Wednesday, May 29, 2013

The Trustworthy Testimony of the Trinity (A sermon based on 1 John 5:5-12)

Who overcomes in the day of court when God judges all mankind? The one who puts his or her trust n the trustworthy testimony of the trinity. Each person of the Triune God speaks in our defense. And so we know, based on this reliable testimony, that we are forgiven. Now we live life in Jesus eager to stay connected to the Means of Grace. Read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on 1 John 5:5-12 and rejoice that you can believe...

The Trustworthy Testimony of the Trinity
A sermon based on 1 John 5:5-12
Sunday, May 26, 2013 – Trinity Sunday 

Imagine the defendant sitting in court. The prosecuting attorney is grilling hard. The mounds of evidence are piling up. There is no doubt at all in the minds of the jury or the judge; the defendant is guilty of heinous crimes.

Now imagine you are that defendant. Feel your body temperature rise as accusation after accusation is brought against you. Feel yourself get jittery as you see the evidence and see the jury. Feel the sweat start to pour as you know your guilt—that there is no defense—and as you think about the punishment deserve.

Now imagine that it's not a court of people, but you're in God's court. The charge is that you're a sinner. You've rebelled against a holy and loving God. The prosecuting attorney is satan who knows and can testify as to how many times you've sided with him. Unbelievers take the witness stand and tell how you and they behaved the same. And the sentence is execution—eternal execution where the pain will never end. You deserve a sentence of hell.

How do you feel? Nervous? Timid? Downright terrified?

But wait! There are more witnesses that have yet to be heard. There is one more witness…. Or are there three? This morning we listen to the trustworthy testimony of the Trinity. And as we hear God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit witness on our behalf, we can rest assured; we will not be condemned to death, but will be given eternal life. Listen now as the Triune God takes the stand and gives his (or their?) testimony on our behalf, recorded for us in 1 John 5:5-12… 

5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. 9 We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 

Who overcomes the world? The one who believes. The one who has faith. But faith in what? The one who overcomes is the one who has faith in the persons and the work of the Triune God. So, what does the Triune God say? Let's look at the testimony of each person and rest assured that we do overcome… 

I.     The Father Testifies 

First, let's look at God the Father. John writes, "We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son."

We trust man's testimony often. We trust when someone says "This car will run just fine and is likely to give you few problems." Even if you don't trust the salesman, you do trust the mechanic who looks it over before you buy. We trust when someone says, "This house is sturdy. It won't fall down around you in your sleep." You trust the contractor, the construction crew, and maybe you especially trust the inspector. All the time, every day, we operate with trust—trusting even untrustworthy men who make mistakes.

But don't trust men in matters of religion—not ever!—when they contradict God. There man is simply not trustworthy. God's testimony is much greater than man's.

Man's testimony says that the Bible is unreliable. God says it's inspired by him and therefore true and flawless. And he backs it up with the evidence: the thousands of prophecies fulfilled centuries later, the miracles and the empty tomb that prove Jesus' divinity, the honest reporting of the authors that portray themselves in a less than favorable light, the thousands of copies of the text in one generation.

Man's testimony says you're good enough. You're a decent person who tries hard to behave. But God says you are a sinner and cannot overcome the world by your efforts. John wrote: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us… If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." (1 John 1:8,10)

Man's testimony says you can earn favor with God. You can do something to make things right with him. But God says you are given eternal life through faith.  "Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God… the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son… overcomes the world… has life."

If two witnesses in court offer contradictory testimony, you know that they cannot both be right. One tells the truth. The other lies. But how do you know which one is telling the truth and which is telling lies? Well, the character of the witness is important. And so is the evidence that backs up the testimony. God's character is greater than any man's since he alone is sinless, holy, and perfect. God's evidence far outweighs man's faulty reason.

So don't follow your heart. Don't trust your feelings. Don't listen to your reason, if any of these ever contradict the much more trustworthy testimony of God. Don't make God out to be a liar. But trust the trustworthy testimony that God gives in his Word. You know the truth. You are a sinner who deserves damnation, but by faith in that true testimony, you are a saint who overcomes the world and has eternal life!

It is truly trustworthy testimony the Father gives, but that's not the only testimony there is. In Deuteronomy 17:6 God gave this law for a civil court: "On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness." And God has not left us with only one witness to the take the stand. After we heard God the Father's testimony there are two more that speak. Next, is God the Son… 

II.    The Son Testifies 

5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 6 This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood.

Now, I'll admit that I had a tough time with this text this week. That phrase "by water and blood," is a difficult phrase. Each commentary on verse 6 offers a different way of understanding that phrase. One possible way to understand it is within its historical context. You see, when John wrote his Gospel there was a false teacher named Cerinthus who said that since God could not suffer or die, Jesus, who clearly suffered and died, must not have been God. He taught that the divine nature of God, which he called the Logos or the Word, possessed the man Jesus (who he taught was born of a natural birth by Joseph and Mary) when the dove descended on him at his baptism. Then that divine nature left Jesus at his death, so that it was not God who died, but just the man Jesus.

