Christ Delivers Us through the Tough Decisions

Acts 1:12-26
Christ Delivers Us through the Tough Decisions
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Word of Life, Naperville, IL

May 28, 2017

For some the decision to marry and whom to marry can be a great ordeal. For those who have ever married, how did you decide to marry your spouse?

At least when I was younger there was no such things as tinder, match.com or any on-line dating service to read biographical profile materials. Even with these and many more choices, where do you begin.

What were the priorities for making this important decision:
Similar interest
Great provider or Parent
Money
The Wow factor

After the choice has been been made, you need to stick with it. The decision gets tougher, because you know you will need to live with it. There is a difference between now and later.

After over than 30 some years later, I am sure that my wife’s priorities were different than when she said I do and she has different expectations from me now.

The Book of Acts our first reading mentions a tough decision, the calling another apostle. The 12 Apostles were down to 11. To answer that problem they wanted to choose another, but how.

How did they choose? Flip a coin, cast lots, well not quite.

Notice where they started: They started with God’s Word, His promises

Acts 1:15–16 (ESV) 15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

Acts 1:20 (ESV) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “ ‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “ ‘Let another take his office.’

This is not a human institution, not developed by Peter, but one of God’s will.

The Criteria, how they were going to choose their candidates.
Acts 1:21–22 (ESV) 21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”

Criteria
With us from the beginning
Witness to the Resurrection
The key is that they were witnesses this is what the Apostles do Acts 4:20 (ESV) 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Then they Prayed, You know the heart O Lord
Acts 1:24–25 (ESV) 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”

God does know the heart and we do not. When David was to be anointed Samuel looked at his brother and thought this looks like a king.

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV) 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Solomon in the dedication of the temple notes of God
1 Kings 8:39 (ESV) 39 then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind),

Please notice that God doesn’t use the Wow factor.

Then they cast lots.

Acts 1:26 (ESV) 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

This was not the first time that lots were used.

Joshua 14:2 (ESV) 2 Their inheritance was by lot, just as the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses for the nine and one-half tribes.

Why? What does Scripture says:
Proverbs 18:18 (ESV) 18 The lot puts an end to quarrels and decides between powerful contenders.

But please notice that they had 2 equal contenders. Let God answer but casting lots.

Making a Tough Decision. God gives us His Word, we need to search the word. God gives us our intellect, we need to use it, God gives us Good Christians Friends, seek their thoughts, God gives us an opportunity to come to Him in Prayer, then prayer.

Don’t worry about making a mistake. Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Make the best decision possible at the time and stick with it.

Calling your next pastor is a tough decision, but necessary.
Romans 10:17 (ESV)  17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:15 (ESV)  15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
We need pastor to shepherd us and we need to take care of our pastors, so that they shepherd properly.

Hebrews 13:17 (ESV)  17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

But please realize…your next pastor will be..a sinner.
Romans 3:23 (ESV) 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

But we live in God’s grace and forgiveness

1 Peter 4:8 (ESV) 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
So we love, forgive even the pastor, knowing that he won’t be perfect…

All the while we Listen to the Word the pastor teaches

Acts 17:10–11 (ESV)  10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Don’t focus on the sins or short-comings, but focus upon the Word and Promises of God being proclaimed to you.

Remember Jesus said:
John 6:63 (ESV)  63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

So look for the Word of Spirit and Life, focus on what God have given you, His Word and Promises and Pastors to shepherd and guide.

After all this is this community that is called Word of Life, so focus on the Word and bring Life

The Perfect Gift

James 1:16-21
Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church
Bolingbrook, IL

May 14, 2017

The Greatest Gift, If I asked this question in Sunday School class I will soon get the answer Jesus. I am not going to disagree. But for you, the greatest gift is ….still Jesus, yes His death, His resurrection, the forgiveness of sins for the whole world. The Holy Spirit converts, regenerates us which we receive through Faith. This faith and trust in God for Salvation is also part of this greatest gifts. For what good is the Christ’s atoning sacrifice is we are not converted. By God’s grace we have this perfect gift, which brings life and salvation. This is the greatest treasure of all.

This first chapter of James was written with you in mind. James is encouraging Christians to stand firm in the midst of temptation, and not reject this gift given by Christ Jesus.

James 1 Temptation and Testing

Martin Luther in the Large Catechism says, To feel temptation, therefore, is quite a different thing from consenting and yielding to it. We must all feel it, though not all to the same degree; some have more frequent and severe temptations than others.

So with that introduction, lets get into the text. Stop deceiving yourselves as one translator puts it. Temptation exists, no one is immune from feeling it. Even Christ Jesus, was tempted by the devil, but did not sin. We however sin, but are forgiven by the one who didn’t sin in the midst of temptations.

