“An Enlarged Heart” (Psalm 119:32)

S-1390, RS/C 11/03/2013 Hymns: (O) #907; (S) #708; L.S. #783; #623; #629; (C) #878

Texts: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Philemon 1:-21; Luke 14:25-35

Theme: “An Enlarged Heart” (Psalm 119:32)

Reformation Sunday preached at Clarinda, IA

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! What an honor privilege to be with you on this Reformation Day. I would like to take a moment and thank my congregation for granting me the blessing to be God’s mouth piece and for you for the kind invitation to share with you the marvelous Word of our only God and Savior, Jesus Christ. The text is from the Introit: “I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!” (Psalm 119:32).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Beloved in the Lord, in January of this year, I had open heart surgery to fix my descending aorta’s aneurysm. After 7 days in the hospital and over a ¼ million dollars I became bionic and was sent home. I recovered well and announced that I will be returning to the pulpit the Sunday after Easter to proclaim God’s precious truth.

However, beginning of Holy week, I began to cough and get weaker by the minute. On Maundy Thursday I went to church but shouldn’t have because I was indeed sick. That night, I couldn’t sleep because breathing was difficult and I prayed earnestly for the Lord to give me comfort and sleep. Sleep never came. I spent the whole night in my recliner chair and prayed like David, for the morning to come (Ps. 130:6).

I headed to the clinic to visit my doctor. After some tests, he informed me of the bad news “That I have an enlarged heart and need to head to the emergency room of the heart hospital in Sioux Falls.” I was rushed to the emergency room on Good Friday; after further testing they determined that my heart was suffocating and I’m in need of another surgery. I was told I don’t have an enlarged heart but fluid wrapping the sack of my heart, causing my heart to function only at 50% capacity. I’m thankful that the doctors were able to put me back together and I’m feeling well again to serve my Lord and His Church. PAUSE.

To be sure we don’t normally think of our hearts unless there is something wrong as was the case with me. Add to that when we hear of an “enlarged heart” then we think of it negatively. However, today, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit David tells us in Psalm 119 that God is in the business of enlarging hearts. Yes, you heard me correct an ENLARGED HEART!

Remember people of God, that when the writers in the O.T. spoke of the heart that was the seat of understanding and knowledge. The heart is the center of our being. David has good news for us about hearts today, because of what God is doing—He is enlarging our hearts to fill them with wisdom and God’s Word.

This is what David is sharing with us today saying: “I will run in the way of Your commandments when You enlarge my heart!” To fill the heart with wisdom is God work. To fill the heart with discernment is God’s work. To fill the heart with joy, love and peace is God’s work is totally. The Holy Spirit continues to work on our hearts that they may be enlarged. Our hearts are enlarged so that we may gain the insights and blessings of knowing who this God is and what He does to save sinners like us.

Think of how God enlarged Solomon’s heart—filled it with wisdom so that when two prostitutes came to him to solve the problem of a dead and living son; he was able to do it by the grace of God. Think of Dr. Martin Luther who was given a large heart to know that what was being taught by the Catholic Church was contrary to the teachings of Scripture.

That is why the Reformation matters—because it enlarges our hearts to know this Amazing, Awesome and Almighty God who save us by grace alone, through faith alone, by Scripture alone and on account of Christ alone. Our churches are known for teaching the truth as revealed in Holy Scripture, nothing more and nothing less. We stand on the enlarged hearts of the lay people who stood before Charles V, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire at the Diet of Augsburg of June 25, 1530 which resulted in the Augsburg Confession.

Today, our Lutheran churches have, as your church does in front of your building a “ceremonial stone” with these inscriptions UAC (show the picture). These three letters stand for the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.” And anyone who enters here knows what this church is all about. There is no confusion. We hold that whole Bible from the opening words, “In the beginning God… till the final words, “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.”

Like David and Solomon, Luther and Melanchthon and thousand others, we have an enlarged heart to know the wisdom of God that leads to eternal life. Because of what Christ Jesus endured—on Calvary’s cross—a broken heart; we receive an enlarged heart. This heart is different from the old one. This heart loves Him, serves Him and obeys Him. An enlarged heart that knows the Commandments and lives by them faithfully.

This enlarged heart has been given us the by the Master Surgeon who performs the greatest surgery of exchanging our hearts of stone to a heart of flesh. This He has done in our Baptism. In Him we have the large heart that leads to eternal life. PAUSE.

