May 19-21, 2018 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: John 14:25-27 “PROMISES, PROMISES!”

PENTECOST/CONFIRMATION

May 19-21, 2018

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: John 14:25-27

“PROMISES, PROMISES!”

1.     Jesus kept His promises to you.

2.     Now you can keep your promises to Him.

John 14:25-27 (NIV) “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

          Promises. We all make them. Big ones and little ones. How many promises do you think you have made so far in your life? “I will always love you,” moms promise their children. “I’ll be home by ten. I’ll pick it up on the way home. I will never do that again.” Promises. All kinds of them. Some big and important. Some about little and insignificant things. Now how many of your promises have you kept? There is a reason that the phrase, “Promises, promises” is said as a sarcastic reply when a person makes a promise. That phrase recognizes the truth that all promises are not kept. Sometimes because people forget. Sometimes because the person never had the ability to keep the promise in the first place. Sometimes because of sin. