East Ridge Pres

Matthew 26:37  And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. There are glimpses of Jesus’ heart, his human emotional life in the gospels. Here we see the human heart of Jesus. We see the reality of his true human nature, that he was one of us. We see the depths of his grief. v 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” Jesus speaks from his heart. Jesus sorrows as a human being. His sorrow overwhelms him even to death. He even longs for human company in his emotional torment. v 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” His heart, his emotions, longed to be free of this suffering. But despite the pain in his heart, he submits his will to God. He accepts obedience though his emotions cause him to drop sweat like heavy drops of blood. John 19:26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. We see his human heart. His human love and emotion for his mother. His sorrow at abandoning her in this world and his concern about what will happen to her. Jesus grieves for his mama. Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Once again we see his heart. His emotional life breaks out in his voice. He speaks a desperate psalm. Suffering the consequences of our sin, he feels separation from God. In his pain he feels abandoned by God. All the suffering of his people for their sins is breaking his heart. All of this sorrow was given to him because of our sin. Ask God to show you your sin today. Ask God to show you Jesus’ sorrow. And know your sin is the cause of His sorrow. When you feel this in your heart, you will from the heart adore your Lord.

Luke 23:32  Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,[d] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” The thief is so close to death, so desperate that he speaks straight to the point. His need is now. His need is urgent. The thief knew he was a sinner. He had stolen from other people. He had broken God’s law. He deserved death. This is the moment when all of us finally reach Jesus in prayer. When we finally see that we deserve punishment, that we are dying and have no future. Apart from Jesus. In one of Flannery O’Connor’s story a character says about an old woman: “She would have been a good woman IF there had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.” In other words, if she had always known she was about to die, she would have lived a better life. This is all of us. When we know we are going to die, then we repent. Then we consider finally how we should have lived. Then we see all our sin. We all face we have wasted much of our lives, and we are running out of time. Then all we can do is repent. Say to Jesus, “remember me!” I offer you nothing, but simply ask that you in mercy remember me. Jesus does not reject any who turn to him. Even at the last hour, when there is little left to give him. The thief does not say, remember my good deeds. He says, “remember me.” In mercy, remember me. We were made for paradise. We have been crying for it all of our lives. Even when we didn’t know we were crying for it. In our pain and loss and emptiness and failure, we weep for paradise. There Christ will live with us and we will live with him and for him. In love. The cherubim and the flaming sword have barred our way to paradise for all of history. Now Jesus has opened the path. Do think you will like the company in paradise? There will be many thieves there, and many other disreputable ones. Because they lived in the dirt but repented at the end. If you think you are more qualified than them, then you have understood nothing. You don’t belong there either. You have only one hope: “Jesus, when you come into your kingdom… remember ME.”

John 13:3  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Washing feet is an ancient practice in warm climates where people walk around barefoot or in sandals on the dusty roads. When someone entered your home to rest or eat, it was a courtesy and kindness to provide for the washing of their feet. Abraham provides water for the three strangers who enter his tent. Lot does the same in Sodom. Jesus loves them as guests in his home. Members of his church, his kingdom. Welcomed by their Lord. The actual duty of washing was often given to the lowest of the servants in a household. Jesus loves his disciples as the lowest servant of their company. He puts himself at the bottom. Jesus’s rank was above them and he deserved their worship and obedience, but he loved them and served them. Jesus’s love was much greater than washing feet. Jesus washed all of his people in his own blood by giving himself to die. Jesus is our model. We are to be like Christ in his humility, his service, and his love. What person do you not love, because to love that person is too humbling? That one is too low. What act of love do you refuse, because that act is too humbling? too degrading? too humiliating? That act is too low for me. What love do you find beneath your dignity? Follow Jesus’s WAY in the pain and humiliations of real love. Remember your Lord and Savior stripped and washed his disciple’s feet. It was so shocking and disturbing that Peter refused to have his feet washed by Jesus. BUT we must be served by Jesus first, before we can serve others. Go to Jesus and receive his service, his forgiveness and grace and love, and then… die to yourself and serve.

Isaiah 50:5-6 The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. Jesus listened to the word of the Father and obeyed him and did not turn backward. He obeyed even when he was struck and abused. Even when he was mocked and disgraced. Because it was God’s will. Because in God’s love for us, he commanded Jesus to suffer for us. And Jesus heard and obeyed. By his obedience, not your own, you are saved. vv 7-8 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Jesus faced adversaries and set his face like flint, because he knew that the Lord God helped him. He knew he would not be disgraced, he would not be put to shame. He knew the one who vindicated was NEAR. The Father would raised him from the tomb. Let us live like our Lord. Let us follow in his footsteps. Let us set our faces like flint and live among enemies and staying on the path. v 10 Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. Let us walk by faith in the darkness. Trusting God. Let us obey the voice of God’s servant, Jesus Christ. v 4 The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Jesus knows how to sustain with a word the one who is weary. Are you weary? Jesus, by his cross, sustains the weary. Does Jesus speak to you? Listen to him in Moses, in the prophets, in the psalms, in the gospels, in the epistles. Listen to him speak.

John 13: 36-38 Simon Peter said to [Jesus], “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times. Simon Peter overestimated his devotion to Jesus. He overestimated his obedience. His faith. His self-denial. His commitment. We do the same. We say we have faith. We say we love the Bible. We say we are disciples. Following Jesus. Then we leave Him in a moment. In a crisis, we act like we have no faith at all. In a moment of fear, we leave Jesus. Will we lay down our lives for Jesus? Or will we refuse to follow that far? Will we leave Jesus, our Lord, again today? Turn our back on him again. And for what? A trifle. The smallest thing. A fear. A pain. A comfort. A pleasure. Let us truthfully examine ourselves. Let us rightly assess our devotion and faith. We are not courageous disciples. We are checked by an unkind word or the loss of a few dollars. Luke 22:31-32 [Jesus’s words] “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” There is great comfort in these words. Jesus: we leave you every day. Satan has defeated us a thousand times. Jesus: pray for us. pray for me. I return to you today. Pray that my faith may not fail. By your grace give me devotion and courage. Help me to follow you in this world. I will strengthen my brothers and sisters who struggle like me.

