God Warns of Temptation - Jun 22, 2008

Grace be unto you and peace from the One True God, Father Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Proverbs 1:10, 15-19

My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.

My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path; For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird; But they lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives. So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners.

In the Name of Jesus Christ,

Who is able to help us when we are Tempted to sin,

Dear Fellow Redeemed by His Precious Blood –

A toddler runs toward a busy street laughing and playing. He doesn’t understand the danger present in the cars that are speeding by him without noticing his tiny frame. Why should he be afraid, these cars just look like larger versions of his toys! Just then, He sees a toad hopping across the road and he begins to step off the curb onto the busy street…

In a busy but momentarily unattended kitchen, another toddler sees a bright orange glow coming from the burner atop the stove. It seems to be the same color as his little ball, the little ball that he’s been trying to find. He waddles across the linoleum and on tiptoe reaches to touch the hot burner…

Still another young child sits quietly in the corner of the living room, looking at the screwdriver his father forgot to put away. He notices the wall outlet and concludes that it would be the perfect place to stick the shiny screwdriver. After crawling across the room, he reaches out to insert the tool into the electrical outlet…

Suddenly a fatherly voice cries out: “STOP! Don’t you ever go near the road without me! STOP! Don’t touch that it’s hot! STOP! Don’t put that in there, you’ll get hurt! The lower lip of the startled toddler begins to quiver and with wide eyes he begins to cry. Then with loving concern a his father lifts his child out of harms way and comforts him, saying, “My Son, Don’t be afraid, I love you. I don’t want you to get hurt. If you walk in the road or touch the hot burner or put that into the outlet, you will be hurt." These words and expressions show the concern that every loving father should have for his children. A loving father disciplines, admonishes, and encourages, because he doesn’t want his children to be hurt in body or soul.

The words of our text this morning are also the words of a loving father to his children. But these are not merely the words of Solomon to his son, they are the words of our loving Heavenly Father who wants no evil of body or soul to fall upon us. These are not the words of a disinterested impersonal God who ‘just thought we should know’ about temptation. These are the words of our loving father, who sent His own dear son to live the innocent life we could not and to lay down His life so we might have a place in His House forevermore. Yes, these words are for each one of us, for by faith in Christ we are His Children, as it is written (Galatians 3:26):

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

This morning our loving father warns us about Temptation. He warns us because the goal of the Devil is that we should fall to temptation and sin and refusing to repent be lost to eternal death. May the Holy Spirit fill our hearts and minds with these precious words of our heavenly father. Amen.

I watched a television program some time ago that told the story of a man whose job it was to daily milk venom from the world’s most deadly snakes. But one day he didn’t pay enough attention, perhaps it had become so familiar that he didn’t respect the danger any longer. Suddenly, a deadly poisonous snake bit him. He could have died had it not been for a co-worker who quickly drove him to the hospital.

Can you imagine being careless around a deadly snake that has all the tools to kill you? Well, we do it all the time. Oh, we don’t literally play around with poisonous snakes, but we aren’t nearly as careful as we should be when it comes to that Old Serpent, the Devil. This is a danger that we all have to beware of -- young and old alike. Our Heavenly Father doesn’t want us to be careless when it comes to the Devil. In fact, He even tells us to watch out for those who act as his cronies, for those who tempt us to sin. For these can be just as dangerous as poisonous snakes.

My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent….My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path;

When the LORD says, ‘If sinners entice you’ he’s not saying that this is mere possibility. He’s not saying, “Oh, by the way, this might happen to you once or twice in a lifetime.” We all know from personal experience that temptations to sin don’t come just once in a while. The voice of temptation is a persistent and powerfully persuasive voice. The Devil is a crafty fellow, he doesn’t attack us as a group, but knowing our individual weaknesses, he attacks them.

He may tempt us in different ways. The voice of temptation sometimes threatens: “If you don’t do this then you’re not really my friend.” It sometimes flatters: “We are going to bring some cigarettes and marijuana along. We think that you are cool enough to handle it.”

It lures: “Hey, just one time couldn’t hurt. Everyone does it. Give it a try.” It fills us with grand ideas: “Just think of what you could do with all that money! Just think about how much better life could be!” It tries to justify sin: “Hey, you love her. You are engaged, what would it hurt?”

Our Heavenly Father tells His children that when they are tempted to sin they should not be inclined to follow. In simple terms we are not even to silently approve or be sympathetic. We are not to wink and smile at sin and temptation. We are to turn our back when someone encourages us to sin. In fact, our Father tells us, “Don’t even set your foot on their path.”

