Wednesday Matins Service 3-15-2017
Sunday Bible Study on God's Effective, Active, Working Word
Sunday Bible Study on God's Effective, Active, Working Word
Sunday Bible Study
March 12, 2017
Topic: God's Effective, Active, Working Word
Let us pray: Creator Father, by your grace You both justify and sanctify sinners, grant us both justification and sanctification through the means of the Holy Spirit, the means of Your Grace, which is Your Word and Sacrament. Especially this morning, as we study a little bit on the nature of Your Word, grant us to believe that what is written is not only true but that what is written is also an active Word that does what it says and gives what it promises; in the name of Jesus. Amen.
We spent the last few weeks studying God's gift of the Office of the Holy Ministry. We also spent some time acknoweldging that this is a controversial issue even within our own synod of congregations.
Today, I would like to move on to a slightly different topic. A topic that is a controversial issue in itself but is also a modern and foundational issue that underlies other problems within the church.
How can a controversial topic resolved within the church?
One method is to appoint some to make the final decision and settle the problem. The appointed person in one denomination is called the Pope, the papa, of the church. When the Pope speaks the issue is settled. But it is not settled, is it. There remains many denominations within Christianity.
Another method is to appoint someone a little closer to home to make the final decision and settle the controversy. Let the person be the pastor. He is educated in all this stuff. Let's do what he says and the issue is settled. But it is not settled, is it. There remain many divisions, little ones maybe, but not a complete agreement on the final decision. The Voters Assembly still needs to address issues and boards and committees continue to work toward resolutions.
Another method is do keep doing what we have always done. Our traditions become the final decision maker. If it fits within the common customs and practices of the denomination or congregation, let's keep doing that. The issue is settled. But it is not settle, is it.
Who makes the decision? The answer is unpopular and hard. The answer is found in the book of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Book. The Holy Bible.
The Holy Spirit's Book is completely true (inerrant). The Holy Spirit's Book is completely God's full counsel to us (inspired) even though is was put to paper by the prophets and apostles.
The topic for today, however, is that the Holy Spirit's Book is also a living and active Word.
There is no easy method to solve hard questions easily.
The final decision maker is the Holy Spirit and His living and active Word is also written for our understanding. Hebrews 4 speaks of the written Word as a double-edged sword. Soldiers use swords for protection and to kill their enemy. So also, God's Word may convert our hearts or it may harden our hearts. The living and active Word of God will confirm us unto salvation or unto damnation.
How is a controversial topic resolved with in the church? Patient and careful study of God's Word.
Either we will agree with what is written or we will disagree with what is written, but God is the Lord of His church and He will decide the outcome of our wrestling with His living and active Word. Lord, have mercy on us.
In this era of confusion and ambiguity, the Scriptures teach us that God’s Word alone creates and sustains faith. To make this especially clear, God shows us that the Word is efficacious, effective, energetic, always at work. Although the concept of efficacy is not confined to one word or word group in the Bible, the New Testament does have a word group that precisely expresses how God works through the Word. The following list should help students of the Word to see and study the passages associated with this word group.
Ephesians
1:19 the working of His mighty power,
3:7 by the effectual working of His power,
4:16 the effectual working in the
Philippians
3:21 according to the working whereby
Colossians
1:29 striving according to His working,
2:12 through the faith of the operation of
2 Thess.
2:9 is after the working of Satan
2:11 shall send them strong delusion (working of error)
Matthew
14:2 works do shew forth themselves in him
Mark
6:14 mighty works do shew forth themselves Romans
7:5 did work in our members
1 Corinthians
12:6 God which worketh all in all
12:11 all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit
2 Corinthians
1:6 which is effectual (literally, that worketh) in the enduring
4:12 So then death worketh in us,
Galatians
2:8 For he that wrought effectually in
Peter
3:5 and worketh miracles among you,
5:6 faith which worketh by love,
Ephesians
1:11 of him who worketh all things
1:20 Which he wrought in Christ
2:2 the spirit that now worketh in
3:20 the power that worketh in us
Philipians
2:13 God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good
Colossians
1:29 which worketh in me mightily
God's Will is For Your Sanctification
God's will is your for your sanctification
Text: Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
Let us pray: Creator Father, your will is that we grow in sanctification, that is, you desire that we, by Your Holy Spirit, continue to move away from uncleanness of body and soul and toward You, that we may share in You holiness. Deliver to us this treasure;
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Your God has a request of you, His baptized and believing children. And since the apostle Paul extended God's request to the church Thessalonica, I dare extend God's request to you church in Muscatine.
This request is not a new request. Once I say it you will mostly agree and say, "Well, yes of course." When you are asked to do something you already know, it is called an exhortation. An exhortation is like what mom does when she tells everyone to wash their hands because supper is ready. You already know that you should wash your hands, but we don't always do what we know is best. Therefore, an exhoration is ok.
This request is for Godly people like you. It would be unloving of me to assume that most of you are not already concerned about what is about to be asked. So the concern for this sermon is not that you will reject the request. The concern that you may have is more like, "Ok Lord, but how do I do that?"
