Monday, January 25, 2016

January 23-25, 2016 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Acts 4:14-21 “HERE IS WHY WE WILL KEEP SPEAKING THE WORD OF GOD BOLDLY:



EPIPHANY 3
January 23-25, 2016
Pastor Timothy J. Spaude
Text: Acts 4:14-21

“HERE IS WHY WE WILL KEEP SPEAKING THE WORD OF GOD BOLDLY:
1.     We know God’s Word.
2.     We know God’s priorities.
3.     We know God’s power.

Acts 4:23-31 (NIV1984) “On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: " 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. ' 27Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

          OK, so you are at work. You are about to walk into the breakroom. You overhear the ongoing conversation. “I don’t know what the big deal is. If two people love each other why shouldn’t they be able to marry?” You turn around and walk away. It’s the family Christmas gathering. The big one with everyone there including him, the loudmouth who’s always looking to start a debate also known as an argument. When there is a lull in the conversation he starts in, “I don’t know why Christians have to be so judgmental about everyone else’s life…” You think, “Do I even go there?” The invitation comes in the mail from your co-worker. “Kathy and Mary are pleased to invite you to hear them make their marriage promises.” Now what do I do? If you haven’t already experienced one of these or something like it, you will. Times have changed from early American history when people flocked to hear a good fire and brimstone sermon where the preacher preached ‘em out of hell into the waiting arms of Jesus and when many civil ordinances reflected God’s morals, to our time, where there is no hell and civil ordinances reflect corrupted human reasoning. What should we Christians do? One solution is to be quiet and withdraw from society, maybe become our own community like the Amish have done. Or maybe we just stay quiet where we are at, our faith life will be our private life. There is a better way. Keep speaking the word of God boldly. Brothers and sisters our nation needs us. The people of our nation need us if they are going to be saved. Today in God’s Word we find all the reasons we need to keep speaking the Word of God boldly.
          See opposition to God and His word is nothing new. The book of Acts shows us the life of the early Christian church. They actually had it worse than we do. “On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.” Jesus had ascended to heaven. He commissioned Peter and John and the other Apostles to be His witnesses, to tell others Jesus is the Savior. They did. They proclaimed Jesus as Messiah in Jerusalem. Many believed. The chief priests and religious leaders who had opposed Jesus now opposed them. They arrested Peter and John and had them put in prison. Then they threatened to punish Peter and John if they kept speaking boldly about Jesus and let them go. Here is where we pick it up. Peter and John reported to their fellow believers what had happened and what was said. How would you have responded?
          Here’s how they did. “When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: " 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.” These people knew God’s Word. They recognized what was happening was something God had already told them about in Psalm 2. It was all under control.
          Our lives are too. Do you really think the One enthroned in heaven is unaware of our circumstances? Of course He is. And we know His word. In all things He works for the good of those who love Him. We must have tribulations as we go through the kingdom of God. If they got mad at Jesus and they did, the unbelieving world will get mad at His followers. I will be with you always. Don’t worry about what to say, the Holy Spirit will be with you. We can maintain a faithful presence as Christians in our community and workplace and keep speaking God’s word boldly and appropriately because we know God’s Word. One question. Do you know it as well as you did when you were confirmed? If your answer is no it’s time to do something about it.
          It’s time to do something about it so we can keep speaking God’s word boldly because we know God’s priorities. The early Christians certainly did. “Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.” Pilate and Herod were pawns. God’s pawns. When they conspired together to get rid of the problem of Jesus they were walking along the path God had decided beforehand they would walk. Why? Salvation of souls. That is God’s priority. He does not want people suffering the Hell they deserve. He does not want His dearly loved people stuck living in an imperfect sin marred world. He wants people with Him forever in the glory of heaven. For that to happen a perfect substitute would need to willingly pay the wages of sin and be worth enough to cover all. Jesus. His death no accident. The threats Peter and John received were not either. God always has a plan that advances His priority even when, maybe we should say especially when, it looks like things are going the wrong way.
          We know God’s priority. He wants all to be saved through belief in His Son, Jesus Christ. Sometimes it’s good for us to review it, especially if circumstances are pushing us to keep quiet about Jesus. God’s priority for His people in the United States of America, state of Wisconsin, community of Milwaukee was never that we win the battle against gay marriage. It was never that we make or keep our nation as the most God fearing nation on earth. It wasn’t even that we stop the legalized murder of babies commonly called abortion. Don’t misunderstand me. Same sex marriage is sinful as is all the opposite sex sinning our nation condones. Abortion is murder. As patriotic citizens we can and should use the channels open to us to try to change things. But that’s not God’s priority. It’s salvation. God has you where you are at to win the battle for the soul of an unbeliever. If we lose sight of that truth in our efforts to fix the evils of America we are playing into the enemy’s hands. We’re chasing our tails. God’s priority is the salvation of souls and He has you in your family, your neighborhood, your workplace to be a light shining for Jesus to draw others to Him, living your life with grace so others ask you for the hope that you have and you get to point them to Jesus. You know God’s priorities.
          Do you know and trust God’s power? They did. “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” What was the first response of God’s people when Peter and John told them about the threats, the intimidation to keep quiet about Jesus? They prayed. They prayed to the Sovereign LORD who made the heavens, the earth and the sea and everything in them. God has power! So of course the first thing to do is to pray to Him. No wringing of hands. No “Woe is me!” No quick development of an action plan. Prayer. To the God of power. What for? Help us be what we are: your followers who speak your words boldly!
          Hey, that’s not so hard. We can pray. “Lord you know our circumstances. You know what we go through at work or deal with in our families. Enable us your servants to speak your word with great boldness so more can be saved.” Some of us will speak boldly to others. Some of you can speak boldly to God. Senior saints we need you. Can you pray to God for your pastors and teachers and leaders that we speak the word of God boldly and in love as we should? Can you pray for the young people so they can be salt and light when they are out of this safe place? God has you here for a reason. We need you. Speak boldly to God on our behalf. Then we can speak. There is a right time and place to speak God’s word to co-workers and family. You’ll have to decide what time is right. God will guide you. But shut and be quiet, about Jesus? No way! We know God’s  Word. We know God’s priorities. We know God’s power. We will speak boldly. Amen!