Of course you recognize the danger of that heresy. If that were true, that it was just some sinful guy like you or me who died on the cross, we would all still be in our sin, and we would all be damned because no man can pay for the sins of another. But it wasn't just a man who died for you and me. It was the Son of God, who came not just by water (at his baptism) but by water and blood (in his death). Jesus was (and is) true God who died for you.

You know, the first line of verse 2 of Hymn 137, O Darkest Woe, reads, "Oh, sorrow dread! God's Son is dead!"  But in the original German it read: "O grosser Not, Gott selbst ist Tot!" Literally: "O great dread, God himself is dead!" And while you can understand the discomfort of saying, "God is dead," nevertheless at the cross it was true.  Jesus is God. And Jesus died for you.  When Paul was leaving Ephesus he charged the elders there: "Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood."

Jesus' blood is God's blood. God the Son died for you. And because he is God he can pay for the sins of the whole world. So trust the trustworthy testimony of the Son!  Your sin is forgiven!  And you have life in his Son! Now, live to serve the Son in thanks! 

III.   The Spirit Testifies 

But finally, another way that "[Jesus] came by water and blood," can be understood is that it's not a reference to how he came to earth, but how he came to you. How do you know about the testimony that God the Father sent his Son, that God the Son died for you? By the work of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus came to you by water at your baptism. Jesus comes to you by his blood, shed on the cross that gives baptism its power. (Baptism would accomplish nothing had Jesus not shed his blood to pay for your sin.) (That's how Martin Luther understood it.) Or Jesus came to you by water at your baptism. And Jesus comes to you by his blood, "poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins," in the Lord's Supper. (That's how many understand it today.)

But either way you understand it, it's not by your own reason, by your thinking or by your choosing that you figured this all out. But it's by the Spirit of truth. The thoughts of our text for this morning weren't John's ideas, but were inspired by God. That is, it was the Spirit who revealed these truths to him and to us. And he is trustworthy. His testimony is not just true, mind you, but he is the truth. He embodies the truth of salvation. And the Holy Spirit, operates through the means of Grace. These three are in agreement: the Word of God that the Spirit teaches, the water of Baptism that makes us clean, the blood of the Lord's Supper that forgives all our sin. All three "Means of Grace" declare you to be a sinner in need of forgiveness. All three declare you who believe to be forgiven in Christ.

These three witnesses of the Holy Spirit, these three means of Grace, are visually represented for us here each Sunday. Obviously, from the pulpit, the Word of God is read and taught in lessons and in sermons. But even on non-communion Sundays we see the altar under the cross which reminds us of Jesus' blood shed for us—the same blood that we drink in the Sacrament. And even when there is no baptism, the font stands at the front giving its silent testimony that you are a forgiven and redeemed, baptized child of God. You were washed clean by water and the Word. You were made God's victorious child.

So trust the trustworthy testimony of the Holy Spirit. Believe the truth that he's made known to you and make use of these means of grace often—as often as you can! Hear and read the Word. Remember your baptism often. Receive Jesus' blood, "poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins,"  as often as you can.

"Who is it that overcomes the world?"  Literally it's "Who is he who has the nike?" or "victory?" The shoe company, Nike, would have you believe that the victory goes to one with the most expensive shoes. But the one who has victory over the world is the one has faith in the faithful and trustworthy testimony of the Trinity: That the Father gave us his Word, that the Son paid for our sins, that the Spirit led us to believe and keeps us in the faith. In other words, it's you and it's me. We have the victory! And to the victors go the spoils! To the victors go eternal life! In the name of our Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 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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Sunday, May 19, 2013

Should I Stay or Should I Go? (A sermon based on Genesis 11:1-9)

"Should I stay or should I go?" That's what the descendants of Noah who settled in the plain of Shinar asked, settling on "stay" as their answer. But it wouldn't be their final answer. God would force them to go. Do we choose to go and do what God asks? Or would we rather stay at home where we're comfortable? Thank God that Jesus didn't stay in heaven, but decided to willingly go to the cross to pay for the times we've sinned against God. Now in thanks to him, we gladly go and do his will. "Should I stay or should I go?" Read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on Genesis 11:1-9 and become eager to go and serve God and neighbor...

Should I Stay or Should I Go?
A sermon based on Genesis 11:1-9
Sunday, May 19, 2013 – Pentecost C 

In 1981 the English punk rock band, The Clash, wrote their hit single, "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" about the indecision of a couple to stay together or not (or perhaps about the lead singer staying with the band or not). "If I go there will be trouble," sing the lyrics, but, "If I stay it will we double. So you gotta let me know: Should I stay or should I go?"

Now, that's a question that people have asked in different circumstances ever since the beginning of time: "Should I stay or should I go?" After Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, God answered for them: "You should go now. If you go there will be trouble. But if you stay it will be double." And lest they eat of the Tree of Life and live forever with the devastating effects of sin, he drove them out.

For Noah God answered the question too. "You should stay. Stay in the ark while I scrub the earth clean." But after the ark had safely landed God had another answer. "You should go now." "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth." (Genesis 9:1) And he repeated it only a few verses later: "As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it." (Genesis 9:7)

But Noah's sons would rather stay than go, at least at first. Here's what happened according to Genesis 11:1-9…

 

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.

