Sinner and Saint

Bow of Peace and Forgiveness

Pentecost 9, 2015

Genesis 9:8-17 (Zechariah 9:9-10 & 1 Peter 3:18-22)

"Bow of peace & forgiveness"

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. 

 

            When college students go home for the weekend or for  a break they are sure to bring something with them...laundry! I was no different. I remember going home from classes with a huge duffle bag of laundry. It must have been at least a few weeks worth of clothes. I carried it down the stairs at my parents house slowly as I held the bag in front of me. Then I discovered something shocking. Something cold. Something wet. My parents basement had at least two feet of standing water. It was a mess.

          Floods of any kind are a disaster. A flooded basement is bad news. But it could be far worse. It's devastating to see the effects flood waters have had on the crops around us. It's even more devastating to see the effects that flood waters had down in Watseka. You know that it is terrible when you read that the fire department has to use canoes to rescue people stranded in their homes. I believe I heard that over 60 homes and businesses were under water. As tragic as this is for many families...it could be worse. We can recall the tragedy that flood waters have had on the Mississippi river or the flood waters from Hurricane Katrina and the images of people standing on the roofs of their houses waiting for a boat to rescue them. Floods are disastrous. They destroy. They often kill.

          Noah, his family, and an ark filled with animals survived the flood. The Flood! After seeing the damage that standing water has on crops or floods have on buildings...we could only imagine what the world looked like after the great flood of Noah's time. Every building would have been destroyed. All the plants would have been killed off. Plants, animals. and people suffered God's wrath. Everything was destroyed. Yet in the midst of that great tragedy Noah and his family built an altar and thanked God. That is great faith. Faith that would be tested by fear and doubts. Doubts of God's love. Fear of God's wrath. Fear of storms and flooding.

          We understand those fears. Storms are still scary. Young children still go running for mommy and daddy's room in the middle of the night when the wind howls and the thunder crashes all around. And we, like Noah and his family, need reassurance of God's love and promises. For we are like little children that have been disciplined and sniffle, sigh, and cry even as we are held by our mother who rocks us, speaks gently, and soothes her child.

          So God speaks gently to Noah, his family, and to us. God soothes His children and loves them. God would give the world a sign. A new sign.

          What is the first word that comes to mind when I say "bow?" (Arrow, Rainbow) Throughout history the bow was a symbol of hunting and combat. But God creates a new bow. God created the rainbow to be a symbol that reminded Noah, his family, and all of creation that He would never destroy the entire world by a flood again. The rainbow is a constant reminder to us that even though He may punish the entire world, He loves us all. From that time on the bow became a symbol of God's peace and forgiveness.

          That forgiveness is found in Christ alone. That forgiveness is found in the one that breaks the battle bow forever. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth." (Zechariah 9:9-10)       

          God gave a new meaning to the bow; from war and combat to peace and forgiveness. God does the same with the flood. The flood at the time of Noah destroyed the entire world...except for those on the Ark. God used the ark to save Noah, his family, animals, and all their offspring. If there was no Ark...there would be no people; there would be no Savior. But God loved His creation. God would save His creation. Even in the midst of severe punishment and wrath God loved us, forgave us, and saved us.

          To this day God sends us reminders of His love through rainbows. They are His creation. They are His reminder. They are symbols of His love and forgiveness. God still uses the Ark to save us as well as floods.

          "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him." (1 Peter 3:18-22)

          Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Baptism is a flood that drowns our old sinful nature. God raises us up through the flood waters of Baptism to a new life. In Baptism we are united with Christ Jesus. And all of this happens in the Ark of God's Church. In fact this is why many churches look like upside-down boats. It is a symbol; a reminder that the Church is the Ark where God saves His people. This Church is our Ark. It is the place that God promises to be. It is the place we hear His Word. It is the place where He saves us through the floodwaters of Holy Baptism. It is the place where our Lord comes to us in His body and blood.

          While the storms of this world, sin and rejection of God, continue to bear down upon us we have a place of refuge. While the world seeks to kill and destroy with the battle bow we have a place of refuge and strength. That place is God's Church. That place is here. And the gates of hell will never overcome it! Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Moved to Compassion

Pentecost 8, 2015

"Moved to Compassion"

Mark 6:30-34

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. 

