands were sweaty, heart pounding, fearful of not being able to comfort this family as they faced death.

I introduced myself to the family and told them I was asked to come by my friend Rod. They were open and I read the portion of God’s Word: “But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are MINE.” Then, I said, “I would like to read it to you as I have come to know this Word in this manner: “But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Stacy, He who formed you, O Stacy: ‘Fear not Stacy, for I have redeemed you O Stacy; Stacy, I have called you by name, Stacy you are MINE” You should have seen the face of that child and her parents. There was comfort and joy. And ever since that day, I have read that portion of Scripture often with many of my saints in the hospital.

And therefore on this special day, for me as the proud grandfather of our “Miracle Baby” Lucy, I say to all of you here from the lips of Your heavenly Father, YOU ARE MINE! I’m positive David and Jody have said to her, ‘LUCY YOU ARE MINE!” I have told the world, “Lucy, you are my precious princess, my granddaughter, my joy and my blessing.” She is mine by virtue of my son and daughter-in-law. PAUSE.

Just as I, David, and Jody (my daughter-in-law) are pleased with God’s gift of the Miracle Baby, so is He well pleased with us as His precious children. He is pleased with you like a master painter is with his artwork. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. He was intimately and directly involved in your creation as the Psalmist reminds us: “For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb” And He continues that care for you each and every day. He is not some impersonal manufacturer. The sun, the rain, your food and family are all part of this provision. Ah, but sin has so destroyed His beloved creation, all of it, that it would take something so personal, so complete, to redeem, to buy back, to purchase and deliver us all - the blood of Jesus.

Behold the Words of God Himself as Isaiah’s pen recorded it: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine.” We all have fears. I was afraid when I was called to go to the hospital. You may be afraid of death, bringing a child into the world, take the child home the first time. We pray for people who have cancer ..."Consider the list in your church bulletins: we pray for people who have cancer, some having an open-heart surgeries, some are dying and the list goes on and on.

In life, we fear many things, darkness, depression, disasters destruction and damnation. To this Your loving Father says: “Fear not!” - Fear nothing! Stop being afraid! You have many reasons to fear, haven’t you? PAUSE… Don’t let the devil rob you of the joy that God has in store for you. Stop worrying about the future. He whispers in your ears, “My child, stop being afraid... fear nothing!” Why not? God shouts the answer, Listen again please: “I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine!” (Say it)…YES, YOU ARE MINE!

We just got done singing our sermon Hymn “God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It” LSB 594. This hymn affirms and confirms the truth of what Isaiah has spoken. Kindly open your hymns books and follow with me. “God’s own child, I gladly say it: I am baptized into Christ! He, because I could not pay it, gave my full redemption price. Do I need earth’s treasures many? I have one worth more than any That brought me salvation free, Lasting to eternity! Sin, disturb my soul no longer: I am baptized into Christ! I have comfort even stronger: Jesus’ cleansing sacrifice. Should a guilty conscience seize me, since my baptism did release me In a dear forgiving flood, sprinkling me with Jesus’ blood? (vv. 1-2)

In Baptism you have the love of God sprinkled upon you. You have already been redeemed. There is no uncertainty, no cause for doubt, for fear. He, who formed you, loves you and has completely redeemed you. Behold Christ on the Cross! He has called you by name! You bear the mark of Him who died and rose again. Water and Word engraved that cross on your forehead. Paul teaches this truth also: “Do you not know, since you have been baptized into Christ (called by name into the flood), you have been buried with Him into death” (Romans 6:3) - His sure, certain death for all sin - and you have been called into His tomb. He really did die - for you. You have been raised with Him - Easter is more that a date on a calendar that we observe once a year. It is your date of life! It is your date of hope! And it is your day of joy and destiny. You are His! Men and kings, crowds and armies, we make mistakes, we act foolishly, we decide shortsightedly - in short - we sin, fully, daily, always. To look at us, we see only fear. Ah, but in Christ and in His Baptism, the Father declares His well pleasing Son.

