Monday, November 30, 2015

God Will Clear the Way to Feed You More (A sermon based on 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13)

Before you can serve the second course, first the dishes from the first course need to be cleared away. Before the Thessalonians could be fed more from the Word of God, God had to clear the way for Paul to come and visit them. What does God need to clear away in your life for you to be fed by the Word more? Whatever it is, I pray that God clear it out of the way. Too much is at stake. Christ is coming soon. Will you be ready for him? By God's grace, he will clear the way to feed you more, so that you are always ready for Jesus' return. Read or listen to (download) this sermon based on 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 and pray that God would clear the way to feed you more...

God Will Clear the Way to Feed You More

A sermon based on 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Sunday, November 29, 2015 – Advent 1C

 

Well, I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving Day! Mine was great! As usual it was marked by eating too much food. After the meal of turkey and stuffing, potatoes and gravy, green beans and dinner rolls, I suspect that the real intent of relaxing for some conversation and a board game after the meal was simply to let the food settle a bit more before we dug into the pie and other desserts. But before we could return the table, we had to clear the table of the dishes that already covered it. But once that table was cleared, we were ready for the best part of the night—the dessert.

The Christians in Thessalonica also needed some clearing to take place before they could eat. But unlike me on Thursday afternoon, they weren't stuffed. They were hungry—not for some pie, but for the Word of God. On his second missionary trip, the apostle Paul spent less than a month in Thessalonica instructing them in the Word before he was driven out of town by an angry mob. And the Thessalonians weren't satisfied with what little instruction they got. They were lacking in their knowledge and were hungry for more. But they needed to have the way cleared for Paul to come and give them more to eat—spiritually speaking, that is. And Paul prayed earnestly that the way might be cleared.

This morning, it is my prayer that God might clear the way for you that you too may enjoy the best part—not dessert, but the Word of God. May he clear any obstacles that stand in the way of you digging in to the Word and digesting what it says that you might grow in your faith. Here's Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians and my prayer for you, recorded for us in 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13...

  

9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. 11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

  

The Thessalonians were hungry. With only three weeks with the apostle, their instruction in the faith was cut short. And they wanted more. They had faith. They had zeal. And they had a sincere desire to know more. But they were lacking in their faith. What were they lacking? Paul never spells it out. Some suggest it was love for each other and everyone else. They had a head knowledge and real trust in Jesus, but weren't putting into practice in their Christian living. Others suggest it was a certain knowledge of the end times as Paul spends the greater part of 1st and 2nd Thessalonians clearing up their misunderstandings. But whatever it was, Paul had every intention of supplying what was lacking when God would clear the way.

So how about you? Are you hungry? Or do you think, "No. Not us. We're not infants in the faith like those Thessalonians. We've been going to church since we were in diapers. We know the books of the Bible and even what most of them are about. We go to church. (Here we are!) And we read our Bible AND devotions every day!"

Well, maybe it's apathy that keeps us from growth in our faith. "I already get church on Sunday morning. What do I need Bible Study for?" Or maybe it's a sense of spiritual pride that stands in the way of our growth. An attitude that says, "I already know waaaay more than everyone else here. I don't need daily Bible study." Maybe it's arrogance that says, "I already know everything that's going to be said. I know all I need to know. I'm already full. I'm satisfied."

But unlike it is with the food at Thanksgiving, we can never be full of the Word of God. You can never have eaten enough that you're satisfied and need no more. You can never master his Word well enough! Can anyone here honestly claim that their love for others can no longer increase because it's already perfect? Can anyone claim that they've mastered every part of the Word of God? Even if that were the case (and it's certainly not), then we still need to come to Bible Class and worship... for others! God says in Hebrews 10:24-25, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

If we lack a hearty appetite to do that we show our lack of love for others and our self-serving attitudes. When we cease to pray for others night and day as Paul did, we show that we're really concerned about ourselves. Would anyone here claim, then, that on their own they are blameless and holy in the presence of God? Hardly!

But that's why we need the gospel. Because we cannot get what will satisfy our craving to be right with God, to be blameless and holy, to be able to stand in his presence, in self-help books, in personal life coaches, or from talk show hosts. The Gospel alone satisfies that craving. In Isaiah 55(:2-3) God says, "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live."

Here, in God's Word, we hear the comforting message that Jesus cleared the way for us to get to heaven. He cleared our sins of arrogance, of pride, of apathy toward the Word when he, the blameless and holy Son of God, took those sins on himself. He cleared the way for us when he gave us credit for his perfect, blameless and holy life. He cleared the way for some "Paul," a pastor, a friend, your parents, to share this good news with you! And now you and I are truly blameless and holy, by faith in him! And God will now supply what you're still lacking in your faith, since no one here has fully arrived!

Some suggest that what the Thessalonians lacked was nothing more than the strength to keep going. That's why Paul prayed, "May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones."

Well, you, like the Thessalonians know the wonderful truth of the Gospel. You believe it. And you find satisfaction in Jesus. But now, may God clear the way to feed you even more. May he remove those obstacles that keep you from growing even more in your faith, in your love for one another, in your strength of heart that will keep you blameless and holy in the presence of God until Jesus comes.

