November 8, 2015 - Luke 4:16-21

Podcast: http://redemption-clc.podomatic.com/entry/2015-11-09T11_09_57-08_00

Theme: Without Fulfillment there is no Rest

The longer we tend to be involved with something the easier it becomes to forget its purpose. Has this kind of thing ever happened to you in a job, goal, or relationship? I know this doesn’t apply to everyone here but take marriage for example. Life with your spouse is very simple at the beginning, everything is out in front you. But as time goes on, stress and failures begin to weigh on your relationship and you begin act and think differently about things than you used to. Pretty soon you begin to lose sight of how things were in the past, before all the difficulties of life came crashing down.

Same thing can happen with your job. It’s exciting and new to start and to head off into your career. But after a while, things can get monotonous. Each day brings similar challenges, you begin to feel like you’re going nowhere in life; just spinning your wheels and never progressing.  It’s easy lose sight of the simple joy you had at the beginning and the contentment and purpose that you had in your vocation.

Maybe these examples don’t fit for you but I’m sure there’s other things in your life that are similar. It’s strange that there are certain things where the longer you’re involved with it the harder it seems to get. You’d think that everything in life would get better and easier the longer you worked at it. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to never lose sight of the purpose behind the most important things in our lives? I wonder if the key to that question is answered by finding the source of our discontent. What exactly is it that leads us to forget the way things used to be? Could it be that the problem is not in our occupations or relationships but with ourselves?

Hold on to that thought as we read today’s Scripture, from Luke 4:16-21:

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."

20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

These words are important because they were spoken in church. Sure, this event happened in the synagogue building but what was recorded is no different than what happens here every weekend. And when you think about it, doesn’t church fit right into the mold that we were just describing? Our service theme today is on the 3^rd Commandment in which God essentially commands that we be consistent in coming to church for spiritual rest. But isn’t that what trips us up so often; the consistency of it all? Every weekend, every year; the same themes, the same texts, the same hymns, the same topics. Consistency.

After a while it begins to wear on you doesn’t it? Just like so many other things in life, the more you dig and the deeper you get the easier it is to lose sight of why you first started. For many of us here, church is the way it’s always been, even before we can remember. Many of you had parents that first brought you to God’s house through baptism, well before you could fully understand or express the precious gift of faith. In time, many of you have also seen the other side of as you have brought your children to the precious Gospel of salvation, seeing it all again from a new perspective. But sometimes the regularity and familiarity of church makes us feel like things have somehow changed. For those who can remember when they first heard the Gospel or came to faith perhaps you can also remember the fresh feeling that came with it. But even for you, in time the newness of the feeling wears off. For some, this not only leads to confusion about where they are in their spiritual life but also to resentment. The blessed promises of God’s Word that were once precious and vital become ordinary objects of skepticism and ridicule. The soft heart of innocent faith can easily turn to hard stone when one loses their way and forgets what church is about.

But that’s why we come back to our verses for today. As a human, Jesus was raised very much like we are, in the Scriptures and in church. When He was but 8 days old, Mary and Joseph already brought Him to the Temple to be with His real Father. Another important event of the Christ child’s adolescence shows us how important the Word was to Him as He considered it precious enough to study and discuss with the scribes in the temple. And here today we see that the Sabbath was yet another essential activity for Jesus. Luke relates that it was Jesus’ “custom,” literally habit, to enter the synagogue on the Sabbath. If regular attendance in church was important enough for the very Son of God, how much more for us?

Yet, we should be ashamed when we think of our track record of keeping the 3^rd commandment, and how far we drift from that standard. How many of us place a higher value on work, physical rest, or even things like football when it comes to church? Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness as Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, stopping at nothing to be in God’s sanctuary every Sunday? Would you boast as the sons of Korah did, that you’d rather be a simple “doorkeeper” in God’s house than a comfortable member of the unrighteous? Have you lost the foresight to rejoice in the beauty of this temple, or to use your temple, your body, to glorify your Savior? 

Don’t be so quick to think you have kept this command simply because your sitting here today either. It’s easy to stand in judgment of those who have blatantly been absent while ignoring the plank in our eyes. Think of what Luther wrote in our excerpt from the Large Catechism. Trespasses of the Sabbath happen just as much when we sit here listen but don’t really hear as when we skip church completely. Likewise, refusing to be admonished by the Word or to take it seriously leads to the same separation from God.

When you look at the 3^rd commandment it was consistently one of the most mis-applied commandments in the entire Bible. A large portion of Jesus’ ministry was devoted to restoring a true, spiritual understanding of the Sabbath day. The righteous offenses that this caused to many Jews were one of the biggest reasons they hated Jesus so much. The same trend continues today, even after 2,000 years people are still mis-understood about the Sabbath. And when I say this I mean a lot more than just worshipping on Saturday. It’s also about how you worship and how often you worship. You tell me, what’s a more serious offense: Forcing people to worship on a particular day or despising worship altogether; whether that be through one’s absence in body or in mind.  

Yeah, we’ve got a plank in our eyes. It’s called our sinful flesh. It’s the old man within us that would keep us from our Sabbath. Too busy, too stressed, too tired, too used to it all. To full of our sinful flesh is really the problem. And the most ironic thing is that the very gift God freely offers in church can cure all the problems we face. If we would just focus on that more, we would have rest for our souls.

But we are what Jesus says: poor, brokenhearted, captive, blind, and oppressed.

·         We are rich in material wealth but poor in heavenly treasure.

·         We are confident in our lives but broken in our hearts.

·         We are free in our thinking, in our words, and in our liberties, but captive to curse of the law.

·         We see what we desire and love but we are blind to true righteousness.

·         We are independent in attitude, but oppressed in reality. There’s no rest in ourselves or in the world, just a greater clamoring for things that will not last.

There’s no lack of agitation in this sinful world either, no shortage of things that keep us stressed and unsure about our lives. But there’s only one thing that brings the clarity of faith in Jesus Christ; one thing that can keep up focused on the pure and innocent joy of being a Christian, that exceptional feeling that the world threatens to destroy in so many ways. Jesus tells us, it’s all about His fulfillment.

Fulfillment is a strange word to many of us, but its meaning is easy to understand. Literally it means to fill something up completely. When something is filled completely it is perfected or not lacking anymore. I like to think of Psalm 23 where David says that “his cup runs over.” He’s describing fulfillment there; God had blessed him to the point of having no need and even beyond. That helps us understand what the word itself means, but we must also think about how the Bible uses the word.

Fulfillment was an especially important term to Old Testament Christians. Their relationship with God was based on lots of different promises from God that needed to happen sometime in the future. At many times God had to remind them to be patient because they had a tendency to want everything immediately, as we would too if we were in the same situation. Each of those promises was like an individual cup that needed to be filled. Without the fulfillment, the promise would not come true.

