Tuesday, October 25, 2011

What An Attitude! (A sermon based on Philippians 2:1-11)

"What an attitude he's got!" When spoken of me, that's not usually said as a compliment. And rightly so as my attitude is too often self-centered. But when spoken of Jesus "What an attitude he's got!" is spoken in wonder and in joy -- for he never had a bad attitude even as he was suffering and enduring hell on a cross to pay for my sins and my bad attitudes! Now in thanks to him, I want to repent of my bad attitudes and become more like Jesus with an attitude of self-sacrifice and service to God and others as I live in thanks and joy. Read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on Philippians 2:1-11 (or New! watch the entire service here: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/18068315) and let Jesus give you an attitude adjustment...

What An Attitude!

A sermon based on Philippians 2:1-11

Sunday, October 23, 2011 – Pentecost 19A

 

[With attitude:] "Here. I bought you some flowers." "Fine, kids, let's go to the zoo!" "Here's the report, boss."  Attitude makes a big difference doesn't it? Do the right thing with the wrong attitude and it doesn't amount to much. And the truth is we don't always have the right attitudes, do we? Perhaps that's especially the case when things aren't going our way. When we're suffering our attitudes often suffer too.


Some chalk it up to a flight or fight response. When I'm hurting that "Gotta'-take-care-of-me-first" attitude kicks in. "It's a dog eat dog world out there where you hurt or be hurt, use or be used, take or be taken from." What a bad attitude!


If anyone had a right to have a bad attitude it was the apostle Paul, who was imprisoned for sharing the gospel. But he didn't have a bad attitude. We heard last week how he was happy to die or to keep on living, whichever God preferred. Instead, his attitude was one of selfless service to the Philippians. And looking out for their best interest, he encouraged them to adjust their attitudes and to make Jesus' attitude toward suffering their own. Listen to what he says in Philippians 2:1-11…

 

1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

When Paul writes, "Your attitude should be…" he implies that the Philippians attitudes weren't right. And if I can jump right to the point: Neither are ours. Humility? Nah! Considering others better than us? Not normally. But who can blame us, right? I mean the culture in which we live doesn't exactly hold humility up as a virtue. Commercials on TV encourage tell us that we deserve more. Friends and family counsel, "Take advantage of your rights! Don't let them talk to you or treat you that way!" At work humility equals weakness as if you were too timid or cowardly to stand up for yourself. And we buy into it.

Are you willing to suffer for someone else's benefit? Maybe someone else takes the credit for a project you completed. Maybe you did an extra chore at home and it wasn't noticed or appreciated… or worse, you were scolded for not doing it more often. Maybe you made yourself vulnerable to defend a friend and it backfired—you were picked on instead and your friend joined in. Did you think, "I don't deserve this! I don't have to take it!" Then what you really say is, "I'm more important than you. I matter more. I'm better."

The truth is deep down we're all pretty haughty and proud. Especially in times of suffering when we're hurting. We get sucked into thinking that all that matters is me and how I feel. No one else matters right now. And we easily justify our bad attitudes in our own minds. "Well, I'd be less selfish if I had more to give." "I'd be more happy and cheerful if I weren't asked to suffer like this."

But what gives us the right to talk that way to God?! How can the clay pot talk back to the potter? We rebel against God in our selfish, self-centered, me-first attitudes and then complain to him when things don't go our way and we suffer! What audacity! We deserve to be struck down for our haughty attitudes! We deserve a slice of humble pie! We deserve eternal humility and suffering in hell.

But thank God we don't get what our bad attitudes deserve because of Jesus' attitude for us.

What's the difference between a superhero and a super-villian? Bottom line: It's their attitude, isn't it? How do they use their powers? The villains use their power for selfish ambition. They consider themselves better than others. But the heroes use their powers for the benefit of others. They put themselves in harm's way to keep others out of it.

And you know that the ultimate superhero is Jesus. Jesus was anything but haughty even though he had every right to be! After all, he is the perfect, sinless Son of God, who always did everything right, never did anything wrong, and had power beyond imagination. And yet he was the epitome of humble. Paul describes his humility in 3 verses…

In verse 6 he describes what Jesus willingly gave up: "[Jesus:] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped…" The true God who created the world by the power of his Word didn't consider his divine power something to be held on to or used for personal gain. He didn't consider the paradise or the mansions of heaven too important for him to keep, but gave them up.

Verse 7 describes what he became: "[He] made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness…" The omnipotent, almighty, eternal God became a worm of a man. The King of the Universe became a slave to sinful rebels. Why?

Verse 8 tells us why: "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!" The immortal God had to become man so he could become obedient to death. He humbled himself so that he could die. He did it so he could endure hell on that cross… for you. He did it because we are more important to him than himself. What a loving attitude!

