First Lutheran Church of Little Rock

Sermon for 110324
Text: Revelation 7:2-17
Theme: A future that is bright and glorious!

In the Name of the Father…Amen.
The first reading serves as our sermon text for this morning.
Grace, mercy, and peace be yours from God the heavenly Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.Memory verse!Revelation 7:12 (NASB95)
12 saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray:LSB 907:1-2 God Himself Is PresentGod Himself is present:     Let us now adore Him     And with awe appear before Him. God is in His temple;     All within keep silence;     Humbly kneel in deepest rev’rence. He alone On His throne     Is our God and Savior;     Praise His name forever!
God Himself is present:     Hear the harps resounding;     See the hosts the throne surrounding. “Holy, holy, holy!”     Hear the hymn ascending,     Songs of saints and angels blending. Bow Your ear To us here:     Hear, O Christ, the praises     That Your Church now raises.
IntroductionThe Rev. Dr. Charles Gieschen, the current academic dean, professor, and my academic advisor while at the Fort Wayne seminary, relates a story concerning his childhood. 
He states:
“During my childhood, my father was the pastor of a Lutheran congregation with a large old red brick church founded many decades before we arrived there. I distinctly remember not only the church building but also the large church cemetery, which flanked the left side of the sanctuary and wrapped around the back behind where the chancel stood. At an anniversary service of that congregation, my father, I remember, reminded the members sitting in the pews that their congregation was actually much larger than the people who were in church. The members immediately nodded, most of them thinking that he was referring to those inactive members.

He then said something rather startling: If we wanted to make room for the rest of the members, we would need to knock out the side and back walls of the old brick church. He went on to explain that even though the bodies of many members were resting in the ground to the side and behind the sanctuary, these fellow saints were alive with Christ and were a vital part of the church. He reminded us that our focus is to be on continuing to baptize into Christ, continuing to teach, and continuing to commune, so that Christians are born and nurtured in the faith until they join the saints after death. 

He reminded us that the true size of that congregation would only be seen on the Last Day, when Christ will raise in glory all the bodies from that cemetery and take the faithful members still living at his return to experience restored creation with the entire church of all ages for eternity”, exactly what verse 9 of our sermon text for this morning declares:

Revelation 7:9 (NASB95)After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

That, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, is the future to which all of us can look with eagerness.
The future, Your Future Is Bright and Glorious!
I. We presently face struggles as the church on earth.Revelation 7:9 (NASB95)After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

This part of the vision recorded by John in the book of Revelation helps us to see that the life of a Lutheran Christian congregation is not just about living Sunday to Sunday or year to year or decade to decade or even a hundred years together. This vision helps us to see the goal of every Christian, every congregation, and the church militant across the earth: to be part of this great multitude for eternity that no one can number from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before God’s throne, standing before Christ, the Lamb slain for our sin, clothed in resurrected glory for eternity. 
Why are congregations established? Why such an emphasis on seeking to be faithful in reaching out to the lost in our community year after year? Why are pastors called to a church? Why are sanctuaries built? Why teach Sunday School?Why give offerings to the Church sacrificially each week?Why do we continue planning for the future in the place? The answer?So that we and many others from this congregation, this community, this generation of sinners may be part of this great multitude before the throne of the Lamb!
Why did God first give this vision to John to share with the seven churches and many others in future generations?Because he knew that the faithful saints of these congregations had struggles in the past, they were going through struggles in the present, and they would encounter more in the future. Sin was very much alive and well in these pagan cities of ancient Rome. In the seven letters that Jesus dictates in Revelation 2–3, we hear of: false apostles, false teaching, sexual immortality, the Jezebel-like priestess, spiritual lukewarmness, and much more.
This sounds a lot like the world today, doesn’t it!? Many in the church are so confused on: what marriage is, how one’s gender should be expressed, and who created this world in the first place. As we heard in the Beatitudes of our Gospel, Jesus promised His faithful church it would face challenges: Matthew 5:11–12 (NASB95)11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
God gave this vision of the future, of the Church Triumphant after the day of resurrection, to encourage us about what our individual future is and what our future is as a congregation.This is your future: risen, living, worshiping, and singing for all eternity:  
Revelation 7:10–12 (NASB95)10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
Knowing this is our future encourages us to be faithful and active witnesses in the present.II. Christ’s blood that was shed in the past is the sole reason for our future glory.What is the only reason given for these saints being in heaven? Perhaps they are there because of: the great lives they lived, the fact they were members of the Church Militant for so long,the number of boards on which they served, all the money they gave in their offeringsor the church council meetings that they attended? No, there is only one reason given for their status:Revelation 7:14 (NASB95)I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Your future as a congregation, your future as the church militant on earth, and your future as the Church Triumphant in heaven is all based upon the blood of the Lamb, Jesus the Christ, that was shed on Calvary’s cross to atone for your sin, my sin, for all sin! As John the Baptist proclaimed when he saw Jesus: John 1:29 (NASB95)The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!You are saints, holy ones, now and forever only through the holy blood of Jesus.