3 They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. 6 The Lord said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."

8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.


I.              Stay and Serve Myself 

God was pretty clear to Noah and his sons as to what their marching orders were: "Go! Fill the earth!" he said, not, "Stay put and get comfortable." So what happened? They stayed put.

They didn't really want to go spread out. After all, that seemed like a lot of work. They'd have to walk many miles over potentially difficult terrain. They'd have to find their own food, water, shelter and clothes. Trade would be much more difficult. They might even have to live in tents and huts and caves for a while.

Wouldn't it just be easier to stay instead of go? After all they all had one common language and one common goal: To be comfortable, to be wealthy, to "make a name for [themselves] and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." It was a comfortable life; a convenient life. And they'd surely lose that comfort and convenience if they were to leave.

"Should I stay or should I go?" didn't seem to dwell on their minds much. They quickly decided, "No. We'll stay put and build a skyscraper to their glory!" ...in direct opposition to God's command. They deserved another flood. They deserved hell. But God wouldn't give them what they deserved. There was too much at stake. The Gospel was at stake. So in his patient love, he would act. He would get his way one way or another.

"But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building…" not because he had to travel to know what was going on, but to show that his judgment wasn't arbitrary, but based on the reality of their behavior. "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them… So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city."

And all their plans came to ruin. Leaving behind a half-finished tower as a monument to their rebellion, they were scattered over the face of the earth as God had intended for them all along.

Now, before you judge those foolish descendants of Noah too harshly, let's consider how we answer the question: "Should I stay or should I go?" After all, God has told us to "be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it," at least, in a certain sense he has. I'm not talking about birth control here, but about the Great Commission. What did he say his disciples of all time—that is we—should do? "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… and teaching them…" (Matthew 28:19-20) And again: "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." (Mark 16:15)

Pentecost was the start of that work. And we are called to continue it. And God has richly blessed us with the resources to carry it out. But how well do we do? Do we use the blessings God has given to share the Gospel with our own community? With our own neighbors or co-workers? With our own families? Do we even ask the question, "Should I stay or should I go?" or are we already so comfortable that we don't even consider going?

"I'm comfy on the couch why would I go serve my spouse by helping clean up?" "Go help at church? Nah! There are others who can do that. I'll stay put. Besides this is my only day off." "Go talk to my co-worker about Jesus? I wouldn't know what to say! I'm not comfortable with that." And we stay put, using the blessings God's given just to make life more comfortable for ourselves, letting so many slowly drift to hell.

Penn Jillette—you know, the magician of Penn and Teller?—an avowed atheist once said, "If you believe that there's a heaven and a hell and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think, "Well, it's not really worth telling them this because it's socially awkward," …How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate them to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? …If I believe a truck is coming at you and you don't believe it, there's a certain point where I tackle you! And this is more important than that!"

Let's face it. For choosing to stay put where it's nice and comfortable instead of going out to tell others what we know in direct opposition to God's command, we deserve to have all of our plans come to ruin. We deserve to be abandoned to ourselves. We deserve hell.

But God doesn't give us what we deserve. There's too much at stake. Our eternal souls are at stake. So are others'. So in his patient love, he acted: And while Jesus could have asked, "Should I stay or should I go?" he didn't. He knew the answer right away. He wouldn't stay in heaven where it was comfortable. He would go... to the muck of earth ...to the humility of a womb ...to the mock trials ...to the cross ...to hell … to rescue us.

And he sent his Holy Spirit to go! And he came to us to create faith in our hearts. By the water, by the word, he came to convince us that it's true: Jesus has paid for our sin. We are forgiven! We have heard these wonders of God in our language without the need to speak Hebrew or Greek! The confusion of Babel has been undone by Pentecost! The Gospel isn't just for a chosen few! It's for me! It's for you! We are forgiven for our selfish choices to stay instead of go.

And now the same Spirit gives us grateful hearts that are eager to serve our God in thanks, to be selfless, to go instead of stay, to go and serve him, to go and tell others… 


II.            Go and Serve My Lord 

God would force those descendants of Noah trying to settle in the plain of Shinar and build their skyscraper for their own luxury and comfort to do what he'd told them—to scatter across the earth, to be fruitful and multiply. If they wouldn't go of their own free will, they would go of necessity, seeking others out who spoke the same as them, banding together and spreading out.

But for us, who have witnessed God's grace so clearly and received Gods' grace so abundantly—in the vehicles we drive and the clothes we wear, in the homes we have and the food we eat, but especially in the font that cleans, in the altar that feeds, in the Word that comforts, in our Savior who saves… For us, who have witnessed God's grace so clearly and received Gods' grace so abundantly, we don't need to be forced to do God's will. We're eager to do it!

We don't even need to ask the question, "Should I stay or should I go?" We don't even need to think about it—not when we think about the cross! Then we can't help but gladly go and serve God and neighbor. I will gladly go get up off the couch to serve my family. I will gladly go to worship to encourage my fellow believers and be encouraged by them. I will gladly go to study his Word and grow in my faith. I will gladly go to work serving faithfully in all I do. And I will gladly go to share the message of God's grace and continue the work that began at Pentecost.