And though he didn't deserve such treatment, such torture, such hell, he never once said, "I don't deserve this! This is unfair! I don't have to take it! Time to look out for number one!" That might be what we'd do, but not him. His attitude was different. Because of his attitude of obedience to the Father and of love for us, Jesus said to the Father, "Kill me instead of them. Damn me to hell in their place." What a loving attitude even in the midst of the worst kind of suffering! What love he has for us!

And because of Jesus' attitude on the cross, we are forgiven of our selfish actions and our me-first attitudes. We're forgiven for every sin. God looks at you and sees a perfect attitude that is only selfless and loving and self-sacrificing even in the midst of suffering. He sees Jesus. And so we don't get the eternal lesson in humility that we deserve. Instead we get the glory that is his! We share in that name that is above every name. We are called Christians! And so, we too will share in his glory.

God exalted Jesus for his faithful service and we exalt him too. Now we bow the knee in honor and thanks to Jesus and live lives of thankful humility and service to him. And now, because of Jesus' attitude for us we can mirror Jesus' attitude toward others. Jesus' attitude of suffering becomes our own…

Paul begins this portion of his letter with four "if's." But the truth is, these statements are anything but iffy. In fact, the Greek word translated "if" could also be translated "since," assuming that these conditions are all true. Then our text would read: "[Since] you have… encouragement from being united with Christ, [since you have]… comfort from his love, [since you have] …fellowship with the Spirit, [Since] any tenderness and compassion…"

Since we have all these things, we can't help but be changed. Christ's loving attitude and actions for us change our attitudes. We can no longer be proud knowing that there was nothing we could ever do to take care of our huge problem of sin. But instead, we're humbled by the law and thankful to Jesus for taking that sin away.

And on the other hand, true humility doesn't say "I'm a loser. I'm worthless, with no gifts or abilities." Instead it says, "I have some incredible gifts from God! I have gifts to use…To use for the benefit and blessing, not of myself, but of others." And recognizing our Savior's selfless love for us and the way he usedhis gifts for us, we can't help but be loving ourselves.

We ask "What can I do to serve him in thanks?" And he tell us! "Love one another." "Wash each other's feet." "Whatever you do for the least of these you do for me…" So we ask, "What can I do to serve others?" And this becomes our goal in life. With attitudes that are the same as that of Christ Jesus, we look not only to [our] own interests, but… to the interests of others.

That Greek word translated "look" isn't just "take a look at that." It means to "keep searching, to be on the lookout." Just like the little kid walking along the beach scouring the shoreline for shells, we seek and search to find ways to serve others. We ask "What can I give up to serve? What can I sacrifice for others? How can my attitude be as selfless at Jesus'?"

"Give up front row tickets to the football game to watch a chick flick with my wife?! Are you crazy?!" But in Christ you can say, "I'll buy the popcorn, honey!" "Give up a weekend away with your girlfriends at the spa to clean the house and serve your family?!" In Christ we can say, "Pass the toilet brush!" We can give up free time usually spent relaxing to sit by someone's side in the hospital, give up our hard-earned dollars to help someone in financial trouble. And we can do it all with a cheerful attitude—one that is thankful for our Savior's selfless attitude that served us and for the selfless attitude that he gives us.

Rejoice, friends, in our Savior's humility on our behalf, in the forgiveness of sins and bad attitudes that he won for us on the cross, the eternal glory that is ours now and will be realized fully one day soon. And be on the constant lookout for opportunities to thank our Savior with the new selfless attitudes that he gives. In Jesus' name, dear friends. Amen.  


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

Thursday, October 20, 2011

The Ultimate Win-Win Situation (A sermon based on Philippians 1:18b-27)

Life seem hard? Consider the alternative. But for us Christians, either one is a good situation to find ourselves in. Because of what God has done for us in Christ, death is the ultimate victory where we go to be with our Savior. And to go on living a difficult, even painful life, means more opportunities to serve our Savior by serving others. So we're eager for both. Read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on Philippians 1:18-27 and be encouraged by our ultimate win-win situation given to us by our Savior...

The Ultimate Win-Win Situation

A sermon based on Philippians 1:18b-27

Sunday, October 16, 2011 – Pentecost 18A

 

All privacy was lost. Whenever he had to use the bathroom, someone was right there with him. Whenever he was bathing or getting dressed someone was right there with him. Practically 24-7 there was another man literally chained at his side. House arrest wasn't fun. But consider the alternative. At any moment of any day a message could come with orders for his execution.

A long, frustrating imprisonment or a slow, painful death were both very real possibilities for the Apostle Paul. Why? What had he done to deserve such a fate? He preached Christ crucified. And when it seemed he was to be executed in spite of his obvious innocence, he appealed to a higher court. To Caesar he appealed and to Caesar he would go. So, there he sat imprisoned in Rome with a possible death sentence lurking in the shadows.