This vision in Revelation 7 is dripping with irony. The last thing you want on a white robe would be blood; it stains permanently. But the blood that Jesus shed cleanses permanently, because it is a payment in full for sin. It is a blood that continues to cleanse you from sin today as you hear of it here and as you drink it at this altar. As the hymn to the Lamb in Revelation 5 states: Revelation 5:9 (NASB95)9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
III. Our future will be lived in a restored creation in resurrected glory.This vision is one of the most extensive descriptions in the Scriptures of what we as the Church will do after Christ’s return into eternity. Listen to your future as Christians, as a congregation, once again: Revelation 7:15–17 (NASB95)15 “For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. 16 “They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

None of our years on earth have been without:tears of pain and struggle; there will be more tears in the years you have left in your earthly journey;of that you can be sure. 

You have shed some tears, no doubt, in saying a temporary goodbye to some of the saints of your extended family and church family who are now with the Lord. But nothing ever has, nor nothing ever will, separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. He refreshes us daily for our work in the world and our service to Him in His Church. 
But one day sin will be no more:no more hunger and thirst and struggle. 
Our baptismal garments will be exchanged for the permanent robe of resurrected glory, and God will wipe every tear of pain and suffering from our eyes.

The Proper Preface for Holy Communion on All Saints’ Day declares that peace and comfort found in our sermon text for this morning:It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God. In the communion of all Your saints gathered into the one body of Your Son, You have surrounded us with so great a cloud of witnesses that we, encouraged by their faith and strengthened by their fellowship, may run with perseverance the race that is set before us and, together with them, receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:ConclusionWhat then does Revelation 7 do for you?It helps you to see your ultimate and certain future as forgiven saints through the blood of Christ: God himself with be with you, and He will wipe every tear from your eyes. Death will be no more, neither shall there be any mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymoreand you will see His face! That is your bright and glorious future as saints through the blood of Jesus. Amen.Let us pray:Fount of ev’ry blessing,     Purify my spirit,     Trusting only in Your merit. Like the holy angels,     Worshiping before You,     May I ceaselessly adore You. Let Your will Ever still     Rule Your Church terrestrial     As the hosts celestial.Text: Public domain

2 Corinthians 13:14 (NASB95)   The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,    and the love of God,    and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.  Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. All of us are waiting and none of us will be disappointed. 
The Lord continue to bless us, shine His face on us, be gracious to us, that He lift His countenance upon us, and give us His peace. 
In the Name of the Father…Amen.