I know it sounds a bit harsh, but it is my sincere prayer that God would remove those obstacles by any means necessary. Do you have trouble getting to bed early on Saturday because you're out late with friends? Then may God kill your social life. Do you stay up late watching TV, but have trouble finding 5 minutes to read your Bible? Then may your TV break and cost too much to repair so you have more time in the Word. Is it apathy that keeps you from studying God's Word? Then may he send you some trial or pain, some cross, that drives you back to the Word for answers and comfort. May God clear the table for you to keep eating the Word.

Then, as the old prayer used to go, as you hear the Word, read it, mark it, learn it, and inwardly digest it, may you get the nutrients you need to grow stronger, to learn more and to love more. And as you're filled up with his love, it will overflow and spill into the lives of others like a glass of water that's filled up and overflowing, spilling onto the table.

Then we'll be eager to pray for others night and day that God might clear the way for them to have what is lacking in their faith supplied. Pray that he might clear the way for you to go to them and share the truths they so desperately need to hear. Pray that he might remove your fear and apprehension as you talk about what matters most, that they too might be blameless and holy until Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

And as you do, "May he strengthen your hearts so that you will [continue to] be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father [until] our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones." In Jesus' name, dear friends, amen.


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

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

Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast

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Monday, November 23, 2015

Christ’s Kingdom is Not of This World (A sermon based on John 18:33-37)

A king protects his people. So why does Jesus sometimes let us get hurt? A king provides for his subjects' needs. So why do we seem to be always lacking? A king defeats his enemies. So why do the enemies of Christianity seem to be always winning? Jesus explains the answer to all these questions as he talks to Pontius Pilate: His kingdom is not of this world. His is not a kingdom of armies and borders. His is a spiritual kingdom. And we rejoice that by his grace we get to be a part of it! Read or listen to (download) this sermon based on John 18:33-37 and rejoice that...

Christ's Kingdom is Not of This World

A sermon based on John 18:33-37

Sunday, November 22, 2015 – Christ the King Sunday

 

Not too many years ago there was a best-selling book in the religion and self-help sections of the bookstores entitled, "Your Best Life Now." In this book author Joel Osteen presented his premise that God's goal for you is wealth and power and prosperity right now. "For every Christian who's a part of God's kingdom," he maintains, "God will bless you right here, right now in this life."

And this false teaching that's so prevalent today, this grave misunderstanding about who Jesus is and what he's all about, is nothing new. The Jews of Jesus' day were looking for a political king, not one who would forgive their sins, but would drive out the Romans, put an end to poverty and disease and give them their "best life now." Even Jesus' own disciples asked him after his resurrection, "Now are you going to drive out the Romans and bring your kingdom to earth?" (cf. Acts 1:6)

But Jesus was clear: Though he is a king, his kingdom is not of this world. It's a spiritual kingdom. His weapons are not swords or armies, but spiritual weapons. And the goals for his kingdom are not to bring about the perfect government here on earth or to give anyone their best life now, but his goals are spiritual goals. Listen now to Jesus' trial before Pilate as he explains what kind of king he is and what his kingdom is like: It's not of this world…

 

33Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

34"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"

35"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"

36Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

37"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.

Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

 

I.      It's a Spiritual Kingdom

 

Ever since the time of David and Solomon, the Jews wanted a king. They looked forward to the promised Messiah-King who would give them their best life now. But when Jesus arrived on the scene, all he wanted to talk about were spiritual things—about the next life. He wouldn't miraculously wipe out all disease in this life even though he could. He wouldn't continue to provide bread and meat from the sky even though he could. He wouldn't destroy the Romans with his awesome power even though he could. So they rejected him. With bitter irony, they even sided with the hated Romans to get rid of Jesus, since they couldn't execute anyone by Roman law.

So bringing him before Pilate they accused him of treason: of refusing to pay taxes to Caesar and of claiming to be a king, setting up a kingdom in opposition to Caesar. And though it was painfully obvious that Jesus was innocent of any crime deserving death, it was Pilate's job to defend Caesar and his kingdom, and fearing a Jewish uprising, he put Jesus on trial, rather than dismiss the case.

Again, what irony! The judge of all people, the ruler of the universe, being judged by a cowardly Roman ruler. Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Are you a king, trying to oppose Caesar?" But Jesus still didn't want to talk politics, but of spiritual matters, so trying to draw a confession from Pilate he answered a question with a question… "Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"    But Pilate dismissed it. With sarcasm he said, "Am I a Jew?" "This talk of Messiah is a Jewish matter, of no concern to me." And he changed directions. "What is it you have done?" "Why do your own people hate you so much?"

And Jesus told him, "My kingdom is not of this world… But now my kingdom is from another place." Jesus' kingdom was not the earthly one his people expected. He didn't come to establish an earthly rule. He didn't come to be popular. He didn't come to accumulate wealth. He didn't come to bring glory to himself of his followers here on earth. And he didn't come to make life easy for everyone on his side.

His kingdom, established in heaven from eternity, with his jurisdiction nothing less than all creation, was not and is not of this world. And it wasn't established like any other kingdom either, by succession, election, or conquest. His kingdom was always his before this world began. And when he brought his kingdom to earth, it still wasn't an earthly kingdom.