The Devil has had more than 7000 years to practice and perfect temptation. If that wasn’t enough, he has a man on the inside, inside of each one of us, our own sinful natures. So the LORD warns us ahead of time about the temptations we may face. In the Proverbs alone our Father warns us about specific temptations. He says (6:25; 12:26; 23:31; 30:8-9):

v “Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids.” Sexual desire can be a constant temptation not only for men, but for women also. So our Father warns us.

v “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.” If we do not carefully choose for our friends those who share our faith in Christ, then we will face temptations of a faith destroying nature. This is especially important when choosing a wife or husband. Many are the temptations to leave the Lord in the marriage whose foundation is not Jesus Christ.

v “Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly.” When a person looks forward to and longs for alcohol, when alcohol becomes an attempt to escape from reality, from sins and from guilt, it is misused. For many people today drunkenness and the misuse of alcohol is a severe temptation. So the Lord warns us.

v “Remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches— feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.” Truly one of the greatest temptations of our time is the lure of easy money, of riches and wealth. The LORD gives us what we need for body and soul. May He also lead us to be content with the thing He gives to us.

The Devil didn’t just tempt Jesus 3 times when in the wilderness. We dare not think that Satan is going to let us off easy. It is for this very reason that our Father says (1 Peter 5:8):

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

Now our Father doesn’t warn us of these things because He’s upstairs pressing the buttons. He warns us because our souls are at stake. God is not the source of Temptation. Temptation has its origin in our sinful hearts. It is written (James 1:13-15):

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

Our Father warns us about temptation because it can lead to death. He also here gives us three good reasons why we should not follow those who tempt us to sin:

For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird; But they lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives. So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners.

1) Their feet run to evil. Their object is no secret. They set out with sin in mind. God didn’t send His Son to suffer and die to atone for my sins so that I should continue in sin!

2) They spread the net in vain in the sight of any bird. What does that mean? Well, in those days birds (doves) were caught in order to be offered as sacrifices. Those who caught these birds did so by net, and they knew not to spread the net in the sight of the birds. If the birds knew better than to stay near the man who laid out a net to catch them in their presence – shouldn’t God’s children know better than to avoid the man who lays out the net of temptation to catch them? The birds know enough to fly away from danger, shouldn’t we?

3) Finally, those who tempt us to sin lie in wait for their own blood. Those who tempt us to sin and are successful, the same bring judgement on their own heads. We should remember the same if we tempt or lead others to sin by our words and actions. We should be very careful not to willfully or accidentally lead others to sin. This is so serious that Jesus once said (Matthew 18:6):

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

When a child is nearly hurt and his father comes to the rescue, that father will not soon turn his back and leave the child to be hurt. So it is that our Heavenly Father doesn’t just warn us about these things and expect us to stand up and make the right decision when tempted to sin.

v He equips us with an open line to His Throne and invites us to pray for help in time of need. Our Lord Jesus taught us to pray: Lead us not into temptation. Lord, don’t let temptation overcome your child but be at my side to protect me.

v Even as an earthly father is stronger than his children, so our Heavenly Father is stronger than us and most importantly stronger than the Tempter. He provides us with the Mighty Protection of His Holy Word, which will send the Devil running. Through that Word our loving father would take us by the hand and lead us out of danger.

v He gives us the Holy Spirit to guide our hearts and minds so that we may defeat the Devil’s Temptations.

Finally, He promises and comforts us with these words (1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:12):

“God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

May God so equip us and be with us that we endure temptations to sin and receive that crown of life.

Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

-Pastor Andrew Schaller

God Wants My Heart - Jun 15, 2008

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Matthew 21:28-32

²⁸ “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ ²⁹ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. ³⁰ Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. ³¹ Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. ³² For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.

In the Name of Jesus Christ,

Dear Fellow Redeemed by His Blood –

I guess we would say that they were misled, and it really shouldn’t come as a surprise to us. After all, the Devil is a master at misleading human beings. In fact, it seems that Satan is especially good at leading men to do evil -- in order to appease God! The worst kinds of evil have been done in the course of history by people who actually think that they are serving God, that they are doing what He wants them to do!

· Klu Klux Klan members actually think that their organization has its basis in the Bible, and some think that they are doing what God wants them to do.

· Saul of Tarsus stood by and held the coats of those who murdered Stephen and then he breathed murder and violence against Christians. He was convinced that Christianity was the worst kind of evil, a cult, and that he was doing God’s will. He even traveled out of the country to arrest and imprison the followers of Jesus.

When Jesus appeared to him outside Damascus, his eyes were opened. He learned that he had been misled that he had not been doing God’s will but opposing it all along. The Holy Spirit led him to regret what he had done and trust in Jesus, whom he had been zealously persecuting. Then Saul of Tarsus became the Apostle Paul. He later expressed his regret at what he had done and rejoiced in God’s grace to him, writing (1 Timothy 1:12-13) :

“…I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.”

The Apostle Paul is a success story of God’s grace. There are many others who continue to oppose what God wants – while still thinking that they are doing what God wants. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day would certainly fall into this category. They took pride in themselves and their religious positions. They were convinced that they were doing what God wanted them to do – even in opposing Jesus and plotting to kill Him.

Well, they are dead now, and now they know the truth, but it’s too late. However, it is not too late for those who still live on earth in the midst of their time of grace. It’s important that we ask what does God want of me? Even more important is that we find the answer to this question in God’s Word. We will see this morning from this portion of God’s Word what God wants of us. He wants us to repent of our sins. He wants us to trust in Him for forgiveness. Fortunately for us, He by His Spirit moves us to both regret and repent of our sins, and trust in the Savior Jesus for forgiveness. May God the Holy Spirit guide us this morning as we study this portion of God’s Word. Amen.

