Christmas according to Isaiah - Part 3

Christmas according to Isaiah

Christmas according to Isaiah - part 3

Advent Midweek 3

Part 3: Yahweh in Person

Isaiah 7:10-14

Grace and mercy to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  (Amen)

It is written in Isaiah chapter 7:10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.” 13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.  Thus far the text.

Let us pray: Creator Father, through Your prophet Isaiah, You promised the virgin birth of Your Son Jesus Christ.  Angels announced the arrival of that birth seven centuries later.  Grant us ears to hear and hearts to receive the temporal and eternal blessing you give by grace through faith; in the name Jesus.  (Amen).

Ahaz was the king of Israel. Isaiah was the prophet of the Lord.

Ahaz was twenty years old when he succeeded his father Jotham to the throne of Judea. Ahaz was a weak and idolatrous king. Ahaz even offered one of his sons as a sacrifice to the pagan god named Moloch.

That was the heart of the problem.  

On the one hand, when the Lord commanded no sacrifices of any kind be made to other gods, King Ahaz did the opposite.  He sacrificed to other gods.  On the other hand, when the Lord commanded prayer and remembrance of the Sabbath by keeping it holy, King Ahaz again did the opposite.  He did not pray.  He did not remember the Sabbath.

This doing the opposite what the Lord says is called putting the Lord your God to the test.

It is written in for our instruction this evening that Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”

The Lord is commanding King Ahaz to ask for a sign.  Give Me a sign.  Any sign.  And I will do it.  Again, what does King Ahaz do?  But Ahaz puts on his most religious and humble face and said to the Lord:  “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.”  What a bunch of baloney.  When the Lord commands you to do something, then do it.

Every once in awhile, I meet a church member around town that hasn’t been to church in awhile.  Maybe at the gas station.  Maybe at a sporting event.  They see me and promise they will be in church next Sunday.  As if they’re making a confession of sin.  No, they just feel caught.  They feel the accusation of the law.  So they promise to be in church the next Sunday.  Without fail, two things happen.  First, they show up the next Sunday still apologizing.  Second, it will be a month of Sundays before they return.  If they ever return.

The Lord has commanded you to go to church.  So go.  Otherwise, as His child, you are putting the Lord your God to the test.  

The Lord has not commanded you to act all pious and religious at a gas station or football game when you see a pastor or your faithful aunt or a faithful grandpa.  Rather, on those occasions, fill up your gas tank and go about your errands.  Enjoy the football game.  Otherwise, you are putting the Lord your God to the test.

The Lord doesn’t like to be tested.  He told the Devil just that when the devil commanded Jesus to jump off the pinnacle of the temple.  Be gone Satan.

So also here with King Ahaz.  

And (the prophet Isaiah) said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?  Is it too little for you to weary your prophet or your pastor or your mom that you would also weary the Lord with you false religiosity?  Repent of your baloney and believe the Lord.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.  He already has to do the work of your salvation.  The Lord already must die for you.  So, when He commands the bad king Ahaz to dream up a sign as to how the Lord will come to His people (anything, just pick something) imagine the Lord’s frustration.  The Lord even has to dream up and predict how He is to come to dwell with His people.  And He does...

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Okay.  Beyond our imagination.

The Hebrew word for virgin is almay.  It means a young woman of marrying age who is not married; who is not engaged; who has only just reached child bearing age; who has not known a man.  

Seven hundred years after Isaiah, the angel Gabriel appeared before just such a virgin; an almay.  Her name was Mary.  Mary conceived.  

How can a virgin conceive?  Even Mary asked Gabriel, How will this be, since I am a virgin (Lk. 1:34 ESV)?  The angel Gabriel answered saying, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; The Word of God was spoken by the angel.  The Holy Spirit is inseparable from the Word of God  The Holy Spirit is the power of God.  That Word of God was spoken into the ear of Mary.  Mary conceived.  This is a miracle second only to the resurrection.

