Implanting the Word in You

Easter 5

May 14, 2017

James 1:16:21

Grace and mercy to you from God our Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Today’s text:

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.  18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruit of his creatures.  19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.  Thus far the text.

Let us pray:  Father of Lights, you are the giver of every good gift and every perfect gift, protect us from being deceived but rather receive with meekness Your implanted word so that our souls be saved and we may be a kind of first fruit among your creatures; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Savior.  Amen.

Now why would our Father tell us to put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness?  But this text is addressed to Christians.  To you and me.  So maybe there is something more than crude filthiness and rampant wickedness that headline your favorite news outlet.

Filthiness is a temptation that Christians experience.  Of course pornography and drug abuse should be put away.  But the temptation of filthiness is also among Christians who, having heard the Gospel, think they know it and stop listening to it.  A filthy comment might be, “I was confirmed in this church and therefore, even though I haven’t attended in years or decades, I am a member of this church.”  A filthy comment might be, “I know the catechism so I don’t need to hear the Gospel anymore.”  Or, “What do and Bible study and daily Bible readings and prayer have to do with me?  I know all that stuff already.”  

The temptation of filthiness is to set aside the Gospel to pursue wealth and pleasure.  The Holy Spirit names this filthiness.

Rampant wickedness is a temptation that Christians experience that is more subtle than just fist fights and theft, although Christians should put that type of behavior away as well.  But the temptation of rampant wickedness  is among Christians who are wearied of the social stigma of being a Christian.  You give up property or reputation for the sake of Christ and you are teased.  It hurts.  No one likes to be considered a fool.  Especially, when those who tease you have more and more property or a better and better reputation or get along in greater and greater comfort.

The temptation of rampant wickedness is to say, ‘I would rather go with the crowd than endure these trials.  The Holy Spirit names this rampant wickedness.

Good people fall away from Christ because of these two temptations.

Even while they call themselves good Christians they have given themselves over to the pursuit of wealth and pleasure and comfort.

The Word God implanted in them dies.  Life and salvation do not grow.

This is our repentance for this morning.  Put off all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted Word.

And then how do we protect ourselves in the midst of these temptations?

It is written:  16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.  

So count your gifts.  It might sound cliche but count your blessings.  Do no be deceived!  Your gifts, your blessings, far outweigh any hardship you are enduring.

James distinguishes good gifts and perfect gift.

Good gifts are all the good things you have now.  I’m not going to focus on these but some of the good gifts you have are your mom and dad.  Not perfect but still good.  Your wife or husband.  Not perfect but good.  Your son or daughter; house and home; food and drink, clothing and shoes; land animals and all that you have.  They are not perfect.  But they are good gifts.  You don’t have to be a Christian to count your good gifts.  The Father of lights is the Giver of all good gifts.

Then there are the perfect gifts.  Perfect gifts are your by promise.  Perfect gifts are implanted in you by means of Word and Sacrament.  Perfect gifts are received by faith in Jesus Christ only.  

Perfect gifts are the holy Christian church triumphant, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection from the dead, and the life everlasting.

Do not be deceive.  Do not fall.

The whole book of James seems to be an encouragement to Christians to be patient to the extent that you do not allow yourselves to be upset if others injure you, especially those who despise God’s Word and even those who persecute the church.

For the Father has given you good and perfect gifts that far outweigh your difficulties.  You have many good gifts.  Count them.  You are promised many perfect gifts as well; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

The peace of God, which passes understanding, guard and keep you in Jesus Christ, our Savior.  Amen.

In A Little While

May 7, 2017

St. John 16:16-22

Let's be honest. There are lots and lots of people who live just fine without Jesus. They don't have to worry about dragging themselves out of bed on Sunday morning or putting any of their income in the plate or being bound by any rules or commandments. Their lives may not be extraordinarily awesome but they're not horrible either. They live just fine without any real notion of God or Jesus or sin or forgiveness or faith. And so, in order to attract those folks, churches often try to advertise the Gospel and Jesus and faith as something that will make their lives better. Offer them something more. Give them something exciting. And they might be interested for a bit. Come and check it out. But then they'll soon realize that religion is just one more thing to worry about and they can let it go. They did fine without Jesus and they'll do fine again without Him. Maybe. Until they die.