Isaiah 42:1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. The first few verses of Isaiah 42 is a servant song. Isaiah prophecies the coming of Jesus, the Servant of God. “Behold My Servant” is God speaking. Jesus pleases God. God delights in him. He fulfills God’s plan. He establishes God’s universal kingdom of justice and righteousness. v 2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. Jesus did not seize power by violence, by screaming for attention, by assaulting the crowds with fiery speeches and political propaganda. He came in gentleness, caring for the sick and speaking God’s truth plainly. v 3 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. Are you a bruised reed? Are you damaged, hurting, weak? Jesus came for you. And he will not break you, but nurse you in your pain and grief. Mend you. Heal you. Are you a candle smoking about to go out, guttering, flickering out, discouraged, sad, losing hope, losing faith? Is this you? Look to Jesus. He has medicine for those losing hope and faith, the discouraged, the depressed. He will not extinguish your flame, but give you new fire and bring you back to a glow again. He gives faith and encouragement. He loves bruised reeds and smoking candles. v 7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house. Do you sit in the darkness of the prison house of your own heart and your own sin? Do you sit in the darkness of the prison house of this evil world of death and violence, injustice and terror? Do you sit in the darkness of the prison house of your own pain and sorrow? Only Jesus can bring out prisoners from the prison of this evil age, this world of sorrow. He has ransomed us, he made the payment of his body and blood. On the day that he returns to us, he will lead us out into the light.

1 Kings 1:1 Now King David was old and advanced in years… 24 And Nathan said, “My lord the king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne’? 25 For he has gone down this day and has sacrificed oxen, fattened cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king's sons, the commanders of the army, and Abiathar the priest. And behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’ Adonijah had made himself king and challenged the true king. We have made ourselves king and obeyed our own laws and followed our own authority. We have lived as open rebels against the Christ. We have celebrated openly our own authority and own glory. And we have rejected our King, our Christ. 33 And the king said to them, “Take with you the servants of your lord and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon. 34 And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet there anoint him king over Israel. Then blow the trumpet and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 You shall then come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne, for he shall be king in my place. And I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.” Christ has been anointed king by God the Father, given all authority in heaven and earth. Like Solomon he rode a donkey into Jerusalem, and was declared by all the people to be the Son of David and Messiah. The king of Israel. 49 Then all the guests of Adonijah trembled and rose, and each went his own way. 50 And Adonijah feared Solomon. So he arose and went and took hold of the horns of the altar. 51 Then it was told Solomon, “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, for behold, he has laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.’” 52 And Solomon said, “If he will show himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.” 53 So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and paid homage to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your house.” If you believe the gospel that Jesus is Lord and Christ. Then tremble at your rebellion and your sin, and flee to the altar today. Jesus has not come to destroy you, but to offer himself up on that altar, to spill the blood that covers your offense. Cling to the horns of the altar. Only the one who sees his rebellion, and knows the coming wrath of the rightful King, will beg for mercy. Where are you rebelling against Jesus today? Solomon was merciful, and Jesus will be merciful to you. Quit your rebellion and pay homage to Jesus.

Mark 1:35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. The number one thing you can do for your family, friends, church, neighbors, coworkers is go in a room alone and shut the door and pray and worship God. Go to your desolate place alone. Every day Leave everyone to love everyone. Not just because you pray for them, but also because prayer will change you. And that will be a blessing to them. Learn how to pray. Make prayer a daily habit. Draw close to God in love. The more you love God the more good it will be for everyone in your life. Try scripture prayers. Speak with your voice, stand with hands raised, kneel down, or even lie face down. And pray the word of God. The Lord’s Prayer, Paul’s prayers, Psalms, doxologies from the Epistles, songs from Revelation, the Prophets, Mary’s prayer, etc. You can add your own words when you feel the need. But pray God’s word, join with the whole church praying these Holy Spirit inspired words. Make this your daily habit. Choose you prayers and stick to them. After that read the word of God and ask God to speak to you. Think about it. Read it again. Ask God to speak again. Think again. Repeat. Soak in a brief passage of scripture. Until you HEAR. Until he opens your ears and heart to hear. And gives you FAITH. Talk to God about it. Repent of sin. Ask for grace to obey commands, believe doctrines, ask for faith and love and hope and joy and gentleness, etc. Place your attention on God. Love Him. Worship Him. Adore Him. The filling of the Spirit is an unmerited gift. Given by God. You can’t force the filling anymore than you can make it rain or make the wind blow. But you can stand where the Spirit is pouring down. You can go out and stand in the strong weather of the Spirit. Where is that place? Prayer, meditation on God’s word, fasting. public worship, the preaching of ministers, the sacraments. Make these things your daily habit.

Luke 15:8-10  “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” There is joy in heaven over every sinner who repents. Each individual one. Each person is rejoiced over by God. What an amazing statement. Repent means turn from your sin to God for forgiveness and a NEW life of following Jesus. God rejoices. The angels rejoice. The saints who have gone us before us rejoice. Heaven rejoices. The joy of God. The celebration of God. Over human beings! More than that, over sinful and rebellious and proud human beings, when they humble themselves, reject their past and their own dark hearts. Let me invite you to enter into the joy of God. Look at the world with God’s eyes. Enter into his joy over your own repentance. Do you know the joy of God over you? Do you believe God celebrates you? Believe the doctrine and ask the Spirit to teach it to your heart, fill your heart up with that joy. If you have not repented yet, please understand that you are welcome. No matter who you are and what you have done. Jesus invites each person to his table to be a part of his family, to be his brother or sister. He invites YOU to join the rejoicing of God. Repent and know that JOY. Remember why Jesus told this parable: The Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:2) To Jesus every human being is precious. Precious and valuable like that lost coin. Every human being is invited to Jesus’ table. These people, no matter what their past sins and continuing transgressions, they are all welcome. Invited to repent. Will you join with the invitation of God and invite unrepentant sinners to God’s joy? Instead of treating others with hatred and anger, will you gently and humbly invite them in? Will you join with the joy of God and rejoice over the household of God, the Church, all your brothers and sisters, each one, each precious one? Stop your complaining about the church and your hatred of fellow Christians… and rejoice!