According to Isaiah’s prophecy, we confess that we believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our LORD, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.

What does that mean?  It means we believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father in eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my LORD.

This Child is God.  This Child is Man.  This Child is one person who is fully God and fully man.

Therefore the child to be born will be called holy-- the Son of God (Lk. 1:35 ESV).

Or, according to Isaiah, the child will be called Immanuel, that is God with us.

The sign is a pregnant virgin.

The gift is Immanuel, God Himself, dwelling with us on the this earth even now.

Immanuel is not given to you the way He was given to Isaiah.  The pre-incarnated Jesus appeared to Isaiah and gave Isaiah the words to speak to Ahaz.

Immanuel is not given to you the way He was given to Mary.  The incarnate Jesus was conceived and born of Mary that first Christmas.  Mary nursed Immanuel; raised Him as He grew in favor before God and man.  Mary watched Immanuel speak and die on the cross.

Immanuel is given to you the way He is now promised.  You hear His voice whenever the Word of God is taught in its purity.  You eat and drink His body and blood as often as the sacrament is rightly administered to you.

God is still with you.

Thanks to God for Christmas according to Isaiah.

Thanks be to God for His Son, our Savior.  Believe in Jesus.  Received the forgiveness of your sins, salvation, and eternal life; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

The peace of God, which passes understanding and which the angels proclaimed to the shepherds that first Christmas, protect you and keep you in Immanuel, our Savior.  Amen.

Third Sunday in Advent

Third Sunday in Advent

Third Sunday in Advent

December 17, 2017

Title:  Jesus is the Mystery of God.

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

It is written in 1 Corinthians 4 1This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.  Thus far the text.

Let us pray: Gracious Father, Your Son Jesus Christ, is the mystery of God whom You have made known to us in Your Holy Scriptures.  Grant us faithfulness to Your Word; in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Saint Paul is preaching these Words to the church gathered in Corinth.  It sounds a bit abrasive to us.  Saint Paul is telling the congregation how they regard him as their pastor.  The Corinthians were divided.  In the midst of many divisions, some followed Paul; but some followed Apollos, some followed Peter, some claimed to follow no man but Christ.

Saint Paul admonishes the Corinthian church, This is how one should regard (me and Apollos and Peter), as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.   

Paul says, regard us as servants of Christ.  Do not regard us as great leaders but rather regard us as fellow Christians saved by grace through faith in Jesus just as you are.

Paul also says, regard us as stewards of the mysteries of God.  

Think of stewards like this: the apostles and pastors are given a “power of attorney”.  They are responsible to distribute God’s gifts; according to God’s direction; according to His written Word.  

Think of the mysteries of God like this:  Jesus is the mystery of God who is received by faith.

Paul, Apollos, and Cephas were equally stewards of the mysteries of God.

The same is true for you.  Beginning with Pastor … and up to Pastor Saunders and even me, the Lord has granted you public stewards of the mysteries of God among the saints gathered at Our Savior Lutheran in Muscatine.  They all had the same responsibility: distribute the gifts of God our Father to you.

What is required of stewards?  It is required that they are found trustworthy to what is written in the Holy Scriptures.  They are to believe in Jesus Christ.  But for you, they are to preach and teach and pray and baptize and absolve and commune you regularly.  At the end of many years and decades of trustworthy stewardship, the Lord will commend the steward, saying well done my good and faithful steward.  This is true even if the church does not give a commendation because all they see is shrinking attendance, too many requests for repentance and faith, too little attention to boards and councils and conventions.