You know, Christians are often accused of only thinking about the afterlife so that they don't pay any attention to this life. But here's the thing: This life is full of sorrow. You can have a good life, a decent life, a more or less trouble free life but in the end, something is going to happen. If nothing else, you'll die. And nothing you've done in this life or tried to do will prevent it. Can stop it. Can beat it. So, yeah, Christians DO think about the life to come because there IS a life to come. We recognize, because our Lord has taught us by His Word, that in this life we will have sorrow. And as long as we can't see Jesus with out eyes, we're going to have sorrow and suffering. But the time will come when our sorrow turns to joy. When our sadness becomes gladness. When death and darkness and sin and gloom are no more and there is eternal life and the glory of Jesus and the saints around us and a new heaven and a new earth forever. Why SHOULDN'T we think about that? Ponder it? Long for it? It's what the Lord has promised us.

Consider Jesus' disciples with Him before His suffering and death. “I am going away and you will have sorrow but then your sorrow will be turned into joy.” Jesus is going to fulfill what He came to do. To suffer and die for sinners. To face the ultimate in sorrow and sadness and suffering. Then to rise again. They disciples, when they finally realized Jesus was alive, were full of joy. But then our Lord ascended and while there was still joy, there was much sorrow and suffering ahead. But Jesus promises that He will see them again and their sorrow will be turned into joy. It is this promise, that He will see them again, which keeps them from falling into despair when they face that sorrow. That is the promise that He will rise from the dead. It's also the promise He will return in glory. He fulfilled the first, so there's no reason to doubt the second. Our Lord WILL come again. And when He does, our sorrow will be turned into joy.

And you and I need to hear that promise. We need to be assured that this whole church thing is not some big waste of time! For that's what our sinful flesh concludes. The world around us seems to get along just fine without Jesus, why should I bother? What good does it do me? That's the “only here and now thinking” the devil wants you to have. But Christ has rescued you from such despair by telling you: He will come again and you will see Him and your sorrow will be turned into joy. Both Jeremiah in the book of Lamentations and Peter in his epistle tell us that suffering is a fact of being God's people. As long we trust in God, the devil and world and sinful flesh will be against us. And they will rejoice at our suffering and be glad to see it. It's hard to have such opposition. It would be easier to go with the flow and give up on Christ. So Christ Himself gives us His Word to strengthen us. “I will come again and you will see Me and your sorrow will be turned to joy.” This promise is true because He rose again. It's the first proof that Christ keeps His Word. But more than that, He's baptized you. Absolved you. Feeds you with His body and blood. Gives you His Word which is there to strengthen and comfort you and remind you of His promise that He will come back and that your sorrow will be turned into joy.

The world laughs at our weeping and lamenting. When we struggle with sin, the world laughs and calls us hypocrites. When we suffer wrong the world laughs at us and says, “How's turning the other cheek working for you?” When we suffer in our bodies and minds and offer up our pleas and prayers, the world laughs at us wondering to whom we're talking? When we die and mourn at death, the world laughs at us as fools for thinking the dead come back to life. But the time will come, dear Christians, when you will laugh and be full of joy and the world will weep and lament its judgment. It tried this once already with Jesus and He was alive three days later. It will try it with you but when Christ returns, He promises that your sorrow will be turned into joy. While the world laughs, cling to your Baptism and the body and blood of Jesus and His Word and there you will have the promises with which the Holy Spirit gives you strength to endure this sorrow until it is turned into joy.