You see, Jesus kingdom is in people's hearts and minds. The Greek word for "kingdom" used throughout the Old Testament has a verbal idea to it. Perhaps "ruling" would be a better translation. Jesus "kingdom" is his ruling in peoples' hearts. By nature every person seats him or herself on the throne of their own heart. We rule our own mock kingdoms in whatever way we think will best serve ourselves. But in the end our self-rule will end in self-destruction in an eternity of regret in hell. But Jesus knocks people off their thrones in order to save them. And he takes his seat our hearts. But how does he do that? What weapons does he use? Jesus doesn't use force, physical or manipulative. Instead, his kingdom has spiritual weapons…

 

II.    It Has Spiritual Weapons

 

Jesus said, "If [my kingdom] were [of this world], my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." Jesus kingdom, with its weapons, was no threat to the Romans like most Jews wanted it to be. Not only was there no command from Jesus to fight an earthly battle, but he forbid his disciples to fight. Remember when Peter pulled out his sword in the Garden of Gethsemane? Jesus rebuked him! "If I wanted to fight, if I wanted force," Jesus told him, "I'd call down legions, thousands, of angels to fight for me, not have you do it, Peter."

Force is not the way Jesus conquers in his spiritual kingdom. He has no need for swords or guns or armies to bring about his kingdom because his kingdom is not of this world, but a spiritual kingdom in people's hearts and minds. So what weapons does he use? Jesus uses a spiritual weapon that affects hearts and minds—that is, his truth found in the Word. Jesus said, "In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world…" not to conquer nations, but, "to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

What is that truth? The Word of God which is "living and active; sharper than any double-edged sword." With his law, Jesus penetrates our hearts. In love, he points out who we are without him—lost in our sin and rebellion toward God. He points out that with our sinful self-rule in making ourselves king or queen of our own lives, we've only spelled out our certain ruin forever in hell. And with the powerful Word of God, with that dynamite, he conquers our hearts.

But in his Word, he also reveals how he defeated Satan by resisting every temptation and by living a perfect life for us. In his Word he shows us how he defeated sin and hell by taking our place in hell on the cross to pay for our sin. In his Word he shares how he's removed all of our guilt, made us perfect and clean, and innocent before God by sacrificing himself. In his Word he tells us how he defeated death by rising from the dead on Easter morning.

And no wonder Pilate seemed incredulous at the idea of Jesus being a conquering hero of a king—"You are a king, then!" Jesus didn't come like any kind of king he had ever seen or heard of—conquering his enemies by an apparent defeat, being tortured to death on a cross—and expanding his kingdom not by force or might, but by his Word and by his love.

And by creating faith in our hearts—faith in the truth of the Gospel—the Holy Spirit moves us to want to put Christ the King where he rightly belongs—seated on the throne of our lives. We, who are on the side of truth, crave every opportunity to listen to him in his Word. We long to hear more about his grace to us every chance we get! We, who have been conquered by his love, love him in return and long to live for him and to serve in his kingdom for making us a part of it by his grace. And being a part of that kingdom we strive for the same spiritual goals that he does…

 

III.   It Has Spiritual Goals

 

Even though Jesus knew that the outcome of his trial and even thought he knew the agony of the cross and worse yet, of hell, that he was about to endure, notice what occupied Jesus thoughts. Not a bitter vindictive desire for revenge on Pilate who was about to sign his death warrant, but a loving concern for him—a longing to bring Pilate into his kingdom too! Jesus loving pleaded with Pilate to consider who he was, "Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?" That's the loving goal of Jesus—not to bring about world peace or to end world hunger, but to bring about a peace with God and bring more individual souls into his kingdom.

Jesus already had his kingdom in heaven. He ruled all things with his Father. He didn't need to come to earth to establish any kingdom here. He could have just stayed put. But out of pure, undeserved love, he left his throne in heaven to accomplish his goal—to bring us into his kingdom. And the goal of his kingdom is not to remove all suffering here on earth, but it's much bigger, and much longer lasting that that! His goal is to remove sin and by doing that to remove all suffering forever in heaven. And his goal is to bring every soul into his kingdom. He didn't come, as Pilate suggested, just for the Jews. Jesus wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (cf. 1 Timothy 2:4)

So dear friends, make that goal your goal! Have a greater desire to bring others into Jesus' kingdom, than to bring more blessings into your own lives, because all too often you and I, like the Jews of Jesus day, want an earthly king too. We may say material things aren't that important, but we still want them and make them our goal. We still make it our goal to have an easy job, a perfect family, and constant good health. We want everyone to like us and all our problems to go away, and we want Jesus to provide it all. We too often strive for different goals than Jesus.

But Jesus knows that granting those blessings might be counter-productive to his goals, so he doesn't give us our best life now. He lets us have problems. He lets us feel the pain. He lets loved ones suffer. But he allows it all so that we can be better witnesses of the greater blessings we have: We have peace with God and protection from our spiritual enemies. We have the certain promise of eternal comfort and joy, because "…our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:20)

Dear friends in Christ, live as members of Jesus' kingdom, with Christ ruling in your hearts. Live in thanksgiving to him for making you a member of his kingdom by the truth of his Word and long to listen to Jesus in his Word more often. Live as members of his kingdom, making your goals his goals, eagerly doing your part to expand his kingdom. And live in peace with eager anticipation for the day we join Christ our King in his heavenly kingdom! In his name, dear friends, amen.


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

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

Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast

Have you been blessed by our ministry at Grace? Consider supporting us with your generous gifts. Give securely online with a check or credit or debit card here: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Give

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Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Changed into Saints by Sacrifice (A Sermon based on Hebrews 10:11-18)

Do you like change? Or are changes scary? I guess it depends on what kind of change it is. What if you and your family had been worshiping God the same way for hundreds of years. Wouldn't it be hard to change to a whole new way of worship? The Hebrews had that challenge. There was no longer any need to sacrifice animals at the temple. The once for all sacrifice had already been made. But they could deal with the change of worship as they remembered that they themselves had been changed. They were changed into saints by Jesus' perfect sacrifice for them. Read or listen to (download) this sermon based on Hebrews 10:11-18 and rejoice that you too have been...