• Sermon for 102724
• Text: Matthew 11:12-19
• Theme: Be faithful to the end!
• In the Name of the Father…Amen. 
• The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 11:12-19 serves as our sermon text for this morning, which reads as follows:Matthew 11:12–19 (NASB95)12 “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. 13 “For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 “And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. 15 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, 17 and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18 “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ 19 “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
• Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the heavenly Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen .
• Memory verse!    Matthew 11:15 (NASB95)    15 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
• Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray:LSB 655:1-2 Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your WordLord, keep us steadfast in Your Word;Curb those who by deceit or swordWould wrest the kingdom from Your SonAnd bring to naught all He has done.Lord Jesus Christ, Your pow’r make known,For You are Lord of lords alone;Defend Your holy Church that weMay sing Your praise eternally.
Introduction
• In the book of Jude, the Holy Spirit exhorts us “to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” in the Holy Scriptures (Jude 3).  • On Reformation Day, we thank the Lord for using Martin Luther as one contender to restore that faith to the world.  • But Luther is just one in a long line of saints who have contended for the truth of God’s Word: ○ Old Testament prophets,  ○ John the Baptist,  ○ saints of the early church,  ○ other reformers,  ○ and countless faithful men and women today.  • All of them have paid a price to contend for the faith—some, the ultimate price of dying a martyr’s death.
• As Christians, we are not contentious people.  • We love peace and unity.  • We confess our sins. • We forgive one another their sins and do good to others, even to those who sin against us.  • We do not seek persecution or martyrdom nor do we seek to persecute or cause one to be martyred, whether they be enemies of Christ or members of the church.
• As Christians, we must be prepared to suffer for God’s truth in our faith and in our lives.  • We know that the devil and the world hate Christ and His Church. Therefore they hate us as well. • We know that because Christ’s enemies cannot get at Christ in heaven, they will get to Him in His Word and in His church here on earth.  • We know that the devil will attack Christ’s Word and Church, not only through the chief articles of the Christian confession but also just as readily through various teachings that seem less central at first glance.
• For example: • John the Baptist was thrown into prison and executed because he preached on marriage to his adulterous ruler. Try that today! You will be canceled for sure!  • Luther was excommunicated by the Roman Catholic Church for undermining the pope’s authority to teach false doctrines like purgatory and the selling of indulgences. How dare he! • Christians today are being pressed hard on a variety of issues regarding: ○  government authority,  ○ marriage and sexuality,  ○ the beginning and end of life,  • We have not even started to talk about the deeper issues of the inerrancy of the Bible, or that God created the heavens and the earth in six days, and so on.
• Jesus is speaking directly to us today.  • His purpose is not to frighten or intimidate us.  • To the contrary, Jesus Warns Us That His Church Will Suffer Violence but Comforts and Strengthens Us to Be Faithful to the End, to contend fearlessly “for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”
• I.    Be faithful to the end!Suffering violence is the ongoing status of God’s Word, preachers, and hearers (v 12).
• As Jesus was scorned (vv 16–17, 19a) and crucified, Chris­tians will be persecuted as well.
• The precedent was clear with what happened to God’s prophets in the Old Testament:  • mocked (2 Chr 36:15–16),  • imprisoned (Jer 37:11–16; 38:1–6),  • killed (2 Chr 24:17–22)  • Isaiah, by tradition, was sawed in two; Mt 23:29–35).
• John the Baptist was first rejected by the religious leadership (v 18), and then later beheaded by Herod.
• Luther, as an outlaw, always lived under the threat of death, and faithful followers of the Reformation did die for their faith.
• In the LUTHERAN HYMNAL, hymn number 259 Flung to the heedless winds, (Luther’s hymn honoring martyrs Jan and Hendrik of Brussels) speaks of this when it says:1 Flung to the heedless windsOr on the waters cast,The martyrs’ ashes, watched,Shall gathered be at last.And from that scattered dust,Around us and abroad,Shall spring a plenteous seedOf witnesses for God.2 The Father hath receivedTheir latest living breath,And vain is Satan’s boastOf vict’ry in their death.Still, still, though dead, they speak,And, trumpet-tongued, proclaimTo many a wak’ning landThe one availing name.
• Today, Christians are being martyred in Muslim countries, and here we suffer under the cancel culture, the woke agenda, and open rejection of moral truths.  • In Iran, as a Christian, if you own a Bible or witness to others about Christ, you are considered a “threat to national security.” • In Cuba (90 miles off the Florida coast), the government will detain Christians for up to 48 hours in order to question them about their beliefs, forcing them to deny their faith in Christ. • In Saudi Arabia (a U.S. ally), churches are not allowed to exist in the country and if one were to convert to Christianity from Islam, that would be considered apostasy and punishable by death. 
• II. Be faithful to the end!Jesus comforts us by reminding us of the faithful who have gone before us.
• Jesus reminds us that the prophets spoke faithfully despite violence they suffered: • Zechariah,  • Isaiah (Isaiah 7:3–14),  • and Jeremiah all faithfully testified before kings.
• Jesus points us to John (Matthew 11:7–11), who never wavered from decrying Herod’s sin.
• Luther, at the Diet of Worms, along with the Lutheran princes at Augs­burg,  boldly spoke before kings.
• The superscription to the Augsburg Confession declares Psalm 119:46 when it says: • I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings And shall not be ashamed.
• The writer of Hebrews declares: • Hebrews 13:7 (NASB95) • Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.
• Today’s martyrs, by their deaths, testify for all the world to see in their words and witness the love of God found in Jesus Christ.  • We are called to be visible and audible with our witness to God’s truth. ○ Wearing a cross—what does that symbol mean to you? ○ Confronted with a decision that needs to be made—what would Jesus do? ○ What on earth are you doing for heaven’s sake?
• The sacrifices of these contenders for the faith have meaning because of the one to whom we all testify, the object of our faith, the one who always goes before us:  • Jesus Christ!  • His martyrdom is the atoning death that has forgiven all of our sins.  • We are His!  • He is ours!
• III. Be faithful to the end!By Jesus’ own sacrifice and by these examples of others, Jesus works in us strength and courage to endure.
• Like John, we, too, should be willing to suffer all, even death, for God’s Word. • This may not be as remote for us as we wish to think. 
• But God’s eternal promises are sure.  • The joys of heaven: ○ Christ, the Son of God, becoming man and dwelling amongst us. ○  The repentant sinner. ○  The exaltation of the Lamb of God on His throne. ○ God’s righteousness triumphs over all that is evil. ○ The saints called home to heaven.
• Like Luther, we, too, should commit fully to the purity of our doctrine.
• We know the great truths taught by Holy Scrip­ture.  • God created the heavens and earth and sustains them still. • We are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone! Scripture alone declares this!
• How do we know we are saved? Through the Means of Grace: • The Word of God: ○ The Law shows us our sin. Romans 3:23 (NASB95) 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ○ The Gospel shows us our Savior. Romans 10:17 (NASB95)     17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. • The Sacrament of Holy Baptism ○  The water with the Word—a life giving flood. • The Sacrament of Holy Communion ○ Christ’s Real Presence in. with, and under the bread and wine. ○ This truly is a mystery!
• With Luther, we can take our stand on all these, for Christ will stand by all who confess Him!
• Because the violence Christ suffered has secured for us eternal peace and safety with God, we do indeed take up our crosses and follow Jesus.  • We do become conformed to His life, death, and resurrection, faithfully to our end, even if it means death for us.
• Illustration
• Violence.  • Do you know that Islam and Christianity have at least one point of similarity: they are both, from the beginning, filled with violence.  • That’s the word Jesus uses twice in today’s text from Matthew 11. • Violence belongs to the essence of both Islam and Christianity.  • That is, of course, where the similarity ends, especially since one religion is the worship of a demon and the other is the worship of the holy triune God.  • Islam inflicts violence on others, but the true faith, Christianity, suffers violence at the hands of its enemies, including Islam.
• Yes, both religions are filled with violence.  • But this is a point that needs to be put before religious skeptics in comparing these two very different religions.  • From the very beginning, the response of Muhammad to opposition was to go to war and conquer with the sword in the name of his religion.  • Whole villages were slaughtered.  • If people refused to submit to Allah and Muhammad his prophet, they would be executed.
• This heretical religion was conceived and brought forth in the blood of its enemies. 
• Its rapid spread throughout the Mediterranean world was all proselytizing by military conquest. 
• Islam means submission to the will of Allah, and for those who do not willingly submit to this demon, the religion calls for forced submission by law and tax and sword—in a word, violence.
• Do not overlook, though, that Christianity is also filled with violence: • that is, suffering for the sake of Christ. • It is through suffering that God works life in believers and fulfills His purposes.  • The violent death of Jesus won the forgiveness and salvation of the world. • The disciples of Jesus suffered and died violent deaths as a testimony to Jesus.  • The Reformers suffered persecution and deadly threats, and, yes, some died for confessing salvation by faith in Christ alone.  • Jesus warns all Christians to be prepared to suffer, even to die, for His sake.
• Conclusion
• Jesus summarizes the message of this text with two wise sayings:      Matthew 11:15 (NASB95)     15 “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
• He calls on us to pray:  • Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that, by patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
• Jesus also says:       Matthew 11:19 (NASB95) 19 “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”         
• To be justified is to be regarded as righteous before God.  • Jesus is our Wisdom.  • God the Father regarded His life and death to be righteous by raising Him from the dead.  • When we hear and believe God’s Word and Sacraments, we, too, are justified by this faith in Christ alone.  • This is the comfort and help we find only in the Gospel.  • Our status with God is sure and certain through faith in Jesus.  • Come what might, come what may, even violence against us as we contend for the faith for Christ’s sake, we who are justified in Christ are secure with God forever. Amen.
• Let us pray:LSB 655:3    Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your WordO Comforter of priceless worth,Send peace and unity on earth;Support us in our final strifeAnd lead us out of death to life.
• 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NASB95)   The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,    and the love of God,    and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.  
• Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. All of us are waiting and none of us will be disappointed. 
• The Lord continue to bless us, shine His face on us, be gracious to us, that He lift His countenance upon us, and give us His peace. 
• In the Name of the Father…Amen.