 

            A young mother finally had a moment to herself. Her husband had volunteered to watch their child. It was finally a chance for mom to get caught up on a thousand and one tasks. Maybe instead she would get out of the house for some shopping or meet up with some girlfriends for adult conversation. With all these opportunities she decided what she really wanted most was some peace and quiet...and to rest.

          Jesus had been rejected in his hometown, he continued to travel teaching the people and healing their sick. It was hard to travel from town to town. Sore feet. Light meals. Hordes of people seeking you out to help their loved ones or themselves. Even the Disciples had just returned from being sent two by two to the villages. It was exhausting work to preach repentance to people that didn't want to hear their message, cast out demons, and heal man. This day would be no different. They were so busy they didn't even have time to eat. They were exhausted. If that weren't enough word arrived that John the Baptist, friend and relative of Jesus, had been beheaded by Herod. It was devastating news. What they all needed was time to rest.

          But that was not to be. Jesus and His disciples reached the place Jesus sought out to be alone with His Disciples to rest only to be met by a multitude of people. The people had come from miles away. They weren't coming to rest with Jesus rather they sought out Jesus for the help only He could give. They pressed against Him. They surrounded Him. They weren't about to let Jesus get any rest.

          It's not just young mother's or even experienced parents that seek rest. We all desire to seek rest in the midst of the busyness, demands, and confusion of our daily lives. You get done with the stress of the day and you just want to be left alone. You just want some peace and quiet! But things happen; life happens. Often our desire to rest is put on hold as a result of those closest to us needing us. Single adults, those that are married, parents and children, young and old are all called on to deal with the demands of relationships, responsibilities, and the stress of daily life even when we don't feel like it. As much as we would like to bury our heads in the sand...that doesn't change the reality that is going on around us; the reality that stress, and work, and demands are a constant that surround us. So what do we do? Where do we get the energy to keep going, to keep loving, to care for those around us when we don't think we can take it anymore? Do we respond like the Disciples who urged Jesus to "send [the people] away!" (Mark 6:36)

          Jesus was exhausted. He was wore out from teaching and healing. He was tired from walking thru rough terrain. He was mourning the death of John...the last prophet...His cousin; His friend. Those close to Jesus would understand if He wanted to be left alone. They probably urged Jesus to get some rest...he deserved it...nobody would blame him...they'd understand. Just get some rest and start fresh tomorrow or in a few days. But instead Jesus "saw the great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd." (Mark 6:34)

          The people themselves needed help. Many were laden with sickness and disease. Others were mute or lame. Worst of all they had no Shepherd to protect them, guide them or feed them with the knowledge of a loving God. So Jesus, tired and in mourning, had compassion on them.

          Throughout Scripture we see a loving God, Christ Jesus, show love and compassion on His people. Here in our text the people gathered around Jesus, it grew late, and our Lord had compassion to feed them as they hungered. Weeks ago we heard about a ruler of the Synagogue, Jairus, whose daughter was dying. Jesus had compassion, went with this man, and raised his little girl from the dead. Jesus healed many. He made the blind to see, the lame to walk, cast out demons, and raised others from the dead.

          Scripture records another time when the Disciples were exhausted and wanted to retreat from the people. "Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”  (Matthew 19:13-15)

          Jesus tells them and us: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

          So where is this rest? That rest is found here in this place. Emery Ronan Schwer has been given the promised rest...and I don't mean he fell asleep during my sermon. That rest is found in the waters of Holy Baptism. That rest is found in the body and blood of Christ. Our rest is the promise of sins forgiven, the gift of heaven, and the resurrection of all flesh. Our rest is found solely in Christ Jesus.

          We have a Savior that has compassion on each and every one of us...young and old alike. He gives us rest even as He never rests on us! Christ gives us everything we need in this life and the next. He gives us strength to overcome, patience to endure, peace, love, joy, and rest. He even gives us the ability to have compassion and to love others when we are weak ourselves.

          Christ has compassion on all of us. Do you ever wonder why? Because Jesus looks past our sinfulness. Jesus looks past our shortcomings. Jesus sees each of you as someone precious and worth dying for. Christ died for you!