One of those big promises came from the portion of Scripture that Jesus read in the synagogue that day. Isaiah was foretelling a day when things would change from the way they were. A day when the people didn’t need to wait to see God’s salvation anymore, but a day in which they would live in it because their long-awaited Savior had finally come. The Holy Spirit would usher that day into existence through the power of His Word, which would bring fulfillment on the lips of the Messiah. This was a day of great anticipation for God’s people. It was a time when all their ailments would be healed. Think of it as everything they needed being provided for them. Lives that once were hollow because of the void of sin, were filled to the brim; were fulfilled. The poor, the brokenhearted, the captive, the blind, the oppressed would all be made complete.

When you understand what fulfillment means, you get a taste of what that day meant for the Old Testament believers. The final statement says it well, it would be the “acceptable year of our Lord.” Think of it for your life now, even though you’re not an Old Testament Christian. Because it means the same thing for you. It’s what the Gospel of forgiveness does for helpless sinners. God takes all your needs, comes to you in all the places you lack, and gives you His fulfillment. He can because He earned it. He went through everything in life and even more, just so that He could bless you with His unblemished record. He did it so that you would have a promise of grace, and that that promise would not fall short; so it could be something that you trust; something that is fulfilled. And there’s one promise left that has yet to be filled up.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. 2 I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God's dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away. 5 Then the One seated on the throne said, "Look! I am making everything new." He also said, "Write, because these words are faithful and true."

That, my friends, is why we go to church. That’s why it’s important. That’s why it’s called our “Sabbath.” And that’s why God commands it. The antidote to our failures is the same: read and hear about Christ’s fulfillment. The 3^rd Commandment reminds us to do this regularly, just as Jesus did. The basis of church has always been preaching and hearing. But often, this is also the most despised part of church. That’s what we get used to and what we tired of; the same preaching again and again. And sometimes we lose the love that we first had.  

Has that happened to you? Has it happened to us as a congregation? Are we so tired of the Word, have we been around it for so long, that we’ve forgotten our purpose? Tough questions, but ones worth asking on a regular basis. The fact is this: In this book we have the words of fulfillment of the greatest work ever in the history of the world. A work so powerful that only God could do it. We have the words of eternal life. If that doesn’t compel you to be around it each week, what’s the problem?

Don’t let the little things where we lack distort the purpose behind your life in Christ. Your faith is a beautiful, precious treasure; the most important thing in your life. Regardless of where you’re at in life now, there was a time when you felt that way, all Christians have. You can get back that. To the innocent, childlike faith in Christ and the blessed peace that covers you through it. We are just like those Jews long ago in that synagogue. Today, the Scripture is fulfilled in our hearing. Amen.

The peace of Christ which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen. 

November 1, 2015 - Revelation 14:6-7

Podcast: http://redemption-clc.podomatic.com/entry/2015-11-02T15_18_03-08_00

Theme: The Right Way to “Fear and Love” God

1) Love the same as Luther

2) Empowered by the Eternal Gospel

Revelation 14:6-7 Then I saw another angel flying high overhead, having the eternal gospel to announce to the inhabitants of the earth-- to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 7 He spoke with a loud voice: "Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."

Have you ever been in love? Do you remember what it feels like? People use the word “love” in a lot of different ways. Sometimes it’s hard to narrow it down to one thing in particular. But most of the time when we talk about “being in love” we mean a very special feeling that is hard to find and hard to keep. You may “love” something but that doesn’t necessary mean that you feel like you’re in love.

The feeling of love is special and rare. It’s a feeling unique unto itself, unlike any other. When you’re in love time seems to stop, problems fade away, and you feel like you can do anything. But feeling like you’re in love is just that, it’s a feeling. It doesn’t last. It’s impossible to duplicate. Many people spend an entire lifetime searching for that feeling of being in love, and some never find it. For those that do, the feeling doesn’t last long. There always comes a point when whatever we’ve fallen in love with eventually becomes ordinary. The special, “new” feeling of love wears off.

It’s usually at this point that relationships that once started in love begin to fall apart. But it doesn’t have to end that way becasue true love is much more than just a feeling. Love is certainly a vital part of your relationship with God. Without love you wouldn’t know God; at least not the full picture of who He is. But that begs the question: What kind of love do you share with God? Many people liken the beginning of faith to falling in love; to that great feeling that can never be duplicated. But is your relationship with God just a mere feeling and nothing more? Certainly not! There’s much more to the love that God has for you and we hope much more to the love we have for God.

Part 1: Restored through the Reformation

We speak of love today, because although it may not seem like it, love was extremely important to the Reformation. In fact, the life of Martin Luther, in particular, is really a love story. Luther was plagued early on in life in the way he viewed God. He knew that he needed to fear God, as the verses of our text read, and he certainly did. But it wasn’t a healthy fear, not the type of fear that is born from respect and admiration. Luther was scared of God. Scared because he was a sinner in the sight of a righteous God. When he thought of judgment from the Lord, the images that filled his mind were ones of condemnation and failure.

Just as he feared God, so Luther also knew that he needed God. That’s what kept driving him back to the leaders and teachers of the church for answers. That’s what led him to the walls of the monastery and the cell of penance. He couldn’t just ignore the truth. Two facts stood out abundantly clear in his mind: God exists and I need to stand before Him one day. Two facts indeed, but ones that led only to wrong kind of fear. This same scene played out over and over again, year after year for Luther, who lived in absolute torment. It wasn’t until something new entered his life, that everything changed.

That something new was the very thing that the angel flew with and proclaimed in John’s vision – the eternal Gospel. It wasn’t until Luther actually read and studied the Bible for himself, instead of taking the Roman church’s word on everything, that the love of God came to him through the Gospel. Luther would write later on about the very moment this happened. The passages he read were from Romans 1:16-17: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

These were the words that sparked love in Luther’s heart. The only way he could describe that feeling was by saying that it was “if the gates of heaven had been opened to him.” For the first time in his life, he understood the simple Gospel message, that “the just shall live by faith.” And for the first time Luther understood the right way to fear God. The Gospel shows us that fear and love for God go hand in hand. They are not two opposing ideas. True, Biblical fear of God comes from the Gospel. It is not about being afraid or scared. It is about respect and admiration. It is the type of fear that transforms us from stubborn and arrogant people to those who approach God in humility and reverent joy.

How important was this truth to Luther? Think no less of it than the greatest feeling of love you’ve ever had. Luther was willing to do anything for the sake of the Gospel. He was willing to die to protect it and he would have; but the Lord had different plans. The eternal Gospel changed Luther forever, just as it has changed us. To see a glimpse of its importance both for him and for us, look no further than what is perhaps Luther’s greatest achievement – the Small Catechism. From early on, one phrase in particular is engrained in our minds and hearts – “fear and love God.”

Where do first we learn this phrase and what it means? When we study the first of the six chief parts of the Catechism – the Ten Commandments. In each of the Luther’s explanations to the Commandments, he begins with the phrase, “We should fear and love God…” Do you see why now? This is Luther’s lasting gift of love to you. With this simple phrase he intends every reader and student to feel the same energy and connection to God as he did, when he first read “The just shall live by faith.” He wants you to be in love with God through the eternal gospel.