But there are many who don’t have an enlarged hearts yet. Therefore, God calls us again as His baptized, redeemed, forgiven, blood-bought and heaven-bound children to introduce people to the Master Surgeon—Jesus Christ so He can change their hearts and enlarge them too. Reformation matters because we are privileged to share the hope of eternal life with others daily.

David understood the work of God in His life. By the working of the Holy Spirit, he pinned these words for us to exhort us and encourage us to remain faithful as the God of the Church works on our hearts. David stated, “I will run in the way of Your commandments when You enlarge my heart!” David’s purpose of running towards God is that he may know the commandments well. He ran so that nothing can hinder him from reaching the great knowledge of what God is doing in his life.

To be sure, God’s commandments enlarge one’s heart. This heart has more understanding. Through this understanding, the commandments give us more room to roam, more freedom to travel. Nations and cultures that reject or distain God’s commandments have less freedom, less understanding, less progress, more war. They run to the extremes of lawlessness or legalism both which God commands to avoid. Don’t go too far to the right and left commanded God to Moses in Deut. 5. The Ten Words are the Ten Commandments that lead our footsteps into freedom. They enlarge one’s understanding on the boundaries of love, God’s mercy and grace provided in His Son, Jesus Christ.

We should heed and hear the command of God as Paul teaches his son Timothy in the faith and us saying God’s words frees us from the slavery of false teachings which shrink our understanding of God, love, freedom, (1Timothy 6). The Word of God enlightens our hearts and expands our mind to know the truth that sets us free to serve and love Him above all else.

Because of the enlarged hearts we have, we are blessed and privileged to gain the message of the Gospel. Through that Gospel message our understanding is enlarged to know the will and command of Christ for our lives. Through this Gospel, we hear of the Divine declaration that the whole world has been declared not guilty for Jesus sake.

All of God’s commands enlarge our hearts to grasp the beauty and blessings of who this God is, who loved us by sending His Son to be the propitiation of our souls. Because of His mighty miracle as the Chief Heart Surgeon we get more understanding about Him and His message and Ministry.

We see this playing out in Luther, how God’s commands enlarged his understanding, also C.S. Lewis, Blaise Pascal, Augustine....men of mammoth minds whose thoughts soared on the heels of God’s commands and especially the evangelical commands where God gives what he commands.

Since my surgery, I need to take pills daily @ 6:30 a.m. and p.m. These pills help my heart run smoothly. Likewise it is for us. We need to take into our hearts and mouth daily the Word of God and His precious Sacrament. Through these means, God continues to enlarge our hearts as we digest and chew on His gifts.

Oh, what joy to know that I have an enlarged heart and so do you. Oh, thank God with me for the blessed surgery He has done on our hearts of stones to give us a heart of flesh that loves Him, obeys Him, serve Him and our neighbor.

Today, we join the many saints who have had heart procedures to make their hearts alive again through the Gospel of Jesus Christ forever. Amen and Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“God’s Unbelievable Love!” (1 John 3:1)

S-1389 All Saints Day/3C11/03/13 Hymns: (O) #463 vv. 1-5; (S) #351; (C) #463 vv. 6-8

Text: Revelation 7:9-17; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12

Theme: “God’s Unbelievable Love!” (1 John 3:1)

Question: “What is the most expensive gift have you gotten?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for All Saints Day is a portion of the Epistle lesson: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him” (1 John 3:1).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Precious children of the heavenly Father, gifts are always special and even more special when they are thoughtful. Gifts are usually a token of love, affection, and appreciation. But at times we are challenged in the way we express love. They say love makes the world go around; love also makes you give the most extravagant things to the one you love, be that your partner, your friend, your child or parent. People tend to spend more when it comes to buying gifts for the ones they love. History is a witness to this fact. Here’s a list of some of the most expensive gifts given in the name of love.

In 1632 Shah Jahan commissioned workers to build a mausoleum to house the remains of his beloved wife—Mumatz. It took workers over 22 years to complete the Taj Mahal. By today’s standard, it would have cost $1 billion to build.

In 1972 Richard Burton gifted his wife Elizabeth Taylor a 69.42 carat pear shaped diamond for her 40^th birthday and it was estimated to be around $1,050,000 in worth at that time.

