Monday, April 17, 2017

April 16-17, 2017 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Matthew 28:1-10 “GOD CARES ENOUGH TO SEND THE VERY BEST!”


EASTER

April 16-17, 2017

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Matthew 28:1-10



“GOD CARES ENOUGH TO SEND THE VERY BEST!”

1.     His Son.

2.     His angels.

3.     You!



Matthew 28:1-10 (NIV) After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." 8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."



          Hallmark Cards came up with it. An advertising slogan that stuck. “When you care enough to send the very best!” The message was clear. Anything less than a Hallmark greeting card wasn’t good enough, didn’t show enough care. If you really cared you’d send the best, a Hallmark card. Now, as my poor wife will testify I’m no greeting card giving expert and don’t actually agree with what feels like a manipulative effort to sell more  of  a specific brand of greeting cards. And yet, I have to admit there is truth behind the slogan. Love, caring, is shown by actions that match words and the depth of the love and care can in fact be measured by the quality of the sacrifice. You give your best for what is most important to you.  When you look at what God gave it’s clear that what’s most important to God is people. He cares for you and me. As we gather on this joyous Easter we see in the Easter message, God cares enough to send the very best.

          There’s a lot of joy and happiness around Easter especially if the sun is shining. American Easter customs have family dinners or Easter buffets, baskets and candy. But real Easter joy doesn’t come from those once a year things. Real Easter joy flows from the reality of death. That might sound kind of weird but let me explain. Some of have called death “Easter’s handmaiden.” In other words, death serves Easter. In a sense that is true. If there were no death there would be no Easter.

          “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.” It was early Sunday morning and Matthew tells us of two women who went to a tomb. Whose tomb? Who had died? You know. Jesus. Why had He died? Because God cared enough to send the very best. Death is Easter’s handmaiden. There would be no Easter if Jesus had not died. There would be no need for Jesus to die if people weren’t dying. And why were they dying? Why do they die today? Sin. Friends I know we live at a time and in a country where it’s just not polite to tell people what they are doing is wrong and still we can’t get away from news where people are telling other people what they are doing is wrong from anything to holding a press conference to deplaning paying passengers. The fact of the matter is the only one who gets to say to all, “This is wrong” or “This is right” is God. And when He calls something wrong, it is. Every death screams out to all people, “God is right. Sin is wrong. And because all people sin, all people die.” But that’s not the worst of it. The real wages of sin isn’t just an earthly body giving up its spirit. The real wages is the eternal death of separation from God in hell. Now you can join the 42% of Americans who believe there is no Hell if you want but it won’t change the fact that Hell is real. Nor will it change the fact that God loves people, all people, you so much He sent the very best to keep you out of Hell. He sent His Son Jesus. If you didn’t get a chance to hear a Bible based Good Friday message it was on Good Friday that Jesus Christ, the holy and perfect Son of God died after paying the punishment price for everyone’s sins. That’s why we call His death day Good. Good for us. God sent the very best.

          And God wanted people like the women who ran to Jesus’ tomb, people like you and me to know that so on Easter morning He cared enough to send the best, His angels. “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." Angels! Angels are God’s servants. They are spirits. By nature they are invisible. They have no bodies. God has granted them powers beyond our ability to understand. Angels are very common. They are everywhere. You just don’t see them because they are spirits. One of the jobs God gives them is to protect us and they are very good at it. So good at it most of the time we are unaware of all the times they have protected us from danger and how they regularly stop the Devil and demons from harming us as they wish. In fact the only time harm comes to us is when God allows it to for the good plans He has that fit in with salvation. Angels are very common. The appearance of angels is not. In the Bible angels only appear as angels for the very import points in the history of salvation. Like Easter. Jesus Rises from the dead. God cared enough to send the very best. The women were expecting to find the dead body of their Lord. They needed to know for sure He was alive. God sent an angel. "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” It was important for the woman to be able to know and believe that Jesus rose from the dead. Everything hinges on it. The Bible itself tells us if Jesus hadn’t been raised from the dead our faith in Him is worthless. We would still have to pay for our own sins. It says if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead we are to be pitied more than anybody else for placing faith in what was not there. But Jesus did rise from the dead. Happy Easter! Our faith in him is worth everything. Our sins are paid for in full. To make sure we would know God sent the very best. Angels made the announcement that first Easter morning.