Jesus is well pleasing to the Father. He removes everything that has brought us to death. This He does through His own death in which we now participate through Baptism. The Baptism of our Lord is nothing new in our Church Calendar. No, it is that reassurance, that warm blanket, that tender hug, that reassuring voice that says - I have redeemed you and you are indeed, Mine! It is a constant, a sure anchor; it is peace in the midst of the storm. Baptism is our sure identity as sinners who are also saints, disobedient ones who is also a son or a daughter, for He has called us by name. He calls us by our name. But more to the point, He calls us by His name. You now bear the Eternal Name of the Eternal God.

The God whose name means “I AM that I AM” has restored you. He has bought you back - that is, He has redeemed you to be His own. He has joined you to Himself in His Son’s Death and Resurrection. Thus He can declare - I have redeemed you and you are indeed, absolutely, positively, totally Mine! In that calm assurance let us draw near to the throne of grace with our every sin and every need. That, beloved, is what St. Paul meant when the Spirit inspired him to write: So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. You are alive - In Him we know the certainty of our salvation and the future is guaranteed.

Isaiah goes on to say: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. You ask Me why? Here is the answer from the lips of your heavenly Father: “For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, Your Savior.” Yes, because I Am Your God, YOU belong to Me; YOU ARE MINE, even now. Amen.

Now the peace…

Soli Deo Gloria

“Doing His Heavenly Work” (Isaiah 60:1-3)

S-1357-Epiphany/C 1/06/2013 Hymns: O) #126; (S) #498; C) #343 vv 1-3, 7

Texts: Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

Theme: “Doing His Heavenly Work” (Isaiah 60:1-3)

Question: “Do you enjoy your work?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for the Epiphany is from the O.T. lesson: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isaiah 60:1-3).

In Nomine Iesu

INTRODUCTION:

O most precious children of the heavenly Father arise, shine! Do you not know that your Light (Jesus, see John 1:5) has risen upon you. You walk in His light. You reflect His light and you glow with His light. You receive His light. You are the object of His love! When I address you as “Most precious” it is simply the realization that you truly are His precious possession. In Hebrew we call that “Segula.” Why, though? Simply, because, you belong to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Shortly, after the infamous day of 9/11, we were a nation united by our fear, but more importantly... by His faithfulness. The folks who came to Jesus’ infant house probably shared the same bloodline as those who flew the jets into the Twin Towers. How could He receive them? How can He receive us? Why does He indeed go to the Cross? Simply stated: “to draw all men unto Myself” (John 12:32). He, the Author of Life draws “all men.” Not merely those with Jewish blood lines, but every child of Abraham - that is, every man, woman, and child who has received His faithfulness in His Word and Sacraments. The Magi are about as far from being Jews as anyone could be - but the Word drew them to the Christ - even as He does for you and me. He loves sinners! And He LOVES YOU TOO. Don’t you forget it or listen to someone who teaches you otherwise.

So arise and shine, most precious. The Magi rose and they shined as well. For the Christ Child not only drew them unto Himself - He shined through them. This He does through you as well. Isn’t He so gracious! He not only saves you... He uses you to save others. Think about how people want to find their “purpose” in life! To be His own and live under Him in His peace and through His Word is enough and more than enough!

He uses you, as His most precious, in love, and He even used the greed of Caesar Augustus to bring Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem, to fulfill all righteousness. He used the greed and stupidity, the avarice of Herod to speak to the Magi and the grand wealth of heaven in diapers to bless not only those Magi, but each of us who have also been drawn to God (like bugs to a bright light), not as to a King’s closed drawbridge but a Child’s welcoming smile! These Magi were fulfilling the Word of the Lord written some 700 years earlier by Isaiah here in our Old Testament lesson, who said that, the gold and Frankincense would be offered to the Savior, but also that they would bear back home, the Good News of Jesus!