For God's grace is still not just for a few, but for all—for you, for me, for them. So we're eager to "Go and make disciples of all nations…" (Matthew 28:19-20) And to : "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." (Mark 16:15)

Start at home. Go to the living room after dinner to read a devotion together. Go to your computer to forward a sermon or just "Like" it on Facebook. Go invite your co-workers to watch The Bible (the "epic" TV series) with us at Bible Class this summer. Go to your neighbors with an invite to dinner to befriend them because you know that everlasting life is not just possible, but certain in Christ. And you want them to be certain too.

Will it always be comfortable? No. It won't. It may still be socially awkward. There may even be language barriers to cut across thanks to our ancestors at Babel. But there's too much at stake to be timid or scared! And in thanks to Jesus who didn't stay in heaven, but decided to go to earth, to the cross, to hell to rescue us, we're eager to go and do whatever he asks. We're eager to leave our comfort zones to go and share the good news. "Should I stay or should I go?" Go! In peace, in zeal, in the power of the Spirit, and in Jesus' name! Amen! 


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

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

Read sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Sermons
Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast
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Tuesday, May 14, 2013

The Returning Redeemer Revealed (A sermon based on Revelation 22:12-17, 20)

Jesus ascended into heaven. But he's not going to stay there for long. He is coming back! And he's coming quickly. Believing his promise, we want to get ready for that day by running to him and to his Grace. We want to get excited for that day that will usher us into heaven. Come, read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on Revelation 22:12-17,20 and quench your thirst on the free living water of the Word that you might be ready and excited for the returning Redeemer...

The Returning Redeemer Revealed
A sermon based on Revelation 22:12-17, 20
Sunday, May 12, 2013 – Easter 7C/Ascension 

Eight-year-old Elizabeth made a Mother's Day card for her mom. And in it she wrote: "Dear Mother, I'm going to make dinner for you on Mother's Day. It's going to be a surprise. P.S. I hope you like pizza and popcorn." Okay, so it wasn't much of a surprise. I guess she wanted mom to be prepared.

 Today, as we finish up our sermon series on the Risen Redeemer revealed, based on our texts from Revelation, we get a final glimpse of Jesus. He tells us that though he's ascended into heaven, he's coming back soon. He doesn't want us to be surprised. He wants us to be prepared.

As we get a final glimpse of the Risen Redeemer revealed in the book of Revelation, we see the Returning Redeemer revealed. And we hear him urge us to get ready and run quickly to our Savior. He urges us to get excited because our Savior comes quickly to us. We read from the last chapter of the Bible, select verses of Revelation 22… 

12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."

17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life…

20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.


I.              Get Ready! Run Quickly to Your Savior! 

"Behold, I am coming soon!" says Jesus, "…and I will give to everyone according to what he has done." Hmmm… Does that make you nervous? He will give to everyone according to what they've done?! How well have you done? Students, as the school year is coming to a close, you know that it's comforting to hear the teacher say, "I will give fair and just grades according to how well each student's done," only if you've done well in your class. So how does your grade up before God?

Well, he says, "Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood."

Of course, the term dogs here isn't complimentary. He's not talking about loved pets. He's talking about mangy mongrels, filthy curs who are excluded from heaven. John explains who they are: 

·         "Those who practice magic arts" is literally pharmatikos, from the same word we get pharmacy from. It's used for those who poison, who use drink or drug to see strange visions and to manipulate others. Sure, you're no Harry Potter, but have you ever abused any substance? Pharmatikos.

·         Next, John lists "the sexually immoral" as dogs, literally the pornos, those who commit sexual sins, who have sex outside of marriage, who lust with pornography.

·         The dogs are "the murderers," who hate one another and think evil thoughts about their fellow man.

·         "The idolaters" are those who love or trust anyone or anything more than God—all who love themselves more than keeping his commands.

·         Finally, John says, "everyone who loves and practices falsehood," everyone who ignores what God's Word says in order to keep on sinning, everyone who has more important things to do than listen to God's Word, is a dog who should be left outside. 

So how'd you do? How's your grade before the holy God, "the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End"? Not too good? Me either. Let's face it, if we were to be judged just by our merit, we'd all be damned to spend eternity "outside." For if God should ever let sinful dogs into heaven (even sinners who "aren't that bad"), we'd ruin it for sure. Nothing short of perfect (A+ with no mistakes) can get in. So does that mean we're doomed?

No. Because we're not judged based on our merit. John tells us the solution to our problem of sin: "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city." How do we wash our robes? We already heard it a few weeks ago: "[The saints] in white robes… are they who… have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Revelation 7:13-14)

So run to Jesus to get clean! When Jesus said, "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me…" he didn't mean he'd reward people for their behavior. He meant he had the reward that he won the cross! As true God (David's Root, that is, his Creator) and as true man (David's Offspring or descendant), Jesus accomplished his mission for us. He lived a perfect life as true God. He died an innocent death as true man. And his ascension assures us that his mission is complete. He won. And his reward is with him to give to us freely.