• Sermon for 092924
  St. Michael and All Angels
• Text: Revelation 12:7-12
• Theme: Victory in heaven, hope on earth!
• In the Name of the Father…Amen.
• The Epistle lesson serves as our sermon text for this morning.
• Grace, mercy, and peace be yours from God the heavenly Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

        Revelation 12:10–11 (NASB95)

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.

11 “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God

• Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray:

LSB 719:1-2 I Leave All Things to God’s Direction

1    I leave all things to God’s direction;

    He loves me both in joy and woe.

His will is good, sure His affection;

    His tender love is true, I know.

My fortress and my rock is He:

What pleases God, that pleases me.

2    God knows what must be done to save me;

    His love for me will never cease.

Upon His hands He did engrave me

    With purest gold of loving grace.

His will supreme must ever be:

What pleases God, that pleases me.

• Introduction
• One of the greatest lies Satan has succeeding in having people believe is that he is a mythical figure depicted in Scrip­ture and not a real being.
  • If you don’t think Satan exists, he can work under the radar much more effectively.
  • The Scrip­tures, however, reveal Satan for who he truly is!
  • This is clear from Satan’s presence in the Garden of Eden as tempter of Adam and Eve to his presence in the desert tempting Jesus.
• It is the work of Jesus in overcoming Satan and the forces of evil that comes to a climax in our reading from Revelation 12.
  • Here we hear of the work of God’s good angels, namely Michael and company, in bringing an end to the activity of Satan as the accuser who accuses sinners before our God day and night.
  • Satan is depicted as a prosecuting attorney who argues against sinners before God.
  • He accuses sinners of not being worthy of fellowship with God now and for eternity.
• The joyous message for us in this text is that this accuser of all mankind, Satan, is no longer in heaven to bring accusations against us.
  • This text unveils this truth for us:
  • The Victory in Heaven Brings Hope on Earth!
• I. We need deliverance!
• Satan’s rebellion and removal from heaven is one of those mysteries of which God tells us very little in His Word.
  • We do know for sure that Satan led a substantial rebellion of angels after creation and before the fall of Adam and Eve.
  • Verse 4 of our text indicates that up to a third of the angels listened to the temptation that Satan later used on Adam and Eve: “You will be like God.”
• Our text is one of the few places where certain details of this mystery are made clearer.
  • The book of Job and Revelation 12 both make it clear that after Satan’s fall he still had access to the presence of God for some time.
  • His primary activity is to bring accusations before God against sinners, as our text states:
  • Revelation 12:10 (NASB95)

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.