Monday, January 11, 2016

January 9-11, 2016 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Psalm 2 PREQUEL TO BAPTISM: WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?



BAPTISM OF JESUS
January 9-11, 2016
Pastor Timothy J. Spaude
Text: Psalm 2

PREQUEL TO BAPTISM:  WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
1.  Without The LORD’s Anointed:  Objects of Wrath.
2. With the LORD’s Anointed:  Blessed!

Psalm 2 (NIV 1984) “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? 2The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. 3"Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." 4The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. 5Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 6"I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill." 7I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father. 8Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." 10Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. 11Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. 12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

          OK so how many of you saw the new Star Wars movie? Me too! I have to admit that I had to ask, “So when did this one take place?” That’s because the first Star Wars movie that came out was actually Episode 4. Then they did 5 and 6 as sequels. Then went back to 1, 2 and 3 as prequels. The parts that happened before. Psalm 2 is kind of like that with regard to the Baptism of Jesus. It’s a prequel. Something that took place before Jesus was baptized. Only when God sets it up we normally call it prophecy and it’s got some comforting truths and warning or two for the people of God. Let’s see what they are.
          “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? 2The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. 3"Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." Who do you think you are? That’s a question of we might ask when someone is acting out of line. Who do you think are? God basically says that in these first three verses of Psalm 2. Did you notice whom he was talking about? Those who most would think are the famous and powerful, the rulers of nations and peoples, kings and emperors. “Who do you think you are?” God says, “plotting against me and my Son, the Anointed One, Jesus Christ.” Maybe you think of some who did that in the Bible like the Pharisees and chief priests plotting to kill Jesus or Pilate and Herod who thought they were in charge of Jesus. Or the Roman emperors who carried out persecutions against Christians. It can really be applied though to any godless ruler who opposes the will of the one true God. Islamic State, who do you think you are, trying to set up one nation under the fake god Allah? North Korea who do you think you are threatening and fearmongering? US government who do you think you are telling people it’s OK to murder babies that are inside their mothers’ wombs, that it is OK to sin sexually as long as it makes you feel good. Those are examples of what it means to try to break God’s chains and throw off his fetters. It’s as though those rulers are saying, “You’re not in control, God. You’re not the boss of me.” And now our heads go up and we take warning because the Spirit reminds us how we like to be kings and queens of our own lives. How hard it is, fellow children of God, to fully surrender your will to Him. Easy to say God’s will be done, hard to mean it. Especially when the life or health of a loved one is at stake or we want something really bad. Who do we think we are?
          Opposing God is not a good thing. It does not end well. “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. 5Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 6"I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill." Here we see God’s just and punishing side. It’s the part of Him He doesn’t want to have to use. God’s overriding characteristic is love. He is filled with compassion and mercy. He wants to forgive and comfort. But when there is defiance and opposition God’s other side comes into play. Justice. He is God after all. He laughs and scoffs. Who do you think you are? The one I chose is Jesus Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords. Oppose him and you will pay.
          Then comes the prequel to Baptism. “I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father. 8Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” Jesus is talking before He was born of  Mary. He points to the time when God the Father publicly pointed to Him as His dearly loved Son, Jesus Baptism.
Then comes the warning. Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. 11Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. 12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment.”  There are only two ways. Either you will bow before Jesus in adoration or you will kneel before Him in terror. That’s worth repeating. Either you will bow before Jesus in adoration or you will kneel before Him in terror. God is not kidding and He does not mess around. He is God. He gave His only Son Jesus to be punished for sins He did not commit. So we bow before Him in adoration. We serve the Lord yes out of love but also with fear and trembling. Respect. Kiss God’s Son. That’s a picture of treating with adoration. Or…, or you will kneel before Him in terror.
Now what can we learn from this? Who do you think you are? Without the LORD’s Anointed, objects of wrath. May we never be found there. However this is a comforting truth if you want to use it. The nations will continue to rage and plot. Right now it’s Islamic State and North Korea. Before that there was Hussein and Iraq. Before that the Soviet Union, Cuba, China and we can keep going. You can watch the news channels and listen to the commentators and get all bent out of shape about who is doing what and afraid about who is doing what. Or we can realize that the LORD and His Anointed have it well under control. He laughs and scoffs at the schemers and plotters who think they rule His world. If they keep it up and do not repent, the next time you see them on the God News Channel they will be kneeling in terror. They will not get away with it. Without the LORD’s Anointed you become an object of God’s wrath.
But with the LORD’s Anointed you are blessed. Most of Psalm 2 is a warning for those who think they can oppose God. But listen again to how it ends. “Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” As we celebrate the time Jesus was baptized we can’t help but think about our own. At Jesus’ Baptism God made it clear to all present that Jesus is the Anointed One, His Son in whom He is well pleased. He needed to do that because Jesus looked like everyone else. Our Baptism serves us a in a similar way. God made it clear that you belong to Him and I belong to Him. That’s important for us to know because well we look like everyone else. We sin. We struggle. We have doubts. Maybe you are at a point in your life that you wonder why God puts up with you as you struggle with sin, worry, fear, doubt that you just can’t shake. Go back to your Baptism. God called you His there and He meant it. Find your refuge in the LORD’s Anointed, not yourself. He is the perfect one. He is the one who removes sin. We are blessed because of Him! Who do you think you are? Well because of Jesus I am God’s dearly loved child. So are you.
I’m not sure when the next Star Wars movie will come out or how the whole thing with its prequels and sequels will end. Haven’t read the book. But I have read this book. It ends with Jesus the LORD’s Anointed ruling all things and us right along with Him. Can’t wait to see that one. Amen.