If the good news isn’t for all, then it isn’t for any. If the love and salvation of God can be limited then it is not the love of God! Now watch this: For you, the Light has shined – but much, much more, it shines through you! Heaven went back to Sheba with the Magi. That is no small point. God changed them. He shone upon them. He is shining upon you and has changed you! His love is that big. It is also that small. It fits your life and uses you to touch others—even here at Redeemer! The Word and presence of God changed Moses on Sinai, so that he shone (Exodus 34:35) - and God has not changed! He has changed your look as well!

Look how the Jew’s Jew, the great Rabbi named Saul, from Tarsus, was changed to be the one who was to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

This same Paul, centuries later, still brings the light to everyone, preaching to the Gentiles that sweet unsearchable richness of Christ! You are like Paul - one who has been re-purposed, reclaimed, redeemed. Jesus being visited by these Magi means that God changes lives, across all nationalities! He uses all nationalities - all souls - because all souls matter and they are precious in His sight. Christ loves all for He came for all people. He is Lord of Creation and Lord of each soul and life! He is a personal God who clothes Himself in the foreign garb of Magi. He touches these lives to touch others. That is why Epiphany matters. This is a short season, and it is not Christmas. The Magi were not at the stable, but at the house. Because that is so, Christ reveals what the Incarnation truly means: Life, all life, is redeemed and cherished!

Because of this visit by the Magi, Jesus will leave for Egypt, so that again Hosea could declare, “Out of Egypt, I called My Son!” (Hosea 11:1) He is the Lord of every nation and race and peoples! He came for you, and... and this is huge... He is using you to do His heavenly work. I have made that point several times this morning because you mustn’t miss it - heavenly Work is being done today, to you and through you. God is here - He shines and calls you to arise and shine!

But we must never forget what the Child of Christmas came to do for us His precious ones. Look at His life from infancy on; He shined with the brightness of the Eternal LIGHT. This Child who once was a carpenter-turned-teacher-turned-wonder-worker was in Galilee. And as the word got out, the people came. They came from every hole and hovel in Israel. They came like soldiers returning from battle—bandaged, crippled, and sightless: The old with prune faces and toothless mouths. The young with deaf babies and broken hearts. Fathers with sons who couldn’t speak. Wives with wombs that wouldn’t bear fruit. The world, it seemed, had come to see if He was real or right or both. And in Him they found a rich and bright light that illumines the soul. In Him they found hope and help and knew that He is the One who calls them “Segula” precious.

You who are precious in His sight, know that He has done His Divine Work well. The greatest work He has done is not to heal the wounded, to fill the wombs, and raise dead people from the tomb, but to die for you on Calvary’s cross. He did it because He considered you “Segula” precious in His sight and wanted you to know that He loves you to the end.

Today, as we spend time in His sight and receive from Him the bright light of the Gospel, may we leave with this light burning in our hearts and hands and share it with others. As I have shared with the children that they are “God’s Star” (show the star) and so are you. Be God’s STAR and lead others to Bethlehem. My prayers are, as He worked to save many, may the Holy Spirit continue to bless our efforts to reach out to those who are still walking in darkness? For indeed the light has come, therefore, arise, shine and let the brightness of His light reach out to others. Amen!

Now the peace…

Soli Deo Gloria

“Not a Plastic Jesus” (Luke 2:21)

S-1356-1SAC/C 12/30/2012 Hymns: O) #123; S) #114 L.S. #124; #125; C #47

Texts: Isaiah 9:2-93, 11-15; Acts 4:1-12; Luke 2:21

Theme: “Not a Plastic Jesus” (Luke 2:21)

Question: “Have you seen the blow up nativities?” Armour, SD

Blessed New Year faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for our New Year’s Eve is from the Gospel lesson: “And at the end of eight days, when He was cir­cumcised, He was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb” (Luke 2:21).