• The scene is not a pretty one; the powerful angel Satan keeps reminding God about the sins of mankind day and night!
  • The one who deceived Adam and Eve continued to remind God of the ongoing pattern of sin in Adam’s descendants, including us.
• The prophet Zechariah’s vision shows Satan engaged in such accusation:

Zechariah 3:1–4 (NASB95)

1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”

3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel.

4 He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes.”

• The picture here is clear:
  • Satan reveled in the power to stand before God accusing and condemning sinners.
  • The Angel of the Lord, who is the preincarnate Christ, defends Joshua the priest against the accusations of Satan.
• II. Christ’s victory brings that deliverance!
• The good news trumpeted by our text is that this accusation activity of Satan is no longer effective due to his defeat in a great a war—cast out of heaven, thrown down to earth:

Revelation 12:7–9 (NASB95)

7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war,

8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.

9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

• No longer does Satan have his day in God’s court to bring accusations against us.
  • Michael, one of God’s archangels, and his fellow good angels did battle with Satan and his angels and threw them down to earth.
• It appears, from first glance, that the source of this victory is the power of Michael and the other good angels of God, almost as if Satan and his angels were not as strong.
  • The source of this victory in heaven, however, is found in one Person.
  • Verse 11 of our text tells us how the martyred Christians overcame Satan and the rest of the evil angels:

Revelation 12:11 (NASB95)

11 “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

• This is the only these Christians overcame Satan, it is also how created angels overcame him.
• The song of praise in our text puts the credit where the credit is due:
  • “the blood of the Lamb.”
  • This is an obvious reference to Jesus Christ as the unblemished, perfect sacrifice whose blood makes payment for all sins of mankind.
  • The basis for Satan’s removal as the accuser before God is the blood of the Lamb.
  • Satan can no longer accuse sinners because Christ paid the price of all sin and has taken his place before God as the Advocate of all sinners, interceding for us.
• John writes of this wonderful work in his first epistle:

1 John 2:1–2 (NASB95)

1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

• The apostle Paul also tells us of Christ defending us before the Father:

Romans 8:34 (NASB95)

34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

• The source of this victory in heaven, then, is the blood of the Lamb.
  • All of us are familiar with individuals who are constantly at the gym pumping iron, namely, lifting weights to build up muscle in every tissue of their bodies.
  • They want to be stronger than the next person, or even the strongest in the world.
  • Was that St. Michael’s secret, that he had pumped more iron in heaven than Satan had in hell?
• The key to the battle in the war against Satan (Rev 12:7) was not one angel, Michael, confronting another angel, Satan.
  • It was the Lord Christ confronting Satan and all the forces of evil as the sacrificial Lamb whose blood was pumped out on the cross as payment for our sin.
  • Michael and his good angels are not some sort of independent militia who had pumped more iron in the gym than Satan and the evil angels.
  • They are the army of the Lamb enforcing the victory of the Lamb by casting Satan out of heaven.
• III. Through God’s good angels, Christ’s victory brings us hope here on earth.
• This victory in heaven brings us hope on earth.
  • Verse 12 of our text states this way:

        Revelation 12:12 (NASB95)

12 “For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

• When we first hear these words, they do not seem very reassuring.
  • Even with all of Satan’s wrath, we who dwell on earth have hope because Satan can no longer effectively accuse us before God.
  • When your sins:
    • are drowned in the waters of Holy Baptism,
    • or forgiven in the Absolution,
    • or pardoned through the eating of Christ’s body and the drinking of his blood in this Holy Sacrament, you stand forgiven before God in heaven.
• Christ is your advocate; Satan cannot accuse you!
  • We are reminded that the same angels who cast Satan out of heaven are the very angels who guard and watch over us each day on this earth.
  • Michael and all good angels have the victory of Christ on their side; they do not meet Satan as equals but as angels who are superior in the Lord, their Creator.
• Just in case anyone think that we do not have hope in the midst of the evil that Satan furthers on this earth, we need only fast-forward to chapter 20 of Revelation, where we read of Satan’s destiny:

Revelation 20:10 (NASB95)

10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

• When the devil reminds you of your past, be sure to remind him of his future!
• Conclusion
• This text from Revelation serves as a summary of the themes of what we hear throughout the book of Revelation, which unfortunately, is not preached on enough:
  • God
  • The slain Lamb who triumphed over sin, death, and the devil
  • The Holy Spirit
  • Redemption
  • Sin, Satan, and conflict
  • God’s judgment
  • Witness and worship
  • Resurrection and renewal
  • We thank God for this victory in heaven, won by Christ on the cross and carried out by Michael and the angelic hosts.
  • This victory fills our earthly struggles with hope as we press toward our heavenly goal.
  • Surrounded and protected by these angels, we join their voices in praising the Lamb:

Revelation 5:9–10 (NASB95)

9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

• Amen.
• Let us pray:

LSB 719:3-4 I Leave All Things to God’s Direction

3    My God desires the soul’s salvation;

    My soul He, too, desires to save.

