Sunday June 26, 2016 Sermon

Transcription

1 Sunday June 26, 2016 Sermon 1 Kings 19:15-16, and Psalm 16 Galatians 5:1, Luke 9:51-62 Slavery is not the issue. We are slaves. Born to slavery to our bodies, for each day we do what we must to survive. You eat, sleep, do what you do throughout the day not by choice, but by compulsion. But then there are the overlays on top of this. Our culture makes many demands of us, some of which we are even unaware of. How many influences in your life come from outside of you and drive you to think, speak and act in a particular way? Yes, we are slaves to ourselves, the culture and the forces that press in against us. But we react to this and add a lie on top of things saying we are a slave to no one. We are. If we say we are not, we only deceive ourselves. So let us come into the light and seek to understand a very simple thing that Scripture teaches us. We are born slaves to sin and as such are tugged and pulled by its influence. Some will fight to do what is right even while doing wrong and others will simply go the way of the wicked and live self-indulged lives. Christ has come to set you free. This freedom is not to do as you wish, for then you would fall right back into the struggle of sin. Think of sin as the chains which hold you down and that spirit within you that cries to be set free tugs against the chains. In Christ, the chains are gone and you have been set free. In this freedom we see things differently from the world. The disciples wanted to rebuke those who rejected Christ. Many who have followed Jesus, in their sinful fervency want to rebuke. I understand this. So do you. How many times our reaction in seeing something wrong is to rebuke with, That s not right. It may well be wrong, but that does not mean that you or I get all high and mighty and judge the situation. Especially if it is not ours to discern. We have a hard enough time with ourselves and if the truth is told, you and I have been in those situations where others are judging us (and it may well be a right judgement). But the calling we have received from Christ is to a new place, a different place, a place in which righteousness governs the heart. We become slaves to a new order of things. For freedom, Christ has set us free and we are not to go back to elemental things, seeing the world as good and bad, saved and damned, but through the eyes of Christ who is offering to all the freedom of which we have tasted. There is nothing new I can add to this, for if you have been willing to listen, you have heard. Yet, I know there are those that hearing, do not hear. This freedom in Christ is something the world cannot understand and so we often see a worldly way of encapsulating the Christian life. I remind you that Paul is speaking exactly to this issue as he writes to the Galatians. Jesus is speaking to this when He rebukes His disciples. It is the mistake that many have made along the way of following Jesus and the funny thing about this is that even these things have already been forgiven by Christ from the cross. You see, in the slavery of sin, we look at things in black and white, right and wrong, legally and miss the point of simply following Jesus moment by moment, day by day. It s about whom you are following, not what you are doing. But know this, if Christ is truly leading, you will do things along the way that bear fruit. The moment one becomes smug in their salvation, it is in that moment that they are reverting to the slavery of sin. As author and finisher of our faith, Christ must be the one who writes the story. As the author, it is He who must call out the steps we take. If we do it on our own (and let s be truthful with ourselves and confess that of course we often do), all that will happen is a religious-looking self determination. We were not called to look good, but have been called into the goodness of God.