Run to Jesus and to the Living Water! When your guilt makes you thirsty for peace with God, well, then, "Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life…"

One of my kids was playing outside a few weeks ago and slipped and fell… face first… into "Lake Grace." He was soaked in ice-cold muddy water from head to toe. And in spite of the tears streaming down his face, he knew what to do. He went running for mom. She would clean him up. She'd make it all better. That's what moms do, right?

Likewise, when you slip and fall into the mud puddle of sin that sends you shivering and crying, run to Jesus. He'll clean you up again. He'll make it all better. Run to him like a little kid thirsty for a drink from mom. He'll give you the water of life at no charge. And when he's cleaned you up with his absolution, when he's quenched your thirst with his Word of Grace, then you'll be ready to go! And you are ready! So get excited because your Savior is coming quickly to you!


II.            Get Excited! Your Savior Comes Quickly to You! 

"Jesus is always watching you." When you're clean of all your sin, that's a comforting promise, not a threat. "There's no where you can go where God isn't with you." When you know you're forgiven, that doesn't bring fear, but peace. "Jesus is coming soon." Washed by the blood of the Lamb, that promise fills us with excitement not with dread.

"Behold, I am coming soon! … I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches…. Yes, I am coming soon."

We who have washed our robes through faith in Jesus do have the right to the tree of life—that tree in the Garden of Eden that gave eternal life to any who ate it. We have the right to go through the "pearly" gates into the heavenly city! How exciting!

As C.F.W. Walther so beautifully put it in his Easter Hymn, He's Risen, He's Risen, we don't fear death because that gate is open! He wrote: "Oh, where is your sting, Death? We fear you no more; Christ rose, and now open is fair Eden's door. For all our transgressions his blood does atone; Redeemed and forgiven, we now are his own." In fact, not only are we not afraid to die, but we genuinely anticipate that day with eager expectation.

How often do you pray that prayer of John in verse 20: "Come, Lord Jesus." All the time, right? But it's almost hard to stop there, isn't it? We want to keep going with "Be our guest. And let these gifts to us be blessed." And I don't know about you, but having learned "The Common Table Prayer" probably before I learned the alphabet, I've become a bit like Pavlov's dog. When I say or hear, "Come, Lord Jesus" I begin to salivate because I know it's time to eat.

Well, next time you pray that Common Table Prayer, I hope you'll remember this context in Revelation 22 and start to salivate in eager anticipation of the greater blessings that we're all about to receive: "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me… Yes, I am coming soon." Get excited! The long trip will be over soon enough! We're almost in heaven!

And in the meantime, while we wait, get excited about the Word! "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life…" The Spirit of God invites everyone to hear the Word! The bride, that is the Church, invites you to come to worship! To drink of Jesus' forgiveness and be satisfied!

But you know the Greek of verse 17 is a little different than the English translation. "Come" is literally a present participle. That denotes an ongoing, continual action. Literally, "Keep on coming." We want to keep coming to the water of life. We want to keep coming to the Word. We want to keep coming to worship and Bible class with our fellow believers. We want to do this, not because we're driven by fear, ("We'd better or we might not be prepared."), but because we're excited! We want to hear more about our Returning Redeemer and keep growing in our faith!

And finally, as we hear that message, we can't keep it to ourselves! It's too exciting to not share the news! We have to tell others! "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life…"

Can you imagine wandering through the desert dehydrated and about to die, when suddenly you come across an oasis with a huge spring-fed pool of cold, clear, and pure, life-saving water. Can you imagine if you encountered another poor soul, dry and dehydrated and about to die, that you would say nothing about the oasis?! Of course you'd share the good news, wouldn't you? You'd be eager to do it! You'd be excited to save a life just as yours had been saved.

In the same way, we're eager and excited to tell others of God's grace! And we don't need a Ph.D. to do it! All we have to say is, "'Come!' …'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life…"

One of our Wisconsin Synod churches in Las Vegas, Nevada—a church named Water of Life Lutheran—had a sign on the strip that said, "Free Water." And they offered a free bottle of ice-cold water to any who passed by as a way to introduce themselves to the community and offer to them the water of life. Maybe we do that this summer. Maybe we offer a free bottle of water to the fishermen standing on the beach or in the river and invite them to visit our website later where they can get a cold drink of the water of life.

But no matter how we do it, we will invite others to get the free gift of the water of life. We will invite them to worship with us. We'll invite them to our website. We'll invite them to our school that they and their kids might better know God's Grace. We'll invite them because we can't help it! We're just too excited about our Risen Redeemer who promises that he is our Returning Redeemer and that he is coming soon with his reward, that he's coming soon to take us to heaven.

I hope your Mother's Day isn't too full of surprises, but that if it is, they're all good surprises. But even more, I hope that you're not surprised by Jesus' return. I hope you're always ready, running to him every day to get clean! I hope you're always excited that he's coming quickly for you! In the name of our Risen Redeemer Revealed, dear brothers and sisters, amen!