Some have asked is God the author of temptations?

The Sixth Petition
And lead us not into temptation.
What does this mean?
God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.
Christ Jesus who gives us this greatest gift, is not going to do anything to jeopardizes this gift given.

James 1:17 (ESV) 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

God doesn’t change, His is loving, forgiving. God doesn’t change His mind, He is faithful, not wanting anyone to parish. There is forgiveness, but there is also the wrath of God.

Jeremiah 7:19–20 (ESV) 19 Is it I whom they provoke? declares the Lord. Is it not themselves, to their own shame? 20 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, my anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place, upon man and beast, upon the trees of the field and the fruit of the ground; it will burn and not be quenched.”

Johann Gerhard in his book Sacred Meditations puts it this way when he writes
Through sin, mortal man sends God away. God is infinitely and incomprehensibly good. To send away God is therefore the most infinite and incomprehensible evil. Just as God is the ultimate good, so also sin is the ultimate evil. Punishments and calamities are not inherently evil because good may come out of them. Yes, it is indeed apparent that they are good because they come from the ultimate good, that is, from God, from whom nothing except good is able to proceed. They have existed in the ultimate good, namely, in Christ. The ultimate good, however, is not a participant in true evil. They also lead to the ultimate good, namely, eternal life. “Through suffering Christ entered into his glory” (Luke 24:26). “Through tribulations Christians come into eternal life” (Acts 14:22). Thus, the ultimate evil is sin because it drags one away from the ultimate good.
This is what James is getting at. Sin is the ultimate evil, because it pulls us away from the perfect gift. Our sins separates us from God, which is the ultimate evil, because it leads to death.
So then James out of concern for the people names in vs 19
James 1:19–20 (ESV) 19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Please notice is this not what most people consider the big ticket sins. Nothing about adultery, stealing, gossiping, but James focuses on anger. Why, well consider this, while you are driving home from the divine service, you will pass many ATMs. My guess is that most of you will not be tempted to stop the car and attempt to break into an ATM. Sure you may think you could use the cash, but again I am guess it is not a big temptation for you. However while you are driving home if someone cuts you, may have a tendency to get angry, wave your hards in the air, say a few choice words. By the way,
Jesus notes:
Matthew 5:22 (ESV) 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Ouch, now we know why James is writing this letter to us.
James 1:21 (ESV) 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness

or as Paul says:
Ephesians 4:31 (ESV) 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

but how? IT is not easy, it is even part of our sinful nature. But James doesn’t leave us without hope, the end of v21 notes

James 1:21 (ESV) 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

I want you to think of the parable of the sower and the seed. Where the seed that survived grew in the the depths of God’s Holy Word. Implanted in you by the Holy Spirit. Nurtured and cultivated for you by Pastor Mulmee.

God assures us of this gracious election not only in mere words, but also with his oath, and has sealed it with his holy sacraments, of which we can remind ourselves and with which we can comfort ourselves in our greatest temptations and thus extinguish the flaming darts of the devil.
Tappert, T. G. (Ed.). (1959). The Book of Concord the confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. (p. 496). Philadelphia: Mühlenberg Press.

So if you are snuggling with temptation with will lead to sin which is the ultimate evil, then you need the perfect gift, Christ Jesus, in His Word, Bread and Wine His Body and Blood.
But if you can’t make it to the Divine Service, Christ Jesus does point us to prayer.
Matthew 26:41 (ESV) 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

If I may add especially the Lord’s Prayer, when you get to the
The Sixth Petition
And lead us not into temptation.
What does this mean?
God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.
We will be attacked by the devil, temptations will come, but as Luther reminds we prayer that we may finally overcome and win the victory. Christ Jesus has won the victory, and has given that victory to us.
The one verse I have omitted from the lesson so far bring this home. v18
James 1:18 (ESV) 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

Notice the emphasis of the Word of Truth, that Christ Jesus created us, redeemed us, and the Holy Spirit keeps us in this faith, and James describes us as the firstfruits, you could the best fruit, Christ Jesus takes on flesh and blood for you, so that you will have the perfect Gift and be with Christ in paradise. which is the goal of the perfect gift. This perfect gift is not over marketed, it does not under perform, it doesn’t come in a shiny box, but it delivers to us eternal life.
In the name of Jesus Amen.

Philippians 4:7 (ESV) 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Waiting

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dr. Martin Luther
5344 S Francisco Ave, Chicago, IL 60632

May 7, 2017
Isaiah 40:25–31

I remember as a little boy my grandmother, who loved plants, explaining the difference of annuals plants that live for only one season, vs perennials
I was in shock to fine out that some plants only live one season. I always assumed that plants would live forever, you know like the dandelion.