2 As to the works of the flesh, it is really easy to segregate these into the things we say are bad. We look out at the world and say, That is bad behavior. But these same behaviors happen in our hearts, while looking good on the outside. After all, we know that Scripture reprimands the busybody and gossip, but the heart of this is jealousy, anger, dissension, factions and enmity. Ah, the impurity that we easily dismiss that dwells in the heart. It s in all of us. Here is the point. You and I know we have these things in us. Or at least, those who truly confess they are in bondage to sin, do. So let us not pretend as some do that we have been freed from the struggle of the flesh in this world. Paul said as much to the Romans in chapter seven. We are in a struggle. This is why he told the Galatians to stand firm. This is why he told the Ephesians to put on the full armor. We are in a battle zone and although we have been set free, the tug is always present to submit to the yoke of sin. Luther described it as a drunk man who gets up on a horse only to fall off on the other side. If we live by the spirit, then we are to be guided by the spirit. You have been offered the direction of the Holy Spirit the whole of your life. Walk in the Spirit and walk in the way of the Savior, for the Holy Sprit and Jesus are One. Daily, you will be tugged by the desires of the flesh. Daily the temptation will be to take the road that to you seems easier. But daily, we are to reject sin, death and the devil, that is to stand firm in the Gospel truth that Christ must be the One who leads us moment by moment throughout the day. And what will be produced? God is love. When He pours Himself into you, what will be produced is God s love. Remember, He loves the whole world so that when you encounter another, He will see them through the eyes of love. No longer the saved and damned, but all whom He loved so much that He came down, became one of us and died to set us free. This will break that bond that has grabbed hold of so many who proclaim themselves Christ followers, but live in segregation and with hatred in their hearts. Mind you, I do not hang out with wanton sinners, but neither do I look down on them. Their sin struggle may be visibly external, but I know I have my own internal struggles. The difference is in what is seen, but the heart reveals that what we hold is in common, for one gives into the desires of the flesh while the other, resisting, gives in to the desires of the heart which only the Lord can see. That is why I told you the story of my mentor who occasionally went to sit in bars sipping coffee and hanging out with what Scripture calls sinners. My daily struggle is to simply see others whom God loves. It does not matter where they are or what they are doing. The second thing the Holy Spirit brings into your life is joy. I can only describe it as I understand it. For me joy is seeing God s hand in things. Sometimes it s happy, sometimes it s sad. There is joy in both birth and death. God s hand is present. This is always true. The joy of the Lord is my strength, for in joy, I see that this is the Father s world and that His will shall be accomplished. Not only that, but that everything will work for good. I have joy moment by moment knowing that all is under the Lord s direction and it s going to be the way He has always intended it to be. I do not need to understand everything, but when I understand that it is all in the Father s hands, I am filled with joy. I refrain from telling the personal story any more because most do not receive the witness. This I tell you, that once the Lord gave me a taste of the peace which surpasses all understanding. The joy of that moment was being freed from the great anxieties of this world and knowing to the core of my being that everything was and is in the Father s hands. That peace is not just a help, but the true freedom that Christ gives us. It is knowing that you are in Him and He is in you. What is there to worry about when you have His peace and know, as Paul said in the latter part of

3 chapter seven to the Romans, that nothing in all of creation will ever be able to separate you from the love He has given you through Christ our Savior. As to the other fruits of the Sprit, they are slowly produced as one walks daily with Jesus. Patience, kindness, gentleness, generosity, faithfulness are expressions of God s love lived out in the one who is walking in the salvation of the Lord. If you look to conquer these things and make them your own, they become a mockery, for they are then your own work and not His in you. Many make a law of these things, saying they must be present, but then those who do this are making the journey of salvation their own work. Although it may not seem different on the outside, inside, it makes the difference of eternity. We are saved by grace apart from works of the law. If we live by the Spirit, then we are to be guided by the Spirit, which brings us back to my original statement. We are slaves. Either you will be a slave to sin, yourself, the culture, the world, your ideas or any of the myriad ways of this world, or else you will come just as you are and be led by the Holy Spirit in the way of Jesus. There are those who resist this and work hard at being Christian. Jesus said that if we take His yoke upon our selves, the work would be easy and the burden light. If its too hard, then perhaps it is you who is doing the work. Jesus alone must save us and if we walk with Him, then simply do what He asks. There is plenty of work preparing for the harvest. And Jesus said the workers were few. This world tells you that you must do this that or the other thing. Walk this way, talk this way, live as the world expects. Jesus says simply, Come, follow me. He even tells us what He is doing because He has said that those who listen to His voice and do what the Father asks are His friends. Leave behind the ways of the world and come, follow Jesus. He will make you fishers of men. He will make you like Himself. He will pour Himself into you so that you become like Him. He will make of you what He created you to be. You can only be fully yourself when you are in Christ. This world is not your home. No matter what you think or do to the contrary, it never will be. Indeed, take joy that is offered through each and every day, but know that you have been called with a holy calling to walk with Jesus wherever He leads in the upward calling of your salvation prepared for you before the foundation of the world. Live in the truth that Christ has set you free that you may draw through Him closer to the Father, that the Father may draw closer to you. Die to yourself that you may be freed to become the true you that you long to be. Let it not be your head, or your intent, but the truth of your life that following Christ is the life for each of us. I do not know what your life will be like, but I know if you truly walk with Jesus you will bear fruit befitting His Kingdom. I do not know specifically what your troubles will be, but I know you will have them. I do not know what temptations will fall in front of you, but I know that in Christ you have all you need to blast through all the obstacles that will come your way. In Christ we are more than conquerors. We journey with Him, as He leads, where He leads, being prepared for all that is to come eternally. Come with me and as He said to Nathaniel, He says to us, You shall see. Amen.

