Monday, December 26, 2011

CHRISTMAS EVE
December 24, 2011
Pastor Timothy J. Spaude
Text: Luke 2:11

“THE BEST DEAL!”

Luke 2:11 (NIV 1984) “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

It doesn’t happen often, in fact I can’t remember it happening any other time but on this particular morning I woke up mad. Let me tell you why. My alarm went off. Normally that’s not a problem. They are supposed to do that. It’s what I heard when my alarm went off. Some people have alarms that are bells. Some have buzzers. Some wake you up with your favorite music. Mine is set to a radio station. Light music. But when the alarm went off it was commercial time and this was the first thing I heard. “Everybody knows that that the holidays are all about getting the best deals.” I processed that and started fuming. Are you kidding me? This was before Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is not about getting a deal for yourself. It’s about being thankful! And Christmas. Christmas about getting a deal! It’s about Jesus birth! Then I stopped fuming as a lay there and I started thinking. Maybe there was some truth proclaimed in this commercial. Is it really wrong to think about Christmas as getting the best deal?
Bargain hunters will tell you that a good deal is when you pay the least amount of money for something you really need. Bargain hunters will tell you that a good deal is when both parties in the transaction walk away happy. My favorite bargain hunter is a man named Clark Howard. He’s a radio, TV and internet personality that bills himself as the world’s cheapest man. He’s always looking for the best deal. Do you know what his definition of a good deal is? Free!
Let’s return now to what the Christmas message proclaims to us. It is summarized in the angel’s message to the shepherds. “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Let’s look at that truth from the standpoint of getting a good deal. One of the definitions of a “good deal” was that it was for something you really need. I don’t think I’m the only adult who watches some of the older shows from simpler days. Shows like “Little House on the Prairie.” Classics, like Dickens “A Christmas Carol.” You see how the people appreciated simple gifts that they needed. You flash forward to our abundantly blessed times when needed gifts like socks and shirts aren’t appreciated as much as wants like games and toys. We pray for more grateful hearts. And still the best deal is when you get it on something you need—like a car repair or a new furnace.
At Christmas we did receive the best deal because we received something we needed. We needed a Savior from sin. Sin is one of life’s little inconvenient truths, isn’t it? It’s not hard to talk about other people’s sins. It is easy to be appalled at the gross and flagrant sins we hear about in the news like murders, sex crimes, child abuse, theft and embezzlement. It’s harder when we have to talk about our own sins, like murdering people with words that hurt worse than sticks and stones and you have to own up to having said that. Or how about sex crimes against God and others through pornography or lusting. Then there is the child abuse of causing little ones to sin by using God’s name in vain so that they repeat it later. Or when we embezzle from our employers by wasting time on the clock. Those and many more are our sins. The inconvenient truth is that you can’t fix sin. What’s done is done. Saying, “I’m sorry,” is the right thing to do but it doesn’t undo the sin or fix the damage done. It doesn’t pay the debt owed to God or the person we sinned against. Jesus does, though. A Savior. A Rescuer. That’s who He is. That’s what we needed and received from God at Christmas. Good News! A Savior has been born. Whatever sins you remember tonight, the ghost of sins past that still haunt you, today a Savior has been born. Jesus rescues you from those sins and gives you the right to leave them behind and will be your help in dealing with any earthly consequences. That’s a great deal!
Another mark of a great deal is when both sides in the transaction walk away happy. You know how it goes. Maybe you stop at a rummage sale and you find something you want and it’s only $5. So you scoop it up before anyone else does and after you pay, you go to the car, call your friend or mom and crow about what a great deal you got. And the person holding the rummage sale is thinking or saying, “I can’t believe all these people are paying me to take away my junk! This is great! What a scam!” Everybody’s happy! Our Christmas deal is like that. People, God loves you to death, to the death of His Son. He knows that by having His Son born as one of us, born as God and man at the same time, that Jesus is going to be the only one who can fix sin and it will take His suffering and death. But God loves you. Just like imperfect parents often find joy in making sacrifices for their children our perfect Father in heaven is happy to give His Son for us. He’s pleased by the deal. We get to be happy too. You know, I don’t know what your life is like right now. I don’t know what you are going through. You do. God does. You have the right to be happy even if some temporary earthly things aren’t going so well for you. Relationships with spouse, family, friends. It will pass. Financial strain, job issues. It will pass. Health problems. One way or another, this too shall pass. Jesus. You have Him forever. Because of Christmas you have a Savior for now and forever. Both sides get to walk away happy.
And how about Clark Howard? I’ve been thinking about calling into his program some day. If I’m honest about what I am going to say I know I won’t get past his screeners. But I want to tell him about the best deal ever. One that is free! Real gifts are like that, aren’t they? They don’t cost the getter anything. They do cost the giver however. We know that by giving us Jesus as a Savior it would cost God the pain of forsaking His Son. We know that it would cost Jesus His suffering and death on the cross. But the cost to us is nothing. God’s gift is free. The shepherds didn’t have to pay to hear the Angels’ Concert even though the message they proclaimed is worth everything. Neither do you. God’s gift to you in Jesus is free. You have a Savior. Forgiveness is free. We got the best deal ever!
There are all kinds of things you can do when you get a great deal. You can tell your friends, maybe help them get that great deal too. But that’s for another time. What you can also do when you get a great deal, is enjoy it, feel good, be happy. Tonight, this week, do that. Enjoy for yourself what God has given to you. You have the best deal ever. For “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Amen.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