As a little boy I was thinking that if I ever had a garden it would be filled with perennials so I wouldn’t ever have to replant it, because perennials must be better. Well when I look at my garden area now I guess I got my boyhood wish, it is full of dandelions.

Ok how does this fit into today’s text from Isaiah. It does but first some background. The people of Israel rebelled against God. So that they would not die eternally, they were sent by God into Exile. This time of exile was not pleasant, but they needed to that the Eternal God is their Savior. He had delivered them from Slavery, crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, and God placed them in the promised land. Eventually they forgot about God and what God had done for them. They forgot about God promises, they where wanting to worship like the other people in the lands worshiping idols, more about this during the Bible Study.

But God did not forget about them. This section of Isaiah was give to the people while they were in exile. So you need to picture the people of God wondering why, God why did you allow this to happen to us?
So God through Isaiah asks the rhetorical questions.

Isaiah 40:27–28 (ESV) 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
Isaiah 40:21 (ESV) 21 Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

Why worship something that doesn’t last that is not eternal.
Isaiah 40:25 (ESV) 25 To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.

Who is the only God the one as vs 28 says of Him self is eternal.

Why?

This is my boyhood perennials vs annual thoughts. Why plant something that is not going to last. God is asking why worship something expect deliverance from something of someone who is not eternal, it is not going to last. And when they saw their land devastated including all of the false idols, one would hope that they would realize God is right, it wasn’t going to last. Only God is eternal.

For us, we also are in exile. We are not in the place where God created us to be. God created Adam and Even to live in paradise of the Garden of eden in perfect relationship with God, not separated by sin. But Adam and Eve sinned, and were put into exile, driven out of paradise.

We may be asking the same question why, how long before we can return and be with Christ in paradise. And we are given the same answer.

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

So we wait, and this waiting is a waiting with an expectant hope not a wishful hope but a certainty that knowing that just as Christ has arisen from the dead He will return and bring us to paradise.

We wait and gather here He promise to be right here in His word and sacraments.

Luther in the Large Catechism: Therefore, it is appropriately called the food of the soul since it nourishes and strengthens the new man…. There are so many hindrances and temptations of the devil and the world that we often grow weary and faint, at times even stumble. 24 The Lord’s Supper is given as a daily food and sustenance so that our faith may refresh and strengthen itself and not weaken in the struggle but grow continually stronger.

We also may be thinking that God is hidden, many years ago a young man can to me and said that he can’t feel God presence in his life, Like Isaiah my way is hidden from the Lord. To which I pointed him to where God promises to be, in His word. Our feelings do not indicate God presence.

The Third Article: Sanctification I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.

Isiah is very clear, the things of this world do not last, here today gone tomorrow. So we continually wait for the one who is everlasting know that just as God brought the exile out back to the promise land, Christ will also return and bring us to be with Him in paradise.

Who likes to wait? When we see a long line do we rejoice. When we are in traffic and it is at a stand still do we celebrate? We live in a world that wants everything instantly. Where the word Wait is not a popular word. But in our Old Testament reading the people of Israel on in exile because of their lack of faith, their disobedience to God.

The people of Israel where following the ways of the world, so God was in the process of reminding them who is their life and salvation. This was not an easy lesson for the people of Israel to learn, for Exile never is pleasant.

Likewise we also wait, While we are waiting, we continue to gather where Christ promises to be. His Word His Sacraments. We continue to attach ourselves to Christ, where He strengthens us with His own Body and His own Blood.

v27
My way is hidden from the Lord
Our way is not hidden from the Lord,
Psalm 119:105 (ESV) 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

my right is disregarded by my God”?
No, Christ is the one who claims us. His name is on us in Holy Baptism, we belong to Him.

Isaiah 40:27–28 (ESV) 28 Have you not known? (He know through the Spirit and His Word) Have you not heard? (We have heard) The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

And so we wait for the Lord,
Isaiah 55:8–9 (ESV) 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

As we prayed in the Collect, the pray of the day:
Almighty God, You show those in error the light of Your truth so that they may return to the way of righteousness. Grant faithfulness to all who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Church that they may avoid whatever is contrary to their confession and follow all such things as are pleasing to You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Philippians 4:7 (ESV) 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Jesus Shepherds Us Through the Dark Times

The Lutheran Church Of St. Luke
410 S Rush St, Itasca, IL 60143

May 6, 2017
Psalm 23

Jesus Shepherds Us Through the Dark Times

Psalm 23:4

The 4th Sunday of Easter is also known as Good Shepherd Sunday. God uses the image of a shepherd to describe Himself.  King David first, compares himself to a sheep. Where God is the diligent Shepherd caring for the flock.