Monday, January 4, 2016

January 2-4, 2016 Pastor Forrest Bivens Rise and Shine in this New Year!



Isaiah 60:1-6   Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. 2See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 3Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 4Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm. 5Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come. 6Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.
Introduction:  I was born and raised in Tucson, AZ. I was used to having sunshine 85% of the day time year-round (percentage of time between sunrise and sunset that sunshine reaches the ground).  For me that was normal and I assumed it was the same everywhere else. Of course I was wrong. In and around Milwaukee the percentage is 54% -- 31% less time. My first year spent in Wisconsin (as a student in 1961-1962 school year) found me kind of depressed and unable to explain it – until someone told me that our emotions are influenced by the amount of light we receive – whether it’s sunshine (best) or artificial light (OK). God created us to understand and appreciate light, so he often uses this imagery to picture greater truths. Today’s text is a great example – with an invitation:
Rise and Shine in this New Year!
1.      Rise because you have light
2.      Shine because you are light
Part 1:  Rise because You Have Light
1.      Isaiah starts by pointing us to a penetrating and universal darkness: See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples.  “Darkness language” is often used in the Bible to picture serious problems that sinful mankind has: ignorance, sin, and sorrow
·         The worst of all ignorance that people can have is to be clueless regarding God and how sinners can get right with God.
·         The worst of all sin is to be enslaved by the guilt and power of sin but lacking of repentance.  In a word: it’s the darkness of unbelief.
·         The penetrating darkness of sorrow involves enduring disappointment and sadness of being a sinner in a sinful world but lacking the joy of a faith-life.  
2.      Isaiah wants us to do more than casually observe these are realities in this world. He says, “See! or Behold!” to get our attention. This is a serious and important truth. Also, he speaks of “the earth” and “the peoples,” references to mankind universally. It wasn’t just Israel in the OT, but also all nations. It isn’t just the US today but all 196 countries worldwide. The darkness of ignorance, unbelief, sin and sorrow are pervasive everywhere. For anyone who cares about people, this is a tragic reality!
3.      Then there’s the dramatic shift in focus: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. . . the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. There is light to counter darkness, knowledge and wisdom to replace ignorance, faith and spiritual life to oppose sin and unbelief, and joy to react to sorrow. God is addressing his people – the “Israel within Israel” – those who embrace the gospel centered in the Messiah. They were the first to see and know the light (the gospel is God’s power for salvation to all who believe, to the Jew first, then to the Gentile.) References to the Lord rising upon you and his glory appearing over you are linked to the Messiah. The Gospel reading for Christmas Day included these words: We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14). The Light of the Word has come!
4.      Because this is so—and because you know Jesus: “Rise!” Get up and be active about life and living. Express the good news that light has answered darkness in your heart and life. What a wonderful invitation for this Sunday – for at least 2 reasons: (1) Epiphany season begins Thursday and fulfills what is here promised: Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Starting with the Wise Men or Magi, Gentiles are brought to bask in the light of the Messiah alongside Jews. The Epiphany season, showcasing how Jesus exhibited himself as the Messiah through signs and wonders as well as words, is a continuous call to us all: Rise! Get up and actively express new life in Christ, with new wisdom, joy, and faith. (2) We have just begun to live out another calendar year, not knowing in detail how things will play out for us and our loved ones, but still knowing we have every reason to be up-and-at-it, active, eager, expressive of new life in Christ. Rise, Jesus remains with you! Rise, your light has come and still shines brightly in his gospel! Rise, you have meaning and purpose, goals and hopes that really mean something. Rise as forgiven and comforted sinners who are saints!