Changed into Saints by Sacrifice

A Sermon based on Hebrews 10:11-18

Sunday, November 15, 2015 – Saints Triumphant B

 

Perhaps you've heard this joke before: "How many WELS Lutherans does it take to change a light bulb?" "Change?! What are you've talking about?! We've always had that lightbulb!" The truth is, change can sometimes be scary. We're used to doing things the way they've always been done. That's what we know. It's what we're comfortable with.

In the 100's AD the Jews wrestled with some pretty big issues of change. They were comfortable with the temple worship and the sacrifices that they'd always done. After all, it was the way God told them to do it. And it was the way their people had been doing it for thousands of years. But now, with Christ's mission complete, everything changed.

And while they struggled with giving up the old way of keeping the ceremonial law with its animal sacrifices, the author to the Hebrews gave them encouragement. In his letter he pointed out how the old way, was really only pointing to Jesus. The new way—worshiping Jesus himself, instead of the shadows that pointed to him—was a much better way. And he reminded them that they could embrace such change because they themselves had been changed.

And friends, you and I, like those early Christians have also been changed. We have been changed into saints by sacrifice. But not by our sacrifice, because there's no way that we could ever sacrifice enough. Instead, we're changed by Jesus' sacrifice which is so perfect and complete, there is no need for Him to ever sacrifice again, and there is no need for us to ever sacrifice again. Listen to these comforting verses from Hebrews 10:11-18…

 

11Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16"This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." 17Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." 18And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

 

I.             There's No Way We Can Sacrifice Enough

 

Do you ever feel like you're in a rut? After all, day after day we do the same things: the same laundry and the same dishes, the same tasks and reports at work again and again. We prepare for one meeting only to have another the next day. It seems that once we are finished with a task, the same tasks need to be done all over again. We never seem to accomplish anything.

Well, imagine how the Old Testament priests must have felt. Every labor-intensive day, always standing, never getting a chance to sit down (literally), they would drag stubborn animals near the altar, go through the smelly, sticky mess of slaughtering these animals, drag their carcasses up the mound to the altar and offer them to God. And after a long, grueling day's work, what did they have to look forward to? Another day of the same things tomorrow, repeating it all over again and again.

"Day after day… again and again… the same sacrifices." And what did all this work accomplish? Well, not too much, it seems. Because all these sacrifices, all these religious duties, could "never take away sins." How tiring it might have seemed to those priests to know that no matter how hard they worked, their inbox would always be full. How frustrating it might have seemed to know that no matter how many sacrifices they offered, it would never have any lasting effect. Like that bottomless cup of coffee in the diner their "to-do" list was always refilled before they even came close to seeing the bottom.

 

I'm sure you can relate, right? Does it sometimes seem to you that your work load is "bottomless"? That no matter how hard you work, there's always more to do? Does it sometimes seem to you that your efforts are futile, never really accomplishing anything final?

Well, what can be frustrating at your job, is even more frustrating in the work we would need to do to get right with God. You see, no matter how much work we do for him, it is never enough. There is always more to do. No matter how many sermons I write, there's always another to be written next week. No matter how many times you share your faith with a friend, there's always another friend to help or one more witness to be made. No matter how much you give in the offering plate, there's always more needed next week and next month. And so day after day, again and again we make sacrifices little and big. And sometimes it seems as if the sermons, the witnesses, the offerings, all these sacrifices have little to no lasting effect.

And what's more, all of these works, as good as they are, are like the sacrifices made by the Old Testament priests—they can never forgive sins. No matter how many good deeds you do, they can never pay for that one mistake you made last week (as if were only one mistake anyway, right?). Like the sacrifices made on the altar in the temple, they could be done again and again, day after day, but never be completely effective. They could never cancel the debt we owe for the least of our sins, let alone the heap we pile up each day. They could never undo the evil that we've thought, said or done—our sins of apathy toward our spiritual immaturity, sins of neglecting our Bibles, of failing to be faithful in our witness or in our offerings. The good I do tomorrow cannot undo the evil I did yesterday. And I can't go back in time. And so, like the priestly sacrifices, our works and the sacrifices we make, no matter how great or numerous, can never be enough to save us.

But if the sacrifices of the priest could never take away sins, if it could never accomplish what they really needed—forgiveness—then why even bother? Well, they had to do these ritual sacrifices, as worthless as they may have seemed, because God commanded it. And he commanded it for their sake. You see all of that labor and work, and all of those sacrifices day after day, and all of that bloody, sticky mess, were pointing the people to Jesus and to his perfect sacrifice…

 

II.            There's No Need for Him to Sacrifice Again

 

The author to the Hebrews contrasts, the ongoing, never-ending, ineffectual work of the priests and their sacrifices with the perfect priest that they foreshadowed. He says of Jesus, "But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God." Unlike the priests' sacrifices, Jesus only needed one. What hundreds of thousands of slaughtered animals could never accomplish, Jesus did. And his never needs repeating. His was perfect.