MIDWEEK ADVENT 3
December 14, 2011
Pastor Timothy J. Spaude
Text: Psalm 71:1-18

“PSALM-THING TO THINK ABOUT: HOPE FOR FOREVER!”

Psalm 7:1-14 (NIV 1984) “In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2 Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me. 3 Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4 Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men. 5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. 6 From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you. 7 I have become like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. 8 My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.
9 Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone. 10 For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together. 11 They say, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him.” 12 Be not far from me, O God; come quickly, O my God, to help me. 13 May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace. 14 But as for me, I will always have hope.”

Over the summer my family had a chance to visit the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. It is a moving, heart wrenching display. Of the many things that made no sense in that horror was one that stood out to me, the reaction of many of the death camp prisoners. We saw videos where one hundred or more prisoners were guarded by just 5 soldiers who would march them to a ditch, line them all up and they simply stood there waiting to get shot. Why? Why not at least try to resist? It didn’t make sense. We heard eyewitness accounts of prison escapes where some would overpower their guards, get the gates open and run for freedom while the majority simply stayed where they were. Why? The gates were open! The guards unable to respond! Why just sit down? Hopelessness. That’s the reason given. They had lost all hope so they didn’t even try. Having no hope is a horrible place to be. In all probability none of us will have to endure the horrors of a death camp. And yet because we live in a sin messed world and we ourselves are sinners we are likely to face all kinds of difficult situations. At each one our ancient enemy the Devil is there trying to lead us to despair, despondency, giving up. His tool is hopelessness. How thankful we are for the word of God, the truth that defeats Satan’s lies. As we conclude our Advent focus of Psalm thing to think about Psalm 71 proclaims God’s truth that with Jesus we have hope for forever.
We don’t know for sure whom God used to write Psalm 71. Likely it was King David. The psalmist prayed “In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2 Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me. 3 Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4 Deliver me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men. 5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. 6 From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you.” Here we find a truth proclaimed. With the Lord there is hope for when you are young. Young people have problems. We can think of young David. Sounds like he was the runt of the litter, the forgotten child in the family. He could have been hopeless. Things will never change. He had to defend sheep from lions and bears. Pretty scary, a chance to feel hopeless. But he wasn’t . He had the Lord. The Lord would protect him and see him through. He had hope when he was young because he had the Lord.
We young people here today, we have problems we face. You young ones younger than I, have hard things to face. What is it that the Devil is trying to make you feel hopeless about? Is school work a struggle? Do you think it will never change, never end? Is it hard for you with the other kids? Having trouble fitting in? Are there problems at home? Do you have a broken heart that you feel will never end? It’s OK. This too will pass. You have Jesus. He is on your side. That means you have hope. Just wait and you will see how He rescues you for He will. Don’t give up. Don’t despair. With Jesus you have hope for when you are young.
But it’s not just us young people who to have hope. You old people do too! Listen to the Psalmist. “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone. 10 For my enemies speak against me; those who wait to kill me conspire together. 11 They say, “God has forsaken him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue him.” 12 Be not far from me, O God; come quickly, O my God, to help me. 13 May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace. 14 But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.” Young people problems can seem pretty big and they are for those at that age. As we get older problems get bigger. Now we are talking jobs and family income and expenses. Now we are talking marriage relationships. Now we are talking major medical and end of life issues as the plumbing and electrical start to degrade. Then there’s the kids and the grandkids too. What situation is the Devil trying to use to make you feel hopeless? But you are not hopeless. You have the Lord. Just like the Psalmist you can say, “As for me I will always have hope.” You can say that because you know and have seen how the Lord has worked your past. He does work all things for good. He does refine and chasten those He loves. He does come to that aid of His people when they cry to Him. He never has left you nor forsaken you and He never will. Jesus lives. He is ruling all things for your good. With the Lord we have hope for when we are young and for when we are old.
