Monday, September 27, 2010

September 26,27, 2010 sermon on 1 Timothy 1:12-20 by Pastor Paul G. Eckert

September 26/27, 2010 - Pentecost 18
Sermon by Pastor Paul G. Eckert
Sermon text - 1 Timothy 1:12-20
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst.
16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
18 Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight,
19 holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.
20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
+ + + + + + +
In the opening words of our text the Apostle Paul said, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service." Speaking personally, I can very easily relate to these words. I have always considered it a privilege, a blessing from God, to have a call to serve as a pastor. Now, at 79 years of age, still to continue as a pastor simply emphasizes for me God’s grace in permitting me to this time to be appointed or to have a call to serve, to be a part of the public ministry proclaiming the message that deserves full acceptance, that CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS.
But I’m not the only one. Whatever our positions in life, all of us, if we truly are believers in Jesus, should be witnesses of God’s wonderful truth of salvation. Today, as is our annual custom to recognize certain designated times or years of service, we take note of some of those "all of us" who serve the Lord in St. Jacobi in called staff or appointed or volunteer positions. I’ll mention here Mrs. C.J. Hackmann who has reached the special milestone of 25 years in the teaching ministry. We congratulate her and thank her together with the others who are listed in this week’s bulletin. All of them, together with all of us in St. Jacobi Congregation, have a part in proclaiming here and elsewhere the eternally important truth that
CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS
I WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE HIM! (12-13)
1. Consider Paul’s background (13a)
Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, ---.
a) in Acts 26:9-11 Paul expanded on these words when he said:
"I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them."
b) does Paul sound like a good candidate for the ministry,
someone God would be interested in? - not to us!
2. But look at God’s mercy (13)
Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
a) people who are perfect don’t need God’s help or mercy; but
Paul, though ignorantly sincere in his past, obviously needed it; and he received it from God who seeks sinners to save them
b) you and I started at the same spot Paul did: we were born in
unbelief; and even after being brought to faith we often act in
ignorance, or may be sincere in what we are doing wrong, not
fully recognizing how far we fall short of God’s demands for
perfection; but God has shown His mercy to us too, hasn’t He
3. And look at what else God does (12)
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
a) how great the mercy of God is that proclaims forgiveness to
sinners because His Son served us and paid for our sins, the
mercy that says eternal death in hell cannot claim us
b) and then on top of that He tells us that we can be a part of
His service, a part of His team, that we can have a part in
sharing the greatest news that the world needs to hear
4. What a privilege! (12)
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
a) God could have left His Son visibly here on earth to do the
service of proclaiming the message of salvation
b) as God used angels to proclaim His Son’s birth in Bethlehem
and to announce His resurrection from the dead, so God could
easily have given His many angels the service or assignment of
going into all of the world to preach the Gospel
c) but instead He appointed a sinner like Paul, people like you
and me who are sinners, to be in His service of proclaiming the
Gospel that we and all need; thank Christ Jesus our Lord for
appointing us to such service; what a privilege to serve Him!
II WHAT GRACE THAT MAKES THIS POSSIBLE! (14-16)
1. What Christ did is grace (15)
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the
worst.
a) "the worst" could possibly better be translated as "chief" or a
"prime" example or a "foremost" example of a sinner