So, enough teasing. The request is this: Live your daily life – to please God. And I can hear at least one of your response, "Ok Lord, but I'm a sinner, how can I please you day to day?"
Ok. Let's take a step back in order to answer your question.
First, no one is justified before God without Jesus. No Jesus, no faith of Jesus. As it is written in Romans 1:16-17, "For in the Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed from Jesus' faith for your faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by the Lord's faith.” (Hab.2:4) So faith in Jesus is a gift from Jesus that you may now receive His faith; which is now also your faith. But you, my gentle hearers, know that it is not your faith that Jesus is the Christ that saves you; but rather, it is Jesus' faith in His Father that is given to you that saves you. That faith is the perfect saving faith. Jesus' faith can now be called your faith; that is why we say you are saved by faith alone.
Second, no one receives Jesus's justifying faith out of thin air. Not through dreams but through means, specifically the preached Word, absolution, baptism, and Christ's body and blood.
So, faith comes by the Word of God. This is truly is both the starting point and ending point of Christianity; that you are saved by grace through the faith of Jesus, who gives your His faith as a saving gift (Ephesians 2:8-9).
No problems there, but then you hear today's text to the Thessalonians: Live you day to day life – to please God, for the will of God is your sanctification so that as you walk by faith alone you may please God. This is where the gentle reader cries out and asks, “But how can I please God because I'm a sinner?” I can think of other questions you might have but let's address this one and call it a day.
Yes, you are justified by grace through faith alone. But hear this, you are also sanctified by grace through this same faith of Jesus – alone. Let me say that again, “You are sanctified by grace through faith alone.”
St. Paul uses two applications to emphasize his point. The two examples he brings up are sex and business. Therefore, I will touch on them, too.
The apostle Paul gathered the Lord's church in Thessalonian. The Thessalonians were firm in their justification by God. They also live is a town that encouraged many unclean behaviors such as the encouragement of all kinds of sexual activity and unclean behaviors such as the encouragement of shading business dealings. How can the Thessalonians live a life pleasing to God in such a town?
We live in a similar town. Walk the halls of the local High School or Jr. High Schools and you might hear a few sexual innuendos or crude encouragements along the same line. Walk the halls of local government or business and you might hear about a few shading deals or questionable legal practices. You can't change all that, but should ask, “How do you live a holy life among an unclean people?”
Dear Christian, you have the Holy Spirit who has given you Jesus' faith. I ask you to review the meaning of the third article of the Apostles' Creed. You cannot by your own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ your Savior or come to Him. But the Holy Spirit has done what? The Holy Spirit has called you – did you hear that – the Holy Spirit has called you by the Gospel.
Dear Christian, you are called by God into His kingdom. You are not like other people. You have a new nature. Your old nature still loves the unclean innuendos and practices, but now, your new nature is a sharing in God's nature.
Because you are called by the Gospel, the Lord now asks and requests of you that you consider anew His Word. In light of the uncleanness that still clings to you after Holy Baptism even while you continue to believe this Gospel, hear again God's good and holy Law.
So, here is the application of sanctification according to the 6th commandment:
“You shall not commit adultery.” But what is the Gospel? You are sanctified, moved away from uncleanness toward the holiness of God, by grace through the faith of Jesus alone. Just as someone else, in this case God, is the only one who can accomplish your justification, so also, someone else, again God, is the only one who can accomplish your sanctification.
“Everyone should control his own body in holiness and honor.” This passage is encouraging you not toward your control of your body or controlling your own sexual urges but this verse is an encouragement toward holy marriage.
This is hard to hear but is good to be repeated from time to time:
Christian husbands, you have the Holy Spirit. You are able to repent of pornography and believe that the Holy Spirit will give you the strength to not act on the uncleanness the resides in you. You are able to treat your wife's body in holiness and honor. You already strive toward this. It may not be perfect. But God will always accept your repentance and give you Jesus' faith again and, although much more difficult, your Christian wife may accept, will probably accept, your repentance and forgive you. The Holy Spirit will continue to help you and it is pleasing to God.
Wives, this is also true for you. Although viewing pornography is less socially acceptable for women, the number of women becoming addicted to it is on the rise. The Holy Spirit will continue to bring you to both repentance and the faith of Jesus. This is the strength needed to treat your husband in holiness and honor.
And very important for both husband and wife. When your body is beginning to burn a little hotter and encouraging your toward uncleanness rather than the Lord's holiness, ask your spouse to use his or her body to bring your body under control. This is what the Scripture means when it says, “Everyone should control his own body in holiness and honor” because the husband's body is his wife AND the wife's body is her husband. The other will put out your fire just as someone else forgives all your uncleanness, who is God. But ask. And think more highly of your spouse's body than your own.
Teenagers, and to anyone who is not married, hear God's Word again for the purpose of repenting of your inherent uncleanness and moving toward the Lord's holiness, which is pleasing to God. God has not given you a spouse or a body to help control the burning. However, you can consider your own body as less important than those around you, in honor and holiness.