As Christians, we all have our callings and vocations to worry about. Taking care of children. Taking care of parents. Doing our jobs. Loving our neighbors. Being part of the body of Christ and this particular congregation. We work to do those things well now, in this life. But we DO think about what is to come. We think ahead because our Lord has promised that our sorrows are turned into joy. Just think about an expectant mother. She knows it's going to hurt to have that child. And when the child is born, it DOES hurt. But then suddenly that is all past and there she is, holding her newborn baby and rejoicing in that gift from God. That's how it is for us. We suffer. We sorrow. We know we'll endure such things. But then, when our crucified and risen Jesus appears again on the Last Day, that will all be forgotten in a moment as the joy and gladness of eternal life is given to us forever. The world doesn't get that and it never will but it's our hope and life and strength in this life. We know that it's true because Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia! In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Isaiah 9 Notes

Opening Prayers.

Text 1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. 3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. 5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

verse 1: by way of the sea.

This is a specific prophecy. It is a place of trade also known as Galilee of the nations.

However, Jesus picks up on this specific prophecy about the Assyrian invastion and makes it a general prophecy in Matthew 4:14,

14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

verse 2: The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light

This is brought up in Matthew 4:16

people. This is all people, Jews and Gentiles. All are in darkness, which means unrighteousness.

A great light. This is the Gospel. The Gospel shines in the darkness/unrighteous

verse 3: Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy

the Gospel is for all nations but the Jewish nation wants it for itself. The light is not content

staying in the corner but wants to fill the whole room.

“Many nations are received into the kingdom of God; this makes the Jews sick, by this they

are provoked to anger and envy (Rom. 11:8). This is what it means to lessen their joy.”

7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded 8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

Verse 4: For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder

This is the people's burden. It could read “their burden”

“By nature all hate God and the things that are of God. This is not felt except in temptation. The whipped son is angry with his parent. No one likes discipline, not even God’s. Natural man would prefer that there be no law, because he is not able to perform what it demands. The sin that has been committed is the second tyrant, and it brings forth the third, namely, death and damnation. Who could be happy when he is answerable to these three? But now they have been vanquished, the Law is fulfilled by Christ and then also by us who have been endowed by the Holy Spirit. He adds the courage so that we may glory even in our sufferings (Rom. 5:3), and thus the Law is no longer outrageous in its dictates but an agreeable companion. The Law itself indeed is not changed, but we are.

“Where the conscience is not guilty, where there is no sin because it is forgiven, there is no power of death but peace of conscience, the certainty of eternal life.

“These are the things that overcome those enemies: the Word and the Holy Spirit in the Word preaching Christ as having died for us, etc. We draw no sword, but we only shout, hear, believe, confess: Christ died for us, etc. “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory, etc.” (1 Cor. 15:57). The Law, sin, and death have attacked the sinless Christ, they converged upon Him; but they were themselves made culpable and guilty, they were condemned and rendered powerless by Christ, and this was for us. This is our joy and the reaping of the harvest.

Verse 4: 4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

The sign of the fleece to Gideon occurs in Judges 6 before the defeat of the Midians.

The day of Midian is recorded in Judges chapter 7. The Lord's army of 32,000 is reduced to 300. The Lord did this so that when Israel defeats the Midians all will know that the Lord did it.

Verse 5: For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.

This prophecy is against earthly kingdoms such as Assyria, but also the fallen kingdom as well. Satan and all his host will be utterly destroyed. By whom?

Verse 6: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Israel's army will not be reduced to 300 rather it will be reduced to One.

As mentioned in Isaiah 7:14, the Child will be born of the Virgin. His name will be God with us.

This Child is Christ. Single handed, He will bring all God's enemies to an end. This is accomplished with His death, resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father. This victory will be made manifest on the Last Day with the resurrection of the death and the separation of the goats and the sheep.

The government is all the authority in heaven and on earth that Christ received and announced on the day of His ascension.

Wonderful – It is a wonder/a miracle that God should assume human flesh. The Christ now has two natures in one person of the Holy Trinity.

Counselor – This counselor needs no counselors. His judgment is always correct.

Mighty God – Elohim of Genesis chapter 1. The all-powerful God.