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another… A church is a kind of team. The Bible is full of sports metaphors. We are partnering together, pursuing victory. Victory over who? The devil. What is victory? Victory is obedience to God. And the victory is to the glory of God. The first question to ask is “Do you want to win?” I am convinced many Christians do not really want to win. We may be willing to go to church or go to a breakfast or SS class or small group, but we don’t really want to win. If no one wants to win, then why are we even playing? Why do we not want to bring glory to God? The next question is “Are the members of your church committed to victory for every member of the church?” Remember victory is obedience to God. Are you passionate for all of your brothers and sisters to win? A church must be men and women working together as partners, as teammates to win. Helping and encouraging each other. remember the words from Hebrews: And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds… Victory is love and good deeds. In one sense the pastors and elders are coaches and the rest of us players, but in another sense we are all coaches and players. We all must play to win and we all must encourage and exhort each other to win. The last question is “Is your church willing to do whatever it takes to win?” A team that is not willing to do whatever it takes to win, will not win. Remember victory is obedience to God. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. (1 Corinthians 9:24 ) We are to compete and run in the Christian life in such a manner as to obtain the prize. Run with that kind of passion and energy and willingness too suffer. But we must also run with others, encouraging each other. Imagine your church if all of you were committed to win together as a team? Imagine the glory for God of that united effort? By God’s grace and the work of the Spirit, such a church could win real victory.

Genesis 1:27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. We were created in the image of God, but by our sin that image of God was marred and disfigured in us. Vandalized. Defaced. Mutilated. But we need Christ in order to be human. We are recreated in Jesus. Jesus who is the new perfect image of God. “Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 Jesus died on the cross with the goal of making us whole human beings. Restoring the image of God fully. Grace restores nature. Grace restores humanity. Graces makes us truly human, because a full human is a being made in the image of God. Even though Adam was made in the image of God he still had the duty to obey God and grow to a much greater maturity. A duty he rejected. Adam did not have the highest humanity. A greater humanity is in Jesus Christ and it is to this goal he leads us. This means that ordinary human vocations are service in the kingdom of God. Christians can honorably serve God in vocations other than pastor or missionary. The ministers serve the laity, but Christians are not to all be ministers! Every church should be a few ministers and many lay men and women. The laity do the human work of the community. They work in creation for the good of other humans. Most Christians are given vocations for this earth. Humans are given a double task to fill the earth and rule over it. Some are ministers and preach the gospel. Some are given a celibate task. But most of us are fruitful, have children, and rule over the earth. We have six days of earthly work to do every week. Heaven is future as is the seventh, Sabbath day, when we rest from our work. As long as we are in this creation, we have human work in creation to do. It is not enough to be personally reconciled to God, there is more, much more! Now begins the work of serving God in our human vocations.

John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. Eternal life is knowing Jesus. Do you know Jesus Christ? Do you want to know him better? Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. “ We see God the Father in Jesus. When Paul prayed for other Christians he prayed “that you may know HIM better.” (Eph 1:17) Paul revealed his personal desire when he wrote “I want to know Christ.” (Phil 3:10) and said everything was garbage and dung compared to knowing Jesus Christ. At another time he prayed that Christians “may have power… to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:18-19) Imagine praying that and having that prayer answered? Christians want to be saved, we want eternal life, we want to go to heaven when they die, but how many of us want to know Jesus? I am a sinner in the area of not giving enough loving attention to my wife and children. How much more a sinner am I that I give little loving attention to my Lord and Christ? We will see Jesus fully when he returns. Eternal life does begin now. Knowing Jesus in our lives in this age and this world. Let us seek to know HIM. We may seek Him in the gathering of the Church. We sing his praises and know him better, we hear the word preached and we know him better, we discern him in the bread and wine and know him better. We may seek him DAILY in private prayer and meditation on the word of God and fasting. Knowing Jesus Christ is knowing him as he is revealed to us in the Scriptures. We must hear Scripture to see Jesus. Knowing Jesus Christ is the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart. The Holy Spirit illuminates Jesus for us, brings his face out of the shadows so we can see him. 2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Luke 10: 8-9  Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ “the kingdom of God” is a future event, an action of God not man, when Christ will conquer and rule everything at his return. BUT Jesus tells them to proclaim “the kingdom of God has come near to you” “has reached you.” The wonder of the day of salvation has reached you in the present. He is speaking of himself. He is saying that God is acting now with power in people’s lives. To change them. Through Jesus the kingdom comes to them. But he says here through the Church, the kingdom of God is reaching people, coming near to them. The waters are lapping at their door. Though Jesus is not physically present. We must tell people of the world the same. “the kingdom of God has reached you” “the kingdom of God has come near to you.” I am a messenger of Jesus, a messenger of the Kingdom. Jesus comes to them in you. you take the kingdom of God into neighborhoods, businesses, schools, hospitals, homes… Keep moving looking for those who are listening. Trust God that there will be people who will hear. Walk through the open doors. Some will receive you. vv 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’

Matthew 23:4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. Beware of proud Bible teachers. Beware of proud pastors and speakers and authors. Beware of proud saints and their words and example. Arrogant elites, the pure ones. In their teaching they pile on a load of duties, duties which may all be good and righteous, but you are unable to move, dying under the burden and they give you no help. They are obedient in many ways and impressive to everyone around them. They are disciplined. They are sacrificial. They are rigorous. They are proud of their holiness and stand above the herd and common people. They rail against them and criticize them. They don’t actually love them. They don’t kindly and gently help them. They are obedient in many ways and seem like they know all about God, but don’t know God in reality and so they can’t please God. Their impressive obedience is not burning with the fire of love. It is arrogant and prideful. Therefore, dead. They teach obedience to God, but they teach a God who is not a loving Father or a loving Husband to his Church, but a slave master. They teach a lie about God. They teach a God who like them puts burdens on people’s backs and does not help them. They themselves relate to God as slaves, slaving for him. And they expect blessings that they think the ignorant undisciplined masses will never receive. Jesus says to them: v 15 For you travel across sea and land to make a single convert, and when he becomes a convert, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. When they win one person over to their elite pure way the make him as arrogant and devoid of God’s love as they are. Beware of these proud teachers and proud saints. If you follow them, you will end up wrecked in a ditch. In contrast to proud teachers, Jesus says to us, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus taught the daily forgiveness of God, the mercy of God for those struggling, the grace of God for real sinners. Jesus promised to not leave us alone but to send the Helper, the Comforter. The Holy Spirit. To give us a spring of water within us welling up to eternal life. To pour out love in our hearts. Jesus said “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”