In each moment that we view God’s law, we are met with the same depressing picture that held Luther captive for so many years. We, too, are sinners in the eyes of a God who demands holiness; and who promises a future judgment. How can we not shake with terror at such a thought? Anyone who doesn’t needs to wake up to reality. But it’s at that very point, when we view ourselves in the mirror of God’s moral law, that Luther wants us to bask in the glory of the eternal gospel. He knew what it was like to feel worthless and inadequate and to live in the wrong fear every day. He didn’t want that same feeling to be with anyone; but rather that all would know the right fear of respect and worship to God who abundantly pardons and forgives. That’s the love story that Luther had, and you and I share in that today.  

Part 2: Powered by the Eternal Gospel

Let’s not forget the important detail that our text tells us; that the Lord’s gospel is eternal. That means it’s meant for all generations of all people and it will never disappear from the earth. True it is that people can obscure and cloud the gospel. They can devise wicked schemes to keep its glory and splendor hidden. That was the case of Luther’s time. The gospel had taken a back seat in the church as a cheap trick of mysticism and chance. The hope of the majority was in their own substantive deeds, not in faith in God that so simple a child could have it.

Sounds a lot like our day doesn’t it? How many people today are living with the same torments about God that Luther had? How many people have the same kind of fear because they see clear evidences of God’s power but not of His love? Churches are doing a good job of filling people with empirical proof for Christianity. We know more today about defending the archaeology and history of the Bible than we ever have. We have scores of secular sources that aid in verifying the validity of God’s Word and His presence among men. On top of all these benefits we have the age old proofs of creation and conscience. No one can deny the implicit design, function, and beauty that God gave the world through His creation. The laws of nature, the principles of physics, the mountains, the seas, and the valleys all speak to the wise and infinite Creator. But perhaps the greatest evidence of all is in your own heart. The silent, small voice that tells you right from wrong. The ever consistent law of God programmed in your mind that beckons you day after day to seek Him and follow His will.

We have so many clear evidences of God’s existence and power; that’s why the Bible calls denial of God “foolishness.” We don’t need more examples of His power; nor do we need more reasons to fear Him in terror. His power is abundantly present; around us all the time. But there’s only one source of His love. While many people today may need a reminder now and then about God’s power; there’s no question that we all need His love daily. And that love only comes in that eternal gospel message. The gospel is the only thing that tells you how God uses His power not to destroy you, but to care for you.  

The gospel is unique because it’s the purest source of God’s love. Yes, we share that love together. Through faith we practice that love in our lives and others can see it. But the only source is the gospel. That’s where you get the strength the love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. It’s through the gospel that you’re led to love your neighbor as yourself. It’s through the gospel that you have the ability to glorify God in your own body. All love from God and for God flows from the eternal gospel. It’s not the love that’s just a feeling, but it will cause you to act in boldness and confidence. It’s not the love that fades away but it can be misused and abandoned. It’s not the love that I get to define based on my own experiences, but it does apply to every problem I will ever face. This is the love of the Reformation – the eternal gospel of Christ crucified.   

God’s opponents have always tried to cover up the full glory of the Gospel. That should never surprise us. What’s even sadder, though, is when Christians themselves fire upon the Gospel. The Gospel’s glory is shrouded when Christians deemphasize it’s important in favor of other Biblical doctrines. When Christians place a higher priority on their own personal works of service instead of Christ’s ultimate work of service, the Gospel is obscured. Leading one another to place our confidence of faith in feelings, intuition, or physical proof, does damage to the Gospel’s core of free, underserved love in Jesus. The Reformation is a reminder of how far Christians can drift from the glory of the Gospel, but also how powerful that love message really is. And the lesson we must learn is this: When the Gospel is clouded, shrouded, or obscured; so too will be our ability to “fear and love” God.

The Christian’s love story is one of complete unity with God based on salvation through Jesus Christ. It’s a love built on the truth of God’s inspired Word. All Christians have felt this powerful love; and have been led through it to their own proper fear and love of God. Luther felt it when he read Romans 1:16-17. The apostle John expressed it when he wrote: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love (1 John 4:18). Paul described it when he said, “I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2).”

Every Christian throughout the ages has had a part in this love story. I wonder, what’s your part? Why do you “fear and love” God? What does the eternal gospel mean to you? What is your love story? What will it lead you to do? Only time will tell. But what an exciting feeling! More exciting for sure than the feelings of being in love with another person. Your Maker and your Lord loves you! He willingly went to the very brink of death and hell and stepped through it all so you wouldn’t have to. He kept His record of promises intact through faithful Christians before you so that you can sit at His feet and receive the words of life. That’s true love; the kind of love that changes you. Your love story is being written right now; today, and everyday. But the change, the feeling, lasts for eternity. That’s true “fear and love” in Christ Jesus. Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

October 25, 2015 - Mark 10:35-45

Podcast: http://redemption-clc.podomatic.com/entry/2015-10-26T16_29_32-07_00

Theme: Service Through “Self”

1) Denial of the sinful “self”

2) Renewal of the faithful “self”

The Struggle of Self; it’s a difficult thing to understand. Two little children are playing on their own; plenty of toys for both. But before long, one toy in particular takes the spotlight. Both kids want it. It’s as if everything else is non-existent. They each must have it, and they begin to whine and fight over it. It’s not that either of them really needs it. But it’s that they can’t stand to see the other have it. The “self” must prevail.

A husband and wife live happily together with three children. They are comfortable and have no need let alone lack of modern convenience. But one day the husband hears about a job promotion for his buddy down the road. It gets him thinking; how could my life be better? What do I want? Why can’t I catch a break? Nothing has really changed to affect his previous contentment. But all of the sudden he’s miserable. He can’t stand the thought of someone out there having it better than he does. He hates the idea that his “self” could lack in any way. And overnight, the seeds of envy and discord are sown.

A teenage girl has a smart phone and tablet. She’s adorned with the latest fashions and has no shortage of friends. She’s popular and well-liked and most importantly she has the rock solid confidence of faith in her Savior, Jesus Christ. Yet, when minor things in life go wrong, she feels like the universe is crumbling. She struggles with an assignment or test and she immediately is overcome with stress. Her significant other of 6 months dumps her and she doesn’t see any way to move forward. Why? She’s still blessed. She has her entire life ahead of her. Yet, her “self” is affected.

There’s no doubt that we all struggle when our cares, ideas, or goals are threatened; because those are the things that define who we are. An attack against them is a direct attack against us. But is there really a reason for alarm? Could it be that in many ways we are a bit too enamored with ourselves? Consider another example, this time from Mark’s Gospel; a time when two brothers struggled with the same thing:    

Mark 10:35-41 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask." 36 And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?" 37 They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory." 38 But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" 39 They said to Him, "We are able." So Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 "but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared." 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John.

James and John didn’t ask for this honorable distinction because they needed it. Life was more than good enough for them. They, of all people, had no reason to complain or want more because they were able to walk and talk with` the very Son of God! Yet, they wanted more. The “self” inside each of them begged for a little more attention and a little higher status; something to separate them from the rest of the pack. They were like a couple of kids fighting over the same toy, when they had hundreds of others to choose from. But that’s what the inborn human “self” does. It wants to be distinguished from the rest, even if it already has every grace and blessing.