And forever. Let’s go back to the first verse of the Psalm. Often times with Psalms the first verse will be a summary of what you need to learn through the whole Psalm. Verse one says, “In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.” Never is a strong word. It is a controlling word. Never means not ever under any circumstance. The Psalmist prayed for no shame ever under any circumstances. Shame is an interesting word, isn’t it? Children who misbehave might hear their parents say, “Shame on you!” People who do or say things that go beyond what is commonly accepted as decent might here the phrase, “Have you no shame?” What if God gave me a camera where if I shined it on you all your thoughts about others would be revealed on a screen. What you thought about me, your pastors, your teachers, your students, your spouse, that actor or actress. Is there anyone who wouldn’t be ashamed?
And yet the Psalmist prayed for no shame. Because his trust was in the Lord. We will never be put to shame trusting in Jesus, that means regret it because with Jesus we have no shame. Instead with Jesus we have hope for forever. All those things you thought of when I talked about the camera revealing that would embarrass you to death. Those sins that we are ashamed of and shame on us for committing them, everyone gone because of Jesus. Washed away by His blood. No shame. Hope for forever. We have heaven to look forward to. We have Jesus. At the day of our death, on Judgment Day we will have no shame because with Jesus we have hope that lasts forever.
Hope for forever. Hopelessness can lead people to do things that are hard to understand. Like doing nothing. Like ending their own lives. Like giving up or pushing people away. If the Devil whispers in your ears that your situation is hopeless, resist him, rebuke him, tell him to go away. For you belong to Jesus and that means you have hope for forever. Amen.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

December 11/12, 2011 Advent Song Service

December 11/12, 2011 - Advent 3 - by Pastor Paul G. Eckert

December 11/12, 2011
SONG SERVICE
BASED ON PROPHETIC STATEMENTS
FROM THE BOOK OF ISAIAH
WELCOME
Hymn 30:1-3 (Sunday) --- “Rise, Arise”
Hymn 30:1-2 (Monday) --- “Rise, Arise”
P: Come, let us worship in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: ♫ Amen.
P: Prayer
C: ♫ Amen.
From the lips of children (Sunday)
Jr. Choir (8:15 service) - “Emmanuel Will Come”
Cherub Choir (10:45 service) - “Advent Canon”
Hymn 30:3 (Monday) --- “Crown Him King!”
1. Sing To The Lord A New Song, For He Has Done Glorious Things.
Isaiah 12:1-6 - In that day you will say: “I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
Psalm 31, page 77 --- “Surely, it is God who saves me”
2. Acknowledge That We Have Done Other Things.
Isaiah 1:2-6 - Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness— only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil.
P: Confession
Hymn 27:1-3 --- “O Jesus, Lamb of God”
3. Marvel At God's Response To Our Sin.
Isaiah 1:18 - “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
P: Absolution
Hymn 27:4 --- “Help me to change my ways, O Lord”
4. Marvel At The Future He Holds Before Us.
Isaiah 2:2-5 - This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Isaiah 25:6-8 - On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.
Ladies' Choir --- “Lift Up Your Heads”
5. Consider How Specific God's Promises Were.
Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Isaiah 9:6-7 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
Mixed Choir --- “He Shall Be Called”
Isaiah 4:2 - In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel.
Isaiah 11:1-3 - A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD - and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
Hymn 47:1-2 --- “Behold, a Branch Is Growing”
6. See How God Prepared The Way.
Isaiah 40:1-3 - Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.”
Mixed Choir --- “Prepare The Way”
P: Prayer
All: The Lord's Prayer
Hymn 43:1 and 4 --- “To Thee My Heart I Offer”
We Bring Our Offerings --- (during this time please fill in the Friendship Register)
7. Shudder And Rejoice At What Took Place.
Isaiah 53:1-7 - Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Mixed Choir --- “You Are My All In All / Fairest Lord Jesus”
8. Now The Glory Of The Lord Still Rises Upon Us.
Isaiah 60:1-2 - “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.”
Ladies' Choir --- “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
P: Closing Prayer and Blessing
C: ♫ Amen, Amen, Amen.
Hymn 21:1-4 --- “Hosanna to the Coming Lord”
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Monday, December 5, 2011