Psalm 23:1–2 (ESV)  1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

Here we have a picture of a gracious God providing for all our needs.  Luther reminds of this in His explanation to

The First Article, of the Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

What does this mean?  Luther reminds us:

I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them.

He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. 

Since we are God’s creation He does care for us. God created our bodies, and He is not going to abandon His creation.

Not just our body but also our soul.

Verse 3 bring this support of Body and life now to the soul.

Psalm 23:3 (ESV)  3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

This restoration of the soul, is the change of the heart, the conversion, of a person.

Fall death a change is needed for life

A person who is now lead on the path of righteousness because of Christ’s name.  King David notes that it is God who restores King David’s soul.  It is Christ, who restores our soul, through the waters of Holy Baptism.  As Luther reminds us What benefits does Baptism give?  It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.

God is concern for our physical life and life for eternally.  With that base now comes the interesting part.

Psalm 23:4 (ESV)  4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Verse 4 may perplex us, going from ’The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want,’ and here it seems that King David says the very opposite: that he must walk through the valley of the shadow of death.  Please note that Christ never promises that our life will be that of comfort and luxury.  But Christ does promise

Matthew 28:20 (ESV)  20 … And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Luther continues in this explanation of the first article of the apostles creed, he heard:

He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. Then Luther continues and says:

He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil.

As we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, we are not alone.

Kleinig in his book Grace upon Grace notes that:

New Christians often think that the battle is over once they become disciples of Christ. And that is partly true! After all, the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the work of the devil (1 John 3:8). By His death He disempowered the devil and freed us from his oppression (Hebrews 2:14). So by His resurrection and ascension Christ has cast out Satan, the ruler of this world (John 12:31). In Baptism, God the Father has delivered us from the domain of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His dear Son (Colossians 1:13). Yet, it is also true that the battle begins in earnest once we have been baptized. The devil seems to target new believers as if they posed a real threat to his power, just as he targeted Christ immediately after His Baptism to derail Him from His mission. The devil digs up all the dirt on new believers and throws it at them. He uses every possible weapon to shake their faith in Christ and their love for the family of God. Whereas previously the attack had come indirectly from the world and its temptations, the attack now comes directly on the conscience of the believer. It becomes the main battleground.”

How do we hold the faith, have a good conscience, when we live in a world of sin, where we still struggle sin sin and doubt. the next verse of the Psalm gives us a clue.

Psalm 23:5 (ESV)  5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Who has a picnic in the midst of enemies? Well from God’s point of view, what enemies? As Jesus dies on the cross, He says, It is finished. Sin, death, and the devil are defeated.  We even confess in the Apostles creed that He defended into Hell, as

1 Peter 3:18–19 (ESV)  18 For Christ … being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison,

That was His victory proclamation. So why not have a picnic?  Besides isn’t that what we do in the church.  As we daily face the chances and challenges of this world, we gather here at St. Luke’s to hear God Word and receive the sacrament.  This is where Christ prepares a table before us, in the midst of a world full of sin, and our own sinful struggles.  When the devil tries to convince us that we are alone and abandoned in this, Christ invites struggling sinners who are going through the valley of the shadow of death to come and be strengthen, overflowing with with God grace and mercy.  We have been forgiven as the body and blood of Christ is a means of this grace, which soothes the burden conscience, and as we gather with fellow believers who also gather at the table and receive Christ word, who are in the same situation that we are in. We are not along, but well fed and nourished, together with all the body of Christ.

Which leads to the last verse

Psalm 23:6 (ESV)  6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

In one verse the Psalmist says it all, God’s goodness and mercy now, which leads to eternal life with Christ forever.

While there are going to times where we feel overwhelmed by this world, as we are walking through the Shadow of death, we hang onto the faith, that Christ gives us.  For Christ is our shepherd,

Matthew 16:18 (ESV)  18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

In faith, David declares that since the Lord is his shepherd, he “shall not want” (v 1). Our Good Shepherd lovingly provides everything that we need in this life, but we often fail to recognize that these gifts come from Him. Instead, we focus on things that we want, but do not need. How wonderful that our Shepherd does not withhold His blessings from us, but still cares for these needs and more: He gives us His own Son! • Good Shepherd, open our eyes to see Your blessing. Open our ears to hear Your voice. Open our hearts that we may love You. (In Jesus’ name ) Amen.

Philippians 4:7 (ESV)  7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.