This was nothing new to Jesus. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and certainly He knew James and John well. If you follow the context before these verses, you can see how Jesus was patiently and persistently addressing this problem of “self-centeredness” in His disciples. At the end of Mark 8 Jesus predicted quite frankly that He would have to suffer and die in Jerusalem and rise three days later. When Peter tried to interject himself into the situation and “protect” Jesus, he was met with a sharp rebuke from His Lord: “Get behind Satan, you’re not mindful of God’s plan.” Shortly after that exchange Jesus instructed all of the 12 by saying, “Whoever desires to come after Me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me (Mark 8:34).”

In chapter 9, Jesus predicted His death and resurrection a second time and followed it by saying this: “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all (Mark 9:35).” Therefore it shouldn’t surprise us that as we reach the words of our text in chapter 10, Jesus followed the same pattern for a third time. Immediately before these words, Jesus predicted His death and resurrection and then replied to James’ and John’s request. And for a third time, His answer is the same. There is no room for your sinful “self” in the kingdom of God. Discipleship is not a beauty contest about who is wisest or greatest. Discipleship is about survival, plain and simple. And the number one threat to James and John was their own sinful hearts. The inward desire to have more and more, even though they had everything they needed. The competitive nature to be better or to have a leg up on others; to be viewed with the greatest esteem and to receive the loudest praise.

Jesus was right, they had no idea what they asked for; but they would get it. Not what they wanted or what they thought, but they would get what all Christians are in for. The cup of hardship and the baptism of persecution. James and John wanted something to stoke their egos; to inflate their sinful natures. But what they received by faith in Jesus was the opposite and they are eternally grateful for it. Because the path of the sinful “self” leads to destruction. As Christians, we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of heaven, but the kingdom is where we will be. Acts 12 tells us what happened to James. He didn’t receive fanfare and praise as the greatest apostle. He didn’t live in a beautiful mansion and exercise unlimited power over the rest of pitiful humanity. No, one short verse sums up James’ legacy: V.2 “Then Herod killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.” That’s it. That’s what James received for following Jesus.

As for John, he didn’t suffer martyrdom but he did live in exile. He survived longer than the rest of the twelve, but many could argue that the isolationism and loneliness was even worse. Indeed, how very far from the truth James and John were as they dreamt of these lofty goals in this world. It’s a difference temporary, present satisfaction leading to eternal condemnation and temporary pain leading to eternal glory. But they were no different than the rest of the 12, as we see from the their reaction to this peculiar request, from vv. 42-45: But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 "And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

This was one of the last times that Jesus would have to talk to His disciples about this. Holy week, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Ascension were all on the doorstep. Soon, events would be put into motion that could not be reversed and the 12 would be tasked with bringing the truth of salvation to the ends of the earth. You can sense the seriousness of the times in the fact that Jesus doesn’t mince words. Unbelieving rulers abuse authority and rights in order to keep those under them in subjection. This wasn’t the way God’s Church would be and it started with the disciples and their own self-denial. They needed to be the examples. They needed to set the tone. But they wouldn’t be alone. Up to this point they had failed miserably; so much so that Jesus had to address the exact same point on three separate occasions.

They would fail in the future too. It wouldn’t be long before each of the disciples were running scared as Jesus walked the path to the cross alone. Shortly after that moment of cowardice they would be huddled together behind locked doors; feeling as if everything had fallen apart. But no matter how bad things were, or how bad they would get, they would never be left alone. They fled from Jesus, but He would never flee them. His Church was different. Different in that it was not about the sinful “self” but about the Savior. But also different in that it would never fade away, because it was established by One who came to serve, not to be served. One who came and set the example and established the tone.

What we see in all this for our lives is that Jesus does care for a “self.” Not the self that seeks its own or that struggles to be called “greatest” in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus cares for the “self” that is an individual lost in sin and unbelief who needs renewal. Unlike other religious leaders, Jesus did not come to be served. He came to help; to serve others. But in order to do that, He had to come for you, as a unique individual, as a “self.” Part of the beauty of God’s kingdom is that it’s meant for every single person. It’s not a kingdom where everyone blends in together and has no individual identity. Jesus knows you by name and He daily calls to you through the Gospel. He wants you to be part of His Church, just as you are; with everything that makes you unique and one of a kind.

You, as an individual, were so important to Jesus that He willingly sacrificed himself to pay for your sins. He mentions the great love He has for sinners with one word in our text, from verse 40, the word “prepared.” That’s what Jesus did for you. He prepared salvation for you. Jesus didn’t do this for a random portion of people with whom He has no connection. Neither did He leave anyone out; or forget anyone because they weren’t important enough. The preparation of salvation was accomplished for each individual person. Jesus went to the cross, knowing your very name, who you would be, what you would make of yourself in life; even knowing all of your failures ahead of time. You are that precious to Him, and He values your unique identity, your “self”, so much that He wants you to serve Him through it.    

That’s why Paul, in another area of Scripture, likened the Church to a body. A body has several unique parts; all with their own particular function. But no matter how different they are, they all serve the same purpose, and have the same goal of getting the entire body to function properly. That’s the true image of “self.” We are not part of God’s kingdom to serve ourselves; to see who is the greatest over all. We already know that that title belongs to Jesus alone. That’s the self we need to do away with through contrition and repentance. But Jesus still takes you as you are. He wants you to be His own child, by name; a unique “self,” an individual identity whom He has redeemed by His blood on the cross. Through that faithful self, what we typically call the “new man” you can serve God and you can serve your fellow Christian; for the building up of the Church.

Sometimes we forget how important the “self” that serves Jesus is. Sometimes we get caught up in the politics of the congregation and we wonder how we, as individuals, can possibly make a difference. Not everyone is a pastor or teacher. In fact, the make-up of our congregation relies on relatively few leaders who have the task of representing the entire body. How can the proper “self” exist in that format? What can regular, individual Christians do? The truth is, it’s the regular members who make the difference. If they don’t a congregation won’t work well at all. Just as Jesus was teaching to James and John, it’s the same in a Christian congregation. Those who serve are the ones who change the world. Good leaders act upon what the servants are already doing; they don’t dictate what must be done. In a church, the leaders need be the greatest examples of service. It’s the entire body of members, working as individual people, who determine the work and goals of the congregation. The leaders are simply present to guide the course.     

     

There are plenty of ways to serve God with your “self.” Not through the sinful actions that come from a selfish heart; from the old Adam as it’s called. But the “self” that has been regenerated and renewed through the Gospel of forgiveness. The “self” that serves in true righteousness and holiness; because that’s what Jesus has given it. Jesus taught you the truth, provided you the example, and paved for you the path of victory. It’s not an easy path; just look at the life of James and John. Nor is it a popular path; just look at what we humans want by nature. But it is the path of Jesus. Therefore, greatness is in serving Him. Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen. 