Jesus offered "one sacrifice…" His sacrifice was "for all time…" It lasts forever. More than the blood of a sheep or a goat or a bull, Jesus offered his own blood—the very blood of God. As the apostle Paul left the city of Ephesus for the last time he encouraged the elders, "Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood." (Acts 20:28) That blood, unlike the blood of a goat, can adequately cover all sins of all people for all time. And there's no need for a repeat act. The debt has been pain in full. As Jesus said, "It is finished."

The Roman Catholic church teaches that at every Mass (at every Lord's Supper) Jesus is sacrificed again to pay for our sins. But that can't be! He was already sacrificed. And with that one sacrifice Jesus completed his work. That's why he could sit down. "But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God."

When could a priest sit down, kick back, and put up his feet? Not until all the work was done or until someone came to take over for him. No one took over for Jesus. He rested because all the work was done. He rested because there was (there is) nothing left to do to accomplish man's salvation. He sat at God's right hand. Of course, that's not a literal location, but an expression of his position. We might say, "He became God's right-hand man." Though it's hidden for now and not fully revealed until the Last Day, he began his rule over the universe, with the work of sacrifice complete, never to be done again.

What a drastic change that must have been for those early Christian Jews! Their whole way of worship and of life would be altered. No more sacrifice was needed because Jesus fulfilled it all? Worship wasn't just restricted to the temple anymore because they had the real deal, not just a type? How could they deal with such drastic changes? They could because not only was worship changed, but so were they…

 

III.          There's No Need for Us to Sacrifice Again

 

The author to the Hebrews continued, "…by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin."

The reason the sacrifices were no longer needed was because the result of the one sacrifice was complete. Jesus made the Jewish Christians perfect. And note the tense of the verb: "he has made perfect…" It's past tense; a done deal. Their sins and their lawless acts were completely forgotten by God.

Does that seem odd? That God could be forgetful? I forget things all the time. Names, faces, birthdays, appointments… my mom always used to say, "Rob would forget his head if it weren't attached." And she's probably right. But God forgetful? Yes! He is! You see, these Christians could say, "Hey God, remember that time I did that horrible thing to my friend? Remember what wicked words I said to my spouse? Remember the way I treated you in my sin?" And God would respond. "Hmmm… Nope. I have no recollection of you ever doing any of that. I remember Jesus doing all that. But I already punished him."

By his one sacrifice Jesus made them perfect. That's why there was no need for any sacrifice on their part. "Where [sins and lawless acts] have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin."

And friends, if that one sacrifice was "for all time" and "forever" there's no need for any sacrifice on our part anymore either…

While the concept of slaughtering an animal on an altar at a temple is foreign to us, we still cling to the idea that we can add something to Jesus sacrifice. We think that if we only do enough works, give enough money, or offer enough time to God, then we will be partially responsible for our salvation. If we decide to live for Jesus and commit our lives to him, then, because of what we've done, we will be saved.

But there's nothing we can add to what's complete. You can't put more pieces into a puzzle that's finished. And while there's nothing we can add, rejoice that there's nothing we have to add! There's nothing left for us to do, so there's nothing for us to goof up!

Even the faith and trust we place in Jesus once-for-all sacrifice is something given to us by God. It's a gift. And you can't earn a gift. Listen again to what the author to the Hebrews says… The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this… . he says… "I will put my laws [or decrees] in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." The Holy Spirit is active in creating faith. He puts the gospel in our hearts and in our minds. It's all about what God does for us, not what we do for him.

Our salvation is complete. It's past tense. God has made us perfect. Rejoice in what he's done! And don't lose out on it because you insist on paying back the debt you can't ever pay back because no sacrifice on your part could ever be enough. But rejoice, because "Where [sins and lawless acts] have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin."

Finally friends, the fact that our salvation is secure and complete doesn't mean we tread on that grace…

 

IV.       So Sacrifice All You Can

 

When we realize how God has done everything to secure our salvation and that there's nothing left for us to do, we can't help but feel gratitude and thanks toward God. As Paul put it in Romans 12:1, "In view of God's mercy… offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God…" not because you must, but because you want to as "…your spiritual act of worship."

That's what the author to the Hebrews means in that seeming contradiction in verse 14, "…by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." How can we be made holy if we're already perfect? Well, though we've been declared to be perfect and are perfect in God's sight, we're not actually perfect yet and won't be this side of heaven. But we continually strive to express our gratitude by setting our lives apart and offering our bodies to God. We are perfect saints who strive to be saintly in thanks to him.

Rejoice, dear friends! There is no need for any doubt in your mind that you are going to heaven. You are a saint—holy in God's sight. Not by your sacrifice, but by Jesus' sacrifice—that sacrifice so perfect and complete that it leaves nothing left for you to do for your salvation. With the pressure lifted, with that grace given, you're now free to sacrifice yourself and serve him in all you do. You're free to strive to become more and more holy, free to worship him, free to sacrifice your time and your energy, your gifts and abilities, your talents and treasures to give thanks to Jesus for his one perfect, complete, sacrifice. Because no matter what else changes in your life. That will never change. In Jesus' name, dear friends, amen.


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

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

Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast

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Thursday, November 12, 2015

All Rise! (A sermon based on John 5:19-30)

"All rise!" the bailiff cries as the judge enters the room. Well, it won't be announced by a bailiff, but by the angels, when Christ returns to earth as Judge of all -- both the living and the dead. All will rise to face their judge. But thanks to God, we know what our verdict will be: Through faith in Jesus, our sins have been removed and our Judge will declare of us: "Not guilty!" Now in thanks to him, we rise to the occasion whenever we see an opportunity to thank him for what he's done! Read or listen to (download) this sermon based on John 5:19-30 and rejoice that in Christ, you're ready for Judgment Day...