INTRODUCTION:

Saints in Christ, outside in front of our church we have a manger scene that we set up during the Advent and Christmas season. They are brightly colored, illuminated at night and early morning, and all with the lifelike joy of a department store mannequin. The set includes sheep, a cow, the shepherds, three Wise Men, Mary and Joseph, all staring past the lifeless baby Jesus with dead plastic eyes. There are also around our town nativity scenes that blow up—the kind that have to be anchored with wire to the ground. These plastic figures are made in a country that doesn’t even believe in Jesus and are so light that a strong wind can blow them in every direction. Some of these figurine have actually blown away that the owners had to chase after the plastic baby Jesus rolling down the street.

Unfortunately, the Christ of modern imagination is no more substantial than the lifeless Jesus of the plas­tic manger scene. As soon as any hardship, difficulties, crisis or challenges of the soul, the imaginary Jesus just blows away before the winds of trouble, scud­ding down the street in need of our rescue. The plastic Jesus of popular imagination neither suffers nor shares life’s experiences with us poor sinners. The plastic Jesus has no feeling or concern about us poor miserable sinners. The plastic Jesus can’t touch, feel, comfort, console or help.

However the Jesus Born of Mary is NOT a hollow plastic saint who comes to make a good scene or fine appearances. Instead, this Jesus is real, takes our flesh and chooses to bear all its bur­dens for our sakes. This real Jesus comes to our rescue and deliverance. This real Jesus has eyes to see our hurts, hands to heal our wounds, soul to show He cares and a heart that demonstrates God’s love.

This real Jesus doesn’t wait for someone to run after Him to be rescued because He has blown away by the strong wind of life’s challenges. No, this Jesus—the Real One, comes to our rescue and deliverance. He doesn’t come to make a good scene or fine appearances. Instead, He takes our flesh and chooses to bear all our bur­dens upon Him. By this act of taking our burdens, He frees our humanity from the corruption caused by sin.

This Jesus is real and true and He came to earth to be one with us. In order to earn our rescue, He was willing to be cir­cumcised on the eighth day for us. He places Himself under the Law for us. He is real enough so as to undergo a bloody circumcision as a sign of His further shedding of
blood. The cross is not far from the temple. But He, the Real Jesus, bears the burden of the temple and carries it all the way to the cross.

He is circumcised so that we don’t have to be. We now live without being compelled to be circumcised. We Gentiles are latecomers—and yet no less grafted in through what Jesus, the Incarnate One, undergoes, including circumcision for us and on our behalf. PAUSE.

You and I, have no real Jewish blood in us. Yet, we are invited to the banquet of salva­tion. For God had chosen the people of ancient Israel, giving to them the divine promises and the perfect seal of His Word given to Moses and the prophets (Rom 1-2). God promised that He would bless Israel through the off­spring given to Abraham. The Messianic line was given to the patriarchs and fulfilled in these last days by the incarnation of God’s Son (Heb 1:1-2). Unfortunately, those who ought to have depended on the promise begin to depend on themselves instead. They act as if the sign of God’s grace in circumcision is their own work. Their own works of righteousness became substitutes for the work of that offspring of Abraham, who would be their perfect substitute and ultimate sacrifice.

Likewise, we too, act at times like our Jewish counter parts saying to ourselves, “I am baptized now and I can live the way I want to. I can come to church or not. I can come to the Lord’s Supper or not. I can give my offerings or not. I can do what I desire and God still loves me.” We fool ourselves by thinking we have it all, when we don’t have the Real Jesus growing in our hearts. We think God owes me and He needs to bless me by His grace just because I have my name in the church’s roster.

How foolish we are, when we make Jesus just as shallow and hallow as the plastic Jesus made in China or other countries. How foolish we are, when we think Jesus will do anything that we desire, if we only blow Him up, He will waive His magic wand and bring about our hearts desires. How foolish we are when we think our piety earns us points with God and His grace will follow.

And we are foolish enough to listen to the world’s ways of teaching instead of the Real teaching of the Messiah—Jesus by thinking “Jesus has done His work, and now it is up to me to prove myself worthy of receiving His benefits.” If that is how we think, we shall fail miserably, just as Israel did when she relied on circumcision.