That situation is enough to break the strongest of men, but it didn't break Paul. He didn't fall to pieces, but instead he rejoiced. He rejoiced because even though circumstances weren't as he would have them, he knew they were according to God's plan. And that meant that he was in a win-win situation. In fact, he pointed out that he was always in a win-win situation because there were only two options: life or death. If he died, he'd go to glory. And what a win! And if he lived, it meant more opportunity to live for Christ. What a win!

This morning as consider a portion of the book of Philippians, which Paul wrote from prison, we rejoice at our ultimate win-win situation and echo Paul's sentiment no matter what situations we face in life: "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Listen now to Paul's bold and joyous words written to the Philippians from his imprisonment. We read Philippians 1:18-27…

 18b  …I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. 27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel…

 

I.              Death is Jesus

            What an amazing attitude Paul had! What optimism, huh? "Glass half, empty? No way! Look at how full it is! Look at how blessed I am!" Paul says. "I know that if I die I'm going to glory!" "I know that … what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance." Literally, for my salvation. Whether he was saved from house arrest and execution or not, he had salvation from his sin and from hell and knew he would be delivered from all suffering and pain very soon when he went to glory.

And with such confidence look at how selfless Paul was! He was faced with the two choices: Either to continue to toil away in frustrating and agonizing labor for the Lord in order to strengthen others, or to die and go to a paradise so full of joy it's beyond imagination, to go and be with his Savior. And if the choice were up to him… well, Paul said he didn't know what he'd do. He was torn. He longed to be with Jesus. He craved it. He couldn't wait. But he could wait, and if he continued to live he would wait patiently, because him being around was necessary for the Philippians.

Wow! I don't know about you, but I have to admit I'm not often that selfless. If you gave me the option between a difficult, tiring, and frustrating ministry here at Grace, let alone locked up in a prison, or an all-expense paid life on some tropical island, let alone the paradise of heaven, I'm sorry. I love you all, but I'd be awfully tempted. I don't know how "torn" I'd be.

The truth is that I often fail at much smaller temptations. Watch a little TV or work on Sunday's sermon? Make some phone calls to members and prospects or relax with a book on the couch? Spend time in the Word or time or catch a little more sleep? All too often my attitude is not, "For me to live is Christ."

And I know most of you well enough by now to say with confidence that I'm not alone. Your attitudes, like mine, often choose what's in your own best interest, not someone else's, and not nearly enough what God wants. If given the option of miserable, frustrating suffering for the strength of someone else or a perfect paradise for our pleasure and gratification and our sinful selfish response is all too often the latter. For such selfish, self-serving attitudes, we deserve not only imprisonment in a jail cell, but in the torments of hell for all eternity.

But thank God for Jesus! His attitude was not selfish like ours, but selfless—so incredibly selfless that he willingly went to hell on the cross for us! When given the choice between the paradise of heaven and a slow agonizing, excruciating death by torture on a cross, the guilt, shame and anguish of feeling every selfish sin ever committed as if he himself had committed them, and the complete and total abandonment of his Father who utterly forsook him on the cross, he willingly chose the latter.

And make no mistake! He chose that path! He could have walked away at any time. Jesus said, "I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord." (John 10:17-18) So why'd he make that choice? Because like the apostle Paul, he wasn't looking for what was in his best interest, but ours. He chose that path for you and for me to pay for our selfish attitudes and to rescue us from hell.

And now the paradise of heaven is ours. You can know—not hope maybe, but know—that no matter what happens to you it will turn out for your deliverance! One hundred and fifty years from now you will be in glory! And so we don't need to fall to pieces at the thought of our own death. While the actual act of dying might not be fun, we know that when we die we will "depart and be with Christ, which is better by far."

You can boldly echo Paul and say with all sincerity, "For me to die is gain" and know that death does not mean your defeat, but your final victory in Christ! What a win! And so we no longer fear death. We no longer consider it a win to live long enough to see the grandkids married, or to live long enough to really enjoy retirement. We say with all sincerity and joy, "God, if you want to take me right now, great! Glory, here I come!"

You know, if you ask an engaged couple how many days there are to their wedding, more often than not they'll tell you the exact number of days (and sometimes even the hours and minutes). Why? Because of their deep longing to be with each other, they count down the time until they can finally come together. That's how we view death: not as something to be feared, but we long for that time when we finally get to be with Christ face to face in the glory of his heaven!