          But God wants everyone to know this. Once again He sent the very best. “Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." 8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” Death is Easter’s handmaiden. The women went to the tomb expecting to find the dead body of a dead Jesus instead they found out He was alive.  They were filled with joy. Everything changed because Jesus lives. “Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." Others needed to know. Jesus’ disciples who thought He was dead and gone needed to know. They needed their sadness turned to joy, their despair to hope. God sent the best. These women? Yes. And you and me too. I know we don’t think we are God’s best. But we are when we carry with us the message of Easter. Especially to those who are dealing with a death.

          Easter buffets and dinners are great. But at every gathering this year someone will be missing. God has asked some of you here to deal with the death of a loved one very recently. When you gathered at the funeral or at the graveside, when you miss your loved one at the Easter table, baskets and candy won’t bring you hope and joy. But Jesus does. Hear the Easter message. Jesus is risen from the dead. That changes everything for those who died believing in Him. Remember what He said? “I am the resurrection and the life whoever believes in me will live even though he dies and whoever lives and me will never die.” And “Because I live you also will live.” Like the women, like the disciples, we have sadness at death. But God has changed that for us. He cared enough to send the very best—His Son Jesus to pay for sins and rise from the dead. Angels to make the first announcement. And now you. Whose face is missing from your Easter table? Who would you like to see there now? They may be missing from yours, but because God sent the very best they aren’t missing from the Lord’s Easter banquet. They live. And you will see them again. Comfort each other with these words. Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Amen.

Friday, April 14, 2017

April 13, 2017 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: 1 Corinthians 11:23-28 “TURN TO JESUS THROUGH WORTHY RECEPTION”


MAUNDY THURSDAY

April 13, 2017

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: 1 Corinthians 11:23-28



“TURN TO JESUS THROUGH WORTHY RECEPTION”



1 Corinthians 11:23-28  (NIV 1984)  “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.”



          Guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. If those words didn’t catch your attention the first time I read them may they do so now. They are chilling. Can you imagine standing before the Creator and hearing Him pass the judgment, “I find you guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord, my  Son, Jesus.” Let’s put some context to that. Imagine you are the one whose son was sacrificed for all. How would you feel if someone mocked his sacrifice, took it lightly? Not too happy. Guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. May it never be!

          How does that happen? When someone participates in the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy way. Please note it doesn’t say when someone who is unworthy participates. No one is worthy, no one deserves to be able to take the Lord’s Supper. It says when someone eats or drinks in an unworthy manner. As we observe the day when Jesus first gave this gift to the Church it’s a good time for us to review how to receive the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner.

          Repent. Turn to Jesus. That’s been the theme of our special services for Lent this year and continues to be today. And that single word repent when understood correctly is all the guidance we need to receive the Lord’s Supper in a worthy way. And we need that guidance, just like the brothers and sisters in the Christian church at Corinth did. As we piece together clues in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians we see a picture of a Christian congregation in conflict. And it showed in their celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Instead of a beautiful forgiveness meal of unity they had turned it into a celebration of self indulgence complete with drunkenness. It might be hard from the way we practice to think how they could be but it appears that before the Lord’s Supper the congregation had what some call an agape meal, a Christian love feast, like a church potluck only with plenty of wine available. And some drank too much before the Lord’s Supper. Some had terrible manners, cutting in line. Some saw it as a chance to eat for week. The rich members didn’t want to have to be near the poor members. Those who had liked Pastor Paul the best didn’t want to be with those who now liked Pastor Apollos better. Instead of focusing on forgiveness they focused their factions. Instead of turning to Jesus they turned on each other.