October 18, 2015 - Hebrews 3:1-6

Podcast: http://redemption-clc.podomatic.com/entry/2015-10-19T15_10_20-07_00

Theme: Welcome to God’s Home

1) The Inheritance

2) The Son’s Blood

It’s often customary for Christians to take a few moments in prayer to the Lord at night. Evenings are a typical time of prayer because it marks the end of the day’s events. The most logical prayer at the end of a day would be one of thanksgiving. Certainly, we have more than enough reasons to thank God. But the end of the day provides more than just reflection on the blessings of the day. It also provides us some quiet time to think about the needs of others and to seek guidance and help from the Lord for our own struggles. It affords us the opportunity to see a much broader picture of life if you will.

These things are all true about the evening, but there is another important reason for prayer and reflection at night that is often overlooked. The evening is also the time that we lay our heads down to rest. At times of rest, the gift of a home is a true blessing. Without a home, nights are much more restless and sleep is harder to get. I remember back in the Midwest I would think often about the blessing of my home, especially at night, and especially in the winter. When it comes to winter in the Midwest, a good home is not only nice, it’s absolutely necessary. On the coldest winter nights, exposure to the elements for only a few minutes can mean permanent danger or even death. Yet, in our homes we have comfort, food, protection, and warmth. We can sleep peacefully, no matter the temperature outside, because we are safe. What a blessing, especially to consider on a cold evening as you prepare for bed!

But a home is much more than just the walls around you or the roof over your head. In order for a home to be complete, it needs people. Your family is even more vital to your home than a fireplace or bed covers on a cold winter night. In this section of Hebrews, the writer talks about the blessing being in God’s home. Hebrews 3:1-6: Therefore, holy brothers and companions in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession; 2 He was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was in all God's household. 3 For Jesus is considered worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder has more honor than the house. 4 Now every house is built by someone, but the One who built everything is God. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's household, as a testimony to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ was faithful as a Son over His household. And we are that household if we hold on to the courage and the confidence of our hope.

Remember why this is called the book of Hebrews. It has this title because it was written specifically for Christians who were familiar with the Old Testament. Most of these people at the time of the early church were Jews, or those of the Hebrew nation. Who better to use as an example to the Hebrews than Moses, the great leader of the Jewish exiles in Egypt? Many Jews around the time of Jesus considered Moses to be the most significant figure in the entire Old Testament. As the writer says here, Moses indeed was an example of faithfulness to the Lord. But don’t miss the most important point, Moses was a member of God’s household.

But even as faithful as Moses was, he was still a sinner who fell short of God’s holiness. There is one who was even more faithful than Moses – Jesus Christ. Jesus not only was faithful to God’s will, He was the perfect fulfillment and example of that will. He came on behalf of sinful mankind and did what no other person could or has been able to do since – He lived a perfect life as a human who was subjected to temptation just as much as the rest of us. The intent of this section is clear. It’s okay to give Moses honor. But Jesus deserves much more, because He did a lot more. For the Jewish individual who might be led astray to honor Moses but reject Jesus, he or she needed to wake up to reality. And to drive this point home, the Holy Spirit emphasizes the aspect of our home.  

To recognize the main difference between Moses and Jesus, you don’t have to look far. Our text says it plainly in the last two verses: Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's household, as a testimony to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ was faithful as a Son over His household. The difference between a servant and a son may not seem that great when it comes to the home. In that day, servants were granted the right to live in the home. In many ways, they grew up in the home just as any son or daughter would. But when it came to rights, there was a big difference. Remember that a home is more than just the location where we live or the things we do there. A home is what that dwelling represents and the significance it has in our lives.

Children in the home have a right to the household by blood. They are the ones who inherit the home; who continue the family name and legacy into the future. A servant is there for a time, but then gone. There is no continuity among servants. They provide a need or fulfill a purpose and then they are done; not to remembered. But children are the bearers of the home for the next generation. They are meant to continue and to be in the forefront.

It’s no strange mystery that Jesus is God’s Son. But do we always consider everything that means? As the Son, Jesus has access to God’s home. He is the most important figure. And as the One who came to earth, He is the One who shares that home with others. Not just the promise of eternal life in heaven; that certainly is God’s home and definitely a great enough gift. But a home is not just the location. Jesus shares the blessings of God’s household. Gifts we have today like: peace, joy, happiness, forgiveness, and contentment. Some of the very gifts that should be at the top of our lists every night for thanking and praising God.

As the Son, Jesus alone has the right to distribute these gifts; because as the Son He alone earned them in our stead. Later on in this book, the Spirit would go onto to explain why: Hebrews 9:15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. An inheritance is a special thing; something that is largely lost on our modern culture. You can think of the inheritance as the continuation of the family home. Think of everything that your home means to you today. Think of both the material and intangible blessings that come from the home. That is the inheritance, and it is passed on from one generation to the next; and only the legal, blood heirs have access to that right.

God tells us that through His only begotten Son, the inheritance of His home is passed on to us. What connects us to that gift is faith in Jesus, the one Mediator of God’s forgiveness. Moses was a faithful and a good leader for God’s people. But the highest level he ever reached on his own was that of servant. Yes, a member of the house in some sense, but one with no real claim to any blessings; certainly not to any inheritance. That too, is the highest level you can reach in life in your own. The best you can strive to be is one that serves the almighty God.

That’s where the young man in our Gospel lesson found himself. He was zealous for the Lord, even recognizing something special about Jesus. He obviously strove to keep God’s Word or else he never would have asked the question that he did. And clearly he tried to keep God’s commandments. But he got off the track when he started thinking that he could earn God’s inheritance. Not only is that impossible because of sin, it also runs contrary to sound reason. God’s specifically calls heaven an “inheritance,” something that we know is clearly not earned by works or effort. An inheritance is given freely to children. The man didn’t realize the truth that no matter how hard he tried, he could never be greater than a servant, and a very flawed servant at that.

This prospect obviously leads many into despair. If we can’t be anything greater than servants, then what’s the point? If our works, no matter how good we feel about them, never measure up perfectly, then what can we do? Well, remember what it takes to be a child. A child is an heir by blood. As hopeless as we are on our own, we do have access to God’s home, as children. Not because of our blood, but because of another’s.

When Jesus shed His perfect blood on the cross, as true man (one of us) and true God (the very Son) he paid the price that was needed for us to receive the inheritance. Paul wrote to the Galatians: “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” The blessings of God’s home are given to you through Jesus. And later Paul would write this: “Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

As our text says, God builds the house. He sets the rules. He determines the truth. And the truth is this: We are helpless on our own. Like prodigal sons, we sacrificed our original inheritance of righteousness on the altars of self-satisfaction and temptation. We chose other ways to prosperity and protection and we fell from the path of God’s Word. We are thoroughly corrupted and wicked; and on our own we have no inkling to seek God. But the Father had a plan in place. He brought you back from the dead by His own Son, the only rightful Heir that was left once sin entered the scene.

Even with the advent of Jesus we were still lost. Something more needed to be done. The Son also needed to bleed. He needed to bleed so that we could be purified. That blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness. His blood paid the way for us to have the status as sons and daughters again; rightful heirs of the inheritance of God’s kingdom. Where we were faithless; stuck only as servants of the most high God; Jesus came and made us children in the home.