Nehemiah 8: 2  So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard… 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. When you go into your room to pray alone and you kneel down and you open the Bible before you and you read a few verses and you pray and you meditate. As you go in do you recognize the awesome reality that you are about hear the word of God? Do you recognize that this is the holiest moment of your day? You will hear from God. He will speak to you his truth and his way. Speak to you of his son who is your Lord and Savior. As you enter the church service and sit in the pew do you sit there in awe and with humility and reverence, preparing y to hear the very word of God as the pastors and elders read the word and the pastor preaches the word to you. Do you recognize this is the holiest moment in your week? You are hearing the one ordained by God to speak the word of God to you? Do you listen in humility and reverence? Do you recognize what is happening? God is speaking to YOU. The Second Helvetic Confession reads “THE PREACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD IS THE WORD OF GOD. Wherefore when this Word of God is now preached in the church by preachers lawfully called, we believe that the very Word of God is proclaimed, and received by the faithful; and that neither any other Word of God is to be invented nor is to be expected from heaven.” Herman Bavinck wrote: [Scripture] was not merely “God-breathed” at the time it was written; it is “God-breathing.” When you hear the Scriptures you are sitting or kneeling or standing in the presence of God, hearing his words afresh and anew. While the Scriptures are being read and preached God is breathing through the Scripture to YOU and the Scriptures are breathing God to YOU.

Luke 8:22  One day [Jesus] got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. v 24a And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are dying!” When storms come, we feel like this: I am dying. I am in danger. I am losing everything. I am terrified. God sends a terrible squall down on the lake for the JOY of the disciples. but they feel terror. God assaults us so that we will give up on everything but Jesus, so we will run to Jesus, put our attention on him again. No doubt they were using their skills, fighting the storm, working, sweating, but now they give up and go to Jesus. God wants us to lose hope in everything but Jesus God sends a terrible squall down on the lake for the JOY of the disciples. v 24b And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. Jesus by the word of his power flattens the sea, binds the wind. Jesus will not always end your temporary storms. Buy you are safe no matter what storm you are in. Even in the storms of this evil age you are safe now if you are in the Church, in God’s boat, with Jesus. Some storms will blow until the very end. Until Jesus returns and then he will speak the word and every storm will cease, and all chaos and death be stilled, and there will be calm. v 25a He said to them, “Where is your faith?” Where is your faith? The logic of faith is this. If God is sovereign and in Christ you belong to him and he takes care of his own, then with Jesus you are safe. You are safe even in a storm. You are safe even if you are dying. verse 25b And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” Who then is this? The answer to this question is the answer in your storm. Who then is this? This is the one. Lord of creation, sovereign over all. The son of God. The Christ. And he is with us. Look to him.

Luke 12:15 Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. In the USA we have lost our minds. We think we need all this stuff. We think we are suffering when we don’t have all this stuff. We expect luxury or we are bitter. We expect entertainment or we are bored. We expect pleasure or we are frustrated. We expect the latest and greatest technology or we are deprived. We expect a feast at every meal, sumptuous, delicious, large quantities, all the best, the food we like and the drinks we like. How much of your time do you spend thinking about stuff you want? Looking at stuff you want? How much time do you spend shopping? How much time do you spend ordering stuff online? How often do you think about the next thing you need. When you closets are full. You own multiple computers, televisions, appliances, tools, weapons, equipment, vehicles. How much of your money do you spend buying stuff that does not give life? when you could have spent that money on feeding and clothing or housing the poor? When you could have spent it on evangelism and missions? When you could have spent it on medical services for those without? Or the education of those without proper education? How devastated would you be if you lost all these things that you have? Even if you lost some of them? How many bad choices are we making every single day because we can’t give up all this luxury? How many bad choices are we making because we are so greedy for a big enough income to keep all this stuff ? and maybe even upgrade soon? How many of us are desperate to maintain this lifestyle? Frightened to lost it. Even when God calls. Life is to be given away out of love for God. Money is to be given away out of love for God. Stuff is to be given away out of love for God. We find real life when we give away our lives and money and stuff out of love for God. Not when we buy stuff. Not when we take in stuff. Not when we get better stuff. Not when we get bigger stuff.

Leviticus 1:3 ”He shall bring [the burnt offering] to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord." Daily we come to God in prayer in Jesus name. Only by Jesus sacrifice may we be accepted before God and live in daily communion with him. Jesus offered up himself that we may be accepted before the Father. v 4 "He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him." We lay ours hands on Jesus because Jesus represents us to the Father. Jesus is our sacrifice. Jesus covers us over, makes atonement for us, so we are shielded from the awful final destruction of God coming on the world for our rebellion. v 5 "Then he shall kill the bull before the Lord, and Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar" Jesus was killed for us. His blood poured out for our lives. Are you spattered with his blood? This is an ugly scene and yet a beautiful scene. Have you been made holy by his blood and now live in communion with God in the community of his people? Give thanks that you are numbered among his people. Those who in Christ’s blood belong to God. v 9 "And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord." Jesus gave up all of himself to God. even unto death. He was my priest offering up all of himself to the Father.  He pleased God with his obedience. When we come to God in Christ through his sacrifice, we are pleasing to the Lord. As the bull was all burned up, let us be entirely consecrated and set apart for God. Let us today be living sacrifices, and give ourselves wholly up to God, burned all up for him, pleasing to him in Jesus Christ.

Luke 14:28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it ?29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Are you going to be able to finish what you have started? Did you really count the cost? Did you really understand what allegiance to Jesus, what faith in Jesus, meant when you first said that you believed? There are many who never counted the cost. They didn’t know what it meant to obey Jesus and yet they prayed a prayer and said they had put their faith in Jesus. They came in to the church with the wrong idea. They didn’t know the cost. They didn’t know they had to give up everything to obey Jesus. They thought they just had to pray and believe. They thought they were trying to get forgiveness now and heaven when they died. Then they found out Jesus demands everything. v 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. You can’t come to faith in Jesus. You can’t get saved. You can’t be his disciple until you renounce all. That means you say to Jesus I give up everything I have to obey you and serve you. There is nothing I am not ready to lose or sacrifice for you. Nothing matters to me in comparison with obeying you. When I have to choose between you and anything I will choose obedience to you. When you have counted the cost and realize what it will take to be his disciple, when you realize who he is and the greatness of the salvation that he brings and the work of sanctification he wants to do, then you receive his grace. Then and only then will you be enabled to finish the work. Philippians 1: 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. if you understand what Jesus is demanding and you count the cost, then you are ready to believe in Jesus then you are ready to receive the grace that is only in Him. Then he will not only begin the work in you, but he will by his merit and his sacrifice bring it to completion. He will finish the work in you.