On November 2, 2007 Mukesh Ambani (India’s richest man) gave his wife Nita, a jet plane worth $60 million on her 44^th birthday. This jet has all the comfort and luxury of home you desire and more.

David Beckham (world soccer player) gifted his wife (Victoria) a rare diamond-studded purse. The Silver Himalayan bag was his Christmas present in 2009. The bag cost Beckham a whopping $129,000. PAUSE.

It is amazing to reflect on such extravagant gifts given in the name of love. And perhaps we wish to receive such gifts too from someone who loves us. But as lavish as these gifts are, they pale in comparison to the Unbelievable gift of love God has given to us. This is what John tells us in today’s Epistle reading: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” In the original language, the word “kind” can be translated, “how great, how wonderful, how awesome, how lavish, how fabulous…” is God’s love towards us. It is an unbelievable love that is more costly than a building project of 22 years, more precious than a pear shaped diamond, more valuable than a $60 million jet and a Himalayan bag. The gift of love we have gotten is none other than the eternal Son of God Jesus Christ.

In his Spirit-inspired Gospel, John in his Gospel teaches us this wonderful truth: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Yes, this is the reality of the matter for us. That God the Father gave us more than all of the gifts of love combined.

He didn’t send workers to build a great empire. He didn’t spend money to purchase a jet, a diamond necklace or a diamond studded purse. No, He gave us His most precious and lavish gift the world has ever known. He gave us His Son to be our Savior and Lord. He gave us Jesus to win our lives back to Him. He gave us the Jewel of heaven to redeem us. He gave us the Morning Star to forgive us our sins.

Indeed, this is an unbelievable love demonstrated not by human ingenuity, but by a Divine plan to make us His children for ever. Because of Christ coming to earth, His willingness to go to the cross, suffer, die and rise again on the third day, we receive the gift of becoming part of the family of God forever. You can try to wrap your head around this if you like, but you can’t! As unbelievable as this love is, it is REAL and FOR YOU today and every day! PAUSE.

In October of this year, a 15 year old orphan boy Davion Henry Only, stood in a church in St. Petersburg, FL and asked to be adopted. He was seeking a family to call his own and who would love him until he dies. This is how he announced it: “My name is Davion and I’ve been in foster care since I was born…I know God hasn’t given up on me. So I’m not giving up either. I’ll take anyone. Old or young, dad or mom, black, white, purple. I don’t care. And I would be really appreciative. The best I could be.” And it appears that Only will get his wish.

It takes someone with a special heart to love a child that is not his/her own. It takes lots of money to adopt. And it takes time to become part of the family.

That is precisely what God has done for us in Christ His Son. John tells us how we became part of the great family of believers. “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” In this act of love displayed on Calvary’s cross we have been made part of this grand family. In the waters of Baptism, we were adopted and the proper papers drawn saying, you belong to this family as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit claimed you. This love-driven adoption gives you a name and a place, a present and a future, a family and an inheritance! At His altar He feeds your soul with the heavenly manna. In His house of worship He smiles upon you and covers your filthy body with His white robes of righteousness. And He gives you His Word to remind you of His unbelievable love for you.

In fact, you can’t ask the Father to adopt you. That is what makes this love that much more unbelievable! The loving Father knew what you and I needed. And for that reason He gave us His Son to make us His own. Oh, what an unbelievable love we have. And what a privilege to tell our story to the world around us!

May you and I, by the power of the Holy Spirit tell the world that we are God’s precious children and loved with an unbelievable love forever and ever. Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“A Little Bit of Heaven!” (Revelation 7:9-10)

This sermon was preached at the Small Town Rural Ministry in Kansas City, Mo

S-1388 All Saints Day/3C11/01/13 Hymns LSB(O) #510; (S) #677; LS. #554; #678; #676; (C) #770

Text: Revelation 7:9-17; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12

Theme: “A Little Bit of Heaven!” (Revelation 7:9-10)

RSTM National Conference Kansas City, Kansas

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! The text for All Saints Day is a portion of the Epistle lesson: “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” (Revelation 7:9-10).

Introduction: In Nomine IESU

People of God, chosen, cherished, loved and adored in His sight and mine; in April of 2008, I was privileged to travel on behalf of the South Dakota District to Detroit, MI., for The Friendship of Jesus and Muslims Conference. After I arrived in my hotel I went to register for the conference. What a day that was. There were over 188 people registered for this conference. There were many Synodical representatives, along with the Mission Board, and the POBLO (People Of the Book Lutheran Outreach) servants of Detroit.