I am sometimes asked how this applies to the rest of the church.  The Lord has given you your own sphere of stewardship.  Your sphere includes your mom and dad, your husband or wife, your son or daughter, your employer or employee.  How do you exercise your responsibilities; your stewardship?  Like a pastor, look at what is written.  You have the Ten Commandments.  You are to believe in Jesus Christ.  You are to pray for yourself and others in Jesus name.  Attend the Divine Service.  This is true.  But your stewardship for others is to honor your father and mother.  If mom or dad is not asking you to sin against Jesus then do what they say even if you don’t want to.  This is your stewardship; your responsibility.  Students, do the homework your teacher assigns you whether you like it or not.  This is your stewardship.  Husbands and wives, love and cherish each other.  If your spouse is not asking you to sin against Jesus then do what she says even if you don’t want to.  This is your stewardship; your responsibility.  At the end of many years and decades of trustworthy stewardship, the Lord will commend you, saying well done my good and faithful steward.  Whether your stewardship is as a pastor of the mysteries of God in a little congregation or a bricklayer for a large company, as Christian stewards we are thoroughly furnished unto all good works through the study of Holy Scripture (which) is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16-17 KJV).

You will be found trustworthy because God our Father has sent His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ who did the good work of laying down His life and picking it back up again to fulfill the Ten Commandments and bear your sins and iniquities.

Jesus is the Mystery of God our Father.  I can neither explain this mystery nor will I try.  But, as far a Jesus is revealed in the Holy Scriptures this mystery I will proclaim.  Come quickly, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

The peace of God, which passes understanding, guard and keep your body and soul in Jesus Christ, who is the Mystery of God our Father.  Amen.

Second Sunday in Advent

                  Second Sunday in Advent

Audio Block

Double-click here to upload or link to a .mp3. Learn more

Second Sunday in Advent

December 10, 2017

Title:  Jesus Christ is Our Hope & Our Harmony

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

It is written in Romans 15: 4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. Thus far the text.

Let us pray: O Lord, You word is written for our instruction that we might have hope in You and harmony among each other.  Grant us this hope and harmony; in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction

Adam never read the Bible about his fall into sin.  The account of Adam & Eve was written by Moses centuries later.  What is written about Adam and Eve is written for our instruction.

Noah never read the Bible about a worldwide flood and the ark he build.  The account was written later for our instruction.

Jesus never read the New Testament.  He gave the words to be written to His evangelists and apostles who wrote but the New Testament was written after Jesus’ death and resurrection for our instruction.

How are you instructed?   You are instructed by the Lord through (the) endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures.

You are instructed every time you hear the Holy Scriptures.  You are instructed every Sunday through the public readings and preaching and Bible study.  You are instructed every time you hear the Words of Institution which explains what you are about to eat and drink and why the Lord wants you to eat and drink and what it is that you publicly declare each time you eat and drink.  You are instructed every Weekday reading of Bible.  Your instructor is the Holy Spirit who has bound His work to the Lord’s Holy Bible.

You endure week after week because the Lord is the Lord of endurance.

You are encouraged week after week because the Lord is the Lord of encouragement.

This advent season, hear the Voice of your Savior in what is Written for your instruction.

Today, the Lord is promising you two gifts.  The first gift is hope.

The common dictionary defines hope as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.  Hope is defined as a feeling of certainty; a feeling of trust.  

How is this hope received?  

Hope is received through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures.

Do you doubt the Lord’s no in His good Law?  Do you doubt the Lord’s yes in His good Gospel? Do you doubt that the Lord does not hold your sins against for Christ’s sake?  Well, tis the season of Advent to repent of this doubt that so easily entangles and hear the Scripture again.  Cast your doubt upon Jesus and believe that Jesus is the Christ.  Cast your doubt upon Jesus and put your faith in His death and resurrection to save you.  Hear again the encouragement Jesus gives you in His Scripture.  Hear again the encouragement He has for you in those same Scriptures.  Remain hearing Jesus and He will grant you hope in Jesus through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures.  For this is the work of God; that you believe in Jesus (John 6:29).

The second gift for you today is harmony with one another.

How is harmony with one another received?  

Harmony with one another is received through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures.