All Rise!

A sermon based on John 5:19-30

Sunday, November 8, 2015 – Last Judgment Sunday

 

The sweat was beading on his forehead. It felt like it was 95 degrees in the room, but he knew it was just his nerves. Then when he heard those two little words, he jumped to his feet. Literally. He knew he'd better… or else. "All rise!" the bailiff cried as the judge enters the room. "The honorable Judge residing." And the defendant grew even more nervous at the intimidating man in his robe that represented his office and his authority. This was the man in charge. There was no jury today. The judge himself would determine the defendant's innocence or guilt. The judge would dole out the punishment if he thought the defendant guilty. The man's fate, his freedom or his pain, would be determined the that single man—The Judge.

And that defendant, is you. It's me. The scene just described will take place for each of us, not in a county court house, but in God's court of law. And the judge is, of course, Jesus himself. He will come to judge the living and the dead and the angels will be his bailiffs. When they sound his appearing, all will rise, quite literally! We will all rise to meet our Judge. Even the dead will all rise and come back to life to be judged. But maybe we're not quite like that defendant in the opening scenario, because we don't need to have sweat bead on our foreheads at that thought. We don't need to be nervous. Because we know that when our Judge comes, we will be acquitted of all charges. We, who believe in Jesus' work for us, will all rise to go be with him in heaven.

Our text for this Last Judgment Sunday is taken from John 15:19-30…

 

19 Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. 25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

28 "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.


I.             All Rise to Face their Judge

 

Opening verse of our text says, "Jesus gave them this answer…" because the Jews were persecuting him for raising a crippled man to his feet on the Sabbath Day—a day of rest. Jesus answer was that the Father was working every day and so the Son of God would continue to do his work on even the Sabbath. They ignored the miracle that proved his divinity, and tried to kill him for healing a man on a Saturday!

You see, they didn't want to have Jesus as their Savior. He wasn't the kind of Savior they were looking for. They didn't want a Savior from sin. They didn't think they needed that. They wanted a Savior from poverty, from sickness, from boredom. They wanted a Savior from the Romans. And when the realized that Jesus would be all those things and do what they thought he should, they had no need of him. They wanted to rise up to sit in judgment over Jesus. And they considered him guilty—of working on the Sabbath, of blaspheming by making himself equal with God. And the penalty they thought he deserved: Death. "He must die."

But Jesus made it clear that one day soon they would see with their own eyes and know for certain that Jesus had authority over the Sabbath. In fact, he has authority over all things and over all people. He would rise to sit in judgment over them.

"You're angry because I raised a cripple? Well, know that one day I will raise everyone! Even all the dead! You want to sit in judgment over me? Well, know that one day I will rise sit in judgement over you and all who have ever lived or ever will live! You want to put me to death? Well, know that unless you repent, you will rise to face eternal death in hell."

Friends, do we sometimes think we can rise up to sit in judgment over Jesus? Do you get upset with him when he lets a family member get sick? When he allows fights to break out at school or home? When he doesn't give you the government you want to have or the blessings that you feel entitled to? When he won't rescue you from poverty, from sickness, from boredom? Do you ever think, "Savior from sin?! That's not the kind of Savior I want!" Do you consider the Son of God guilty of not running things your way?

Friends, we have all acted at times as if we were judge over God, have raised ourselves over him, and thought our judgments were best. Every time we sin, that's exactly what we do! But you know that that's completely backwards! We know that we too must all face our Judge on the Last Day. He will cry "All rise!" and all will rise—the living and the dead—to face their Judge and give account for what they've done. You know that "those who have done evil will rise to be condemned."

And now a bead of sweat might righty appear on our foreheads. For we know that we have not always honored the Son and in doing so we have not honored the Father. We have rebelled against the very one who will pass eternal judgment on our souls. And we know that his judgment is absolutely just. We know that we deserve to be damned to an eternal death as a fair penalty for our sin. We know we deserve to rise to be condemned; to rise before the Judge only to descend to the pits of hell.

Ah… but you also know that we will not get what we deserve…


II.            All Believers Rise to Glory

 

Jesus certainly did lay into those who were persecuting him and plotting his death because they judged him to be a poor Savior. But he didn't lay into them just to prove he was right or just to get them off his back. I don't think his tone was angry here. But I believe he was earnestly pleading with them that he might raise them up.

Over and over again he told them, "I tell you the truth… I tell you the truth… I tell you the truth…" He was pleading with them to stop listening to satan's lies that they should be the judge, but to listen to the truth. He was pleading with them to listen to him and to believe him because… "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."

And Jesus did go on to prove his divinity to the Jews to remove all doubt. He didn't just raise cripples to their feet, he rose dead Lazarus back to life to prove that he was God just as he said: "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it."

And when he knew that we needed rescuing from our sin and from death, he rose to the occasion and volunteered for the job. He rose the bar of obedience and lived a perfect life for us just as he said: "He can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." We get the credit for all he did.

Then he was raised up on the cross to pay for our sin. And as true God, his death on the cross was enough to pay for the whole sins of all humankind of all time. The death of the God-man raised the other end of the scale—of all our sins—so high that they've been completely removed.