As the evening waned I felt I was experiencing heaven on earth and the fulfillment of Revelation 7, which states: “After this I saw a large number of people that no one could count, from all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues standing before the throne and the Lamb, dressed in white garments and holding in their hands palm branches.” (Rev. 7:9). This day to me was a mini Pentecost, a microcosm of eternity with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It was a moment in time when I literally saw a glimpse of heaven before my very own eyes. At the evening banquet there were Muslim converts to the Christian faith, from these different nations—Morocco, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Indonesia, Pakistan, Kosovo. Tears ran down my cheeks, as I sat at the conference and heard of the power of the Gospel in the lives of these people who have come to KNOW Jesus as the FRIEND of sinners. They spoke of the freedom of being burdened to earn God’s favor, or not certain of their salvation. They rejoiced when they came to know that their friends introduced them to the True Friend, Jesus Christ who won their freedom by the shedding of His blood on the cross. They spoke of the joy that filled their hearts because they knew this love that they have never experienced in the Muslim religion.

This is the scene here in our reading for this All Saints Day. It is righty called Saints Day, because these are the Saints that St. John on the Island of Patmos declares he saw. And what he saw is an amazing sight. Can you envision the sight?

It will be a beauty to behold. There will be billions of believers—a huge heavenly crowd far too great for any human eye to count. People from all nations and tribes, all races and languages will be there. These saints who have gone through any number of great tribulations, martyrdoms, persecutions, violent deaths and violent crimes, painful surgeries, setbacks, sorrow supreme, and Pauline perils will be perfectly united. They will be standing, dressed in white robes, waving palm branches, singing a heavenly salvation by grace song. They will be singing this heavenly hymn before the Throne of the Father and the Throne of the Lamb, heartily sing:

Salvation to our God on His Throne!

Salvation is from the Lamb, the eternal I Am!

This is a marvelous picture to behold and reflect on. All Saints Day helps us to think of those loved one who have been washed by the blood of the Lamb and have gone ahead of us to be with Him who loved us and gave Himself for us on that cruel and cursed tree. PAUSE.

On this day, let me remind you that you are precious in the sight of the Lord, you are loved, you are adored and you are blood-bought by the precious blood of the innocent Lamb—Jesus the Friend of sinners. And because of what the Savior has done for us, we have become saints—holy unto the Lord, washed from every stain of sin, and live under His grace now and look forward to the day we will be numbered among the throngs waiving our Palm branches with other saints from other places, and peoples and nations.

In order to be wholesome leaven we need a little bit of heaven—to enter our heart so that we can impart salt and light, love and life, help and hope to those who don’t know the Savior as their FRIEND.

The paradox here is that this little bit of heaven is quite a bit of heaven, even now. The often quoted, or should I say misquoted 1 Cor. 2:9 is speaking of how even now the Lord has blessed us with gargantuan gospel lifts. For example, we have been blessed with the gift of sainthood. Holiness, righteousness, sainthood are genuine gifts we have even now. Very few Christians grasp such a great gift as this.

In Romans 8 it declares we are already glorified. Paul uses a Greek tense to emphasize how much of the glory of God that has already come to us. A little bit of heaven turns out to be a lot of heaven even now, when we consider the rich resurrection realities that are already ours. Even now Jesus dwells within us as God and man. Even now The Holy Spirit has made us His temple. Even now we are incorporated into the body of Christ. Even now we are already saints. Even now we receive the very body and blood of the Savior. Even now holy angels surround us. We also sojourn through life knowing that God is working everything together for the good of the church—everything. We have been sanctified through the Word via our second birth—baptism. A little bit of heaven comes to us big time every time we receive Christ’s true body and blood.

This little bit of heaven, or more accurately a lot of heaven is yours today, because of Jesus our true Lamb who suffered our punishment. This little bit of heaven is yours not because of heritage, inheritance, position or possessions, but simply because someone washed you clean. Someone loved you enough to die for you on the cross (if there is a cross turn and point to it). On that cruel instrument, you and I have been made saints by your FRIEND and mine—Jesus the Christ—OUR ONLY SAVIOR. PAUSE.