4 Part II So many times, people are telling you how to live, what to do, how to do it. Wrapped in our own worlds, we go to the place where we want to live by directing other lives, but this can never be the answer for one simple reason. We do not know how to direct our own lives. If someone could get it right, well, then, perhaps such a person we might listen to. But even with this opportunity before us, we would rather just try to delegate the lives of others. Look at the helicopter parents and what do you see? One, directing another. Look at young marriages and what do you see? One, directing another. Why this week, a chosen delegate is suing to be freed from his duty because he does not want to do what he was chosen to do. What do you see? One, directing another. Yes, this is the way of the world. This sinful world preaches tolerance because it is the last step from being able to think that we can outright direct another s will. But the perfect man has come and is there and what does He say? He does not direct your life, but offers to lead you through all the nonsense of this world. Accept me, He says, and I will teach you to accept others. Not tolerate, but accept. Not freedom from, but freedom to be. No longer seeking to conform to this world s ever changing demands, but being conformed to whom you were created to be. This is hard work, for the director in you is strong and the follower in you is weak. But God perfects perfect strength through perfect weakness. Think about your own words this week? How many of them have been directing others to do this or that? Ah now, I am not free from this disease. I too think I know what is best and right and the way things should go. I am not exempt. It s even more difficult when you are given a place of responsibility. Yes, like you I know how to pretend and think I know what I do not, but also, there are things I do know. When dismissed, which has happened plenty, it is hard to not push back. You know, I have the privilege of being fired from two synod councils. The first came after I made an attempt at publically making clear that God s Word is the authority and norm of faith and life. I was publically called a bibliolator. What does that mean? It means one who worships the bible. Nah, the Bible is a book. But in this book are the words of everlasting life, for they point to the Word who is God in the flesh. Yes, I ve met Jesus. That too is something that others say, No, you haven t. That s not possible. Have you noticed how people can dismiss what you have experienced and tell you that you did not experience it? How about when someone says, You can t believe that! Control is the issue. Out of control, we seek to control others. But Christ has come to break all the bounds of this world s idea of control to set us free. If Christ makes you free, then you shall be free indeed. Whether you believe me or not, I know the One in whom I believe. The second time I was fired from a synod council was just before our congregation left for the NALC. I was a collegial friend with the bishop. Although he was not liked by many in our synod, he and I had a good working relationship and a collegial respect for one another. You know, sadly, when he resigned as bishop a year later, there were only two who had a conversation with him and I, no longer a part of that church was one of them. You see our, behavior really does matter. Anyway, as he talked with me, he said that it would probably be best if I stepped down from the synod council if we were leaving. He was right and I did. What s the point? Do what is right in season and out of season. I look in the mirror and what do I see? I see a man who needs to be saved. Then I pray and what do I see? A Savior