Therefore we have the warmth of His love and the comfort of His forgiveness amidst the cold nights of this sinful life. We have the true treasure of His Word as a means to build and strengthen His will in our lives; so that we take time to pray to Him in thankfulness and humility. We have answers to the lingering doubts and concerns about being a sinful person living in a world full of evidence for a righteous and holy God. That’s what being part of the household means. Yes, ultimately we have hope for heaven; a city that needs no protection from pain and sorrow, because those things have passed away.

But even before we think of heaven, and well before we get there, we are in God’s home today. Because a home is more than we end our days and where we rest our heads. A home is the day-to-day blessings, the joy and peace that need not be explained or reasoned, and the presence of fellow family members. I pray for your courage and confidence through faith in Jesus Christ. You are His child. You are a member of God’s household; a blood-bought heir of eternal life. Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen. 

October 11, 2015 - Matthew 12:33-37

Podcast: http://redemption-clc.podomatic.com/entry/2015-10-12T09_01_20-07_00

Theme: Don’t Neglect God’s Means of Communication

1) Word to Heart

2) Heart to Mouth

Have you ever tried gardening? If you have, would you say that you have a “green thumb?” Gardening can be a tricky thing. We all understand the basic properties of a plant and what it needs to grow. But practicing it in various settings can be difficult. You need to have knowledge about the plant you’re trying to grow. You need to have knowledge about the climate you live in. And you need to be consistent. Plants require regular care.

In our modern age we don’t have to worry about gardening too much. Most people garden as a hobby, not out of necessity. For most people, especially in America, you can get whatever you want at the grocery store. It only takes a couple of minutes and you can have just about any edible fruit or vegetable, without any trouble. Even in Seattle, you can buy your groceries with the click of a button on your computer or mobile device; you don’t even need to get out of bed. Without a doubt, we could say that we’ve come a long way in our ability to grow plants and provide food. But it wasn’t always like this.

Not that long ago, almost everyone had to garden or farm to survive and provide for their family. In world history, every successful culture has needed a profitable agricultural system, and for a long time that meant that individual families had to grow plants on their own. This was certainly the way it was for the cultures in Biblical times. The Bible is filled with lessons about plant life and gardening. In fact, it was such a central theme to the people of Biblical times that the Holy Spirit employed many spiritual applications through plant life.

Think of how Jesus pictured Himself as the Vine of a plant and His disciples as branches that bear fruit through Him. Another well-known example is the parable of the Sower and the Seed, where the Gospel is presented as a seed that seeks to grow in the hearts of people. Paul followed this same theme by describing the ministry of God’s Word as planting and watering seed of which God brings forth the increase. Near the end of His ministry, as holy week began, Jesus taught a lesson on judgment and repentance through a barren fig tree that He cursed. In the Old Testament Isaiah prophesied about the prosperity of the coming Messiah by describing a thriving oasis in the midst of a parched desert. Even at the very beginning, God told Adam that the curse of difficulty in gardening would be upon him as a result of his sin. All of these examples, and more like them, contain spiritual applications to our lives. It is true that in and of itself, gardening is hard because of sin. That truth is absolute. But more important than the food we grow or eat, is the effect of sin in our hearts.

Our text for today speaks of another application taken from plant life; this time speaking about communication. God’s message is that what we put in our hearts affects what comes out of our mouths; just as the type of plant determines the type of fruit it bears. We focus our hearts and minds on this message today as it comes from the words of Jesus in Matthew 12:33-37:

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

When we speak of the 2^nd commandment, the immediate application is in the way we use God’s name. Following on the heels of the 1^st commandment, God expects us to use His name with respect because He is the only God. The best way to start showing our loyalty to God is to use His name to praise and worship Him, not to use His name foolishly to curse or swear. This is the primary emphasis of the 2^nd commandment.

But there is a secondary application too. As Luther pointed out in his explanation to the commandment, honoring God includes not only turning away from what is sinful, but pursuing what is God-pleasing. In this sense, we see how the commandment also points to the many ways we should properly use the voices God has given us, even if we aren’t specifically addressing Him. As Christians, everything we do or say reflects back to God. This makes us think about all of the other vulgar ways that sin can lead us to misuse our voices. In many ways, we may not be technically taking God’s name in vain, but any type of vulgar language ultimately points back to Him and still affects our relationship with Him. And when we use that type of language, even if it’s common or acceptable in the eyes of the world, it breaks our command to use our tongues to glorify God.

It’s probably this secondary aspect of the 2^nd commandment that trips us up more. I don’t think that most of us blatantly take God’s name in vain or think lightly of it. But do we feel the same about the other ‘lesser’ words and expressions that are commonplace in society yet equally filled with sinful thoughts? Somehow, we often have a way of convincing ourselves that it’s not that bad to use vulgar language, especially since it’s so firmly entrenched in our culture.

The mediums we use to communicate also play a role in this. Do you consider a text or a personal conversation the same as a public speech? Would you feel comfortable using the same words that you do with friends and co-workers with your pastor or your parents? On the surface we look at these situations as different, and they are to some degree. But when it comes to our souls and our witness as Christians, there is no difference. The words and thoughts we put out on facebook or email carry the same weight as saying that very thing in Sunday worship or Bible class; and sometimes even more weight because they reach a much wider audience. And yet, we often don’t think they’re the same. Often we convince ourselves that if we can hide behind the anonymity of a computer or cell-phone, that its’ not the same as a face to face conversation. I think we often feel this way because it’s the way much of the world operates. The web is a breeding ground for hostile and inappropriate language. The accessibility of a cell network or the internet allows you to speak without immediate consequences. You can rip into someone or curse and swear at liberty without being judged or rebuked face to face. You can’t get away with the same thing in a public setting, or when you’re fellow Christians are around.

When we consider these negative effects of digital communication, it’s pretty amazing how direct the words of Jesus from our text strike to the heart of the matter. At a time long before social media, Jesus addressed the very core of the problem – the sinful human heart. That’s where the picture of a plant comes in. Jesus applies it in this context to communication; think of Jesus here as teaching a principle based on the 2^nd commandment. The heart, or properties of a plant, determine the fruit it bears. In the same way, the status of the human heart determines the words that come out of the mouth. And to help us out, Jesus teaches that God has a plan for our communication; both when He speaks to us and when we speak to Him or to others.

Part 1: Word to Heart

We start with the blessing of the Word given to us because that’s where our relationship with God starts. Without faith it is impossible to please God and without the Word of God we would have no promise of faith, because faith comes from hearing the Word of God, specifically the words of what Christ our Savior has done for us. Jesus gets to this point when He makes mention of the treasure in the man’s heart. We know that He can’t be speaking about the state of our hearts before faith, or by nature, because the natural human heart is an utterly wicked thing. It is the source of all types of sinful language, both directed at God and directed at others. Jesus said that is was the human heart that produced all manners of sins, including “evil thoughts, murder, adultery, other sexual sins, stealing, lying, and cursing (Matthew 15:19 GWN).” Paul spoke of his own heart when he said, “I know that in me, that is in my flesh, nothing good dwells (Romans 7:18).” David pleaded with the Lord to “Create in me a pure heart…” because by nature what David had was not so pure.