But knowing that, in Christ, death is a win for us, doesn't mean we have an impatient death wish. Christ's work for us on the cross changes, not only the way we view death, but also the way we view life. It's been said that "Life without Christ is a hopeless end, but life with Christ is an endless hope." (Unknown) Paul expresses that hope in the way he speaks about the alternative to death in Christ—life in Christ…

II.            Life is Jesus 

Even though he longed to be out of his prison confinement and with his Savior, Jesus, the apostle Paul didn't have an impatient death wish. He expected to be released from his arrest because there was still work for him to do with the Philippians and with others. And rather than grow frustrated that Jesus wasn't ready to take him to glory yet, he was eager to do the tasks that Jesus in store.

That's why he said, "For to me, to live is Christ… If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me… it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith…"

For Paul, life was Christ. The two were synonymous. Why? Because of what Christ had done for him. Jesus dedicated his life to saving Paul and so, Paul would dedicate his life to serving Jesus—no matter what suffering that might entail. After all, no matter how bad it got, it would be nowhere near what Jesus endured for him or what he deserved.

And the same is true of us. Because of what Christ has done for us, we dedicate our very lives to him. We regularly pray this when we use the Service of the Word in our hymnal: "Take all that we have, our bodies and minds, our time and skills, our ministries and offerings and use them to your glory. We give ourselves to you that we may serve you in whatever way is pleasing in your sight."

Perhaps you've seen the series of T-shirts that say, "Basketball, volleyball, fishing, hunting, (or whatever your hobby) is life. The rest is just details." Well, the truth is that with an unending thanks and gratitude to Jesus for removing our every sin, for robbing death of its sting, for delivering us from hell, for promising us an eternal paradise, Jesus is life. The rest is just details.

Who cares if I suffer for a little while here on earth? I'm but a stranger here! I'm heaven bound! Who cares if I have to take out the trash or change a diaper or do some chore I don't like to do out of love for my Savior? Look at how he served me! Who cares if I'm unjustly sentenced to death for the sake of the Gospel! Look at how he was sentenced to hell in my place! Because death is now Christ, so is my life. The rest is just details.

And so, while we may be eager for death, when we can depart to be with our Savior, we're not impatient. We're equally eager to stay alive to serve our Savior, even if that means we're confined to a hospital bed where the only service we're capable of is prayer, even if that means that our service is simply to give others the opportunity to show their love for their Savior in their care for us. Death is a win situation, but we don't seek to end our lives, because life is a win situation too.

Every situation in life is a win-win situation, dear Christian. Because for us, "to live is Christ and to die is gain." So, rejoice, no matter what circumstances you're in. Either you'll be delivered from your suffering in this life, or God will let you continue to suffer for the good of others, who will notice your joy in spite of your suffering. So, in thanks to Jesus and the win-win situation he give you, "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."

In the ruins of Pompeii, that city that was buried in volcanic ash and frozen in time, there was a Roman sentinel found in what some would consider a very unlikely place. Can you guess where? Standing upright at the city gate, right where the captain placed him—still grasping his spear. As the sky fell down around him as the flood of ashes overwhelmed him, he refused to run for his life, but faithfully carried out the task which he was assigned, even if it meant death.


In the same way, dear friends, in thanks to Jesus for making our deaths a win situation, we too faithfully carry out the tasks that our Captain has assigned to us in thanks. For we know that every situation is a win-win situation. For to live is Christ, and to die is gain. May we all be found living for him and faithfully carrying out our duties when he comes to deliver us once and for all and to bring us that eternal gain. In Jesus name, dear friends, amen. 


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

Sunday, October 9, 2011

You Are God’s Watchmen (A sermon based on Ezekiel 33:7-11)

You have many responsibilities in life: to work faithfully, to care for your family, to serve others in love. And we're eager to carry out responsibilities to the best of our ability as we live in thanks to God for what he's done for us. Today we look at one of those responsibilities as we see how God has made us all watchmen. That is, it is our job to listen to the Word of God for the warnings that he spells out. Then we are to sound the warning cry as clearly as we can. But we do this to save lives and comfort repentant sinners with the good news of the forgiveness Jesus' won for all. Read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on Ezekiel 33:7-11 and be reminded that...

You Are God's Watchmen

A sermon based on Ezekiel 33:7-11

Sunday, October 2, 2011 – Pentecost 16A

 

Daniel Webster, statesman, lawyer, and orator once said, "The most important thought I ever had was my individual responsibility to God." But what is every human's individual responsibility toward God? Well, God demands from us what we can never give him—perfection. Thanks be to Jesus Christ who died to take our sins away and give us his perfection so we meet God's requirements. Now in thanksgiving to him, we strive to do all he asks of us.