1 Thessalonians 1:5 "Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction." I hear people say: Sermons are boring. Reading the Bible is dull. I don’t like books and school. There is too much talk and not enough power. Where is the power of God like in ancient times? Where is the power of God in the church? Where is the power of God in my life? Here is the truth. The power of God is in the word of God. His speaking is powerful action. He says “let there be light” and there is light. The word is God’s mighty deed. When the word of God is heard and believed the power of God is rolling through the church and your life in a mighty way. Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? The word is a fire! The word is a hammer! Powerful. Breaking rocks. Burning up straw. Purifying. The word is much more than information. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, God is active. God is powerful. God is at work in the preaching and hearing of his word. In the reading and teaching and praying and singing of his word. Do you want to see God’s power? Read his word and speak his word. His word gives faith, love, hope, repentance, obedience, freedom, holiness, joy. His word transforms YOU and that is his mightiest work of power in this world. His power surges from something that many think is weak and dull. So many of us will pray for God to help us. But then we not open his word. We will not ponder and pray his word daily. We will not listen to the preaching and teaching available throughout the week. We don’t read works on doctrine. That is like asking God to give you a harvest but refusing to plant any seeds. We pray for power and he sends us the power. In the ministers, elders, scriptures, prayers, hymns. His power flows to us through his word. Are you listening? Hear his word. Know his power.

Luke 14: 25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Jesus is followed by great crowds of people but he is not impressed by there coming out to hear him. He is not delighted by their numbers and his own popularity. Unlike preachers and politicians and business people he does not try to please them. He does not do what he can to draw more and more. Rise in the polls. The evangelical church today is often more about customers and keeping the customer satisfied and increasing our sales. Or our attendance. People change brands if they don’t find the brand pleasing. Like we change shoes or laptops. We are customers. Jesus wants disciples. Disciples follow and say “yes sir” to every order no matter how rough it gets. They don’t complain about the food or the temperature or the hardship. Or the music or youth ministries. Jesus preaches a message that repels. Jesus has what some have called a hostile brand and practices anti-marketing. His miracles attract, but his message drives away. One way he does this is by saying “if you follow me your relationships with your family will be changed and in many cases broken.” He is not asking them to hate anyone, for he commands us to honor our parents, love our spouses and children, and even love the strangers and enemies. He is asking them to obey him over the ideas and wishes and preferences and feelings of their families. He is telling them: Obey me and your families will be angry and frustrated and sad and upset. Your spouse, children, parents, siblings, etc. Ignore what they want you to think. What they want you to do. Follow me. Take your beliefs, your lifestyle, your morality, your choices, your worship, your life goals from ME. Rebel against your family wherever they contradict me. Incur their wrath wherever they contradict me. hurt their feelings if they contradict me. But he is not asking you to be a jerk. But to live with compassion and love and respect and honor and and gentleness and kindness. But also with allegiance to Christ and his way alone. And wherever there is no contradiction with Jesus, obey your family and submit to them.

Romans 3:25 Christ Jesus whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood. Propitiation means Christ spilled his blood to placate or satisfy the wrath of God. Most people don’t like this idea. Many churches have cut it right out of their doctrine and thrown it away. Though it is the teaching of the Apostles. “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound doctrine, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,” 2 Timothy 4 Tertullian, said in the second century, there were teachers who said that “a better god has been discovered, one who is neither offended nor angry nor inflicts punishment… he is merely kind.”  H. Richard Niebuhr (neeboor) said many churches taught “A God without wrath brought man without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross.” People love a religion where God does not judge. Where they are treated as good people and offered only wisdom on how to do even better. Everywhere we see this teaching. A theology without blood. A theology without wrath. A theology without a judgment day. A God who is nice and sweet. This is Christianity as therapy. Christianity as paying it forward. Christianity as kindness. Jesus as Life Coach. Jesus as Guru. Many churches are full of such silliness. This is the trivialization of Jesus Christ. Believe in the blood. believe that you are are a sinner and you have done evil your whole life. Even today your good deeds are mixed with evil deeds. Believe that God hates sin. Both in the unbeliever and the believer. Believe that human wrath is usually sinful and selfish and foolish but God’s wrath is holy and righteous and just. Believe your only hope today is the blood of the son of God. Believe in the forgiveness of sins. And rejoice that you know the truth. Taught by Jesus and his Apostles. The true doctrine. Rejoice that you know the true mercy of God.

Luke 6:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” Jesus looks at his disciples. He is speaking to disciples. Those who believe in and obey Jesus. Not speaking to outsiders. Blessed are you who are poor. They are poor because they left so much to follow Jesus. Some were poor when they came to Jesus and Jesus did not deliver them from poverty. Their hands are empty, but in their hands is the kingdom of God. Though no one sees. On the day of Jesus Christ they will receive ALL the blessings of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Now they are deprived. They lack what they need, but they look to God alone for his salvation. Today they may lack many things they need. Their obedience has even added to their hunger, because they gave up so much for others. On the day of Jesus Christ they will be satisfied, given everything they need. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Now they have sorrow, but they look to Jesus for salvation. They continue to obey him in the sorrow. They don’t try to comfort themselves with sin or pleasure or ease or luxury. Continue to LOVE. Their love has even added to their sorrow, brought on more burden and trouble and pain. On the day of Jesus Christ they will laugh with joy at the feast in the kingdom of God when Jesus will drive all sorrow away, like the sun drives away the darkness. Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil on account of the Son of Man!” Because of Jesus, and obedience to Jesus, they are hated, excluded, insulted, rejected, ostracized, disrespected, mocked. v 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. Jesus commands them to rejoice NOW because of the future reward. When Jesus comes. He brings their unimaginable reward. The fact that they are hated because of Jesus proves they are true disciples, because that is how the true prophets of God were always treated. When people believe, speak, and obey the word of God, they are despised. Always have been. Always will be. As disciples we must reject the path to status and accomplishment, success and popularity. Instead, follow Jesus.