The treasure in the believer’s heart is not his own feelings or attitude, it’s the gift of faith in Jesus. If you follow the context of Matthew after chapter 12, Jesus continues with this thought. In the very next chapter, in a single verse, Jesus taught this parable: the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field (Matthew 13:44). A few verses after that, in a different parable, Jesus said this: "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old (Matthew 13:52)."

Think of a scribe simply as someone who uses the Bible. In Jesus’ time, there was a specific person called to do that. Bibles weren’t as commonplace as they are today. But each us are now scribes, or Bible users, on our own. You all have the ability to gather from the treasure of God’s inspired Word on your own. And from that treasure God’s kingdom is established in your heart. A kingdom built on forgiveness of your sins in Jesus Christ. When you have that treasure, and it is vibrant in your heart, if will positively affect how you use your voice. You will be led to glorify and praise God’s name in response to such a blessing of life and forgiveness. And you will turn from the many ways you can misuse your tongue. The treasure of the gospel, as Jesus says, brings forth good things in our lives.

Part 2: Heart to Mouth

But to have this treasure, God must first communicate to you through His Word. The best explanation of how this communication works comes from Romans 10, as the Holy Spirit explained it through Paul: The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:8-10).

Faith in Jesus first enters your heart and is then transferred to what you confess with your mouth. Therefore, the picture that Jesus gives holds up. What gives you nutrients as living members of God’s kingdom is also what motivates the words you say. Likewise, if you are breaking the 2^nd commandment by cursing, swearing, or any other way to misuse your voice, the problem begins in your heart and that’s where you should look first to fix it.

We see a tragic reminder of this in the example of the Pharisees. In our text, Jesus calls them a bunch of vipers; which isn’t a loose description when we consider how sin was first introduced into the world through the serpent in the Garden. The reason Jesus said this was to get the Pharisees to look at their hearts. They claimed to speak for God and to speak the truth, but they did this without considering their faith. They believed they were in the right because of their physical lineage as Jews, not at all considering that they too were sinners in need of a Savior. It may seem here that Jesus was just unduly critical with the Pharisees and their lack of truth and faith. But in these words Jesus pointed right to the solution. He wasn’t being overly critical or harsh, He was trying to help the Pharisees see their weakness and turn to God in repentance. Jesus, of course, does the same for us in His Word, especially as we consider the 2^nd commandment. It may seem unfair at times for the pastor or fellow Christians to rebuke vulgar language or cursing. You may be tempted to think, “what right do they have to judge?” Or you may jump to saying, “Everybody’s doing it, stop being so holier than thou!’

Indeed, the Pharisees reacted to Jesus in a similar way. They chose to accumulate evil treasure in their hearts; treasure from Satan and the world, not treasure from the gospel. And their words and actions were motivated by this treasure. When we react in hostility to the message of God’s word, even if comes through God’s servants, what treasure are we being led by? Consider that, because the treasure that’s in your heart will also be what produces the words you speak. As Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Jesus freely offers you the treasure contained in His Word; a treasure that grants you forgiveness and eternal life, and a treasure that can guide your thoughts and words today, so that you can lead your life for God’s glory and for the benefit of your fellow people. And this treasure is a central theme in God’s Word, exactly parallel with all the many expressions of growth, life, and fruit.

It’s pretty amazing how you have open access to all varieties of fruits and vegetables. You don’t need to be an expert farmer or gardener anymore today. In the same way, you don’t have to work on your own to have the good treasure from God that will produce spiritual fruits in your life. It is freely offered to you in the Word, freely won for you by Jesus, and you have easy access to that Word every day. May your use of God’s Word be as frequent and natural as a plant that bears its regular fruit. And may the spiritual fruit that you produce be ever as healthy and wholesome because it comes from the abundant treasure of God’s Word in your heart. Amen.  

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.     

October 4, 2015 - James 4:7-10

Podcast: http://redemption-clc.podomatic.com/entry/2015-10-05T12_43_53-07_00

Theme: Satan is a Real Threat, but He has been Neutralized

1) Daily protection comes through humility

2) Eternal Freedom comes through God’s grace

James 4:7-10 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

It’s hard to believe that October is already upon us. This time of year is well known for cooler temperatures, shorter days, and changing of the scenery through cloudiness and tree colors. However, October is best known for its final day, Halloween. Halloween is a beloved holiday in our country for many reasons. It’s a time for trick-or-treating, apple cider, hay rides, and other fall celebrations. But it’s most well-known for dressing up in costumes. Halloween has always had a scary side to it that involves many things that make our hair stand on end. But ultimately, despite how scared we get, we know that it is all make believe. None of the goblins or ghouls of Halloween actually pose a threat to us.

There are certainly many exciting things about Halloween and a lot of fun can be had at this time of year. But with that comes a warning. Sometimes, the playful side of Halloween can cheapen real dangers that do exist in life. One way this often happens is in our perception of Satan, the greatest enemy to our faith. It’s not uncommon to see Satan depicted in various ways throughout the Halloween season. In fact, he’s probably one of the most popular characters to dress up as. We often see Satan as a little horned figure with a tail and pitchfork. Sometimes he’s also depicted as a dirty angel on your shoulder, always trying to get you to relax and have fun.

These pictures are harmless in and of themselves, but if they cause us to loosen the reality of the danger that Satan poses they can be harmful. Pretty soon we begin to think that Satan is just a fictitious being, like so many others do. God is clear in a number of places in His Word that Satan, and all demons, are indeed real and dangerous. Satan is called a raging lion who seeks to devour you (1 Peter 5:8). We’re told at the very beginning how it was Satan who first tempted Adam and Eve to bring sin into the world. That’s certainly a reality that we have to deal with today, sin is not make believe. Jesus called Satan the “father of lies.” Paul instructed the Ephesians to use God’s Armor to withstand the attacks of Satan. There was no point to this if Satan doesn’t exist. Even Jesus was tempted directly by Satan, which means that our great foe is just as real as our one and only Savior.

And here in our verses for today James reminds us that the devil, Satan, is the one who is in direct opposition to God. The first thing we need to realize about Satan is that he is real and is a great threat to our lives, but we also know that he has been neutralized by Jesus. The last chapter of Romans records the victory that Christ achieved for us over Satan, by hearkening back to the very first promise of a Savior given directly to Satan: The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you (Romans 16:20).

We await complete and total victory over Satan while here on this earth. And though no one can take this promise from us, we can lose it on our own. This is the threat that remains. Not that God can somehow be overpowered by Satan but that we could be deceived and lose the precious inheritance that Jesus has won for us. Think of it this way. The battle for our souls is complete. Jesus won the war when He declared from the cross, “It is finished.” Satan can do no more with Christ in the picture. Satan is condemned to hell. The threat today for us is that we would lose our way on the path to God’s kingdom in heaven. Though Satan is conquered, he still works through the lies and trickery of sin to distort the only way to eternal life through Jesus. Satan can no longer fight, but he can cloud and conceal the truth.