Let me assure you precious saints on this final day of the year of our Lord 2012 and as you listen to the last sermon of this year, our efforts are worthless, and our works avail us none, as Isaiah reminds us, “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment” (Is. 64:6). PAUSE.

Tonight call upon the Holy Spirit to help you see into the manger and behold the REAL Jesus. For the Word of God stoops to take on human flesh of the Virgin Mary that He might become an object of human experience and sense. He does all of this since we could not climb up to the Throne of Grace and see Him in heaven. We could have never opened the gates of heaven by ourselves or by our works. But He chose to deign to come and be with us and for us.

The incarnate Word of God has come so that He may reveal to us the love of God. He has come to show us that only in Him and through Him are we able to know the true God—not the one made in a Chinese factory, but the One who created heaven and earth and everything that is in it. You and I can’t mount up to find Him; He stoops down to find us in the midst of His bloodied weakness, which begins at His cir­cumcision.

He does this by taking on our human flesh of the Virgin Mary. He becomes visible, touchable, reachable and audible. He becomes the One upon whom we looked when He was pierced for our transgressions. He becomes the One who stops the twelve-year flow of blood when touched. He becomes the One who is subjected to brutal treatment under rough hands. He becomes the One who for us was nailed to the accursed tree.

In the flesh He also becomes a son of Abraham and is subject to the responsibilities and debts that came upon Abraham and his children. He Himself fulfills the whole Law, undergoing circumcision, and in that shedding of blood foreshadows yet more blood being shed from His own veins. That profusion of blood clears us of the Law’s debt both by perfectly fulfilling the Law and by bearing its full penalties under the wrath of God. Jesus is not a plas­tic saint, for His blood is REAL, RED AND RUNS to YOU to SAVE YOU from sin and hell.

Thank God that our Jesus is not a plastic but REAL. AMEN.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“That Is What It Is!” (Luke 22:25-32)

S-1355-1SAC/C 12/30/2012 Hymns: #LSB 590; #50; L.S. #LSB 594; #310; #105; #136

Texts: Exodus 13:1-3, 11-15; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:22-40

Theme: “That Is What It Is!” (Luke 22:25-32)

Question: “Are you ready to die?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text for our First Sunday After Christmas is from the Gospel lesson: “Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the Law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said, ‘Lord, now you are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel’” (Luke 22:25-32).

INTRODUCTION:

Happy six days after Christmas precious saints! Legendary broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite who anchored the CBS network news from 1962 to 1981, was known for signing off by saying, “And that’s the way it is!” Many people who listened to the broadcast on daily basis were used to hearing him say the sentence and analyzed that’s the way it is in the world—our world.

And so today, as we gather in the Lord’s house on the first Sunday after Christmas we hear Luke say, “That’s the way it is of the coming Savior into the world. That’s the way it is for Christ to make His entrance to Bethlehem. That’s the way it is for the story of salvation. That’s the way it is as told to him by Mary and the other witnesses, and that’s the way it is for Him to make our hearts His home.”

Indeed, that’s the way it is for Luke to convey the Christmas story and the salvation that He came to bring. “For the GRACE of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.” You should know beloved that’s the way it is because grace is both the theme and the entire content of the Christmas message, and it is precisely what you and I and every son of Adam and every daughter of Eve need to hear.

Luke emphasizes in this discourse the true Grace of God that has come in the Baby of Bethlehem—that He came to bring about salvation. Christ has appeared to pay man’s debt of sin, and for that reason, man is indeed blessed. The Lord of all lords has become the Servant of all servants. God had to humble Himself so deeply to pay our debt. He began to pay it while lying in the deepest misery in the manger, and He didn’t stop paying it until, forsaken by God. He was about to breathe His last upon the cross. Then and only then, after having paid the very last cent of our debt, could He cry out with the shout of victory, “IT IS FINISHED!” (John 19:30). By that act of love, Christ brought about our reconciliation with God, who opened the gates of heaven to those who believe in Him as Lord and God.