b) whatever example Paul may be, however we may compare
ourselves with him, the wonderful fact is the mercy and grace
of God, the truth that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners
2. This grace was poured out on Paul (14)
The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
a) think of these words of Paul in his letter to the Romans: "When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. --- What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" But then he goes on, acknowledging the Lord’s grace poured
out on him abundantly, and says, "Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord."
b) that abundantly poured out grace gave Paul faith in Christ
Jesus and the love that flows from Jesus and through us
3. Paul stands out as an example of this grace (16)
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
a) what about your background? as with Paul, is some of it real
bad? are there things in your past, or present, that make you
feel worthless, maybe at times make you think God would want
to have nothing to do with you?
b) don’t feel that way! Paul is a foremost example of God’s
mercy and patience and forgiving love for sinners; God forgave
Paul, a prime example that in Jesus He forgives you and me too
4. This deserves full acceptance (15)
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst.
a) that acceptance starts with acknowledging we are sinners and
hearing God’s love which says He loves sinners, calls them
to repentance, promises that there is no condemnation for those
who are in Christ Jesus whatever the degree of their sin
b) then accept that not partially and once in a while, partially
showing up to worship, or give expression once in a while,
partially, to your claim to be a believer in Christ
c) this trustworthy, wonderful truth that Christ Jesus came to
save sinners, to save us, deserves not partial but full acceptance
III WHAT MOTIVATION FOR BEING FAITHFUL! (12,15,17-20)
1. Not all remain faithful (19-20)
--- holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
a) some people start in their faith but don’t hold on; instead they
reject what deserves full acceptance and shipwreck their faith
b) note here that handing such over to Satan - we might call it
excommunication - still has the purpose of rescuing them
2. We need the warning to remain faithful (18-19a)
Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience.
a) fight, don’t surrender to the devil, to the world, to sin; fight,
don’t see confirmation time as a time to stop growing in faith
b) instead follow the instructions of God’s prophetic Word,
faithfully use His Word, come to His forgiveness-proclaiming
Supper, and in that way hold on to faith and a good conscience
3. We have the motivation for this (15a)
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners ---.
a) we are forgiven people of God; we have our Savior who wants
no shipwreck but is piloting us through life to heaven’s harbor
b) what reason and motivation for being faithful even to death!
4. For this praise God, also by serving (12,17)
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
a) may we want to serve as Paul did, as I am sure those we
recognize in this service do, each of us according to the
position and abilities and opportunities God gives us
b) in this way may we praise God as Paul did when he said,
"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be
honor and glory for ever and ever."
c) yes, praise Him for the trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
As stated in the beginning, this Sunday we are recognizing certain designated times or years of service of some who serve the Lord in St. Jacobi in called staff or appointed or volunteer positions.
That is good. But I am sure that Mrs. C.J. Hackmann would say that it was not necessary to note her 25 years of service, as I am quite sure the others would say the same, and all would join the Apostle Paul in saying, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service."
In that thankfulness, knowing the wonderful truth that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners," let all of us join Paul in saying, "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen."
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