This morning we take a look at one of the responsibilities that God has given us; one opportunity we have to show him our gratitude. As redeemed children of God he has given us the responsibility to warn others of God's impending judgment. God has made us not only his children, but his watchmen. First, we are to listen to what the Lord says, then, we are to warn others of the coming judgment he has revealed to us, and finally, we are to relieve those who repent of their sins with the comforting words of the Gospel. Listen to the responsibility God gave Ezekiel and gives to us in Ezekiel 33:7-11…

 

7 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself. 10 "Son of man, say to the house of Israel, 'This is what you are saying: "Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?"' 11 Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?'

 

I.              Listen to the Lord

 

God told Ezekiel that he had made him a watchman. But what exactly does that mean? What role does a watchman play? In our day of satellite imagery and wireless communications, watchmen use different tools, but their function remains the same. They watch for enemies, for disasters, for anything that brings death and destruction and they alert everyone who's in the path. They send out the alarm to warn people of an impending disaster to give them adequate time to avert the disaster.

In the Old Testament times, the job of the watchman was to sit in a tower and keep a constant vigil, perpetually scanning the horizon to see if any enemy came near. They had to be awake and alert all the time. But Ezekiel's job as a watchman would be a little different. His job wasn't to keep his eyes open to watch for the enemy, but to keep his ears open to hear God's Word. God said, "7Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me."

Ezekiel's job was to listen intently for any message God would reveal to him. He was to listen attentively to God's Word of warning. While the people of Ezekiel's day thought the enemy was their Babylonian captors, God revealed that their real enemy was their own sin. All mankind is born so steeped in sin that no one is even aware of the problem. No one would know their greatest problem was sin, unless God first revealed that truth. It's in his Word that God reveals what man's individual responsibility toward God is: absolute perfection. "Be holy," he says, "because I, the Lord your God am holy." (Leviticus 19:2) Jesus said, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48) And no one would know what the consequences are for failing to be perfect, unless God revealed that as well, "The wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23) "O wicked man, you will surely die!" (v.8) Since these things can only be known clearly by God revealing them, how important is to listen attentively!

And no one listened to God's word more attentively than Jesus. Jesus always listened to his Father's Word perfectly. Even when he was just a boy, he knew the Scriptures perfectly. When he was twelve years old his parents "found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers." (Luke 2:46-47) When he was fully grown he said, "All things have been committed to me by my Father." (Matthew 11:27) Jesus listened perfectly.

And thank God that he did. Thank Jesus for crediting his perfect listening to us. Thank him for taking away our sins of tuning him out, of reaching for the remote instead of the Bible, or the pillow instead of heading for church. Thank him and strive to listen to the Lord better in the future. Attend worship regularly. Come to Bible class often and hear what he has to say. He has made you his watchman, not to keep a constant vigil scanning the horizon, but to keep a constant vigil scanning the pages of Scripture. For he says to you, "I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak."

And when we hear that Word we first apply it to ourselves, but then we carry out our responsibility of sharing it with others. "Hear the word I speak and give them warning from me…"

 

II.            Warn the Wicked

 

Obviously to scan the horizon for an approaching enemy was not a watchman's only job. If all he did was watch for the enemy what good would he be?! He had to watch and give warning when he saw a disaster coming. If he simply said to himself, "Whoa, looks like another war coming on. The enemy's coming on fast with full force," yet did nothing to warn the people, how worthless he would be! If the weathermen watching the tsunami in the Pacific saw them coming toward land, but never spoke a word to the media to alert people of coming disaster, they would be responsible for the death of any victims by withholding that information.

The same was true with Ezekiel. If Ezekiel didn't warn people of the impending disaster when he heard that God would destroy the wicked for their sin, he would be responsible for the eternal death of any victims lost to hell. God told him, "8 When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood."

Ezekiel had to warn the people of their sinful rebellion against God. He had to warn them of their wickedness and injustice. He had to warn them of their complacency and their backsliding. He had to warn them of God's impending judgment against their sin because those who know the truth are responsible to share it.

And again, no one shared the truth better than Jesus. A Greek proverb states "The feet of the avenging deities are shod with wool." That is, they sneak up on you. But that's not how it is with God. There's no sneaking up on the wicked in silence surprising them in his wrath. No! In his love, he warned them again and again. Jesus sounded the warning trumpet loudly and clearly. He didn't hold back at all…

"21 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths." (Jesus is referring to Hell.) "If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you." (Matthew 11:21-24)

Repeatedly Jesus warned, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!" (Matthew 23) He sounded the warning cry clearly, "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" (v.33) He warned the wicked perfectly.

And he continues to sound the warning cry today. Today, through Pastors and elders, through parents and friends he warns us about our wicked behavior. He says, "In your deliberate sin you are rejecting me and what I've done for you on the cross. Your disregard for my will shows that you have no faith in my gospel. Continue on this path of sin, and you are sure to be condemned to hell."