That’s the way it for us even today, as we gather as His followers to hear the message of Luke describing the characters in the Christmas story. Luke informs us of another fact—the fact of one man who said “That is what it is!” PAUSE.

This man was none other than Simeon. When Simeon saw the poor young couple coming into the temple to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” (v 24), his eyes saw the glory and his eyes saw the sacrifice. He knew it was not Mary and Joseph who would redeem their Son with the humble sacrifice of pigeons. Simeon knew that their Son would redeem them, because He was the sacrifice! Simeon’s eyes saw the Ark of the Covenant for real in the Jerusalem temple for the first time ever. He held the Mercy Seat in his arms, not the one built out of gold by Moses and Aaron weighing some 300 pounds, but the 12 pounds of God in the flesh, the Lord, who would grow in stature and liter­ally bare His holy arm bloody before the eyes of all the nations! Indeed, that’s the way it is.

Simeon heard the Word of promise and held it in his hands that day in the temple. He didn’t act in the process, he just passively received. Today, the same kind of miracle happened. Maddyn Nicole Blom also received that same Word. She was bathed with the Grace of God and the Mercy of God. Now, like Simeon and Anna, her name is written in the Lamb’s book of life!

Simeon, the man of God held the salvation in his hands and heart. Maddyn, too, as tiny as she is now has the salvation in her heart and it will not be long, and she will hold Him in both heart and hands. We rejoice with the Blom family at the Grace given their daughter and the salvation she has now received.

In like measure, we give thanks that Simeon had seen that salvation too. Having seen and held the heavenly Child, Simeon is ready to die. There was nothing else he needed to see in this world. The Lord of heaven and earth has fulfilled His promise to this man who had waited patiently for the arrival of the salvation of mankind. And therefore with joy he lifts his eyes towards heaven and happy to let go of this earth and its troubles. PAUSE.

How about us? Are we ready to die? Are we ready to let go of the things that tangle and drag us down? Are we ready to meet our Maker? Are we ready to depart in peace? At times we’re not ready to die because we’re just barely com­ing alive, and our eyes are barely opening. We’re still too distracted, playing in our stagnant mud puddles, to look for earthly things to satisfy our longing. We seek every avenue to hold on to life, rather than hold on to the Author of LIFE.

When we are sick we seek the best doctors and spend the most amount of money because we are not ready to let go and let God take care of us. Rather than seeking out the Divine Physician, we seek others whom we think can help us. It is not wrong to seek doctors who have the gifts to make our lives better. But what is wrong when we do everything in our power not to face the truth that life in this world is nothing but full of troubles and eventually death will come.

On the other hand, Simeon is sure and certain that in his own hands he held the long expected Messiah that is what it is. Simeon is now ready to die because all of Scripture has come to fulfillment. Both with his physical and spiritual eyes He sees the true temple, Mercy Seat, and the blessed Savior offered up once for all on the cross to make complete atonement for all human sin! His eyes had seen the real thing, he had bathed in the GRACE of God and he is now ready to go home!

For this reason, Simeon is moved by the Holy Spirit to sing the wonderful song that you and I sing after we see with our own eyes and hold in our hands the same GIFT that he saw: “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to Your Word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel” (Luke 2:39-32).

Having seen the True Temple, Mercy Seat, and the blessed Savior who gives us His body and blood; we are moved by the power of the Holy Spirit to join Simeon and sing the song of our salvation. Not just as a nice tune, but because that is what it is—the Savior who comes to us in this precious gift; just as it came to our precious little princes—Maddyn Nicole Blom in the waters of baptism.

This is more than just a catchy tune, but a proclamation and confession of our faith. Because we have tasted and seen the Savior we are able to leave not only the Altar and the Divine Service but even the world to be with Him forever.

Therefore, today may we go back to Bethlehem and fall on our knees in worship before the manger. For here the most beautiful drama in heaven and on earth presents itself to us. Here lies the GRACE of God, the One who brings us salvation and blessedness. Hallelujah! And that’s the Way it IS!” Amen.

Now the peace of God…

SOLI DEO GLORIA