          May our Lord who has compassion on us and gives us rest continue to bless us with faith that sees our friends, family, neighbors and even our enemies as Jesus sees them: people worth dying for. Then by faith we may have true compassion and share the truth and love about Jesus with others so that they may believe in Christ and receive forgiveness and the rest they so desperately need. Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

God Chose You

Pentecost 7, 2015

Ephesians 1:3-14

“God chose you!”

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. 

 

            This life is a life of death that often gets us down. This life of death gets us down emotionally, physically, and spiritually. The problems of this world and this life make us question why things happen the way they do. We question what it all means. We question our faith and God. As a country these questions were asked often following 9/11. Yet for many these are daily questions.

          There are many days I wish I didn’t read the newspaper online. A Chicago Tribune headline "8 Frantic hours: How Chicago handled an explosion of violence." For 8 hours beginning at 9:00 p.m. on July 4 (one hour before many of us watched the fireworks here in Beecher) violence ran rampant in Chicago. In the end: 3 killed & 30 wounded. But then again yesterday morning I read "Overnight violence leaves 3 dead, 10 wounded. But the tragedy doesn’t end with those articles. We read about murders on a regular basis. Home invasions. Rapes. Drownings. Accidents. Violence. Genocide. As of June 11, 2015: 244 homicides in Chicago alone; that is a murder every 18 hours and 47 minutes in Chicago. It's no wonder many now call Chicago Chiraq. But there is violence outside of Chicago. There is violence all around us. And there are other tragic headlines as well: Malaria kills a child every minute in Africa; and from Lutherans for Life: every minute 3 babies are murdered from abortion.

          This life is a life of death and tragedy that get us down. We get down when a loved one dies. We get down when our husband or wife gets news that they have cancer. We question God’s love when we lose our home, job, car…or worse lost friendships and shattered families. In the end…no matter the tragedy that we incur…we wonder if God really loves us.

          “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” (Ephesians 1:3-6)

          There is only one question that comes to mind after reading this text. Are you a Christian? Are you a Christian that worries about how strong your faith is? Are you a Christian that suffers from tragedies? Are you a Christian that is also a sinner? Are you a Christian that doubts? Are you a Christian that is constantly in need of forgiveness? If you are any of these…and surely you are all of these…than this text is for you!

          Are you a Christian? Yes? Than praise God for He chose you! Before the creation of the world God chose you! Before Adam and Eve ever fell into sin God chose each and every one of you. He didn’t choose you because of how talented you are. He didn’t choose you because of your great deeds. He didn’t choose you because of your good looks or style. In fact God chose you despite the fact that you, as a sinner, hated him. God chose you. What a wonderful little sentence. God chose you in Christ to be His people. God chose to adopt you as His child. God did all of this through His Son…through Christ Jesus…who died on the cross for you.

          God chose you. But what does that mean…because you and I we still sin…we still suffer tragedy and loss…we still have broken relationships…we still suffer from sin in this world. And because of that…we still question God. What does God choosing you really mean?

          “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:7-14)

          God chose you… to receive the forgiveness of sins and the riches of His grace in Christ Jesus. You were chosen to put your hope in Christ and praise God for His glory. You were chosen to receive a seal marking you as God’s beloved child; the gift of the Holy Spirit through baptism. That same Holy Spirit, that same seal, that same gift given through baptism is a deposit that guarantees our inheritance of heaven.

          What all of that means is that God chose you before creation to be His child and an heir of life everlasting in heaven. What that means is that God chose you…to give you peace and hope in a world that is falling apart. God chose you even when friendships are broken and familes are shattered. It means that God chose you regardless of your status in this world. God chose you…to save you…from this sinful world…from your own sin…from death…and from Satan and hell. He chose you because He loves you.

          God chose to love you before you were born. God chose to love you when others don’t. God chose to love you even when you can’t love yourself. God chose you…as He sent His Son to die that you would have life.