PENTECOST 17
September 19/20, 2010
Pastor Timothy J. Spaude
Text: Exodus 32:7-14

“THE NEED TO INTERCEDE”
1. God’s punishment is deserved.
2. God’s mercy is great!

Exodus 32:7-14 (NIV) “Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.'
9 "I have seen these people," the LORD said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation." 11 But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. "O LORD," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.' " 14 Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.”

There’s a part of you that wants to cut the Israelites a break but you can’t. You start out thinking about their lives as slaves and how hard that must have been to keep their worship of the true God when their owners and all the others were blatantly worshipping idols. But then you have to remember that shortly before this event these people had seen the LORD demonstrate His divinity with the 10 plagues, the miraculous parting of the Red Sea and drowning of Pharaoh’s army. They had seen water coming from a rock, a pillar of cloud leading them by day. A pillar of fire by night. Manna and quail were there every day. When they got to Mt. Sinai God shook the mountain. He surrounded it with thunder and lightning. He gave them the 10 Commandments. There could be no mistake that the Lord, He is God. He had specifically told them in Exodus 20:23 “Do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gold,” and the people had publicly responded “We will do everything the LORD has said. We will obey!” Then Moses went up Mt. Sinai again to receive further instruction on how the people would live as a nation. He would be gone for 40 days and 40 nights. Now what do these people, these same knuckleheads do? When they get tired of waiting for Moses to come down they go to Aaron and ask him to make them gods like the Egyptians had. A golden god! And he did. Can you believe that? What were they thinking? Can there be any question that these people deserved punishment?
Is there anyone here who disagrees that when someone knows God’s laws and promises to keep them and then blatantly disobeys they deserve punishment? Of course they do! Of course we do. The Israelites aren’t the only people who have been taught God’s will and who have publicly promised to obey it and have sinned instead, are they? Every confirmed member of this congregation has been formally taught God’s holy will. Every confirmed member in one way or another at this congregation or another promised to obey, to be faithful to Jesus even if it means dying. And yet we have teens who have been drinking, adults who have been drunk. We have children who are disrespectful and disobedient to their parents and others in authority. We have unmarried people giving in to forbidden sex. From some God is getting leftovers not firstfruits in offerings and time when it comes to weekly worship. Our biggest threat to the Word of God is not Muslims burning our Bibles but God’s people leaving theirs unopened. It’s not bullets and knives that are hurting us but the sniping comments, barbed and cutting remarks that brothers and sisters in faith make about each other and to each other that are hurting us. God’s punishment is deserved.
“Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8 They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.' 9 "I have seen these people," the LORD said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation." God announced His plan to punish the people with death. God’s punishment of these people was deserved.
Yet there’s something going on here, isn’t there? Why does God bring this to Moses’ attention? Why does He disassociate Himself from them saying to Moses, “your people whom you brought up out of Egypt?” Isn’t it the same reason that Jesus told the parables of the “lost,” and why He urges that prayers be made for all people? God rejoices in repentance and His chief overriding characteristic is mercy. By bringing the sin of the people to Moses’ attention God was making him aware of the need to intercede.
Moses took that opportunity. “But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. "O LORD," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.' " Look at how Moses traps the Lord with the Lord’s own words. “Your people whom You brought out of Egypt!” See how he appeals to the promises God has made and the Lord’s good name. And yet can you really trap someone who wants to be trapped? No! God’s mercy is great and He delights in showing it. “Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.”
The Israelite people were sure blessed that God gave them someone like Moses, someone to intercede. Makes us think of how blessed we are to have Jesus. God’s mercy is great and while the people of Israel had Moses, we get Jesus. While Moses could only appeal to God’s favor and promises, Jesus gives us God’s favor and is God’s promise. He earned our forgiveness when He gave His life on the cross. There is nothing that the Father will deny to His Son and God is predisposed to want to show mercy. Remember that when you have sinned. If God’s law poked you today and your conscience is hurt, look to Jesus. He intercedes for you.
Maybe then you can intercede for someone else. As you focus on this word of God your attention is drawn to different things. There’s the foolish sinning of the Israelites. There’s God righteous anger. There’s Moses amazing interceding. I wonder if at any time he briefly felt like saying “Yes! I’m rid of them.” Then there’s the wonderful mercy of God. Where do you see yourself in it? An Israelite who needs intercession? A Moses who can intercede? Parents, do you pray for your children, that the Lord would not hold their sins against them, like Job who offered intercessory sacrifices just in case his kids sinned at their parties? Teachers are you praying for God’s mercy on your students who sin by disobeying or being disrespectful? Because of who we are on this side of heaven there is a need to intercede that is ongoing. God’s punishment is deserved by all of us. But His mercy is greater than our sin. Thank you God, for giving us Jesus. Amen.

September 12th Sermon Philemon 1:10-21

Untitled from Richard Waldschmidt on Vimeo.



Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, Therefore, I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,[a] who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
Grace mercy and peace are yours from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen
Philemon 1:1, 11-21
A LETTER TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY
In the name of Jesus who has made us members of God’s family, dear fellow redeemed children of God,
My wife’s family has box of letters they treasure. They are letters written by Grandpa Urban to his sweetheart , Frieda. We knew her better as Grandma Urban. The letters were written by the 19 year old army private, Walter, to his soon to be wife during World War One. You seem to almost step back into a different time and world when you read them. Maybe you have a box of letters like that on your shelf at home. I would imagine that those scraps of papers would be even more precious if they were from a prisoner of war. That’s what we see in God’s word today- a letter from a prisoner to his family. The devil and his followers were fighting hard against the spread of the Gospel and Paul was now living under arrest in Rome. But God is faithful and watches over his people. As we open and read this letter, let’s see that it is a letter that rejoices in what God has done and it is a letter that encourages a joyful response.
Do you see the Disney movie “Cars”? Remember it is about a town that was bypassed when the interstate went through. Not as many people visited there anymore. Many of the people had moved. There was a sense that the good times of years ago were slipping away. That’s the way things felt in Colossae. At one time, Colossae was celebrated for its wool making and dyeing, especially an unusual color known as Colossinus, a dark pink drawn from cyclamen flower. But then the road system changed and people started moving to Laodicea and Hierapolis. Things seemed to be slipping away. There were some good things happening though. God used Epaphras to bring the good news of Jesus to the town. Satan had tried to mess up the young church with some false teachings but the Lord Jesus had kept the church safe. Philemon was a member of the church there in Colossae. Things were going OK for Philemon. Well enough that he owned a slave. His name was Onesimus. It seems that one day Onesimus ran off. It would also seem that something was missing, maybe something valuable, because Paul said later “if he owes you anything…” I’m suppose having a slave run away caused quite a ruckus in the neighborhood. The slave Onesimus ran out of Colossae and the Lord worked it out that he met up with Paul in Rome. Paul talked with him about the Savior and Onesimus was brought to believe in Jesus. He was brought into God’s family. Jesus made the former slave a useful servant of the missionary, Paul.
I suppose that Philemon had almost forgotten about Onesimus and all of a sudden Tychicus and some other travelers arrived with a letter addressed for the church in Colossae. It’s from Paul who was a prisoner under house arrest in Rome. Paul sent along another letter for Philemon. It’s a letter from a prisoner to his church family. Who should be carrying that letter but Onesimus!
Onesimus’ knees must have been shaking that first time Philemon saw him again. His hands must have been shaking as he held the letter Paul wrote. It had the address in those big letters Paul used when he wrote a letter himself. “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:” Paul wrote this letter from prison. He was under house arrest in Rome as he waited for his appeal to Caesar to play out. We hear about that in the book of Acts. Paul was a different sort of prisoner. His crime for which he was imprisoned was proclaiming the freedom Jesus brings. Although Paul certainly could lay claim to be persecuted for Christ at other times in his ministry, we shouldn’t think that Paul was in a dungeon here. The book of Acts tells us that he under guard in a house. While he was under guard and could not go to visit others, many came to visit him. Even sitting as a prisoner, Paul rejoiced in what god had done for him. He rejoiced that God had made him a child of God. Paul considered himself the chief of sinners but Jesus was his Savior. Paul shared that truth with Onesimus.
Paul has these words for Philemon. “ I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.” That’s kind of a play of Onesimus’ name. His name means “useful.” The joy of being in God’s family allows family members to discuss even serious things like this in a tactful and sometimes even light hearted way.
“I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. “ Being a member of God means we recognize that our comfort is not necessarily the most important thing. There was a family matter more important than Paul’s comfort that really needed to be taken care of- there was a rift between Philemon and Onesimus.
For that rift to be settled- the Good News of Jesus would be needed. With that reminder about the Gospel, Paul reminded Philemon of what God had for him in making him a member of God’s family. Paul doesn’t need to say it directly in his letter. Family knows. Philemon knew he was a spiritual Onesimus. With Adam’s hurried footsteps away from his Creator to hide, mankind ran away from the Lord. Adam’s guilt was passed down to Philemon and you and me. Christ intereceded for us. He took our debt on himself at the cross just like Paul assumed the debts of Onesimus. Jesus took Philemon’s sin, your sin and my sin. It was what Jesus did at the cross that would give Philemon the strength to take Onesimus back.
Are we standing in Onesimus’ shoes today? Have we sinned against an employer or taken something that did not belong to us? In addition to hurting our loving creator have we hurt mom or dad or friend with our actions? Are we worried about what’s going to happen? Let’s go to our God trusting in His
Gospel promise. Let’s go back to the ones we’ve hurt- trusting that God will work things out in the way He knows is best. This week there has been all kinds of talk about a pastor burning the Koran. The message of the cross does not need a publicity stunt nor is its power or glory lost when the pages are burned. No its promise stands forever. It’s promise of forgiveness stands for you.
Paul couldn’t force Philemon to take Onesimus back as a brother instead of as a slave. That would take Jesus and His love. “But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.” Paul reminds Philemon that God is able to work something good out even the sinful foolish things we do and that others do around us. That’s important for us to remember when we are wallowing in the heartbreak of something someone close to us has done.
The Lord has received you back as a member of his family. How might you be useful to him now? Your response of thanksgiving can’t be forced but God’s great love encourages us. “So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.”
One of my wife’s uncles copied some of the letters for the rest of the family to have a copy. The Lord has kept this copy of Philemon’s letter for us to treasure. Let’s hold this prisoner’s letter in our hearts and let’s copy this letter in our lives. Amen.

Video of September 19th, 2010 Worship Service

September 19th Worship Service from Richard Waldschmidt on Vimeo.

Monday, September 6, 2010

PENTECOST
September 5, 2010
Pastor Timothy J. Spaude
Text: Luke 14:1, 7-14

“JESUS MAKES THE DIFFERENCE”
1. In the attitude of His followers.
2. In the expectations of His followers.

