Christ Helps Us to Listen to His Word

July 2
Faith Lutheran Church Oak Lawn, IL
Jeremiah 28:5–9
Christ Helps Us to Listen to His Word

What do you want to hear today from the pulpit? Pause. I hope and pray that you have never heard that line before. Because the pulpit is not about what you want to hear, the message from the pulpit should be about what Christ has done for you. So if you were looking for the winning lottery tickets numbers you will be disappointed. If you were looking the message that will cure your cancer or restore you to your youthful state, it will not be here. Unfortunately many people only want pastor to tell them what they want to hear. It is almost as bad as election times when those running for office will say and do anything to get your vote. As St. Paul reminded Timothy,

2Timothy 4:3(ESV) For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Keep this passage in mind as we look at the Old Testament reading for today. In may sound very innocent that the prophet Jeremiah was hoping that the words of Hananiah may come to pass, in Jeremiah 28:6 ESV Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord make the words that you have prophesied come true, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the Lord, and all the exiles.

But we need to know a little more. And if you want even more join us for Bible class, where we will do a deeper dive. But here is a quick summary.

God had sent His people into exile, because they were not listening nor obeying what God spoke to them. Jeremiah, God’s prophet was telling the people this, and even more would go into exile. But the people did not want to hear a doom and gloom sermon. The people wanted to hear make Israel great again, a message of prosperity. So Hananiah rose up and prophesied a positive prophecy. One that would make Israel great again and return what was stolen. However this prophesy wasn’t from God even though that is want Hananiah and the people wanted. So we have a prophet who wanted to profit. Basically we have a false prophet, proclaiming not want God wanted, but telling people what they wanted to hear. The bottom line here is that God was working through Jeremiah, even though the people didn’t listen. Hananiah’s error would cost him his life, would die at the end of the chapter and the people would continue into exile.

Ok What is our take home point: we start with the Small Catechism of Dr. Luther, Lord’s Prayer,
The First Petition
Hallowed be Thy name.
What does this mean? God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also.

How is God’s name kept holy? God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes the name of God among us. Protect us from this, Heavenly Father!

Too bad the people during Jeremiah’s time didn’t have the Small Catechism and were reading it. But then again that was the problem, they were not listening to anything of God.

So, Why is listening to God important? Let’s let St. Peter answer that question with His words in John 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Since Jesus has the Words of life, why would anyone want to leave words that bring life and life eternally? What could be more important? Unfortunately many even today’s don’t value God’s Word. Their focus is upon the things this world

Jesus even names this when in John 8:23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. – John 8:23

Our original sin and sins we commitment and things we failed to do tie us to this world, which is death, just like Hananiah. However this is not a doom and gloom sermon, because just as Jeremiah told the people their fate, God is generous and gracious, there was hope. Yes, we are tied to this world, but there is a savior, a deliverer who will detach us from this sinful world. We know that savior as Jesus Christ. Our problem is that we get sidetracked. Jesus again has the answer, Jesus says in:

John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Christ sends us the Holy Spirit to teach and to help us remember Christ and what Christ has done and what Christ is still doing for you.

Not only do you have the Holy Spirit keeping you connected to Christ, you have a pastor who is faithful to God’s Word. Pastor Birkholz feeds you God Word every week from this pulpit. A message of Law and Gospel, a message from God. He also feeds you Christ, body and blood, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. These are the messages of life, Life Eternal.

Every day we also struggle with our attachment of this world. With the effects of sin weighing heavy upon us. Maybe it is unemployment, health, or what ever is burdening your soul, we often are looking for the quick and easy fix in this world we live in. But notice how Christ solved our problem with sin. It wasn’t fixed by writing a check, nor by a pill, nor with a wishful thought, but with a sacrificial death, that wasn’t easy. We likewise in our struggles with the changes and chances of this world do not look to the quick and easy fix, but we look to the suffering death and resurrection of our savior Jesus the Christ. As we prayed in the Collect of the Day: Almighty God, by the working of Your Holy Spirit, grant that we may gladly hear Your Word proclaimed among us and follow its directing.

So we ask God to help us to continue to be attach to Him and His Word, And we thank God for sending faithful pastors like Pastor Birkholz who continue to proclaim God’s Word and administer God’s Word with water, beard and wine. In Christ’s name, Amen.