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

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

Read sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Sermons
Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast
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Tuesday, May 7, 2013

The Perfect Church (A sermon based on Revelation 21:10-14, 22-24)

What's the perfect church look like? Do you belong to the perfect church? John got a glimpse of the Perfect Church in heaven. And we rejoice that we are a part of the perfect church even now. Read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on select verses of Revelation 21 and rejoice that you're a part of the perfect church...

The Risen Redeemer Revealed
The Perfect Church
A sermon based on Revelation 21:10-14, 22-24 

What makes a perfect church? Well, for starters, there are no financial challenges, right? The money just keeps pouring in? Then the grounds are well groomed, right? There's no internal fighting among the members. Everyone is welcome with a friendly atmosphere and of course, lots of potlucks and other activities. It has sound doctrine, of course. What else? How would you describe the perfect church?

Do you think you'll ever be a part of a perfect church? The truth is you are a part of a perfect church right now. No, I don't mean Grace. (Though we do come pretty close, don't we?) J What I mean is that you're a part of God's church. And already now you have a place in heaven. There is the perfect gathering of believers; the perfect church.

John gets a glimpse of that truly perfect church in Revelation 21. And as we discuss the vision John saw, we discuss three aspects of that perfect church: the walls, the foundation, and the lighting. We read Revelation 21… 

10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb…

22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.


I.              The Walls 

I once heard a comedian ask, "What kind of neighborhood is heaven in that it has to have a gated community?!" Doesn't it seem odd that heaven has "a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates" in order to keep the riff-raff out? But there won't be any riff-raff. They'll all be banished to hell. Heaven won't need any security. But remember that the book of Revelation is a book of picture language. And that's exactly what this picture is meant to represent—complete safety and security.

And what a luxurious place it will be! Shining "with the glory of God, and its brilliance… like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal." What a wonderful place it will be! Everyone will want to be in. No one will want to be left out.

But what about those walls? Who gets past the guards? Who gets through the gate? It's sort of reminiscent of the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve were banished from that paradise. An angel guarded the entrance with a flashing sword. Can you imagine anything more disheartening than standing at those gates and hearing (not St. Peter—as all the jokes go, but) the angel standing guard look up and down his list and say, "Nope. You're not on the list. Entrance denied."?

That's what we deserve, for the times we've been unfaithful to our bridegroom. That's what we deserve for the times we've griped and complained about our earthly churches while being unwilling to do anything to fix the problem. That's what we deserve for any and for every selfish rebellion we've launched against heaven's gates. And make no mistake. That's what any and every sin really is.

And we can't sneak into the club past the guard. God sees everything. We can't scale the walls. Perfection is demanded which makes those walls too high to ever climb. We can't know the right people who can get us in as their plus one. Or can we?

The gates are open to us. "On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel." That is, the names of those who represent the Christian church; to us. In fact, the gates are open to everyone, everywhere. "There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west." How can it be open to everyone? Because of the foundation on which the Church is built…


II.            The Foundation 

The church up in Anchorage is looking at a remodel. They need to add a sprinkler system if they're going to add a preschool. (Sound familiar?) But as they examined their building, they found several other problems like asbestos in the walls. It's going to cost them many thousands of dollars to fix. But thankfully, so far, no structural damage has been found. When you have a problem with the foundation, you have a very real problem.

But the prefect church is built on a very stable foundation. It's built on the prophets and apostles. What does that mean? Well, it doesn't rely on those men, but on the message they proclaimed. And what's that message? You know. On Christ. Paul put it this way in Ephesians 2:19-20: "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone."

Christ's death and resurrection pay for you sins and assure you that you are justified. He entered heaven victorious. And he offers to take you as his "plus one." And you, and you, and you, and everyone who trusts in him. He's the only one who can get in, but he can take everyone with him.

This is the solid foundation of that church. And it is the solid foundation of your faith. Trust in your popularity or your church attendance or your kind deeds for others and all these foundations of sand will be washed away when you stand before the gatekeeper. But the sure foundation of Christ crucified will catch you. And stand you will.

Nothing can erode this foundation. Nothing can cause it to crack. The attacks of satan and those in league with him can not harm that gospel truth. It's done. It's finished. They can never undo what Christ has done. You are a member of God's household. You know the truth of the apostles and prophets. You will be let in.

And this offers true stability in an unstable world. When the economy is up in the air, when you keep your job by a thread, when your relationships are crumbling, when all earthly help gives way, Jesus is still the sure and certain foundation that will always be there, even if the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. Trust in him and in his promises: "I am with you always." (Matthew 28:20) "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:?) "He who believes in me will live, even though he dies." (John 11:25) "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6) These will never fail. They are a sure foundation that offer true security.

And keep building on this foundation as you grow in your faith, and you'll be welcomed in his heaven by the angels.


III.           The Lighting 

And finally, let's look at the lighting in the perfect church…

What's your vision of the perfect lighting in church? I've always been a fan of natural light—lots of windows letting in the sunshine as we worship God—a concept that's not always very practical in Alaska. So we use artificial lights.

But did you ever catch this detail about heaven before: In heaven there will be no artificial lights, no lamps, no sun even! Are you thinking, "Uh-oh. I thought Alaska was dark at times. No sun?! That doesn't sound like a place for me." Well, there's no need to fear. It will be plenty bright and warm all the time. "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp."