Luke 10:30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” Which one proved to be a neighbor to the man? The one who showed him mercy! Christ has proved to be our neighbor and showed us mercy. Christ had compassion on us in our great misery. He felt our misery. he delivered us by his blood. Now we must “go and do likewise.” Imitate Christ. Imitate the Samaritan. You are called to feel the pain of other people. This is called compassion. Many of us can’t feel the pain of others because we don’t see the suffering. We are blind to it and what they are experiencing. We must listen to others. People who are not like us. People whose sufferings we don’t understand. We don’t see it and so we don’t feel it. If you are white you are part of the majority race of the USA (63%), then you have a great deal of listening and learning and reading to do. We don’t understand the experiences and suffering of our black brothers and sisters, our Latino brothers and sisters, our Asian-American brothers and sisters, our indigenous brothers and sisters. We have no idea what it is like to be a racial minority in the USA. We don’t see that misery. If you don’t believe they are at a disadvantage that is because you have not experienced it. I have never experienced it. I had to be patiently instructed. I had to read to understand. And still I have so much more to learn. We have not like the Samaritan seen him in his misery, not felt compassion, and not shown him mercy. Until now we have passed by on the other side. Let us feel compassion for the pain of others. Let us show mercy. Let us love like a neighbor. Let us start by learning about suffering, the hidden suffering we can’t see.

Luke 5:4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” They had toiled all night and caught nothing. at dawn they beach their boats and begin to wash, mend and dry their nets. Jesus makes an absurd request. Put the nets back in the boat. Go back to work in the blazing sun. Not the right time for catching fish. “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” What Jesus commands does not always look good to us. It does not always make sense to us. May look painful and risky and insignificant and bound to fail, even absurd. But we must obey Jesus, because he is Lord and he has given us his word. At his word, obey. Because you know who he is. Jesus asks us to give up things we want. To keep doing things when we want to quit. To do new things that scare us. We must say: “but at your word, I will do it.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Simon Peter knew he was a sinner, and he knew Jesus is Lord, but he didn't know Jesus well yet. He didn't know that Jesus loves sinners. The one who calls him to obey, loves him and forgives his sins. Much later when Peter knows Jesus better, even though Peter has sinned against Jesus Peter responds in a different way. John 21:5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. Now though he has sinned against Jesus, Peter jumps in the water and runs to Jesus. When you know Jesus and you know that you are a sinner, you run to him.

Luke 14:12-14 [Jesus] said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” Is Jesus concerned about wedding feasts? Or once a year festivals? Is he concerned about in modern language: dinner parties. Or inviting someone over for supper? What he says certainly applies to hospitality, but many other activities as well. He says give to those who will give nothing back in return. Give without desiring any return payment. The crippled, the lame, and the blind were the poorest of the poor. Those who would be unable to feed anyone else or have anyone over to their house for dinner. They are the example of a person who will not be able to return the favor. Or give something else in return. Jesus says “You will be blessed BECAUSE they cannot repay you.” This means we should deliberately be looking for the opportunities to do something for nothing. To do something for no money, no recognition, no praise, no gratitude, no future favors, no social climbing leg up. When you do something for nothing, God is the one who repays you. When does he repay? You are blessed in the present, but full payment comes on the day of Jesus Christ. Jesus says, “For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” Jesus asks us to do something for nothing. In Shakespeare’s play, King Lear said "Nothing will come of nothing” telling his daughter if she does not praise him she will get nothing from him. But Jesus says that when we have received nothing from someone. We must give something to him. And expect nothing in return from him. Why? Because we have received something from Christ first. We have received everything from Christ first. So give to all. And expect nothing from that person. But expect everything from Jesus Christ when he returns.

Luke 14:7-11 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you.” “Sit in the lowest place.” Jesus is not concerned simply about wedding feasts and symbolic seating arrangements. He is interested in much more than that. He is addressing all of our lives. Everywhere we go, every corner, every occasion, every situation. “Sit in the lowest place.” Jesus teaches. Always take the lowest place. What does this mean? Let me give one example. Are you a parent with children in the home? You take the lowest place in the family as the servant of your children/spouse, not the grumpy boss. Not the overlord of many moods. You still lead but you lead from a place of humility and service. Are you still a child in the home under your parents? Accept your place. Honor your parents. Thank them for their hard work. Recognize they are in charge. Submit. Serve them and stop demanding their service all the time. Ease their load. That can be applied to school, the workplace, social occasions, meeting a friend for coffee, etc. What does it mean for you to take the lowest place today in each place you go? How do you humble yourself? How do you reject the superior position over others? This is a question that you must consider today. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” If you continue to exalt yourself, take the superior position above others, God will one day humble you and bring you low. But if you humble yourself, acknowledge your sin and weakness, and take a place below others. God will one day (and this may have to wait until the very last day, the day Jesus returns) God will one day lift you up. Acknowledge you before all people as his disciple. Jesus says, “Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you.”

Luke 4[1] And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” We put our desires for what we think we need ahead of the word of God We are dissatisfied with God. Impatient with God. Frustrated. He sent us out into the desert and he has not fed us! Where is his provision? We don’t have enough money, health, the right job, our spouse is grieving us, our children grieving us. What is the bread that you are not getting today? We must have believer and continue to obey. Perhaps, we should fast and spend those meal times in prayer and meditation on the word. Fasting teaches us that “Man does not live on bread alone.” “but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” More important to obey, then it is to eat. God’s word is our food. Next the devil promises Jesus authority and glory over the kingdoms of the word if Jesus will worship him. Jesus responds: “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” We put our desires for prestige and power and popularity ahead of obedience to God. We are motivated by career, accomplishments, acquisitions. Even for pastors lust for more people, more praise, more publicity! To pursue prestige and power is to worship the devil. We must worship God alone. Then the devil tempts Jesus to throw himself from a height and demand that God rescue him. Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” We put our desires for safety and protection ahead of obedience to God. As Americans we love safety and security. But God never said the Christian life will be safe. We are not promised protection. We must not “test” God by demanding that he protect us from dangers. By saying prove to me you are good. By doing this for me. We must trust and obey God. Jesus suffered great loss for us. He was publicly shamed and ridiculed for us. He went unprotected and undelivered for us. Jesus was obedient unto death for us. He purchased for us salvation which is greater than the food, money, health, prestige, power, safety, protection that we crave.