This is the new battle we find ourselves in as we near the end of this world, and it’s the same battle that Christians from the time of Christ have been entrenched in. We see the forceful message that James gave to his fellow Christians who were engaged in this conflict. The seriousness and reality of this threat from the devil is emphasized by the Holy Spirit’s employment of 10 commands in these 4 verses. At first glance these commands make it feel as if we need to do these things on our own in order to conquer the devil in our lives. But that would contradict what Christ has already freely done in our stead.

Rather than shovel more responsibility on our plate, these imperatives stress the urgency of taking this threat seriously. Whenever the danger of Satan is minimized, and it is greatly minimized in our modern world, the great need we have for deliverance from God is made shallow as well. To help in understanding this, James points out two important things we can focus on. The first is the daily protection that God offers to the humble.

Part 1

Discrediting the seriousness of Satan’s ploys is a result of spiritual arrogance. Therefore, James implores his fellow Christians to stay humble in their faith. He begins by exhorting them to submit to God. Submitting to God means that we acknowledge Him as the authority in our lives. It’s a concept that involves both self-denial and hope. Self-denial because we yield all things to God and confess that we are not the end all, be all of life. But hope because a humble and repentant heart trusts in God’s saving merits and grace. No matter which side of it you look at, humility is a good thing for your life.

But how many of you enjoy being made humble? I know I don’t. It’s not easy to be told you’re wrong or you’ve failed. It’s equally frustrating to know that you haven’t measured up to God’s expectations, and even that you can’t on your own. Because of these reasons, and others like them, humility is becoming rarer and rarer in our world. Yet, when it comes to your life with God, you can’t be with Him without humility. And furthermore, to submit to God means learning the painful lessons of humility day after day.

Another aspect of humility and submission comes forth when James speaks of being sorrowful. Sorrow seems like a strange thing to look at as a quality, especially since we have hope in Christ. But James is not pointing to the end of our faith, but rather combating sinful pride that we encounter along the way. At times, there are so many things going on in life that we forget why we are here. This is especially true for us as Americans, since we are told daily that we have a God-given right to happiness. God certainly created the world for our benefit and He wants us to have a happy and fulfilling life. The problem is not with happiness or with God, it’s that we often change the meaning of happiness. God does not give us the right to pursue whatever we want under the context of happiness. There are indeed many things present in the world that are attached to a worldly view of happiness but only involve sin. James makes the point that submission to God means showing sorrow over things that are sinful, even though they may bring happiness to our sinful flesh.

True, Godly sorrow over sin is absolutely necessary to guard against Satan’s deceptions, because he will try to deceive you into thinking that sin is harmless happiness. The fact that many people believe that pursuit of worldly happiness is a God-given right is further proof of how devious Satan’s temptations can be. Even as he did before Jesus in the wilderness, Satan will stop at nothing, even twisting our understanding of God and His Word, to lead us into sin. And the first step on that path is keeping us from submitting to God in humility, and all too often Satan accomplishes this by making it look as if sin is simply happiness.  

Part 2

Humility is certainly needed to help in the everyday struggle against Satan’s ploys. But something even greater was needed to ultimately destroy his works and to promise us future glory with God. That something is the grace of Jesus Christ. This grace comes in view through the commands to “cleanse” and “purify.” Again, these actions do not point at our works, but that we would cleanse and purify ourselves through Christ’s atonement on the cross. This cleansing and purification is the forgiveness that takes away our sins. It is the same hope that was expressed by David concerning his sins of lust, adultery, and murder, as we read in Psalm 51: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Wash me from my sin and cleanse me from my iniquity.”

In his first letter John wrote at length about this connection. See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he (God) is pure. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he (God) is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother (1 John 3:1,3,7,10)

Cleansing and purification of sins come only through Jesus because only Jesus has destroyed the devil’s works. Yes, Satan is real. His hold on your life was real. The need to destroy him was real. So real, in fact, that God’s own Son had to come down to earth and do it for all of us. Our desire to pursue this cleansing and purification is only evidence of what Christ has already done. We draw near to God by staying as close to Him as we can, not by working to achieve His favor. Many ask, well, where is God that I may stay close to Him? “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” God is in His Word. God is the Word. When you stay close to the Word, you are close to God, the conqueror and victor over Satan. In the Word, Satan can’t get close to you. In the Word, you are safe.

Doesn’t sound like a dangerous threat from that perspective, does it? But the problem is, Satan can reach you in everything else. His deceptions and ploys are abundant in all areas of this sinful world. Hi twisted fingers can grab you through money, possessions, education, politics, your occupation and hobbies, and even your own heart. We forget this all too often. We are so quick to think of Satan only in the evil things of the world, only in those things that we can clearly see as sins. But he can get through to you with his lies and deceit in every area of life, because every area of life has been corrupted by sin. Satan often will reach out to you in something that seems innocent. He will often use those things that God created to be blessings but have been corrupted by sin. Things like: your family and friends, your marriage, your food and drink, your time, your bank account, and your freedom. We already mentioned one big one in happiness. These are all blessings from God, yet corrupted by sin and able to be used by Satan to deceive you.  

The devil can even use your most precious resource and your only safe-haven, the Word of God, when it’s meaning and contents are twisted. Think of Christ’s temptation in the wilderness. What did Satan use to tempt Him? Fame, wealth, and kingdoms. But also the very words of God when he deceptively misquoted Psalm 91. Satan can do all these things because his objective is simple. He only has to get you to forsake Christ. There are plenty of ways to do that. Satan has no strict dogma or well-defined theology that he needs to abide by. He is loyal to all religions except Christianity, and even in many cases he finds a way to distort that. There is nothing specific that Satan has to get you to believe. It doesn’t matter to him, just as long as whatever you believe denies salvation through Jesus Christ.

And therefore, Satan can use just about anything, even the many blessings in God’s creation. The message for you today is to use what God has given you as a defense. The threat is absolutely real, Satan is no fairy tale. An attitude of humility will keep you close to God by repenting of your sins and looking alone to forgiveness in Christ. Christian humility will also keep you where you belong, as God’s obedient servant, instead of falling into the fatal sin of denial through arrogance and pride.

But, in the end, even humility has its limit. Even Satan has a found ways to turn well-intentioned humility into a human service that forgets about Jesus. That’s where the gift of grace comes in. Even though Satan can just about throw anything at you to lead you astray, God only needs one thing to keep you with Him – His love for you even though you’re an underserving sinner.

Don’t be a double-minded Christian who tries to look good on the outside but is happy to follow Satan’s schemes in every other area of life. Be aware. The danger is real. The threat has eternal implications. But you have victory today! The only thing that can keep you from God is yourself and how much of a foothold you allow Satan to gain in your life. There is only one way to God and one way to be with God for eternity. Humility helps us for a while, but grace alone is what unlocks heaven to us. Grace in Jesus is what makes us untouchable to Satan. It’s what protects us at all times, because grace is also what chained Satan to hell. The victory message is that we are cleansed and purified in the blood of Jesus Christ, shed for us on the cross. The very thing that proved to be Satan’s demise, is our promise of eternal life. No one can take God’s grace from you. You always have it in Jesus Christ. Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.