And since God sounds the warning cry today through us, it is our responsibility to preach that harsh truth of impending hell. Our job, as recipients of the truth, is to share that truth with others. Our job is to warn them and sound the alarm. If we don't we will be held accountable for their blood.

If my neighbor's house is on fire while he's sleeping and I see yet, but do nothing to warn him, I am responsible for his death. If I condone doctrinal errors with an open communion practice, looking the other way instead of lovingly warning them, I am responsible for that error. Martin Luther once wrote, "Since this is my duty, I will point out sins to peasants, burghers, and noblemen, and rebuke them for these without paying attention to their complaints when they say, 'Look here, you are defaming me!' For if I held back I would make myself guilty of your sin. And why should I go to hell for you?" (LW 22:372)

 But if I do warn him and he refuses to believe me, his death is no one's fault but his own. For that reason God told Ezekiel, "9 But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself."

I remember watching a video in high school about the eruption of Mt. St. Helen's in Washington State. When the seismographs alerted those watching the volcano of its unstable condition they did all they could to clear the mountain. But there was one man who said he had lived on the mountain his whole life and knew it better than their fancy machines. He refused to vacate and when the intense heat and lava hit his cabin, he became the only casualty in the eruption, now, buried hundreds of feet below the ash.

It is our job to preach the law and warn people of the hell that awaits them. And while it's not our fault if they refuse to listen, it is our fault if we keep silent. Boldly preach the law. Warn your co-workers and friends. Do all that you can to bring them to repentance. And warn them so you might relieve them with the gospel…

 

III.           Relieve the Repentant

 

The job of a watchman was not to sight the enemy and sound the warning just to frighten the people. His job was not to cry out, "Doomed! We're all doomed! The enemy is coming on fast and there's nothing we can do!" Of course not! The watchman sounded his warning so the people living outside the city could quickly move within the fortified city walls. The warning was sounded to save people, not just to scare them.

That was the same intent with God's warning through Ezekiel. God wanted to save the people from their sins. The warning worked. It led many to recognize their sins. The people finally stopped blaming others for their sins. Before, they had blamed their fathers for the punishment they endured as exiles of Babylon. They had even blamed God for their situation, calling him unjust. But now, they finally recognized that they had rebelled against God in their sin and called it what it was, "our offenses… our sins." They thought, "There's no way we can avert this doom, so what's the use?" But now that the law had done its work, they were ready for the gospel. God told Ezekiel…

10 "Son of man, say to the house of Israel, 'This is what you are saying: "Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?"' 11 Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?'

Though the people began to despair thinking, "God likes to punish us, so what's the use of repenting?" Ezekiel gave them the encouragement they needed. "God doesn't take pleasure in your deaths. He's not a mean little kid with a magnifying glass on the anthill. He doesn't enjoy the thought of sending any of you to hell. But when you reject his forgiveness in the coming Messiah, you choose hell." And again in his grace God sent Ezekiel to remind them of their sin. And in his grace God sent Ezekiel to remind them of his mercy.

God doesn't ever change. So the description of God in Ezekiel 33:11 gives us a very clear description of God's attitude toward sinners today. God is loving and merciful and takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. It's not a happy thought to God that thousands die every day only to be damned to an eternity of hell. And if anyone thinks differently he need only look at the cross to see how much the death of the wicked upsets God. It pains God so much to see people sent to hell, that he sent his own Son to hell in their place. He sent Christ to become a lowly human, to suffer agony and be tortured to death on a cross, to endure the very depths of hell to make the wicked righteous.

There on the cross Christ took away our every sin. There he forgave us for every time we've failed to listen to his Word with attentive ear. There he forgives us for every time we've failed to warn an erring brother or sister because we were too lazy, too timid, or too concerned about losing a friend. There he's forgiven us for becoming an accomplice in a sin for not speaking up in warning when we knew better. There he made us, who once were wicked, his perfect saints.

Now, dear brothers and sisters, when a pastor or elder, a parent, spouse or friend comes to you and gives you a warning, pointing out your sin, be thankful that they've pointed it out. Listen to what God says to you through them and turn! Turn from your evil ways and live! Trust in Christ's forgiveness won for you on the cross. Then in thanksgiving, share that warning with other. Warn the wicked. And when they repent, share the comfort of the gospel that they too might turn; turn and live! Amen.

 

In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

Live in View of God’s Mercy (A sermon based on Romans 12:1-8)

You live with a perfect illustration of the Christian church: your own body. Each part lives to serve the whole, without argument or complaint, without stopping to question if they're getting an even deal. So too, we Christians live to serve, not ourselves, but each other. But how can we do that when it goes against the very grain of our natures to not live for self-preservation or self-glorification? We can only do it by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus and the cross. Because he lived, died, and rose to rescue us from death and hell, we're eager to live for him in thanks. In view of his mercy to us, we're eager to offer ourselves in service to him and his people. Read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on Romans 12:1-8 and be encouraged to...