Do you doubt divisions in Christianity can be healed?  Do you doubt family conflicts about faith in Jesus have no end?  Well, tis the season of Advent to repent of this doubt that so easily entangles and hear the Scripture again.  Hear again the encouragement Jesus gives you in His Scripture.  Hear again the encouragement He has for you in those same Scriptures.  Remain hearing Jesus and He will grant you harmony with one another through (that) endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures.  For this is the work of God; that you believe in Jesus (John 6:29).

Faith in Jesus is the source for both your hope in the Lord and harmony with your neighbors.

The apostle Paul blesses His hearers, saying 5May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This issue of harmony was important to the Lutheran Reformers.  They did not want to give up their hope in Christ for the purpose of harmony.  But they did want to live in harmony within the church of the past, present, and future.  They wrote a book called the Book of Harmony.  You know it better by its Latinized name: The Book of Concord.

They wrote:  [16] We take no pleasure in discord (disharmony), nor are we unaware of our danger, the extent of which is evident from the bitter hatred inflaming the opponents. But we cannot surrender truth that is so clear and necessary for the (hope of the) church.

We believe, therefore, that we must endure difficulties and dangers for the glory of Christ and the good of the church. We trust that God approves our dutiful action, and we hope that posterity (the future generations of Christians) will judge us more equitably...

(Finally), we pray that Christ will help his afflicted and scattered churches and restore them to a godly and lasting concord (harmony).  

Do you hear their desire for concord; for harmony?

Our Savior Lutheran Church is one of about 6,000 churches that desires harmony in Christ with other Christians.  Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.  Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne.  The Concordia Universities.  All of them teach what the Lord has written for our instruction.  The day they lose hope in what is written will be a sad day for harmony among church bodies near and far.

Our Savior Lutheran Church is you.  People instructed in what is written.  People who believe in Jesus.  You have hope in Christ.  You have harmony among one another because you are in Christ.

I encourage you to continue to endure and find encouragement in the Scriptures.  This is how your hope in Christ and your harmony among one another will remain.

Finally, it is written: welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.  I am proud of all of you.  You have a reputation in the community as a warm and welcoming congregation.  People stop in for service.  They go away amazed at how kind you are to them.  Not every Christian congregation has this reputation.  Why you?  I am convinced it is because you continue to endure and find encouragement in the Scriptures; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

First Sunday in Advent

Audio Block

Double-click here to upload or link to a .mp3. Learn more

First Sunday in Advent

December 3, 2017

Romans 13:11–14             

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

It is written, 11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Let us pray: Let us pray: Almighty God, grant to Your church Your Holy Spirit and the wisdom that comes down from above, that Your Word may not be bound but have free course and be preached to the joy and edifying of Christ’s holy people, that in steadfast faith, we may serve You and, in the confession of Your name, abide unto the end; in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

The time is Advent.  A time of a mini-Lent.  A time of preparation.  A time to wake up.  For...

2The night is far gone; the day is at hand

The day at hand is the Gospel day.  It is time to wake up from the night of sin.  It is time to like day to day in the Gospel.

To help us, the Lord devotes the office of the holy ministry (the work of a pastor) to two things (Romans 12:7-8), doctrine and exhortation.  The doctrine part is to teach us things that the Lord only reveals in His Holy Bible, faith in Jesus being the most important.  The exhortation part is to encourage us to put into action what we already know very well.  Today’s epistle lesson is exhorting you who are already awake to God by faith in Jesus to begin this new day.

Why? Jesus is near.  Jesus is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

The armor of light is a beautiful expression.  The armor of light is also a little more specific than telling us to do good works while it is day.  Good works do not save us.  However, good works help us remain in the Gospel day.

The doctrine of justification by faith in Jesus is not to be mingled with the exhortation to do good works; the exhortation to put on the armor of light.

This is an exhortation, not a doctrine.

Put on the armor of light.

Why “armor” of light rather than “works” or light?

Doubtless to teach us that only at the cost of conflict, pain, labor, and danger will the truly watchful and godly life be maintained; for these three powerful enemies, the devil, the world, and the flesh, unceasingly oppose us day and night.  This is why Job (7:1) regards the life of man on earth as a life of trial and warfare.  (Luther sermon).