Therefore with Christian resignation

    All earthly troubles I will brave.

His will be done eternally:

What pleases God, that pleases me.

4    My God has all things in His keeping;

    He is the ever faithful friend.

He gives me laughter after weeping,

    And all His ways in blessings end.

His love endures eternally:

What pleases God, that pleases me.

Text: Public domain

• 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NASB95)

   The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,

   and the love of God,

   and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.

• Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. All of us are waiting and none of us will be disappointed. Amen.
• The Lord continue to bless us, shine His face on us, be gracious to us, that He lift His countenance upon us, and give us His peace. Amen.
• In the Name of the Father…Amen.

Sermon for 100624
Text: Genesis 2:18-25
Theme: A beautiful design

In the Name of the Father…Amen. 
The Old Testament lesson serves as our sermon text for this morning.
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the heavenly Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen .

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray:LSB 863:1-2 Our Father, by Whose NameOur Father, by whose name     All fatherhood is known, Who dost in love proclaim     Each family Thine own, Bless Thou all parents, guarding well, With constant love as sentinel, The homes in which Thy people dwell.
O Christ, Thyself a child     Within an earthly home, With heart still undefiled,     Thou didst to manhood come; Our children bless in ev’ry place That they may all behold Thy face, And knowing Thee may grow in grace.Memory verse!Genesis 2:18 (NASB95)
18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”
IntroductionOh, to gaze at the wonders of creation!
Watching the sun rise over a calm, still Lake Huron in Michigan.
Seeing the Grand Canyon in person.
Holding your child for the first time after being born.
Something so beautiful—pictures don’t do it justice.
Something so unbelievable I can’t believe it!

As awesome as the wonders of creation are, there is a  greater wonder:
God’s design for humanity as Moses tells us in the Old Testament lesson for today from Genesis 2.
God’s design is something that offers us hope in times of despair, direction when we’re lost and confused, and assurance when faced with uncertainty. 
Today, we’ll focus on ways in which God’s Design for Living Makes Good What Was Not Good.
I. God’s design for living provides for companionship (Genesis 2:18–24).There is a widespread epidemic of loneliness and isolation in our world today. This is not good!
Despite the growing population and other ways of connecting, such as social media, people feel more alone than ever.You can be in a room full of people like at a party and feel all alone.
The effects can be devastating for people.DepressionDiscouragementAnxietyApathy
Perhaps you feel lonely or lack companionship. Even in church of all places, sometimes, people are not connecting or developing meaningful relationships of trust and care, things that are needed by all.

In God’s wisdom, He said: 
Genesis 2:18 (NASB95)18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”
He provided the animals, who were good for man yet not the suitable partner God desired for him.
Adam needed the companionship God provided in the person of Eve, who was herself a marvelous “building” of God: Genesis 2:22 (NASB95)22 The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.

And what did the man say of the woman God had given him?:Genesis 2:23 (NASB95)23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”
Each of them needed the special relationship and partnership in overseeing the creation that God gave them. This would be a mutual relationship in how they would work together, each with his or her own strengths and weaknesses. 

The special relationship between man and woman God ordained is called marriage.
It is not to be entered into lightly,and is to be for life as Jesus tells us in Mark 10:9.
This is not to say that those who do not marry for different reasons are somehow deficient. Not to marry and to live a life of celibacy can be a godly choice for some, as the examples of the apostle Paul and our Lord Jesus himself demonstrate.
But in God’s good design for humanity, it is beneficial and a blessing to enjoy loving and trusting relationships with others.
II. God’s design for living provides for future generations (Genesis 2:24).God’s desire is that there would be future generations, which are a blessing.
The writer of Psalm 128 says it this way:Psalm 128:1–6 (NASB95)1 How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways. 2 When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, You will be happy and it will be well with you. 3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine Within your house, Your children like olive plants Around your table. 4 Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD. 5 The LORD bless you from Zion, And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. 6 Indeed, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!

It is out of God’s love that He desires more generations, as He has commanded: “Be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28).
God wants families to grow. 
He wants more people to share in His fellowship.
Thus:“the two shall become one flesh” (Mark 10:8; cf Genesis 2: 24).

The procreation of humanity is God’s design and good for human beings.
The family unit is a blessing that is meant for the providing of consistency of companionship.
The family unit is a blessing to children to come so that they be raised in the Lord’s:        Ephesians 6:4 (NASB95)4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
III. God’s design for living provides freedom from shame (Genesis2:25; Hebrews 2:17).At the end of our text, it says that Adam and Eve:
Genesis 2:25 (NASB95)25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
What a blessing to be free of any reason to hide anything from someone else.
To be without shame means that neither Adam nor Eve had anything to hide:no thought, no deed, no desire that would cause injury to the other.