ADVENT 2
December 4/5, 2011
Pastor Timothy J. Spaude
Text: 2 Peter 3:8-14

WHAT GOD WANTS!
1. Everyone’s Repentance.
2. A New Heaven and a New Earth.
3. Our Every Effort.

2 Peter 3:8-14 (NIV 1984) “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.”

It was about 65 AD. The young Christian church was barely 30 years old. The people filling the pews those days were first generation Christians. The Apostles still walked the earth. They took the word of God, the promise that Jesus would come again very seriously. Some, many, were getting tired of waiting. They were getting discouraged. The Holy Spirit sent Peter into action. His second epistle encouraged waiting Christians. In the first part of chapter 3 Peter had talked about scoffers coming and saying “Where is this end of the world?” You wonder if Peter didn’t know that the biggest scoffer lives inside of each one of us too. We are waiting Christians. We know and believe Jesus’ promise to come again. Yet life goes on. We all have things to do and people to see. We easily settle into the routines of life celebrating the proper observances at the proper time. Today this word of God serves us by encouraging us to focus on what God wants in view of Jesus’ coming.
The first thing He wants is everyone’s repentance. “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” OK. It’s three weeks, 21 days until Christmas. Is that a long time or a short time? Well that depends on your perspective right? Children you have to wait 21 days to open presents. That seems like forever doesn’t it? I remember when a week was like a year. Parents 21 days until Christmas and we say, “Oh no! Are you kidding? It’s already here! I’ll never get everything done.” The end of the world is like that. The people in Peter’s time thought it was taking so long. That was their perception of time. Maybe we do too, if we even think about it. But look what God has in mind. The perception of time is meaningless.
What God wants is not. He wants everyone to repent. That’s what He is waiting for. Everyone gets their chance. God is patient. He doesn’t want anyone to perish. He wants repentance. Now I can’t give Him everyone’s repentance. Neither can you. What can we do? Well we can get the word out. We can do that personally with those we know. We can give money to support those who proclaim God’s Word here and elsewhere. We can pray for the repentance of all people. But we can also give to God our own personal repentance. That’s what He wants. Does He have it from you? If Jesus came today is there something on your cell phone you wouldn’t want Him to see? Anything hiding on your computer, in your house? Sin comes to all of us but repentant Christians will strive to make sure that it never finds a home with us. How about the home of your heart? Are you letting bitterness and jealousy dwell rent free? Who or what sits on the throne of your heart? If it is anything or anyone but Jesus, repent. That’s what God wants.
What God wants is a new heaven and new earth. We can relate. It’s nice when clothes have worn out to get something new. The world we live in is wearing out. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned it’s been fighting against itself, never functioning exactly like it is supposed to. Species become extinct. Fault lines slip with ensuing destruction of earthquakes and tsunamis. Try as hard as we want to be green we continue to pollute. It is inevitable. The world is getting worn out. God wants a new heaven and a new earth and he’s going to get it! “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.”
When the last day comes and it will this world as we know it will be destroyed. Some people like to argue back and forth over whether or not God will just create everything new or rework the refined created matter into a new heaven and new earth that is the way it was supposed to be in the beginning. Not me! I hear new heaven and new earth and my eyes light up. On the Price is Right when they win the brand new car they don’t look to see how many parts were made out of recycled material. They whoop and holler and jump and scream because it’s new. That’s the attitude we get to have to as we wait for the Day of the Lord. And it’s what motivates us as Paul said “to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”
That’s also what God wants. Our every effort in living as Christians.“So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” Spotless. Blameless. At peace with God. Brothers and sisters, these are not things that are going to happen by our doing. You and I know very well that our best efforts at holy living will fall short. We need to work hard at living holy and godly lives but guys even when we keep our computers clean they are still going to focus on the exposed cheerleaders during the football games. We will see that. And sisters you know very well how your heart or mouth is going to respond to some other woman’s words or actions. Probably not always taking them in the kindest possible way. Children when you look at why you are doing the things you are doing, how you act at school and at home there is a lot of selfishness there, isn’t there? Spotless. Blameless. How do we make every effort to be found that way?
By clinging to the only one who can and does make us spotless and blameless, Jesus Christ. That’s what God wants. Are you making every effort to do that? This past Thanksgiving after Thanksgiving worship my family traveled to La Crosse to be with family for Thanksgiving. Caused a little problem for me. See church gets over at about 10:30. Packer game starts at 11:30. WTMJ’s radio signal usually lasts until somewhere between Madison and the Dells. So I got online to find other stations that might broadcast. I asked phone people if there was a way to listen on the phone. I made every effort to hear that broadcast. Are you making every effort to hear the broadcast that tells you about Jesus? For the past few years your pastors have been concerned about worship attendance. We see a gradual decrease in our people coming to worship Jesus. Has that happened with you? Has every week changed into 3 out of 4? Has 3 out 4 then become every other? Now sure you can read the Bible on your own each day but are you? Are you practicing daily repentance, examining your heart and life so when you take the Lord’s Supper it is the blessing God intends and not the judgment that happens when one tires to play games with God who knows all and sees all. Is God getting your every effort? That’s what He wants as you wait.
Christmas is coming. We know that. We are waiting for it to happen. Will you get what you want? We’ll see. And why do you want those things? Probably for yourself. The Last Day, when Jesus returns, that’s coming too. Will God get what He wants? And did you notice that what He wants is for the good of others, not Himself? What He wants is everyone’s repentance, a new heaven and new earth for people to live in and our every effort to hold on to Jesus so we will be found spotless and blameless in that Day. Let’s strive to give it to Him. Amen.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