          My brothers and sisters in Christ…don’t let this life get you down. Don’t let sin get you down. Yes, you and I both suffer from tragedies…we suffer because we are sinful people living in a sinful and corrupt world. Bad things happen…because of sin. But God chose you…to love you and save you! He gives you every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places as He chose to save you before the foundation of the world. Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Sent to proclaim God's truth to a nation of rebels

Pentecost 6, 2015

Ezekiel 2:1-10

"Sent to proclaim God's truth to a nation of rebels"

 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

            The people had rebelled against God and His Word. No longer were the Scriptures taught by the priests. No longer did the people hear or listen to God's Word. No longer did the rulers abide by God's Word either. Instead the leaders set up new false gods. Idols were propped up and even placed in the Lord's House. Sexual immorality was rampant. Temples were turned into brothels and houses of prostitution. Many of God's prophets were put to death.

          This describes the nation of Israel; God's chosen people. Ezekiel was called to be a prophet to God's chosen people. God tells Ezekiel: "Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them." (Ezekiel 2:3-4)

          Israel was a nation of rebels. They transgressed against God over and over again. They were impudent and stubborn. They rejected God and His Word and turned to sin; to idols, to lustful desires; to self. They were stubborn and disrespectful. They only cared about themselves and their wants. This described all the people... the kings and rulers, the priests and teachers, and all the other Israelites. Very few remained that trusted in God alone.

          Does this sound like the nation we live in or will soon live in? In 1969 California introduced our nation to what is called "no fault" divorce...making divorces available for any reason under the sun. In 1973 it became legal to abort a baby in the womb. Millions of babies have been murdered since for any reason. On June 26 the Supreme court ruled that it is a constitutional right for same-sex marriage.

          We have already seen new attempts to further our nation from God's Word. In the past couple of days there has been a Man in Montana that petitioned the court that he be allowed to legally marry a second wife (polygamy). Others are now pushing for pedophilia to be an allowable expression of love. Already in other parts of the world churches and Pastors are being sued that the be forced to hold and officiate gay marriage. In Canada it is already considered a hate crime for Pastors to preach or teach that homosexuality is a sin. Within our own country we have seen countless judgments saying that courts and public buildings must do away with the 10 Commandments or Nativity scenes.

          So what do we do now? How do we react to these things? Do we give up? Do we shut our doors and hide in our basement? Do we hope to win the lottery and buy a private island somewhere? (That one is an idea I have had...but I don't play the lottery nor do I have the funds to buy my own island...) Those are certainly ideas...I won't say how good or bad they are...

          What does our text say to Ezekiel who faced a nation and government that rebelled against God and wanted nothing to do with Ezekiel. "And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house." (Ezekiel 2:3-7)

          What God tells Ezekiel are the same words he has for us. He tells us to stand. Be ready. God sends us out to the world...a world that hates us for our faith in God. He tells us to speak "Thus says the Lord." A reminder that we are to proclaim God's Word and not just share our own opinions. But make no mistake, when we share the truth of Scripture we are indeed sharing God's very Word. When the Bible says something...it is God saying something. When the Bible proclaims and judges sin it is God that is proclaiming and judging sin.

          God also repeats to Ezekiel and us. Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid of their words. Do not be afraid of what they call you. Do not be afraid of what they say about you...or threaten you. Even though you may be persecuted...and go through briers and thorns...or sit on a scorpion that could certainly kill you...Be not afraid for God is with you.

          So we as Christians...as members of Saint Paul's Lutheran Church...what do we do? We pray. We pray that those who sin repent. We pray that God's Word is still proclaimed correctly. We still come together as sinners each Sunday and receive forgiveness and strength. We still go out and share the truth of God's Word even when we are called names, persecuted, or mocked. We still love. We love our friends and family, neighbors and enemies. Calling something a sin is not hatred. Calling a sinner to repentance is not hatred. Calling a sinner to repentance is one of the most loving things you can do. For we call others to repentance that they might repent, believe in Christ, and be saved.

          So today in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's ruling and each day in the future...we Christians; we members of Saint Paul's... keep on doing the same thing our Lord has called us to do. We keep the faith. We share the truth of God's Word. We call sin that which it is A Sin. We call others to repentance. We share the love of Christ. We rejoice in Christ's forgiveness. We obey God rather than man. Amen.

 

Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.