Something would happen though to God’s perfect design when sin entered the world. 
That would occur very soon with devastating effects (Genesis 3)!
With sin came shame, as humans realized that their thoughts are impure, and their actions are corrupt. Thoughts of lust, jealousy/envy, revenge, coveting, manipulating others.Actions such murder, adultery, stealing, etc.

The sense of shame is an insidious, debilitating experience that can crush our spirit if not dealt with. It can lead to: anxiety, depression, eating disorders, low self-esteem, anger, and feelings of emptiness.The effect of shame can be so intense that it can lead to self-destructive behavior such as addictions or even suicide.

God’s design is that we not live with deep shame.There are many self-help strategies for “coping” with shame, but most only treat the symptoms, not the root cause.
Jesus Christ is the only one who can truly remove our shame. How does He do this? He covers our shame by clothing us with His righteousness      Revelation 3:18 (NASB95)18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

He also endured the shame of the cross so that we need not suffer the devastating effects of shame.          Hebrews 12:2 (NASB95)
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

When our shame is covered by the righteousness of Christ, we can live together in community and fellowship, in close relationship with our loved ones:
both within the marriage relationship 
and in friendships and family relationships other than marriage
These, in a small way, also provide for the companionship that is a part of God’s perfect design.
ConclusionThe wonders of creation are wondrous and wonderful! 
Seeing the sunrise over a calm lake.
Seeing a natural wonder that takes your breath away.
Holding a newborn baby in your arms for the very first time.

Yet nothing compares to the goodness of God’s design for living. 
It is a design that provides:
for human companionship, for future generations to live in His fellowship, and it provides an antidote, in Jesus Christ, to the devastating, relationship-ruining effects of shame in our lives. God’s design is truly the only design for living. Amen.

Let us pray:LSB 863:3 Our Father, by whose name
O Spirit, who dost bind     Our hearts in unity, Who teachest us to find     The love from self set free, In all our hearts such love increase That ev’ry home by this release May be the dwelling place of peace.Text: © The Church Pension Fund. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110000247

2 Corinthians 13:14 (NASB95)    The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,     and the love of God,     and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.   
Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. All of us are waiting and none of us will be disappointed. Amen.
The Lord continue to bless us, shine His face on us, be gracious to us, that He lift His countenance upon us, and give us His peace. Amen.
In the Name of the Father…Amen.

Sermon for 091524
Text: Mark 9:14-29
Theme: Our able Savior

In the Name of the Father…Amen.

The Gospel lesson serves as our sermon text for this morning.

Grace, mercy, and peace be yours from God the heavenly Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Mark 9:17–18, 29 (NASB95)

17 And one of the crowd answered [Jesus], “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.”29 And [Jesus] said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray:

Lord God, You are able more than able To accomplish what concerns me today You are able more than able To handle anything that comes my way You are able more than able To do much more than I could ever dream Lord God, You are able more than able To make me what You want me to be. Amen.

Introduction

Mark 9:18 (NASB95)

18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth,  and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” The disciples were not up to the job. Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, that is a doubt that has plagued us all a number of times over throughout the trials of our lives. Why? Because there are times for all of us that it is simply true. There are things that no matter how hard we try and try again, we simply cannot do. For example: Moving the altar. Ok, let’s try something smaller: how about the baptismal font? Better yet: climbing up the steeple to repair the cross? I know, let me lead by example, right?

Like the disciples, there is much we are unable to do. No, the disciples were not up to the job. They had tried to help the poor father and his helpless son, but they could not. Your heart has to go out to this poor dad! How awful it must have been to watch his poor dear boy being thrown on the ground, foaming at the mouth like that of a dog until he went rigid as if he were dead. It’s bad enough when our children are sick, but to know that it’s a spirit throwing your kid about—how horrible that must have been! You can hear the heartbreaking anguish in the man’s voice as he appeals to Jesus. You can feel it in your heart.

Without question, the disciples would have been moved by the father’s appeal when he first came to them. Without doubt, they had tried and tried again, but nothing had happened. How hard it must have been for the disciples to face this father and crowd desperately looking to them for help and face the fact that they were not able to do anything. It’s not like they hadn’t done it before. The Gospel record is very clear that Christ’s disciples cast out demons in his name while He was with them and after He ascended into heaven. But this time they were not able. That is simply the way that God works sometimes to teach us and deepen us in the truth.

Yes, that’s the way it works sometimes. Sometimes we are not able, even if we were able before or at another time. Some may object here that the boy was obviously suffering from some form of epilepsy—that the disciples were wrongly treating him as if he were possessed by a demon—and that’s why their exorcism didn’t work. But the Lord Jesus makes it clear that even if it was epilepsy, an unclean spirit was clearly behind it. Jesus casts out the demon and frees the boy from its power.
This is one of those places in Scripture, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. where it’s made clear for us that no matter what trouble there is in this world:whether it’s a sickness of the body, mind, spirit, or souldestructive weather like tornadoes, hurricanes, and drought, or even global pandemics, you can be certain the devil and his crew are at the root of all of it. Just because we can explain it by biology, climate science,  or other means of understanding the world in which we live doesn’t mean there’s not some evil spiritual force at work. The thought may frighten some or cause them to raise their eyebrows, but it shouldn’t for us, dearly loved by God. We know there is a real spiritual world and that Jesus is the Lord over it all, both good and bad.