Live in View of God's Mercy

A sermon based on Romans 12:1-8

Sunday, September 25, 2011 – Pentecost 15A

 

Martin Luther once said that we are all constantly living with a perfect picture of Christian service and love… your body. Your hand gladly serves your mouth, taking it food, when the mouth gives nothing directly to the hand for it. Your mouth then takes the food that it's worked so hard to chew up and gives it away to the stomach wanting nothing in return. The eye tells the foot where to go to keep the whole body from falling. The foot does the difficult work of being pounded into the ground over and over again all day long to take the body where it needs to go to get the food, sleep and exercise it needs.

Each part of your body does whatever it's asked to do without worrying about whether it's being treated fairly or not, without worrying about what it will get in return for its hard labor. Each part works together for the common good.

The apostle Paul pointed out on more than one occasion that that's exactly how Christians operate. They each do their part, not concerned about what's fair or what they'll get in return for their service, but striving to thank God that they don't get what's fair, but instead get his mercy. Each Christian lives to serve his Savior in thanksgiving. Each Christian lives to serve others as if serving Christ. Listen to Romans 12:1-8 where God, through the apostle Paul, encourages us to Live in View of God's Mercy. Offer Your Bodies to Him and Be One With His Body—the Church…

 

12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

 

I.              Offer Your Bodies to Him (1-2)

 

Look at verse one again because it is the most important verse of this chapter. It sets the tone for the rest of the book of Romans. It says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." Remember our rule with the word "therefore"? Whenever you see "therefore" find out what it's there for. Look back at the context right before the therefore and we find last week's epistle lesson. Remember what it was? It was Paul's doxology praising God for the great mercy he's shown all people in his plan of salvation—the great mercy Paul spelled out in the first eleven chapters.

In the first three chapters of Romans, Paul pointed out what all humankind deserves—hell. Though in our arrogance and pride we think we deserve blessings from God, we deserve nothing but his wrath. "You are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God 'will give to each person according to what he has done.'" (2:5-6) What have we done? "It is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." (3:10-12) Paul writes, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…" (3:23) Plain and simple, we're not righteous and we deserve God's wrath in hell.

But in chapters three through eleven Paul speaks of God's great mercy. With a ton of wonderful verses Paul describes that though we deserve hell, we don't get what we deserve. "…righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe…for all… are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (3:21-24) "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (5:8) "…the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (6:23) "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…" (8:1) "…in all things God works for the good of those who love him." (8:28)

I could keep going, but you get the point. Everything the Romans had—forgiveness, salvation, eternal life—everything the Romans were—God's own sons and daughters though faith—was by the grace of God. It was a gift. "Therefore," Paul urged them, "respond to his great grace he's given to you. In view of that great mercy, which I've just spent eleven chapters describing, give him your unending thanks."

How could they do that? How could they respond to such great mercy that gave them heaven itself? Paul says, "Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." God didn't want them to just burn some of their grain on an altar waving the smoke in the air. He didn't want them to just slaughter a goat and present it to him. He didn't want just a few denariis of their hard earned income. He didn't want just 10%, but 100%. Paul urged them to give life for life. Jesus died for them, now they could live for him. They could thank him for their eternal life, by offering their bodies in service to God in this temporal life.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I urge you, in view of God's mercy, in view of those passages you know so well, offer your bodies as living sacrifices to God. Make your spiritual worship more than just a once a week trip to the pew. Make your offering more than just a few dollars on Sunday morning. Give him your life—the very life he gave you, the life he saved from hell by his Son's death. But do it all in view of God's mercy, thanking him for what he's given you by grace.

How do you thank him? How do you offer your body to God? Paul tells us the general principle in verse 2, make God's will your will: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Don't be like jello that takes the shape of whatever surrounds it. Don't be molded to fit this world's pattern—the pattern to rebel against God and live only for yourself, "You gotta' take care of number one!" Don't live like that, but be transformed. Literally, undergo a metamorphosis, a complete change, by renewing your mind—your thoughts, your feelings, your attitudes. Let those attitudes be changed from selfishness to selflessness. And how do you do that? "In view of God's mercy…" Only God's Word, revealing his great mercy, has the power to change your mind. God's Word reminds you that you do deserve hell. And it reminds you of the grace God gives you instead. That gospel message alone can motivate us to change our minds, and no longer live for ourselves, but to offer our bodies to God in thanksgiving.

And when we do, then we learn that it's not a drag to live according to God's will. It's not boring to do things his way, but rather good, pleasing and perfect for us in every way. Then we will desire God's will over our own because we'll see that his way is best. Then we will enjoy God's will. 