November 30, 2011 Wednesday Advent sermon on Psalm 24 by Pastor Paul G. Eckert

Wednesday Advent - November 30, 2011 - by Pastor Paul G. Eckert
Psalm 24
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty - he is the King of glory.
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Ancient Jerusalem was a walled city with a number of gates. The gates were there to keep out some people, soldiers, armies the city did not want. They were there to welcome others by opening them up. The reference in our Psalm to gates lifting up their heads is what we call an anthropomorphism. The gates are pictured to be like people who lift up their heads, look up with happiness when they see someone coming whom they like, who is important to them.
While I can tell you what an anthropomorphism is - applying human terms to something not human, I don’t think I can tell you exactly how they opened the gates of Jerusalem that had to be very heavy. But I do know something about opening garage doors. You see, I’ve had a number of experiences with garage door springs breaking. Those garage doors are heavy. Trying to lift them alone is asking for trouble for your back.
But let’s move now from the picture of opening a garage door for a car to come in to the picture in our Psalm of gates lifting up their heads, or opening up, to welcome the King of glory in. Let’s look at
THE GLORY OF A KING
I A KING WHO IS ALMIGHTY (1-2,8,10)
1. That almightiness is seen in creation. (1-2)
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
a) What a world we have! It has dry land and seas. It has vegetation - all kinds of trees, fruits, vegetables. It has the tiniest creatures that are so complex, and animals, from little to big, that roam the land. It has water life in the oceans and lakes, from minnows to the largest whales. It has birds of all sizes flying in the air. And it has people, male and female, to populate and manage the earth.
b) We know what the world says about this. It says that all of this came by itself, that the intricate designs of nature and creatures are by evolution from nothing, that there is no god, no supreme being. But we believe what God has revealed and what our Psalm says:
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
2. That almightiness is seen also in the Lord’s control. (8)
Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
a) God has not stepped out of the world He created.
b) Whether people accept it or not or believe it or not, the fact is that history is under God’s control. We often may not understand why God controls the world as He does. Yet we believe He is strong and mighty and in control.
3. Could this apply to Jesus?
a) It’s Advent. We’re celebrating Jesus’ coming. When He came in Bethlehem He was seen as a helpless baby needing His mother’s attention. Lift a garage door? He couldn’t even walk yet.
b) Then how can we say He is the almighty King of glory? At Christmas time many see a baby. But do they lift their heads and see a King who is almighty to whom belongs the glory of creation?
4. Yes, Jesus is the King of glory. (1-2,10)
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. --- Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty - he is the King of glory.
a) Does this describe Jesus? Is He the almighty Creator?
b) Listen to what John in the opening words of His Gospel says about Jesus, the Word made flesh for us: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."
c), Yes, Jesus - with the Father and the Holy Spirit - is
the LORD Almighty - he is the King of glory.
II A KING TO BE WELCOMED (7-9)
1. He was welcomed on Palm Sunday. (7-8)