For God sometimes leaves us unable in order to turn us from ourselves to faith in Christ.
The problem was not a misdiagnosis on the disciples’ part. Their problem was the same as the poor father’s when he stood before Jesus and said,:Mark 9:22 (NASB95)22 “It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”It was a problem of faith. As shocking as it may be to hear someone saying “If you can” to Jesus, it is understandable, given that His followers had just failed to help the man and his boy. It wasn’t the first time and wouldn’t be the last that the failures of Jesus’ followers would reflect on the Lord. Yes, there’s plenty of that going on, even in our day and age, isn’t there? And while you and I may never actually say “If you can” to the Lord out loud, we certainly live it out when we allow the troubles and trials that we face in this world to weigh us down and rob us of our peace and joy, as if we didn’t have a Lord and Savior in Jesus who can do all things.

Yes, the Lord’s good purpose in allowing us to face times when we are not able is to strengthen and deepen our faith in Him who is able—in Jesus. The Lord reveals this to the disciples when he answers their question about why they couldn’t cast the spirit out, and he says:Mark 9:29 (NASB95)29 And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”To be very clear here, Jesus is not telling the disciples that they needed to add something else to all their own efforts to make the exorcism work. Instead, He is in fact telling them to let their efforts go and cast themselves completely on the Lord and His strength. What the Lord showed them in all of this was that they were in fact not able, but that He was able to do all things through them.

But Christ most certainly can deal with everything in this sin-troubled world.This is about faith, as Jesus himself says to the boy’s father: 

Mark 9:23 (NASB95)

23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Faith or believing, however, we have to understand, does not find its power in of itself. No, the power is always in faith’s object and faith’s object alone, in Jesus. The trust of my heart does not accomplish anything; it’s Jesus, in whom my heart trusts, who does it all. The Lord is not telling His disciples that if they commit their minds and hearts to something and then pray a whole lot about it, it will happen. No, what He is telling them to let it all go and leave it in His hands, in the truth that He is able, even when they are not.

The trouble with weak or little faith isn’t that I don’t trust Jesus, that I’m not able, or that I’m not up to the job, but the very fact that I don’t trust Jesus, that I think that He’s not able, that I think He’s not up to the job. With a weak faith, I trust in the wrong person (myself or somebody other than Christ) and in the wrong thing (my own strength). I believe! Help my unbelief!As the Lord in mercy helps the father and delivers his poor boy before our eyes in the Gospel today, He is at work to deepen and strengthen us in the truth that He is more than able to deal with anything and everything that we face in this sin-troubled world. He is at work to strengthen and grow the weak faith that lives in each of our poor sinful hearts by drawing our eyes away from ourselves and what we are not able to do to Him who can do and has done all things well.Summary statement: Christ Most Certainly Can Do What We Are Entirely Unable to Do.

Conclusion
We reflect on what Jesus says in verse 29 of our text this morning, which declares: Mark 9:29 And [Jesus] said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” What is the Lord saying here? The Lord’s direction for us is that this kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer should not be taken as turning us to something within ourselves to solve the problem but rather as a direction to turn the problem over to Him. The call to prayer is a call not to a human work but rather to an empty-handed looking to the Lord to do what He alone can do. We do not accomplish anything through our prayers, but God does great things through them.Prayer is not so much an act on our part as much as it is a total letting go on our part. The Lord’s direction for us to pray is a call to turn to the Lord beforehand so that we may approach things not in our own strength but only vested in His power.

Christ furthers the work of His Word at the altar this morning as He comes to us in His body and blood, directing our eyes and hearts to the cross, where He won an eternal victory over sin, death, and hell for us with His bitter sufferings and death. Look on Him sweating in agony there, trying and trying for you until it was all finished. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, there is nothing undone lying at the foot of the cross.What we were not able to do He has accomplished. It is finished. Christ has done it all for you. He is more than able to take care of all things for you. Look upon the wounds in His hands and feet and His side today as He comes to you in His body and blood, and leave all your fears, worries, and cares in His most able and capable hands. Amen.

Let us pray:I hear the Savior say, “Thy strength indeed is small; Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in Me thine all in all.”Refrain: Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I Whereby Thy grace to claim; I’ll wash my garments white In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb. Refrain: Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:14 (NASB95)   

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,    and the love of God,    and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen. 
Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. 
All of us are waiting and none of us will be disappointed. Amen.
The Lord continue to bless us, shine His face on us, be gracious to us, that He lift His countenance upon us, and give us His peace. Amen.
In the Name of the Father…Amen.