Then he rose again from the dead to give us the proof that all of our sins are forgiven. He sent his Holy Spirit to give us faith in these things so that we believe them to be true. And now we know the verdict the Judge will give us when he comes: "Not guilty. For I have paid for their sin." And so we will all rise to life on Judgment Day.

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

You and I already have been raised from the dead. Spiritually we have already crossed over from death to life by the work of the Son. And though we may physically die, we will all rise and come back to life. And on that great and glorious day, when our bodies are raised from the dead, we will all rise to be with him in his heaven.

And right now, because of all that he's done, we will all rise to the occasion whenever an opportunity to serve him presents itself. Like those in the courtroom all rise to show honor to the judge, we will all rise above temptations and above our sinful desires. We will all rise to honor the Judge of all by making sure that others have a better defense than, "I tried my best" when Judgment Day comes as we tell them about how the Judge of all also became the Savior of all as he paid the penalty we all owe that we might all be declared "Not guilty!" Then those who believe the truth that we share with them will join us when we all rise to sing our eternal praise to the honor and glory of our God. In Jesus' name dear friends, amen. 


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

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

Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast

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Here We Stand! (A sermon based on Mark 13:5-11)

It's not always fun to be a witness. It often means persecution to take a stand on the truth. But with the help of the Holy Spirit and the words he gives us to say we can stand! Like the disciples did, like Martin Luther did, we will stand on the Word of God! Read or listen to (download here) this sermon based on Mark 13:5-11 and be encouraged to stand on the truth of God's Word! 


Here We Stand!

A sermon based on Mark 13:5-11

Sunday, November 1, 2015 – Reformation Sunday

 

There he stood. Before the most powerful leaders in the church and in the world. They were all decked out in the royal robes of the nobility and he wore the simple robe of a pastor. The Emperor himself was in the audience to hear how this man would respond. Luther wasn't asked to debate or defend what he had written, simply to take it all back. Or, if he refused, he would be labeled a heretic and given the honors of a heretic—to be made an outlaw with a bounty on his head—most likely to be burned alive.

We Lutherans love to think of Luther as a man of such courage that he promptly and spontaneously gave his bold reply. But in reality, his knees shook. He was taken aback by the terrifying situation and knew he was in over his head. So he asked for some time to think about it. Remarkably, the emperor granted it. The Diet would convene in the morning and he would give his reply then.

Luther spent the night in prayer and in writing and re-writing his short reply. He was encouraged by his friends to be bold and to take a stand for the word of God. And the next day Luther gave his bold reply: "Unless I am convinced by proofs from Scriptures or by plain and clear reasons and arguments, I can [not] and will not [recant], for it is neither safe nor wise to do anything against conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen."

Jesus told his disciples they would have to take the witness stand before governors and kings. He told them they would most certainly suffer for it. But he promised that the Holy Spirit would help them to withstand the persecution and take a bold stand for him. This morning, as we celebrate Reformation Day, we recall how Luther took the witness stand and in the face of persecution stood fast on the Word of God. This morning, as we hear the words of Jesus, we're encouraged to do the same. For we are called to be God's witnesses, and we will face persecution for it. But with the help of the Spirit, we too will say, "Here we stand on the Word of God."

Our text for this morning is taken from Mark 13:5-11…

 

5Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 6Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many. 7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

9"You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.


I.                    We Take the Witness Stand

 

The judge called the witness forward. He made him swear a sacred oath to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. And the witness then proceeded to share exactly what he had seen the night of the crime.

That's what a witness is. It's someone who witnessed the event, who saw what took place. But that's not all they do. It's not enough to just see the event, they must also share what they saw. They must give witness to what they know. A witness is one who both sees and then tells. And we are called to be God's witnesses just like the disciples were, just like Martin Luther was.

Jesus told his disciples, "On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them." They who had followed Jesus for three years, who had seen the miracles, seen his glory, seen the resurrected Savior, would now be witnesses of the things they had seen. They would share what they knew. They would preach Law and Gospel before kings like Herod and before councils like the Sanhedrin. They saw. They told.

Fast forward 1500 years. A young theology professor had his "tower experience." While studying the Word of God, he saw the truth for the first time in his life: We are not saved by what we do to become righteous. We are righteous by faith alone, with the righteousness of Christ given to us by grace alone. This was the truth Luther discovered in the Scriptures alone. And he was to be God's witness of the things he had seen before kings, like Emperor, Charles V, and before councils, like the Diet of Worms and before the councils of the Roman church. And Luther would proclaim Law and Gospel to them. He saw. He told.

Fast forward 500 years. We have seen these truths: the truths of God's Word, the truths restored to the Church by the Reformation. We have seen the truth of our sin. We have seen God's great grace. And we are called upon by God himself to speak up! To take a stand for the truth! To witness for him, not just in the sense of seeing, but also in telling.

Will we stand in front of kings and councils? Will we be called on to preach to governors, senators and presidents? Will we be called into a court of law to defend what we believe and take a bold stand for the truth? Perhaps.

 But even right now we have opportunities every day to stand before friends, neighbors, coworkers, relatives, and share what we've seen and heard! And Jesus doesn't make this optional. We are all to go and make disciples of all nations teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded. We are all to go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. But that's not always easy to do because…


II.                  Can We Stand the Pressure?

 

We will suffer for it. Our courage will be tested. Jesus promised as much. He told us that we would have to take up a cross to follow him. He told us that we would face persecution as his witnesses. "You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues."