a) Psalm 24 is regularly used in our Palm Sunday services.
Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
b) You can easily see why, thinking of Jesus nearing the gates of Jerusalem, remembering the people lifting their heads in welcome.
2. But then what?
a) Yes, Jesus was acknowledged as coming in the Lord’s name.
b) But by the end of the week He was totally rejected.
3. Can we, like on Palm Sunday, welcome only outwardly?
a) Children, can you hear about Jesus, say that you believe in Him, but then forget about Him? Can you come to church but then pay no attention to His Word, not ask what you can learn about your Savior today - or maybe not even want to come to church at all?
b) All of us, can our church membership be outward only? Is it easy to call ourselves Christians, outwardly acknowledge Jesus, but find all kinds of reasons to open the gates or doors of our cars and drive elsewhere instead of opening the gates of our church to hear God’s Word and praise our Savior?
4. Please remember: the King of Glory is worth welcoming. (9)
Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
a) I wonder how many have had trouble lifting a garage door.
b) I hope not too many. But there is a problem we all have, and that is opening the gates of our hearts the way we should.
c) Remember that the King of Glory is a King to be welcomed.
III A KING WHO WELCOMES US (3-6,10)
1. Why would He welcome us? (3-4)
Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
a) Clean hands and a pure heart, not putting anything ahead of the true God - who of us qualifies for that? None of us.
b) Sinners that we are, why would the Lord welcome us? An accurate description of us would be that our heart springs are broken, that because of our sin we can’t and don’t lift up the garage doors of our hearts the way we should to let the King of Glory come in. Welcome us? We deserve to be rejected by the Lord.
2. But we are welcomed because He is our Savior. (5)
He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.
a) To welcome us the helpless Baby born in Bethlehem became our Savior. Our sins were like a garage door too heavy by far for us to lift. But Jesus lifted that load, lifted it up on the cross with Him.
b) And there, with His innocent death for us the guilty, He vindicated us, justified us, exonerated us, set us free from the punishment we deserve for our sin. That is the message of salvation the Holy Spirit uses to give us faith in the Lord of glory, our Savior.
3. What glory He thus gives us. (3-5)
Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.
a) Because we are vindicated, forgiven, we are clean and pure in the eyes of God.
b) Because of our Savior we receive blessings from our Lord.
4. May we always seek him. (6,10)
Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
a) Seek Him who invites, "Come unto Me."
b) Fellow sinners, no matter how bad we are, how heavy our sins, there is a Savior who welcomes us, who came to this earth to lift our load of sins from us, to forgive us, to vindicate us.
Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty - he is the King of glory.
c) And that glory He welcomes us to share with Him.
As the first Christmas came, so the time of sharing glory with our Savior is daily drawing closer. Whenever our last hour or the last day comes, Jesus will not tell us to lift up our garage doors. But He will say what He said to His early disciples, "Lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Yes indeed, heed these words:
Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty - he is the King of glory.