At the Conference in Detroit, we were reminded that 90% of all who come to church come because of a friend who has invited them or told them about Jesus. Many of the Muslim converts spoke of the friend who cared and spoke about this Jesus who loved them by dying their death and rose again to give them life and salvation. One friend cared. One friend shared, and one friend told the truth that apart from Jesus Christ there is no salvation (Acts 4:12).

I further learned that in (2008) there were 350.000 Muslims who have gone through the on-line course provided by The Lutheran Hour Ministries about Christianity. What a blessing to witness and to behold how our Church body is reaching out in the name of the Friend of sinners to others, especially to the Muslims.

I like to inform you that there were 23 nations represented at the Conference. Here are the nations: Jordan, Syria, Togo, Egypt, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Morocco, Iraq, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Kosovo, Bosnia, Ireland/Scotland, Russia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Germany, India, Philippines, Malaysia, and USA. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN FOR SURE.

What a blessing to have attended this conference. What a blessing to have heard former enemies of the Cross speak of their FRIEND Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. What a blessing to know that our church body is reaching out to others in the name of Jesus Christ.

On this All Saints Day, I encourage you to remain steadfast in the faith that is yours. And remember this little bit of heaven is a lot of heaven for today and forever. And soon, very, very soon, we, ALL BELIEVERS will be before the Throne and the Lamb shouting and saying: ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”Amen.

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“A Face to Behold!” (Genesis 32:30)

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

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

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

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

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

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now the peace…

SOLI DEO GLORIA

“Divine Irony!” (Ruth 1:16-17)

S-1386-21SAP/C 10/13/2013 Hymns: (O) #; (S) #; (C) #644

Texts: Ruth 1:1-19; 2 Timothy 2:1-13; Luke 17:11-19

Theme: “Divine Irony!” (Ruth 1:16-17)

Question: “Do you like Romantic stories?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text is from the O. T. lesson: “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you” (Ruth 1:16-17).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Most beloved family of faith, what we have before us in the book of Ruth is a story of Romance, Redemption and Restoration. But I’m getting ahead of myself in telling this story. When was the last time you read the book of Ruth? It is really one of those fascinating little books in the Old Testament. While we don’t often preach on it in the Divine Service, it makes a regular appearance in our Sunday School Curriculum. We tend to remember these kinds of stories because they connect with us and could well be made into a Hallmark movie.

The section of Ruth that serves as our Old Testament text is simply the introduction. But there is so much more to the story. In fact, if it has been a while since you have read Ruth, I would invite you to regard this as a bit of a homework assignment. Now, there won’t be any tests, but I can promise that you will indeed learn a great deal from these wonderful words that flow from the Holy Spirit through the writer, down through the ages to us. In the process of reading this you will run into people by the Hebrew name of Ruth and Naomi, Elimelech and Boaz. The story is one of tragedy and triumph, death and deliverance, hopelessness and restoration! But this is no simple movie plot. In this story we see the divine plan of Yahweh working salvation for the world in the minutest details. The drama that plays out is not just about women lost in a patriarchic society, but about humanity being lost as well. And the delivery from that lost state comes in the most ironic of ways. Ruth is really nothing more than a story of divine irony.

This story is awash in irony, that is, a contradiction of what SHOULD be happening. Even in these few verses we see the irony playing out. The story is set in the time of the Judges. This is a time of hot and cold relationship between Yahweh and His people. In fact, twice in the book of Judges we hear the phrase “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” The story highlights yet another one of those cold streaks. A famine has fallen on the land. Bethlehem, which means the House of Bread, has no bread. Elimelech, which means God is my King, moves his wife and two sons OUT of the Promised Land, to Moab because they would not trust the Lord to provide bread for them. And that is where the story goes from bad to worse. While they were there, for TEN YEARS, Elimelech dies. His two sons, who had taken wives from among the Moabites, (which was forbidden under the Law), they too die. As a result, an Israelite woman is left in a foreign land, with no man to provide for her and two daughters-in-law who themselves had no husbands. In those days these women are as good as lost! They have no help, no future, no family, no home and no hope of deliverance.