Isaiah 2:17 The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. American culture admires pride. Most of our famous and admired people are proud. We have received the message: pride is good. Lift yourself up. Put yourself forward. admire yourself. Follow your own heart. Practice self-esteem. Compete and push yourself ahead. Win! God says the proud will be cut down. Isaiah 10 [33] Behold, the Lord GOD of hosts will lop the boughs with terrifying power; the great in height will be hewn down, and the lofty will be brought low. On the day Jesus returns the proud will be cut down. Only God will be exalted on that day. Many of us think too much of ourselves. We think we are better than we are. We place ourselves above people who are actually higher than us. We think little of our own sins. We are honored by others and we actually believe what they say about us. We believe our own press and propaganda. And they are lies. We look at our neighbor’s sin every time we look at him, but we rarely look at our own. The proud will be cut down. God must make us humble. Isaiah 66 [2] “But this is the one to whom I (the Lord) will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” The humble man or woman trembles at God’s word. We learn humility by taking seriously God’s word. Trembling at it. Fearing to disregard God. Weeping when we disobey.

Matthew 5:44  I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… Jesus commands that we love our enemies. This means love the people that are the hardest to love. The people you hate to love. Love the one you do not like, you find unlovable. Love those who never love you, but only hurt you. Love those on the other side of every difference and barrier, those who are completely unlike you, think differently than you, look differently, act differently. Love no matter what they are, what they do, or how they treat us. Love means both a desire for the good of the person and an action of doing good to the person. Some have right attitude but they don’t act. Some have right action but resentment in the heart. Pray from the heart for the good of the person. Love does not mean you like a person, you are attracted to a person, or admire a person. In fact, if you someone to be treacherous and a liar, you are not bound to trust him. If he is evil in his actions, you are not bound to live in community with him. But still you must love him. You must love your enemy because you love God. because God loves that person. Jesus says later: (vv 47) If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? This is ordinary human behavior. Everyone does it. Even bad people do this. Welcome those they like, those that like them. There is no heavenly reward for that. Jesus asks “What are you doing more than others?” Jesus teaches Christians to do more than all others, to do more than ordinary human behavior. The Christian, because of his love for God, will love the person that others can’t. Do you find this impossible? Do you believe in the Holy Spirit? Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the love of Jesus for that one. This is a prayer that God will answer. It still may be painful and difficult to love. But you will be able to love: to desire his good, pray for his good, and do him good.

Matthew 6 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” Hallowed be your name. What does that mean? The thought is this: May your name be treated as holy. May your name be treated with reverence and honor. By me today. and others today. Many Christians are not reverent. Think little of God. By this prayer God will become greater and greater in our minds and hearts. You must think of him always as holy, with great reverence and adoration and awe. This pray can change the very moment in which you pray it. Pray this simple prayer. Hallowed be your name. Pray it with each task you take up. Pray that this TASK may be done in reverence for God’s holiness. As adoration. As worship. When you dress your child. Pray:May your name be hallowed by me in this task. When you take out the garbage. pray: Hallowed be your name now. When you drop off the kids at school. Hallowed be your name. When you are cooking supper. Washing dishes. Writing reports. Attending meetings. Hallowed be your name. May I honor your name. When you give your child his bath and put him to bed. Hallowed be your name. This prayer makes the most mundane and common tasks HOLY. This means they have great worth in God’s eyes. God watches and is pleased. You will no longer find them dull and empty, but instead beautiful ways to worship God throughout the day. Each action is holy and no longer boring or empty. Pray and work. Work and pray. Pray this prayer when the task is painful as well. When you find the task distasteful, even repugnant. The task becomes holy and a blessing to you. Still painful, but now of eternal value.

Luke 14 One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” And they could not reply to these things. Will you not respond immediately when your own family is in need? your own child? Or your own possessions threatened? Why then do we hesitate when we meet a person in need? Why then do we make excuses? The Pharisees said Jesus should not help because the Sabbath was a day of rest. But Jesus said this was hypocrisy. They would have worked to help their own child if he was in trouble. We do the same. We justify our refusals to help with various Biblical arguments. They sound good at first, but are not based on deep reflection on the teachings of Jesus. We say: “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” We use it as an excuse to not help a man who is suffering right there in front of us. We say: He needs spiritual help, not physical help. He certainly needs the gospel, but he also may need a handout. We say: I don’t have time to help because I am doing this other good Christian work. Never let Christian service keep you from helping the poor. We say: This man needs development not relief. But is this an excuse to not help him, until he has jumped through the hoops we have set for him? We assume someone who is needy is inferior and we want to ADVISE him. Give him our WISDOM. That is an arrogant assumption. The needy are often much holier than us. One last question: Why do we use the Lord’s Day only for public worship and rest. When our Lord has set an example for us that it must also be used for works of mercy?

Luke 11 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. In prayer you ask for what you already have. Prayer is something like eating. As long as food is outside your body it does you no good. You may possess the food, but it is not nourishing you. prayer is like eating. In Jesus Christ you already have everything you need. It is all yours in Christ. You only must ask. Then in the moment you are nourished by all you have in Christ. We are not asking for what God does not want to give. We are asking for what God has already given us. If we ask, we receive. When we don’t ask, we are no longer nourished by the blessing of all we have. Christ is with us already but until we pray we can’t find him. Then when we seek him in prayer, we find the one who was already there with us. Like the man sleeping next to his wife in bed, who dreams his wife has died and wakes up and finds her there in bed with him. We seek by prayer the one we already have. And we find him again. Have you ever come home late at night and been locked out of your own house and stood knocking at your own door? We knock at the door and we belong here and so the door opens to us. But we must knock daily again and again. Why? Because we keep wandering away. Jesus also says this: the heavenly Father [will] give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! We already have the Spirit and yet we ask for the Spirit. When we ask for the Spirit we are filled.

2 Chronicles 20 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea… Then Jehoshaphat was afraid. Are you afraid today? There may be something that overwhelms you. Something that is crushing you. When you rise up and when you lie down to sleep there is a great weight on your heart. You are thinking, planning, working, pushing, trying to fix it, busy, running around, sweating. What does Jehoshaphat do? He set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord. [He says to God in prayer] “we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” They fast. they pray. They admit their powerlessness. They put their eyes on God. This is what we must do. Fast. pray. admit our powerlessness. and put our eyes on God. God says to Jehosaphat: ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s… You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf.’ When we put our eyes on God and seek him in prayer and fasting, we are recognizing that the fight is his fight and only he can win it. When they hear this promise of God as we hear it in the scriptures, they believe and they worship even BEFORE they have been delivered. (Jehoshaphat) appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” Before they have been delivered they worship God. We must believe in the word of God before he delivers and we must worship him before he delivers. And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed… they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped. We worship the Lord and the Lord delivers. Our suffering and trial may last many days. We may weep and worship many days but the salvation of the Lord WILL BE REVEALED. We shall be delivered by our Lord and Savior.