          So God stepped in though Paul. For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” Hey, Corinthians, this isn’t your supper to do with as you please. This is the Lord’s Supper to do with as He pleases. Celebrate the way He did. Be thankful. Use bread. Use the cup which has grape wine in it. Eat and drink. Understand that in a miracle this is Jesus’ body. This is Jesus’ blood. This is for forgiveness. Remember what He has done. Keep doing this as a proclamation of what Jesus did on the cross and that He will come again.

          Then it goes on. “Therefore.” Therefore—because this is so important, because this is the Lord’s Supper, not yours—”Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.” Those who take the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner sin not against bread and wine but against the very body and blood of Jesus. So how were the Corinthians to change? How can we make sure we receive in a manner worthy of the Lord’s Supper? Repent. Turn to Jesus. A man ought to examine himself. A simple question could do. “Am I repentant?”

          There is a whole lot of meaning in that one word. Some define it quickly as being sorry. Literally it means a complete change of mind or to think differently about sin. I think repentance is best seen with flesh on it. That’s what our lessons were today. They were examples of repentance in action. Let’s look at them again. The first lesson is a portion of the parable of the prodigal son, the lost son or the incredibly loving father, however you know it. Jesus showed us a man who thought it was fun to live a sinful life and waste his father’s possessions. But then he repented. He had a complete change of mind about what he was doing. He acknowledged it as sin. We need to as well. In every generation of believers there seem to be certain sins that are acceptable, you know, just kids being kids, sowing the wild oats. What is it among us? Being mean to other kids in school? Bad language? Looking at dirty pictures? Getting drunk or being sexually active before marriage? Disrespecting those we don’t like? Repent. Have a change of mind. Acknowledge your sin as sin and if you do not want to do that do not take the Lord’s Supper. You will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

          Our second lesson we heard about in our Lenten services. Peter. Peter who had just hours before been warned about denying Jesus. Peter boldly trusting his own power to resist over the power of Jesus’ words. Peter, having a complete change of mind about his sin. No brash boasting. He went out and wept bitterly. I can’t think of the last time that I wept bitterly when I realized I sinned. Maybe you can. But we all need to have a feeling of remorse over sin. Not pride. Not a belittling that it was no big deal, rather a change of mind. Savior, what have I done to you? I caused you to suffer. I am sorry. That’s repentance.

          Turn to Jesus. Sorrow without Jesus led Judas to hang himself. Our third lesson showed us a man who acknowledged his sin, who was remorseful about it and who turned to his Savior. The tax collector in Jesus’ parable in humility pleaded for mercy. That too is repentance. Jesus, you are my only chance, my only hope. Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling. Father, for Jesus’ sake, forgive me. Jesus told us this man when home, justified, forgiven. That’s what the Lord’s Supper says too. You are forgiven!

          And forgiveness freely given changes our minds about sin. We don’t want them. We want to make them right. That’s what our last lesson showed us, a man who wanted to do things differently now that he had Jesus in his life. Zacchaeus, freely of his own accord, turned away from his sin and wanted it to show. What change of mind will you have toward sin? Hey, I’m going to be nice tomorrow at school. No more lying even if it means I get in trouble.

          That’s repentance. Acknowledging sin as sin, remorse over it, turning to Jesus for merciful forgiveness and that desire to turn away from sin. A man ought to examine himself. You and I need to examine ourselves. Am I repentant? And the answer to that question is so important because only the repentant receive the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner.

          The Bible doesn’t tell us how all the Corinthian church members responded to what Paul wrote to them. In his second letter though there is evidence that many listened. May there be evidence in our hearts and lives that we’ve listened too, so that every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper we turn to Jesus through worthy reception. Amen.

Thursday, April 6, 2017

April 5, 2017 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Mark 14:32-38 REPENT! TURN TO JESUS WHEN YOU FACE TEMPTATION.


April 5, 2017

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Mark 14:32-38



REPENT!

TURN TO JESUS WHEN YOU FACE TEMPTATION.