5 who has come to save. This is true for every person who has ever lived. I confess that when I see a lady in an hijab, you know, the muslim covering, I have all kinds of internal reactions. But then, if I prayerfully think this through, especially as a father of daughters, I confess I cannot disagree with the desire for modesty. Perhaps, I say to myself not so far, but the principle I find I cannot disagree with. My point is simply this, in this world of increasing polarity, Christ does not call us to be on the right side, but to walk with Him. We know that He loves all equally and has gone to the cross for all. Another thing before I continue. I find this culture of tolerance abhorrent. How condescending. I, in my superiority, tolerate you. Is that what we want from one another? If we can t control one another, well then, we ll just have to tolerate each other. No, no! Think of it this way. Do you tolerate Jesus? Many do just that. We see the increasing hostility at even the mention of Jesus. No! The question is, Do you accept Jesus? Do you see the difference between tolerate and accept? Accept all, for they are created in the image of God. Each person will do what they do. That even is my plea to you. Accept me as I am and for who I am. That s tough because people think all kinds of things about pastors. Pastors look at people and see they are all unique in their own way. Guess what? So are pastors. They are just people called to stand out front and say, This way. Make no mistake, I am not preaching about tolerance, but about accepting the way of Jesus. He has given you your life. It is yours. You can do as you please. This is true, for you will do as you please each and every moment. Some of you will think, Don t say that to the younger ones. Remember, we all have control issues. Others will deny it. But only when you realize that your life is your own and each and every moment you have choices to make that you begin to see the truth. And the truth is simply this, you and I do not know what to do or how to do it. That is why we hear the very simple truth, Lord, You have the Words of eternal life, to whom shall we go? There is it. The pastor is telling you, it is here, in Christ that we find our being and in no other place. It is not a program, an idea, a place, but a relationship with the Living Creating Sustaining God who has come to personally lead each one of us in the way we should go. Nobody is greater or lesser, but in Christ fully free to be whom He is making them to be. What do I expect in this world? Heartache and trouble. I m serious. Is the church exempt? Certainly not. I m under no illusion that the church is any better. Yes, there are those who love the Lord and follow Him, but there are also those who do not serve the Lord, but serve the world, the devil or themselves and yes, they too have been and will be in the church. I ve never been able to figure out how some can believe the church is supposed to be perfect. There are things in this life that are quite befuddling and this is one of them. Anyway, we accept people as Christ accepts them, but that s not the end of it. That too is quite befuddling. You know, this I m saved and that s it and then going through life with nothing ever changing. I tell you that this sinner dies every day in order to see a moment, a minute, a time when Christ in me can get out and be whom God has created me to be. In one sense, I am who I have always been, in another, I am closer to being like Christ with each step I take with Him. I look out to the world of which I am a part and what do I see? Reread that list Paul gave to the folk in Galatia. The world really has not changed. I even call that list entertainment as I watch, read and listen. Music, movies and books are filled with the list of sinfulness that is expressed constantly in the world. It s all around us. But look at the list the Holy Spirit gives. The fruits of the Spirit are just that, fruits. They are things produced when one is walking with Jesus. They are not created out of thin air, but develop over time as one practices their Christian

6 faith. Look again at this list and realize the challenge is the promise. If, and by this I mean only if, you walk with Jesus moment by moment, day by day, these things will be produced in you. Stop the nonsense in this world of looking at another to see whether or not they have it, or how much of it they have. Accept your neighbor as they are and look to Jesus who will work on you today to develop some part of who you have been created to be. You see, words are just that, words. Yes, they can sting, encourage, tear down, lift up, but they are just so much breath which passes the lips. Only the Word of God creates and what He has promised you is that He will create someone who is like Christ. What does that mean? You won t fully understand, for you and I only see in part. Never forget that. You and I do not know what the Lord is doing in the other. Yes, we are to encourage one another and we are to even confront one another when we see blatant sinning, but never go to the place where you determine who is in the Lord and who is not. Only the Lord knows and He has told us as much by commanding us to not try and do His business. There are two things we can do. Follow Jesus and share in word and deed that we are following Jesus. If we commit to that, our hearts will be changed and the fruits of the Holy Spirit will grow in us. Although you and I may not be what we will become, we can see progress in the journey of life. Do not turn back. Do not say, The church must do this or that or I am out of here, as many have done. Just keep your eye on Jesus and do what He gives you to do. A quick note on the forgotten commandment. Remember the Sabbath day. Know, Jesus said, that this was given for you. Rest in the Lord. If you need a spiritual time out, then take one. But a time out is not retirement. You will be retired when you leave this life. Until then, the Christian life must be lived. Live the life Christ has given you and know that He alone must be the One who guides you, for He created you and He knows the path you must take. Abide in Him, He said and He will produce fruit that lasts. Know also that the Father will prune you. Although the Lord may bring you to the brink and I know this well He will never take you over the edge and each time, whether you see it or not, He will grow a piece of Him in you. The Father is to be glorified and for this reason we have been created. We are sinful and live as the world lives which why the Son has come to invite us to follow Him out of the ways of this world. The Holy Spirit has been given that as many as would listen to the Spirit will see their lives changed along the journey of following Jesus. Walk the path, follow Jesus and know that this is what He has asked. Do not look to your right or left, but ahead to the only One who can and will lead you all the days of your life. Listen to Him by reading the words He has given and simply seek to be His disciple. And... accept each other as they are, where they are, knowing the Lord is at work whether you see it or not. Not one will be lost, so stop telling the Lord what He needs to do. He knows what we need even before we ask. Relax, step forward and begin again. Today is a day the Lord has made and He has asked you to rejoice and be glad in it. Look to Him, follow the instructions He gives and remind yourself that because you are in Him, all is well with your soul. You are then ready to begin the journey. And were will that take us? Stay tuned.... Amen.