 

II.            Be One with His Body (3-8)

 

But what exactly does conforming to God's will look like? Paul gives some specific directions in verses three through eight: 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Conforming to God's will and serving him in view of his mercy begins with humility. Paul warns the Romans to avoid that spiritually deadly sin of pride. And how can a Christian even think of being proud? When one recognizes that on his own, he is spiritual rot, that nothing good lives in him, that all, including himself, have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. If I really understand the gospel; that all that I have comes by God's grace alone and not because I have earned or deserved it, how can I be arrogant or full of pride?

A wise man once said, "They that know God will be humble; they that know themselves cannot be proud." For when I understand that all I've accomplished on my own is to rebel against God, when I see that what I have earned on my own is hell, it leads me to view things, no longer drunk with pride, but with "sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given [me]." I fall on my knees in thanksgiving to God and abandon such foolish pride. God has given me faith in Christ, and through it salvation and heaven itself. God has given me the gifts and abilities that I possess. He continues to preserve my strength, my intelligence, and everything that I have. I'm no more deserving of such blessings than anyone else. And I want to thank him for such gifts by using them all to serve him.

And in such humility, Christians marvel at the grace of God who gave them the gifts that they have. And they guard against pride, and jealousy. And they strive to serve God together in perfect unity, just as Paul writes, "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us."

Who would want four arms at the expense of no legs? Who would want three eyes, but no nose? No one would! We need all of our body parts, even if they seem useless to us. How often do you think about your liver? But if yours doesn't function properly, if you didn't have one, I'm certain you'd miss it. How often do you think about your big toe? Only when you stub it? But if it were gone and you struggled for balance with each step, you'd miss it too.

In the same way that each part of our bodies serves a different, but necessary function, so too each Christian has different gifts. And no person has them all, so we need each other. And what a beautiful arrangement that makes! While Christians come in all different sizes, shapes, and colors, while they all have different backgrounds, jobs, interests and opinions, though we all vary in our talents and abilities, they're all given by God. And this arrangement of variety that God gives is not a source of contention, but of joy! Each Christian, serving God in his own way, compliments the others. Just as Luther pointed out: When everyone serves selflessly, looking for no reward or compensation in return, everyone benefits. So Paul encourages us, "Rejoice in the variety of gifts you have. And whatever gifts you have, use them as well as you can to serve God."

If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

If your gift is prophesying, that is, speaking God's Word, Paul tells you to speak literally in proportion to "the" faith. That is speak only what is in agreement with God's truths already revealed.

If your gift is serving, be it pulling weeds on a workday, mowing lawns, serving at a potluck, babysitting at a church function, being on the altar guild, coming to meetings, serving on a committee, the list goes on and on… use that gift to serve God with all your heart!

If your gift is teaching, not just in a school, but perhaps in a Bible class (some of you have that gift), or maybe in a personal one-on-one conversation with a friend or neighbor, finding a way to explain a difficult concept… teach to God's glory.

If your gift is encouraging others, giving the right word of warning or comfort at the right moment, remembering to send a card on a birthday or anniversary, giving a phone call when you've missed a friend in church, putting an arm around someone's shoulder and asking "how are things?"… If this is your gift, keep encouraging.

If your gift is contributing to the needs of others, giving freely of your wealth without worrying if you're shortchanging yourself or about keeping enough for a rainy day, continue to give with generosity in thanksgiving to God.

If your gift is leadership, giving direction to others when they turn to you for help, don't be lazy or half-hearted, but lead with diligence and zeal, quick to serve others in need.

If your gift is showing mercy, forgiving others without worrying if you should have remained righteously indignant, caring for the needs of others before you worry about your own, do so cheerfully, not with a grudge wishing you didn't have to forgive or help, but cheerfully, in view of God's mercy toward you.

And certainly Paul's list here is not a comprehensive one. We could include countless other gifts, such as abilities in music or art, being good at planning ahead and keeping a schedule, hard work without tiring easily, or countless others. If you don't know what gifts God has given you, get involved. Try various forms of service until you gradually discover what your God-given gifts are. And whatever gifts you have, recognize that they come from God. Cultivate these gifts. And use them. Someone once pointed out that a $50,000 violin hanging silently and dusty on the wall is not worth as much as a kitchen spoon that is used regularly. Use your gifts faithfully and put them into service for God. And do it all in thanksgiving to him in view of his mercy to you.

In thanksgiving for the countless gifts he's given you, offer your bodies as living sacrifices to God. Gladly serve each other in thanksgiving and be at one with God's body, the church. May God give us all the heart and the strength to make such willing sacrifices in view of his mercy. In Jesus name, Amen.

 

In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611