Luke 14:1, 7-14(NIV) “One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. 7When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." 12Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

People are watching you. That’s something that’s often very important to remember. For instance parents, if you choose to sin against the Lord by drinking too much, you need to remember that people are watching you, little people, your children who are learning to sin that way too. On the other hand if you are reading your Bible, going to church, those same little people are watching and learning as well. Having people watching is nothing new. In God’s word here we are told that people were watching Jesus. It was the Pharisees and the experts in the law continuing their never ending but fruitless quest to catch Jesus in the wrong.
But the Pharisees and experts in the law weren’t the only ones watching people. Jesus was watching people too. He noticed how they picked the places they sat at. As Son of God He also knew why people were doing what they were doing and so Jesus spoke some parables that taught His followers to be different. Different in their attitude and different in their expectations.
The parables Jesus tells are not the kind we are used to. It doesn’t deal so much with a story as with a situation. "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests.” The parable is a picture of what people think of themselves. The people Jesus spoke to had probably just seen it in action. It’s a formal banquet, a wedding feast. Where you sit matters. Most important guests closest to the wedding party. But Jesus isn’t being the wedding planner here. He’s addressing attitudes, a common attitude, where people think more highly of themselves than they ought. Its’ called pride.
You can tell that Jesus is addressing more than this party when He says, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." That’s the same saying Jesus used when He taught His disciples to be different religious leaders than the Pharisees. It’s the same saying Jesus used when he talked about the Pharisee and the tax collector praying in the temple. In all cases Jesus was addressing the attitude of man’s heart called pride. It’s pride that causes some sinners to think they are better sinners than other sinners which of course just proves they are better at sinning than other sinners. It’s pride that causes a person to think their sins don’t need quite as much forgiveness as other people’s sins. It’s pride that powers such common phrases as “Me first!”, “It’s all about me!” and “What’s in it for me?” It’s pride that leads people to reject Jesus and leads to the humbling of Hell.
Jesus makes the difference though. He teaches His followers to have a different attitude, a humble attitude. That humility shows when the sinner prays, “God have mercy on me, the sinner.” It shows when we think of other’s needs before our own and when we can be happy for their successes and blessings instead of jealous. But what about me? Let’s face it, you know how this world works. Who’s going to watch out for me if I don’t watch out for myself? Who better to watch out for me than me? How about Jesus? For the follower of Jesus He makes the difference. Jesus did that when He humbled Himself. He became human, a servant, a servant who would die a degraded death on the cross. He did not look out for his own interest but others and trusted His father to watch out for Him and He did and now God has exalted Jesus and given Him the name that is above every name. We can follow Jesus by believing His promise that whoever humbles Himself will be exalted by God Himself. Jesus makes the difference in the attitudes of those who follow Him enabling us to live humble lives.
He makes the difference in our expectations too.”Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Here Jesus addresses another attitude that no one has to teach us, an attitude that comes along with our sinful nature, an attitude that mars something that starts out and looks so beautiful like being kind or giving. It’s the old give to get mentality. You know, I invite you so now you have to invite me. Maybe children you’ve thought of inviting other children to a birthday party in order to get more presents. Maybe you’ve read what God has said in His word about Christian giving and generosity where you can’t out give God and a part of you thinks, “You know, I’m starting this business so I better give an offering so my business does well.” Give to get. Again Jesus is not telling us who we can and cannot invite to a party but is instructing us about our expectations.
What do you expect when you do something nice for another? What do you expect when you give a gift? Are you expecting something nice in return? A gift of like value to come your way? That’s the way of the world, the sinful world. Jesus makes a difference in the expectations of His followers. We see how He gave Himself for the world without expecting anything. In fact He knew that most people would reject His sacrifice, His gift. Still He marched to the cross to die. He trusted His Father. Now we can too. We can do nice things for others without expecting anything in return. We don’t have to live the worldly way of being nice to people in order to get make alliances to get power or our way or something else. We don’t have to worry about getting anything from anybody because Jesus says we will be blessed.
We just need to remember that people are watching, or maybe should I say better, a person is watching. The most important person to every believer and that is Jesus. He makes the difference. He’s watching what I do and why I do it. That means I have all kinds of opportunities every day to please Him. It doesn’t matter what other people do or think if Jesus is pleased with us. Have you been feeling unappreciated lately? Taken advantage of? Maybe you’ve been trying to be a good friend to others and you’re not getting that good friendship back in return. Maybe you feel you are surrounded in life by takers who leaching the life right out of you. Remember Jesus. He makes the difference. He’s promised that those who humble themselves will be exalted and those who give to give will be blessed. And because He said so, we can live it. Amen.