Transition: Rise. And shine! There is a double emphasis and urging here. We rise because we have light in Christ; we shine because we are also light!
Part 2: Shine because You Are Light.
1.      Let’s remember that Jesus clearly said, “I am the Light of the world” (John 8:12) AND that he also said to his disciples, “You are the light of the world” (Mt 5:14). Both are true. We may speak of “moonlight” even though that light is a borrowed or reflected light from the sun. Christians reflect the light of Christ. This is inevitable: You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Jesus knows well the weaknesses and faults of us Christians, yet he means what he says. What we all do have includes: 1) a value system that has substance and meaning in contrast to the empty, here-today-gone-tomorrow baubles worldlings have to settle for; 2) love supernaturally given and maintained in us, to show to friend and foe alike, to be different, drawing attention to Jesus; 3) the ability to bear crosses and endure disappointments with grace, patience, and optimism bases on God’s sure promises.
2.      First key question: Do we agree with this high view of ourselves? We are often quick to see darkness and dimness more than brightness. This is the way the devil and our own sinful nature like us to see things – they never trust divine promises a bit. Nor do we wish to deny our weaknesses and faults. But these don’t deny or change God’s truth of our also being light. Perhaps a comparison will help: we know there are many different lamps and lights and they may be made out of many different materials (like silver, gold, crystal glass, wood, tin, clay, plastic). Some are weaker, others stronger; some are highly valued by people, others considered of little value. But the truth remains: when connected to a power supply, all can give light or shine. So it is for all who are connected to the living God through faith in Jesus. May this view of ourselves prevail!
3.      Second key question: Do we believe positive things will result when we shine? Isaiah does – God promises it. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 4Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm. 5Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come. 6Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord. What an almost unbelievable promise! We are quick to think and say that so many will reject our faith and testimony in Christ. We know that is also true: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed (Jn 3:19-20). But that is never universally true – The Lord’s Word will never return to him empty, without accomplishing what he wants it to (Isa 55:10-11). The timetable often calls us to show patience. The sometimes gradual nature of the light dispersing darkness (like sunlight dispersing fog layer by layer) means we may not see the full effect immediately – but the work is being done. And the slow-but-steady impact of a godly, loving lifestyle coupled with Christ-centered affirmations of sins forgiven and destinies redirected to heaven remains firm: darkness gives way to light in God’s good time.
4.      Because all of this is true: Shine! Look once more at this text. The opening two words, “Arise, shine” are the only two words that invite, encourage, or command us to do something. Everything else is trustworthy information about the gospel realities that God has established, salvation promises that he makes regarding the future of his people in the last days, and comforting descriptions of how well this will turn out for us and those we serve in Christ. Wow! What a perfect example of “evangelical admonition” or gospel encouragements to allow us to start the new year well! The instructions and revealed will of our God are so closely linked to his saving acts and gracious promises that they move the heart to respond.
Conclusion: May this balance – with the gospel promises outweighing our clear duty and responsibility – characterize the whole year among us! If we want to learn to paint, it’s a good thing to spend time with a painter; to learn to build it’s good to spend time and learn from a builder; to learn to work on a car it’s wise to spend time with an auto mechanic. And to be godly and Christlike, it’s best to spend time with God and Christ. With open Bibles, open hearts, and open minds, let’s do that this year. Then we’ll know firmly that we have light and are light – and we’ll rise and shine in the new year. Amen.