It is in the midst of this hopelessness that Naomi actually does something right. She decides to go back to where she belongs to the house of her Father—God, the Eternal King. She wants to send her foreign daughters-in-law back to their pagan homes. One, named Orpah, goes home. The other, Ruth, refuses. In this refusal we see another great irony. This pagan woman, who really had no legal claim on Messiah because she is a Gentile, makes one of the greatest statements of faith of all time: Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you. Ruth, the Moabite pledges her faithfulness to a faithless Israelite family and vows to return to a land that is not her own. She claims a God she has no right to claim. And her promise is one so solemn that she would rather die than fail to keep it. There aren’t even any promises that she would find food, family, future or a place back in Bethlehem. That House of Bread could well be an empty belly for Naomi and her. PAUSE.

The rest of the story is how this divine irony plays out. As often happens, the ones in the story who have no hope and no claim of faith are the ones who “get it” and the ones who should know better miss it all together. Through the care of a wealthy man named Boaz, the irony turns. This woman with no place and no birthright actually gets redeemed! Boaz marries this woman. Not only does she become part of Bethlehem society, Ruth becomes part of the lineage of Jesus! She bears Boaz a son. His name is Obed. Obed has a son named Jesse. Jesse has a son named David, who would be king of Israel. From lost to Great Grandmother of the Great King David, and the greatest King—Jesus—the Son of David! God saves Ruth so that Ruth’s offspring can save her, us and all people!

Boaz didn’t have to marry Ruth. As you read farther in the book you see that Boaz does some remarkable things to take Ruth as his wife. He really spends money that he doesn’t have to so that he could have this wife who would carry on the lineage of his relative Elimalech. In the process Noami is cared for as well as you and me. Hidden in the story of a once-pagan woman of faith is the story of Romance, Redemption, and Restoration which leads to salvation.

What we see in this story is something that we cling to by the work of the Holy Spirit. God did not abandon Naomi and Ruth. Naomi and Ruth’s husbands had abandoned God! They were the ones who refused to look to the Lord as the King who will provide for all of their needs. They thought they knew better. They elevated their reason above the promises of God. They did what was right in their eyes, not giving two hoots and a holler about what was right in God’s eyes. While the circumstances that these women face were hard, they were the means by which the Lord delivered them!

Often we do likewise. There are so many times that we think that Bethlehem has no bread. We go looking for something better in distant lands. Now, we may not leave our homes, but we leave our God. When we start saying things like, “I can’t believe in a God who would do that,” We are leaving the God who is revealed to us in the pages of Scripture to follow a god of our own making and choosing. When we start to think that we can do whatever is right in our own eyes we leave behind the God who calls us to faithfulness to His Word only to follow the foolishness of the world that would leave our souls starving, our bodies wasting, our hearts empty and our families broken. We choose to follow our own thoughts rather that God’s. We are just as faithless and helpless and hopeless as Elimelech and his sons were. If we stay there, our end won’t be any better than theirs either.

But, in divine irony, God does not abandon His people. The very people who live faithless lives, even those who claim to be part of the Church, find that there are still people of faith in the land like Boaz. In the most undeserved way, God puts people in our lives who are people led by the Holy Spirit to trust that God will redeem, restore and deliver. These are the people who by grace through faith cling to the cross of Jesus Christ. People like these are instruments of God that are His hands and His feet, speaking His Word of life to a hopeless and hapless world. In the greatest of divine irony, God has not abandoned His people or His world. And when you are like that He has not abandoned you either. PAUSE.

The great sign of this presence is the greatest King who ever walked dusty earth—Jesus. But He is more than just a presence. Ironically, He is the One who has come to redeem, restore and deliver those who don’t really deserve to be redeemed restored and delivered. Like Boaz did for the foreigner Ruth, Jesus pays an astronomical price for people like us. We have no claim on this salvation. We have no hope of deliverance until that redemption price is paid. And that is what happens at the cross. Great David’s greater Son Jesus the Christ offers the price of His sinless life to redeem us from sin, death and the power of the devil. The cross is the currency and the empty tomb the receipt.

With this redemption price paid, we too are part of the family of the redeemed. We, because of sin, were once not the people of God, now by grace are the people of God. We, because of sin, once had no food, family; future and King, now by grace have an eternal Promised Land reserved for us. And we won’t be scrambling for provision like Ruth and Naomi did. No, in this new Promised Land we will have a place at the table. We will feast on the greatest fare, like we will today in the Lord’s Supper. The Lamb of God, Jesus will be both host and feast; servant and Priest! We won’t be foreigners. We won’t be strangers. We will be family! This family will have the Lord as its head and King.