The disciples opposed the false christs of the Pharisees who proclaimed a message of work-righteousness: "Do this and you can earn God's love." And as a result, they were flogged, just as Jesus had said, they were imprisoned, all but one were killed—murdered for their faithful witness. But they didn't suffer needlessly. Jesus told them the purpose of their suffering: "the gospel must first be preached to all nations."

As they boldly took the punishments inflicted on them with courage and even with joy, others saw and were intrigued at what could possibly lead men to rejoice in their torture!? And they were told of Christ, of his death and resurrection that bring a peace with God that gladly endures persecution from men. And the blood of the martyrs became the seed of the church as the grew so rapidly in those days.

Fast forward 1500 years. Martin Luther opposed false christs of the Roman Church claiming to be the Savior of the people, but still preaching a theology of work-righteousness. "Do what we tell you and you can avoid hell." And as a result for taking a bold stand against the pope, he was hunted, kidnapped by friends to preserve his life, locked away in a tower for safe keeping. And rumors spread that Luther was the result of tryst between his mother and the devil. He was hated by many who sought to end his life and watched as friends were killed because they took a bold stand. But through it all, the Gospel prevailed and was unveiled from the dark cloud of the Roman Catholic church kept over it.

Fast forward 500 years. Will we be flogged for speaking and preaching the truth? Maybe not. But I don't know that we can completely rule it out. You've seen the direction our world and our nation are heading. Christians are murdered and martyred still today all around the globe. Hostility toward Christianity is growing here in our own nation. Lawsuits are filed against Christians for refusing to condone sin and call it okay. And it may not be too long before we are imprisoned or even tortured for taking a bold stand for the truth.

But even now we face ridicule when we share what we believe. We face a broken relationship if we call out a friend or family member in their sin. We face persecution in our own way when we take a bold stand for the truth. Can we stand the pressure?

Sadly, we don't. We shy away from persecution. We want Jesus to make life comfortable and easy and promise that we will never experience pain, that everyone will like us, so, in order to avoid any suffering or persecution, too often we clam up. We say nothing of the sin we know is going on. We shy away from sharing our faith with a co-worker. We don't speak the truth of a certain doctrine because we might scare the visitor off.

And you know what we deserve for our cowardice, for our silence, for our sin. Jesus said, "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38)

So thank God we have a Savior who paid for our sins of cowardice. Thank God he sent his own Son to rescue us. Thank God that Jesus took the witness stand before the Sanhedrin, before Herod, before Pilate. Thank God that he always spoke the truth and never shied away. Thank God that he gave us credit for his bold witness and for his perfect life. Thank God that he was flogged for us, that he was tortured to death, that he endured the hell of God's wrath on the cross that we deserve for every time we've been ashamed of God.

We are forgiven! We have peace with God, not because we have been so good, not because we've done the right things, but by God's grace alone, received through faith alone, revealed to us in God's Word alone. What comfort is ours even in the face of persecution. And thank God that he promises to give us the help we need to take a bold stand for the truth, as we live for him in thanks, come what may...


III.                Here We Stand (on the Word)

 

Thankfully, Jesus didn't tell his disciples, "Well, that's it. I did my part. Now you're on your own. Good luck! Maybe see you in heaven!" No. He promised he would never leave them. He promised he would never forsake them. He promised he would give them the help that they needed to take a bold stand and be his witnesses even in the face of persecution. He would send them his Holy Spirit: 11Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

And so the disciples spoke courageously. They boldly proclaimed the truth of Jesus' resurrection and the truth of his message of sin and grace. Even when it brought floggings, and imprisonment, and death, they withstood the pressure and took their stand on the Word of God. In Acts 4:18-20 we're told, "Then [the Sanhedrin] called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.'" For they weren't alone. But the Holy Spirit gave them the words to speak.

Fast forward 1500 years. Luther knew well what the consequences of his courageous reply might have been. It wasn't too many years earlier that Johann Huss was burned alive for preaching the same message Luther now preached. And Luther was called the German Huss by his enemies with clear implications: We're coming for you. Luther was declared a heretic where any citizen had the right and duty to kill him on sight.

And yet, nevertheless, Luther gave his bold reply: "Unless I am convinced by proofs from Scriptures or by plain and clear reasons and arguments, I can [not] and will not [recant], for it is neither safe nor wise to do anything against conscience. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen." What gave him the strength to take such a bold stand? The Holy Spirit had worked in Luther's heart to give him insight and understanding in God's Word. He gave Luther the words to say and he gave Luther the courage to say them.

Fast forward 500 years. Could we find the courage to speak before a council knowing that we will get flogged for speaking the truth? Could we find the courage to speak before the president if we knew that taking a bold stand on God's Word could likely get us killed? We'll know for sure when and if that day comes. But for right now, we do have the courage to speak to our family and friends, to neighbors and co-workers. We have the courage to take a bold stand and proclaim the teachings of the Bible even if others don't like them. We find the courage in the Word of God and in the truth that the Reformation restored: that we are forgiven by God, saved by grace alone, through faith alone, revealed in the Scriptures alone. We find the courage in our Savior and in his work for us. We find the courage by the Holy Spirit who gives us the words to say and the nerve to say them. We find the courage to boldly say, "Here [we] stand." – on the Word of God – "[We] can do no other. God help [us]. Amen."


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

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

Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast

Have you been blessed by our ministry at Grace? Consider supporting us with your generous gifts. Give securely online with a check or credit or debit card here: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Give

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