There are many examples in sports today, of athletes who were once told they were not good enough, who then used their rejection as fuel to accomplish their goals. They worked harder and longer than some more gifted athletes did in part simply to disprove their critics, to prove them wrong.

In a much more heinous way, the religious leaders of Jesus day tried again and again to disprove and undermine Jesus’ ministry, but they failed. They tried again and again to bait Jesus into saying or doing something wrong, but failed. They questioned by what authority Jesus taught and did the things that he did. Their goal was simply to discredit Jesus. Jesus knew their goal, so when they questioned His authority, he asked them (Matthew 21:25):

“…The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”

Jesus’ question was a sticky one for them. If they said that John’s Baptism was from heaven, that God sent John to baptize -- Jesus could ask them why they refused to repent and be baptized by John. If they said that John’s Baptism was from men -- that John was baptizing without God’s authorization -- the people would reject them, for they believed that God sent John.

Rather than be confronted by their opposition to God’s plans or be opposed by the people at large, they refused to answer Jesus’ question. So Jesus asked them a question they would answer:

“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ ²⁹ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. ³⁰ Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. ³¹ Which of the two did the will of his father?”

Jesus used this simple illustration to reveal their hypocrisy and to explain what the Heavenly Father wanted of them. There was a man who had two sons. He came to each of his sons and using affectionate language, asked each of them to go and work in his vineyard. The first didn’t ask to be excused for some other purpose, but simply refused his father bluntly and disrespectfully. However, later he was moved to regret his refusal and went and did what his father wanted. The second son answered respectfully, “Yes, Lord, I go.” Although he made it sound like he on his way out to do what his father asked, he did nothing. So which of the two sons did what their father asked? Was it the disrespectful son or the respectful one? Only the first, though he at first refused, regretted his sin and did what his father wanted.

In answering Jesus’ question they had unwittingly condemned themselves.

They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. ³² For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.

It must have been like a slap in the face for those self-righteous religious leaders to be told that the very people they so loved to look down on as the worst kinds of sinners, who in their minds had no place in God’s Kingdom – would be entering before them. Jesus explained why they would not be entering. When John came calling the people to repent of their sins and be baptized – they refused. Instead, public sinners (tax collectors and prostitutes) came to John and were led by the Holy Spirit to regret their sins and be baptized, trusting in the Promised Savior. They entered into God’s Kingdom. They were like the first son, who though at first bluntly refused the father – later repented and went into the Vineyard.

The very men who boasted that they were the Leaders of God’s People, that it was their job to do what God wanted – were merely ‘yes men’ whose religion amounted to word and no action. They were the first to stand and say, “Here I am, Lord, send me!” They were proud of themselves, “Look at me, I’m serving God!” They did not do what God wanted, for they refused to repent of their sins and be baptized. They who said, “Yes, Sir I go!” Instead opposed God’s plans and rejected God’s Savior when He arrived. Even when they saw the change of heart and mind that Jesus caused in public sinners, they still refused him. God wanted them to regret their sins and turn in faith to Jesus and be forgiven. They refused.

My dear Christian friends. Let’s not imagine self-righteously that we are a hybrid of the two sons. Let’s not imagine that we always say, “Yes, Sir I Go!” and then willingly follow through. The Lord isn’t seeking ‘yes men’ that step forward to carry His banner – but don’t really follow Him. Jesus isn’t looking for sons who hear His Word, but think that it’s OK for them to not put it into practice. The Lord warns us in the Word because He doesn’t want our religion to be of the mouth, but not the heart and mind. He doesn’t want us to be hearers who do not follow through, for it is written (James 1:22):

“…But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

What does God want of me? What does God want of you? He would have us, like that first son, regret our sin, repent of them and look to Him for forgiveness. This he moves in us by His Spirit. We not only regret our sins, but despise them and like a garbage bag full of rotting trash throw it away from ourselves, trusting that Jesus has taken it up and disposed of it. The Lord not only forgives, but also by His Word and Sacrament leads us to serve Him willingly. He Himself guides us on the way of righteousness to show our faith by our actions and to look continually for opportunities to glorify Jesus – without looking to see if anyone else notices.

What does God want of me? He wants my religion, my faith to be a matter of the heart. He wants to be the center of my universe. He wants everything in my life to revolve around Him. What he wants of me he will also create in me by the regular hearing of His Word. The hymnwriter makes our hearts rejoice, reminding us (TLH 358:3-4):

Jesus gives us true repentance

by His Spirit sent from heav’n;

whispers this transporting sentence,

‘Son, thy sins are all forgiv’n’.

Faith He grants us to believe it,

grateful hearts His love to prize;

want we wisdom? He must give it,

hearing ears and seeing eyes.”

So we pray in closing:

Lord Jesus, the repentance you seek of me and the service you ask of me – create in me for your love’s sake.

Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

-Pastor Andrew Schaller