Most beloved family of faith, this is no Hallmark movie Script for a good story. It is the plot, not only of the book of Ruth, but of the entire Scriptures. In this story, which in reality is HIS-STORY; the story of salvation is revealed. By the grace of God, we who were strangers and foreigners have been brought back to Bethlehem and in this place, we are privileged to hear how WE are redeemed, restored and delivered. And like our adopted sister in the faith Ruth, we can utter that same statement of faith. “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” Ruth’s story is our story. Ruth’s salvation is our salvation. This is YOUR story-in the Divine Irony. AMEN.

“You Are Witnesses” (Luke 24:44-53)

S-1385-20SAP/C (LWML Sunday) 10/06/2013 Hymns: (O) #822; (S) #823; (C) # Tune #662

Texts: Isaiah 62:1-7; Romans 10:11-7; Luke 24:44-53

Theme: “You Are Witnesses” (Luke 24:44-53)

Question: “What message do you have for the world?” Armour, SD

Faithful followers of the Savior, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The text is from the Gospel lesson: “You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I Am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:48-49).

INTRODUCTION: In Nomine Iesu.

Saints in Christ, a few weeks ago (9/1) in the sermon titled “Be Careful in How You live” I stated, “What others see in you may well be the only Bible they ever read!” How true that is. Therefore, whether we want to acknowledge it or not we are witnesses. But witnesses of what and to whom? We are either witnesses to God or the devil.

I would be the first to declare that my life is not always a clear witness to my Savior, Jesus. I wished it was, but since I’m a sinner to the core, I know better. I have let too many things in my life get ahead of being a faithful witness to Christ. Look at your life and ask the question, “What kind of witness are you?” If you don’t know try this exercise: Review your calendar and see how much of your day or week is occupied with Jesus and His Word. Look at your checkbook and determine who gets first priority. Evaluate your time and how much of it is dedicated to Christ and His Gospel. How much time do you spend on TV watching, hunting, fishing, camping, sports, Face Book, cell phone, compare to being in the presence of the True Witness Jesus Christ.

Today, Dr. Luke speaks of Christ’s final Words of exhortations to His disciples before He returns to the place from where He came, saying: “You are My witnesses!” Notice what He doesn’t say: He doesn’t say you will be, you might be, or you should be.” No, He emphatically states, “You ARE!!!” Present active witnesses. Thus, we are witnesses at all times.

It is interesting to note that Luke the evangelist closes one book (his gospel) with the command of Jesus to be His witnesses and opens another (Acts) with the same command. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses… end of the earth” (1:8). Therefore it is clear that the life of God’s child is one of witnessing to the grace and mercy of Christ the Savior and what He has accomplished for us.

On this LWML Sunday, Luke, challenges us, NOT only the women, but ALL of us to be witnesses of the Rabbi from Nazareth. Jesus Himself said, “You are My witnesses!” This command comes from the One whose whole life gave witness to the loving Father who sent Him into the world to buy it back by giving His life on Calvary’s cross.

To be sure, Christ is the faithful WITNESS as His life is a confession of the true faith that reveals our compassionate Father’s ever-giving heart. A witness to Christ confesses the true faith. By the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, our Lord has called us in Baptism—His witnesses. Thus we share what He has given to us so that all would know the Father’s saving love. “You are My witnesses”, then, is Christ’s call to our real identity for the true confession of the faith in words and actions that inspire works of mercy in our life together. PAUSE.

There is no greater honor and privilege than for you and me who have been washed by the crimson blood of Jesus, given a new life through His death and resurrection but to hear and heed His call and share His story of redemption and salvation.

We see this great service of witnessing by women in our church body called Lutheran Women’s Missionary League who are leaven from heaven. These women have heard the call of Jesus and have faithfully since its inception in 1942 been on the front lines witnessing to one and all.

Writing about the witnessing of the LWML, Marlys Taege Moberg wrote a brief history. I share a snippet with you:

Beginning in the 1850s, women of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS, http://www.lcms.org) started local auxiliaries to meet the needs of people; mending clothes for seminarians, equipping hospitals, establishing schools, developing convalescent and retirement homes, assisting orphanages and residences for people with disabilities, gathering clothing, furniture and food for indigents, and funding mission endeavors at home and abroad.