So, when I exhort you to put on the “armor of light”, I am encouraging you to remain in the Lord’s justification through faith in Jesus.  This is what I am doing this Advent.  Exhorting you, encouraging you, to do good works.

As important as it is to teach justification by faith to those who do not know the teaching, it is just as important to exhort those who know the doctrine not to fall away from their fragile daily living while enduring the assaults of their raging flesh, this subtle world, and the treacherous devil.  So,

13Let us walk properly (honestly) as in the daytime.

What are the common activities you do when you wake up in the morning?  You get cleaned up and go to work or school or something similar.  It is a tragedy and hopefully uncommon to drink a beer first thing in the morning.

What are the common activities that people do when they go out at night?  I remember my folks telling me that nothing good happens after midnight.

The Lord is saying the same thing when he speaks of the deeds of darkness.  Dark deeds such as orgies and drunkenness.  Dark deeds such as sexual immorality and sensuality.  Dark deeds such as quarreling and jealousy.  Dark deeds that are now reported daily of politicians, media elites, and hollywood stars.  

13Let us walk properly (honestly) as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

These six terms - orgies, drunkenness, sexual immorality, sensuality, quarreling, and jealousy - cover all the other kinds of dark deeds that could be mentioned such as the lists in Galatians and Colossians.

Let me divide these into two classes.  It will help us receive today’s exhortation.  

I will name one the right hand group and the other the left hand group.  The right hand  group includes orgies, drunkenness, sexual immorality and sensuality.  The left hand group includes quarreling and jealousy.  For Biblically, the right side signifies prosperity with its related evils, whereas the left side signifies adversity along with its results.

Therefore, there are two kinds of darks deeds - prosperity and adversity.  One kind of dark deed stems from prosperity.  Another kind of dark deed stems from adversity.  Depending on your personality and situation you will be tempted by one kind of dark deed more than the other.

14But (as for you) put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, by believing His Gospel.  Put on “faith in Jesus” and you are dressed to live in the Gospel Day.  The Lord Himself writes in Galatians 3:27 that “as many of you as have been baptized into Christ did put on Christ.”  Also, ...

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, by putting on the armor of light.  Think more highly of your neighbor.  The Lord Himself writes in Ephesians 4 to “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

The apostle Paul presents Christ the example in a few words in Colossians 3:12-15 where he says, “Put on … compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Now the armor of light is the good works opposed to gluttony, drunkenness, licentiousness; to indolence, strife, and envying.  What armor opposes these dark deeds?  The armor of light includes such things as fasting, watchfulness, and prayer.  The armor of light includes such things as a hard day’s work, chastity, modesty, temperance, goodness, endurance of hunger and thirst, endurance of cold and heat. And so as not to use my own words, the Lord says that the armor of light is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and self control” Galatians 5:22-23.  And He makes an even more detailed account of the armor of light in 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 regarding pastors as an example for the flock.  He writes,

Working together with (the Lord), then, we (the Lord’s apostles) appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For (the Lord) says,

                 “In a favorable time I listened to you,

     and in a (Gospel) day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the (Gospel) day of salvation. 3 We (the Lord’s apostles) put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we (the Lord’s apostles and, later, the Lord’s pastors) commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

What a beautiful account of the armor of light.  What a beautiful account of the good works our Lord encourages us, His children, to put on.  To practice these good works is truly putting on Jesus Christ.

The Christian who can see His master fasting, praying, working, watching, enduring hunger and fatigue and conducts his own behavior in a similar manner, makes no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.  Blessed are you.

To the Christian who can see His master fasting, praying, working, watching, enduring hunger and fatigue while he himself feasts, sleeps, lazes around and lives in luxury - that one must be a scoundrel and has found his repentance on this First Sunday in Advent; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

The peace of God, which passes understanding, will guard your body and soul in Christ our Savior.  Amen.