In heaven there will be perpetual sunny days every day all the time. It will be far better than some tropical island because of who will be there: Jesus, our Risen Redeemer. Talk about bright sunshiny days! What a wonderful place it will be!

One of the challenges we've faced at Grace in the short time that I've been here has been the finances. We seem to never have quite enough money to do all the things we want to do. Did you know that we spend over $16,000 each year on utilities. That's what it costs for the heat and the light. In heaven, that won't be necessary. Jesus himself will give us both for free all the time. We spend over $40,000 each year in insurance. But in heaven, with the perfect security and stability that those walls and foundations provide, we'll need no insurance. No accidents can happen. Our health will never fail.

For now, as long as we're here on earth, these costs are all necessary if we're going to take care of our called workers and have a nice building like this one. But finally, the perfect church won't even have a church. John said, "I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." All this time we've been talking about the perfect church, it may have seemed like we were just talking about heaven. But our Risen Redeemer himself is revealed as the church itself—the very temple at which we will worship. And what a perfect gathering—what a perfect church—it will be!

There will be no financial problems with no insurance or utilities, no need to purchase food at the eternal banquet. No need for money! The grounds will be glorious—like Eden restored, but with streets of gold! There will be no internal fighting among anyone because there will be no son. Everyone is welcome from all corners of the earth with a friendly atmosphere and of course, lots of potlucks. In short, it will really be in every way the perfect church.

Grace isn't the perfect church. The Wisconsin Synod isn't a perfect church either. But what makes the Church perfect is here in this place: Christ and him crucified. Christ, the Risen Redeemer is revealed here. And so, even now, you are a part of the perfect Church. And you will be welcoming in to the Holy City one day soon to rejoice in the eternal security, stability, and light of the perfect heavenly church. In Jesus' name; the name of our Risen Redeemer revealed, amen!


In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther

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

Read sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Sermons
Listen to sermons online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Podcast
Watch services online: www.GraceLutheranKenai.com/Webcast
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Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Together at Last (A sermon based on Revelation 21:1-6)

Do you like to wait for vacation? Do you like the long wait to be married? Do you like to wait for retirement? God has promised that we will be with him in heaven for all of eternity. But sometimes the wait can seem unbearable. But confident that his promises are true, we know we will be together at last with our Risen Redeemer in our new heavenly home he's preparing for us. That certainty keeps us faithful to him and faithful in service while we wait for that glorious day! Read or listen to (download or stream) this sermon based on Revelation 21:1-6 and rejoice that we will be together at last one day soon...
 

The Risen Redeemer Revealed

Together at Last

A sermon based on Revelation 21:1-6

Sunday, April 28, 2013 – Easter 5C

 

He built up the nerve, rehearsed his speech, planned the day to the very last detail and at the end of a wonderful date, he got down on one knee. "Will you marry me?" he asked as he pulled the ring out of his pocket. With no hesitation at all she said, "Yes! Of course I will!" They were engaged!

There was so much to do within the next 12 months. They'd need to plan the service, pick hymns, choose a caterer and a reception hall, and of course, take the marriage preparation class with their pastor.

As the weeks turned into months the many preparations kept her busy. The many expenses kept him nervous. But they both were counting down the days until the two would become one and with eager excitement they anticipated that day that would begin the rest of their days together.

This morning as we again accompany the Apostle John as he gets a glimpse into heaven, we see the Risen Redeemer revealed as the groom who's prepared everything with perfect care for that wonderful day when he would marry his beautiful bride—the Church—that is, you and me. And when the wedding happens, everything will be new and wonderful. We'll be made new and perfect and holy. And we'll be brought to our new home, which will be perfect and wonderful beyond our wildest imaginations. And best of all, we'll be with our Savior, together at last.

Listen to the vision God gave John's as he recorded it in Revelation 21:1-6…

 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.

 

I.              The New Relationship

 

How exciting to be engaged. How wonderful to anticipate not just the wedding, but the marriage. And when that day come, the relationship changes, mostly for the better. No more being apart. No more huge long distance phone bills. No more goodbyes, just goodnights. But when you're engaged, it's not there yet.

In a sense, we're engaged to Jesus. We belong to him. He's promised himself to us. He's promised he'll take us into his home, care for us forever, and give us all that we need with no more sadness or sorrow or pain. But we're not together yet. That's still to come.

John pictures the happy reunion with our Savior when he says, "there was no longer any sea." But what's mean? Are you fishermen worried? You don't need to be. Remember Revelation is picture language. So, what's wrong with the sea that John says it will be no more?

Well, remember where John was when he saw this vision? He was exiled on the tiny island of Patmos. To him, the sea must have been a picture of danger, of separation from his family and friends, of a barrier that kept him apart. But in heaven there are no more barriers, no more separation, no more sea. He and his Savior would be together at last.

The dwelling of God will be with men. John wrote, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God." God dwelled with his people in ages past in the tabernacle and in the temple. But even then, it was at a distance, like the engaged couple "being together" over a phone call or over Skype. It's just not the same as being face-to-face or in each other's arms.