Mark 14:32-38  “They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything

is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to

Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and

pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”



          In our Thursday morning Bible Class a few weeks ago we found ourselves doing reading from the book of Proverbs. One of the repeating themes in Proverbs is how wise it is to listen to advice. Where do you turn to for advice on handling temptation? As far as I know there is no newspaper or online advice group. I did find plenty of advice on how to handle the temptation to eat when you are on a diet—take a walk, drink more water, etc. But what about the temptation to sin? In the early Christian church it seems there was a sect that said physical things really didn’t matter only spiritual did. Apparently their advice on handling temptation was give in, then you won’t be tempted anymore! Kind of seems that would be like diet advice that says eat as much as you can until you are full and then you won’t be hungry. True enough. But there are consequences. Just like there are consequences for sin. Tonight we turn to Jesus for wisdom on how to face temptation.

          Jesus is a temptation fighting expert. The Bible tells us Jesus was tempted in every way just like we are yet was without sin. Can you imagine? All the thoughts we have, the desires, they came to Jesus too, trying to lead Him to sin. But He never did. A few weeks ago one of the Sunday readings recorded how the Devil tempted Jesus to sin. But Jesus defeated each and every one we are told about as well as all the ones we aren’t. As we follow the Passion History we see Jesus again dealing with Temptation.

“They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” I have heard people say that bunion surgery and recovery is extremely painful. In fact some have refused a second surgery because of what they went through in the first. Knowing what it would be like is too terrifying. Imagine the raw fear coursing through the heart of our Savior Jesus as he stands at the precipice of making payment for the sins of the world. As true God and true man Jesus is uniquely qualified to dread the events of the morrow. He knows what the wages of sin really means: cut off from God and His goodness, forsaken, despair. Certainly the temptation was there to turn away from it. Instead he turned to God in prayer. There is love expressed. “Abba, Father.” There is trust expressed. “Everything is possible for you.” There is a request. “Take this cup from me.” What’s in the cup? Punishment. Punishment for Cain’s murder, for Noah’s drunkenness, for David’s adultery, for Judas’ betrayal, for Peter’s denial, for our despising of God’s word, our lovelessness, our greed, our lust. Finally there is beautiful submission in prayer.  “Yet, not what I will, but what you will.” Thy will be done. That’s how Jesus handled temptation. He watched. He was aware of what he was about to face. He prayed. He put His trust in His Father.

That’s how those who turn to Jesus handle temptation too. “Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” The disciples did not have the urgency that Jesus had. While He watched and prayed, they slept. Jesus’ words have stuck in the minds of believers from then on. Watch. Be on your guard. Understand that the times and days are evil, that the Devil is real and he desires nothing less than your very soul for eternity. Watch. Do you? Are you on your watch when you watch TV for instance? I think we will all readily admit there are some things on TV that are no good, sinful. As far as I know, none of us have made the decision to have no TV at all. Then we must watch as we watch. Is Christ living in me comfortable with what my eyes are seeing? Am I becoming desensitized to what is wrong? How many times have hunters missed out because their eyes grew weary of watching? How many times have thieves found easy prey because people grew careless? How many times have we got sucked into sin because we were not watchful?

Pray. Prayer is how we get to talk to God. Prayer admits something. We are in God’s hands. He can do what we cannot. When prayer is done rightly, like that of Jesus, it expresses love, trust, request and submission to God’s will. Praying to God admits that we are helpless on our own but with Him we can do anything. Prayer focuses our attention on God and what He desires instead of sin and its desires. As we turn to Jesus when we face temptation we hear His voice reminding us to watch and pray.

If only Judas had, he would not have betrayed. If only Peter had he would not have denied. If only I had I would not have…We are living proof that while the spirit is willing the flesh is weak. But Jesus isn’t weak. Jesus successfully resisted every temptation. Jesus didn’t turn away from the cross. Jesus did that to save sinners like you and me, whose spirit is wiling but whose flesh is weak. It is true that Satan is very good at tempting. He will at times get us to fall. Too bad for Satan that as good as he is at tempting, Jesus is perfect at saving. Amen.