Luke 13:12-13 And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her to him and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And Jesus laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The woman was bent and disabled. Unable to walk. Jesus calls her to him and lays his hands on her and makes her straight. He heals her infirmity. Then she glorifies God. In the same way We are disabled by sin. Called by Jesus to himself and made straight, made able to walk in obedience to him. Then we glorify God and live to his glory. This is a picture of the first day of the Christian life. The day Christ calls you. But I have learned it is also a picture of later days in the Christian life. Years after salvation. Because I return to sin, I return to my disability. I let myself be bound again by sinful desires. They rise in my heart and cripple me once again. I am disabled in many ways. I continue to struggle with anger and lust and envy and selfish ambition and greed even after many years of walking in the faith. I ask the Lord Jesus today to lay his hands on me and make me straight so I can glorify God. I want to be straight. I want to walk straight. I want to bring glory to God in what I do. everywhere I go and every hour of the day. There are still disabling passions in us. Jesus, you have called us. Now lay your hands on us. Touch us as we pray, touch us as we listen to your word, touch us as we eat and drink your sacrament.

Matthew 25:31-32 When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Are you ready for that day? The day when Jesus looks at each one of us and separates us one from another? The day he chooses those that are his. This is the only judgment that matters. And how does Jesus weigh a human life? vv35-36 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ v 40 ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ I reject the modern scholarly opinion that the “least of these my brothers” means only Christian missionaries or disciples. This is not the church’s classic interpretation. Jesus is calling us to love ALL human beings. To love any human being who has a need. Augustine said Because the Son of God has become human he has identified himself with every human being. So in serving ANY human being we serve Jesus. Jesus is not saying that anyone who cares for the poor goes to heaven. No. Not at all. He is saying that those who have Faith in Jesus, will show that faith by loving human beings in their desperate need. They will love human beings for Jesus’ sake. Their act of love will be an act of FAITH in Jesus. How you respond to one human being in desperate need reveals your FAITH in Jesus Christ. Show you faith TODAY. The actions are simple: feed, give, clothe, shelter, nurse, visit.

Luke 5:27-28 After this Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, Levi rose and followed him. Jesus calls a tax collector to be his disciple. Not because he is worthy. Jesus calls him because he is unworthy. Jesus calls those who are unqualified to be his disciples. He does not review your resume, your professional history, your career, your references. Jesus said: “Those who are healthy have no need of a physician, but only those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Jesus calls a tax collector. A terrible sinner. Jesus will call anyone. Anyone. Are you an angry person? Are you lazy? Are you going nowhere because you won’t work hard? Are you a glutton? over eating, Are you greedy? spending your money on luxury? Do you neglect the poor? Do you give nothing to the church? Are you envious? Resenting the people around you. Are you an adulterer? Have you failed your spouse? Have you broken your vows? Have you failed your children? Are you a porn addict? Do you drink too much? Jesus calls you. He says, “Repent and follow me.” He looks you in the eye and he says to you: Repent today and follow me. He calls you to “leave everything and follow him.” He calls you to leave your old life and go to him. He says: I will remake you. I will make you to be what I want you to be. Jesus has the grace within himself to make you new. That you may walk in newness of life. Jesus says, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Begin anew today.

Isaiah 58:7 “Is not this the fast that I choose… Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him…” Fasting is about repentance. Repentance from sin. Repentance is turning away from sin, leaving sin behind, to live a new way. To fast is to begin a new way of life, to enter and walk a new path. Fasting and prayer and confession of sin are dead if they do not result in life change. The only real repentance is the one that can be seen in the way we live after we repent. The only real repentance is the one that can be seen in how we love people. The only real repentance can be seen in how we love the poor and suffering people. “share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him…” Giving up food for a day or even several days is not a true fast, a fast of repentance, unless it is joined with a lifestyle that turns away from self-indulgence, luxury, greed, and turns toward generosity and service to the needy. Only this kind of fasting, a fasting joined with real repentance, will be blessed by God. God does not hear and bless, if we fast and pray and confess sin without real repentance, without seeking obedience. But if we fast and repent, turn from greed and love the needy. Isaiah says in verse 9 “Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’” v 10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. True fasting with repentance will result in the light rising up in the total darkness of your life.

Luke 9 “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Every time that Jesus predicts his own death on the cross he follows that with another teaching. Every time he says “I have a cross to bear” he follows that by saying “Every one of my disciples has a cross to bear as well.” As Jesus’ cross is the center of the Christian faith. The disciple’s cross is the center of the Christian life. You have a cross that you must bear. A cross means pain. A cross means suffering. A cross means self-sacrifice and self-denial. A cross means rejection and hatred. A cross means being shamed and humbled before the world. A cross means obedience. Suffering for Jesus. Jesus is telling us that obedience means suffering and sacrifice and rejection. Do you have such crosses in your life? Or are you running from your cross? Are you refusing to take up your cross? Notice one little word in Jesus’ statement. Take up your cross DAILY. This means this is not for special occasions. This is not for momentous seasons. This is every single common day. This is a obedience you take up anew each day. But because of Jesus’ cross. Because on his cross he purchased us for God. our suffering obedience has eternal value and worth. Our everyday lives, our painful and humble lives, that are not impressive to others can have great meaning to God. Eternal significance. You can live an important life in Jesus even when no person knows.

Joel 2:12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Do you ever weep for your sins? The reason we have so little joy in God and so little joy in obedience to God is that we have so few tears. The more we weep and mourn over our rebellion and disobedience, the more joy we will have in forgiveness, salvation, grace, and a new day with a new opportunity to obey God with the sins of yesterday washed away. Do you ever mourn and weep as you reflect on your sins? Do you ever fast from food and seek the grace of God by prayer to kill a sin in your heart? If we feed ourselves every desire of our heart. And give our desires all they want. Including food. If we feed ourselves indulgently all day long we will find it impossible to obey God when it hurts. We must fast and humbly seek God for rescue from a sin in our heart. Repent means to turn away from or leave our sin behind. Repentance is not the night of darkness. Repentance is the dawn. Repentance is when the sun is coming up and it is a brand new day. When you repent the grace of God streams into your life, like the sun rise streams into the darkness of the night and awakens a brand new day. God is gracious and merciful, abounding in steadfast love. If you weep and mourn and fast seeking forgiveness and deliverance, today can be a new day of obedience.