So too, God is with us now and always, but soon we will be with God face-to-face… just, not yet. Now we're engaged. And the engagement is the time to prepare, the time to get ready.

Here's a quiz question for you: If the formal dinner starts at 6pm and the couple needs to leave at 5:30 to get there on time, what time does she need to start getting ready to leave by 5:30? It's a trick question! She won't be ready until 5:45 no matter when she starts. J

How long does it take for a woman to get ready for a date? How long does it take for a woman to get ready for her wedding? It takes a while because she cares. She wants everything to be just right. She wants everything to be beautiful and wonderful for that special event.

And so do we! But we have a problem. We've been unfaithful to our fiancé. We've cheated on him with our sin, with our lust, with our lies, and with our selfishness. We don't make for a very beautiful bride. We're filthy. We stink.

Did you see that episode of Seinfeld where Jerry's car had a funky stink to it? They tried everything to get rid of the smell, but it just wouldn't go. Well, a few years ago Mythbusters did an episode on that premise. They put two dead pigs in a new car and sealed it in a shipping container for two months. Then they opened up the container, opened up the car, and removed what was left of the pigs. Then they tried to clean it and remove the putrid odor. Nothing they did worked. The smell wouldn't go away.

That's what we're like before God in the stink of our sin. We're not a lovely bride, but as disgusting as two rotting pig corpses. And we can't make the stink go away. In both Seinfeld and in Mythbusters, they had to just get rid of the car. And that's what we deserve too—to be disposed of. We don't deserve to be with God for one second. We deserve to pass away.We deserve to be destroyed with the old heavens and earth on Judgment Day.

But God doesn't do that. Instead he says, "I am making everything new!" And that includes us. He makes us not just refurbished or cleaned, but brand new! By his death, he took our sin away and made us clean. By his perfect life, he gave us our wedding gown—the robes of his righteousness. By his resurrection he makes us alive and his beautiful bride—drop dead gorgeous in his sight! And he's given us new hearts and new spirits. In Ezekiel 36:25-26 he promised, "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

And though we're still just engaged, the day is coming soon when we will be together at last with our Savior for all of eternity!

And in the meantime, he's busy getting everything ready for us, fussing over every last detail, fussing over your place in heaven the way a woman fusses to get ready for a hot date. In this morning's Gospel we heard Jesus tell his disciples he'd soon be going away. In John 14:2 he told them why: "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you." And what a home it will be!

 

II.            The New Home

 

A man got a new job in a new city. And he moved there ahead of the rest of his family. While his wife was cleaning up their old house getting it ready for sale, he was purchasing their new home.

But they didn't get a mover for their relocation. You see, his new job offered such a great signing bonus that they decided that apart from a few sentimental items, they didn't want their old stuff in their new home. He hired painters to put on a fresh coat, installed new carpeting, and bought all new furniture and decorations, the things he knew she would love.

When she arrived, everything was perfect. It was all brand new. It was all so beautiful. She could tell that no expense was spared. And she loved it.

After Jesus resurrection he ascended into heaven. But he's not up there relaxing and catching up on old reruns. He's preparing a place for you and for me there. But he's doing a better job than any husband could ever do (even if he had unlimited resources). Jesus knows you perfectly. He knows your likes and dislikes and is preparing the perfect place for you. In heaven, everything will be new. Nothing will be imperfect in any way because sin will no longer corrupt anything.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

We sinners can't even begin to imagine how awesome it will be in heaven so John has to resort to describing it by the absence of the negatives we know so well. There will be no tears, no crying out, no mourning, no cause for sorrow of any kind because the thing that cause tears in this life—death and pain—will be absent too. It will be brand new and perfect in every way.

And so our present suffering—whatever it might be—doesn't matter. We'll be together at last with our Savior in his paradise soon enough. And every frustration or sorrow or pain will quickly be forgotten like a stubbed toe is soon forgotten on a holiday cruise.

This past Friday I went to a party to celebrate with someone who just retired. But the thing is, even though we had the party on Friday, she still has to go in to work tomorrow and Tuesday. She's not quite done. But I'll bet those days at work won't be that bad because there's a light at the end of the tunnel. The real work is done. Soon she'll be retired for real. And that retirement will involve vacations and travels, time spent with family, and, Lord willing, wonderful times.

So too, we may have suffering and pain and trouble in this life while we wait for Jesus to come and pick us up. But our work isn't that bad. There's a light at the end of the tunnel! The real work is done! Our sins are forgiven! We've been made new! Our Savior is coming! And very soon we'll be together at last for an eternal vacation in his paradise, time spent with family, time spent with Jesus, with wonderful times ahead.

So hang in there. All this will be over soon. Keep working for what little time you have left. Work like you do the day before a vacation—eager to get what you need to do done, eager to go. Remain faithful to him while you wait. For soon enough, the engagement will be over and our eternal honeymoon will begin. We'll be together at last. In the name of Jesus, our Risen Redeemer revealed, amen.

In Him,
Pastor Rob Guenther
 
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
47585 Ciechanski Road, Kenai, AK 99611

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