Not until the 1920s, however, did members of congregational societies begin to coordinate their efforts by uniting in state and regional leagues. Oklahoma was first in 1928, but it took more than a decade before official approval was granted for a national LCMS women’s organization.

Although the U.S. was at war and travel was difficult, the founding convention, held July 7 and 8, 1942, in Chicago, was attended by over 100 women from 15 districts. The 28 delegates adopted a constitution, approved a name, chose two projects, and established a Literature Committee to publish books, a national magazine, tracts and programs. They also determined that 1/4 of the mission gifts collected in local societies would be given to the national organization and 3/4 used for district projects.

Thanks be to God for these women who in their lives gave and are giving witness to the love of Jesus and served Him with joy and gladness. Throughout the ages, LWML have been preparing literatures to assist many in knowing their relationships with Christ their Savior. Even the magazine, the Lutheran Woman’s Quarterly (LWQ) has included Bible studies that have been used by people all over the world. Through the Word, our Lord engages people for lives of witnessing. Stories of faith in those pages of the LWQ exhibit the mutual conversation and consolation of the saints that we believe, teach, and confess that Jesus is Lord and God, and we are His servants. There are the Mustard Seed devotions from the LWML left in hotel rooms, restaurants and greeting cards show how the witness of Christ continues to permeate the world. “You are My witnesses,” Christ says through His servants in the LWML. PAUSE.

Even in this place, just take a look and see the labor of love in all that these daughters’ of the King have done. See the beautiful quilts stitched one blessing at a time. This didn’t just happen. They planned: they came; they cut, stitched and sewed together a quilt of love. Our LWML travel to Huron to help with the Puppet show, gather goods for Pastor Utecht to share in his ministry among the Native Americans and seek supplies to help the Alpha Center (pregnancy crisis place) for those who find themselves with child.

This IS witnessing par excellence! And to this Christ the true and faithful Witness has called all of us to be His witnesses. To be a witness takes time, patience and planning.

Just as you and I plan vacation, camping, fishing or hunting trips, likewise we should plan to be witnesses to the Savior—Jesus. Plan by getting down on your knees, pray for the person[s] you want to reach and trust that the Holy Spirit will use you in spite of you. Plan to give towards the Mission work of the Church and the spread of His Gospel. This work is not done by you alone, Christ is here leading and directing your every step.

Jesus, the faithful witness opened His hands and blessed His disciples in today’s Gospel as He sent them to be witnesses of His death and resurrection. Eventually, they would share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with countless people as day by day more were added to those who were saved.

Even today, Christ opens His nail-pierced hands in love to satisfy the desire of every living thing as He blesses us for His service in the world through our various vocations. He opens His hands to give us His life-giving Body and Blood as He opens His hands to bless us and keep us, giving us peace. Receiving the Blessed Sacraments, we have been blessed with forgiveness, life, and salvation to share the truth of His all-atoning love as His witnesses in the world.

We have seen this witnessing first hand in this house of worship. It all begins here as Christ comes to us to speak to us, lead us out, and blesses us, just as He did His disciples in today’s reading. It continues in worship as Christ speaks through us, leads through us, and blesses others through us. And it will culminate in endless worship as we look to the Day of His return when we, who have been spoken to by Christ and who have been led out by Him are blessed to be raised from the dead and in our flesh to live in the joy of being His people forever.

“You are my witnesses,” Christ our Lord says. Confessing the truth in love and serving the Lord with gladness, we rejoice that Christ speaks to us, leads us out and blesses us as He graciously entrusts us with the Gospel in our ears, eyes, hands, and mouths saying, “You are My witnesses” Now and always. Amen and Amen.

Now the peace…

Soli Deo Gloria

Praise the Lord with me

“Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!” (Psalm 34:3); “Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord, give praise, O servants of the Lord” (Psalm 135:1). Yes, join me in magnifying and praising the name o the Lord. Today, is the 19^th anniversary of our Dial A Prayer Ministry. It is a ministry that is available to anyone 24/7/365.

By the grace of God I know people from at least 23 different states have called to listen to this ministry. Many have called, written notes, sent e-mails and texted me saying, “Thank you Pastor, this is just what I needed to hear!”

If you so desire check it out by calling Dial A Prayer 605-724-2444

The hymn writer said it well in the great doxology: “Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.”

Monthly sponsorship “$30.00" are available. If interested contact me at nabilsnour@hotmail.com