Young men, consider the young women around you as your biological little sister. You wouldn't do what you are thinking about to your little sister. You are decent Christian young men and in that decency, you would draw the line at dishonoring your little sister that way. Therefore, consider the young women around you as your biological sisters and draw the line. The same goes with older women, treat them as your mother. I know you would draw the line at that. One day that young women may be someone's husband. One day one of those young women may be your wife. Repent and draw that line. This is pleasing to God. You have the Holy Spirit. You live by the faith of Jesus. God will not forsake you. He will always be ready to bring you to repentance with His good Law and bring you to the faith of Jesus with His good Gospel. There is nothing that you have done or thought that will cause God to give up on you. He Gospel will continue to call you back to His goodness. His Holy Baptism continues to be your cleanness. His Absolution will do what it says week after week.
And yet, your Creator Father, is calling you to a day by day lifestyle in a manner that pleases Him. To this, I ask you and encourage you to do something you already know (an exhortation) and that is this: Live in a manner that pleases the God who sent His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Particularly, in homes and halls where uncleanness resides, treat each other as holy and honorable. This is pleasing to God and there is no uncleanness He is unwilling to forgive, therefore, in His stead and by His command, I forgive you all your uncleanness; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Midweek Lenten Service - 4th Commandment
Midweek Lenten Service - 4th Commandment
March 8, 2017
Fourth Commandment - Honor Your Father and Your Mother
Pastor Pautz
In the name of Jesus. (Amen)
The Fourth Commandment is addressed to four different types of people in our congregation and town. I promise I will focus on only one of the four, unlike last Sunday when I said I would focus on only one of Christ's three temptations but then addressed all three.
The Fourth Commandment is certainly addressed to all children, which is all of you whose parents are still alive. But the Fourth Commandment is also addressed to three other groups who can be called fathers. Biological fathers along with moms. Fathers of the state such as the Founding Fathers but also current politicians. And also fathers of the church which are the pastors of the congregations. Tonight I'm going to focus on the vocation of parents as it fits within the Fourth Commandment.
Parents, you can not guarantee your children will remain Christian. Some will be gained. Some will be lost. You are not expected to guarantee your children will remain Christian. You are expected to be faithful.
Your children learn from you by what you say and do even if you are not intentionally teaching them. They will learn from you much more than they will learn from a Sunday School teacher or a pastor.
Your children will learn from you how much they should regard God's Word by observing how much you care about God's Word. They will learn whether Christianity is good or bad, not from the Holy Bible, but from whether you rely on Christ and His church in times of trouble or if you go somewhere else. They will learn how to use God's name, not from the catechism, but from how you use God's name. They will learn to cherish the Divine Service, from the frequency that you bring them and worship with them at the Divine Service. This is how you teach.
Ask your children or grandchildren a few questions like the following to learn how you are doing:
Ask your children, do they believe they were evolved from apes rather than created by loving God? Your children are bombarded with evolution from every direction, but they will settle this issue because of the position you hold.
Parents, ask your children, how often do they hear that they must “Choose Jesus in their Hearts” rather than hearing “God chose your child in Jesus”
Parents, ask your children how often do they hear that “God helps those who help themselves” rather than encourage them to say the Apostles' Creed again and take those promises to heart.
Parents, where do your children learn Christian Doctrine? from “best-selling Christian books” and “popular Christian movies” or are they immersed in the Holy Bible with the assistance of their Small Catechism and Pew Hymnal as the most dominant sources to learn what Christ is teaching.
Parents, ask your children how often they are encouraged to solve daily problems based on “What would Jesus do?” rather than “What would help my neighbor the most”
Parents, do you tell your HS graduates “I don't care where you go to church as long as you go to a church”? It is unloving to not care about the soul of your adult child
Parents, do you send your children to any Christian summer camp that will teach them any Christian doctrine rather than send them to a summer camp that teaches what they are being raised to believe week after week at home and church.
Parents, do you commiserate with your children that this congregation is old fashioned and a little stodgy and not very beautiful so you understand if they want to go to a church that worships in a fun and lighthearted manner in beautiful structure - at the expense of solid, Biblical teaching.
The problem we encounter with the Fourth Commandment in our day, is not so much the children as it is we parents. Rather, it is the misuse of God given authority to lead our children to the sweet, sweet Gospel which is the motivation to believe that Jesus is both good and God. It is the sweet Gospel in which both parents and children live their days and have their being. The sweet Gospel in the forgiveness of your sins with no strings attached in Jesus.
Do not crush the spirit of the child with the Law. Rather, use the Law they way it is meant to be used, to point the child to Jesus.
More importantly, do not harden the spirit of the child with a false gospel that tells them God loves them no matter what. A false gospel that tells them they are free to believe what the popular books are teaching in spite of God's clear Word. A false gospel that teaches them all Christian doctrine and all Christian worship is the same.
Doctrine is important because it always delivers the forgiveness of sins to repentant sinners. Doctrine is important because it always delivers Jesus who saves sinners; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Amen.)
Our Facebook