Everlasting Father – Connected to Genesis chapter 2, Yahweh. The personal God.

Prince of Peace – Accomplished in the resurrection. Delivered for the first time in the upper room. The Lord appeared to them through locked doors and said, “Peace be with you.” Not as the world gives but ….

Confirmation Day 2017

Our Savior Lutheran Church - LCMS 2611 Lucas Street Muscatine, IA 52761 www.oursaviormuscatine.org

Third Sunday of Easter - Confirmation Day - April 30, 2017

Grace and mercy to Krystol, Xander, C.J., Alex, and Crew on this your confirmation day, to your parents and grandparents, guests, visitors, and to the bad and the good gathered before God our Father this morning. Grace and mercy to your from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

It is written, Jesus says, "I AM the Good Shepherd".

Let us pray: Gracious Father, You sent your only begotten Son Jesus Christ to be our Good Shepherd. Thank you for Shepherding Krystol, Xander, C.J., Alex and Crew throughout their lives and to this day. Continue to Shepherd us with the Shepherd, the Good One, Jesus Christ so that we may be brought into Your fold and remain with You for eternity; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

A quick announcement for your comfort. You are not the future of the Christ's church. Just like your parents and grandparents before you, you are not the future of Christ's church. No, the future of Christ's church is Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd.

It is written, KJV John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

This verse - by itself - says so much.

I AM - this is not simply identification, but Jesus revealing Himself as the I AM of the Burning Bush in Exodus 3. He is God, the Word Incarnate. The I AM sermons in John (unique to the Fourth Gospel) are special messages to us about Jesus and His relationship to the Father. Likewise, when Jesus said "I AM" to the frightened disciples when He walked on the water, He was not saying, "It's me," but "I AM God."

The Good Shepherd is also a special construction. Literally, it is "I AM the Shepherd the Good One." The word for good here is stronger in Greek – something like the noble One. In this combination it means:

• The Ultimate Shepherd, or

• The Unique Shepherd, or

• The Shepherd above all shepherds.

We have used the Good Shepherd so much in English that everyone knows what that means, and no hip translation can replace what is familiar to us through readings, paintings, and stained glass.

We see in religious art the Shepherd guiding His flock with His staff (Psalm 23) or holding a lamb in His Arms (Isaiah 40).

The second part of the verse defines what it means for Jesus to be the Good Shepherd - He gives His life for the sheep.

The preaching of the Gospel is the solemn proclamation of the Atonement, the shedding of blood, which was predicted as early as Genesis 3:15 and clearly taught in Isaiah 53. 

The message of the Atonement is simply this. Jesus died for the sins of the world. Krystol, Xander, C.J. Alex and Crew – you are part of the world, therefore Jesus has made atonement for your sins. This sermon plants and sustains faith in the hearts of those who listen attentively to it. Some scoff and do not listen. Others listen and believe for a short time. Others listen and remain in faith until they build idols in their hearts to worship - in place of God. The last group can disguise themselves within the visible church as believers, but their actions and decisions betray their lack of faith in Jesus Christ.

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Christ Jesus brings sheep into the fold - you do not. If you teach the Gospel as it is, without watering it down or sugar-coating it, the elect sheep hear Jesus' voice and come to hear more. Why do people not come to hear Jesus? Because they hate Jesus. It is not more complicated than that.

Jesus never said the true Church would be large in size. Luther often mentioned, "The Gospel is thinly sown."

There is a hymn, which we just sang, entitled - Fear Not Little Flock - but notice, there is no hymn called "Fear Not, Mega-Flock."

To Krystol, Xander, C.J., Alex, and Crew: throughout your lives you will meet many false shepherds who will tell you what to do to grow the church. You will meet false shepherds who will tell to pitch your Small Catechism, pitch your hymnal, maybe even pitch your Holy Bible.

And yet, you are Baptized and you believe what you have been taught. Jesus is the future of His church. Listen to Him and do not be afraid.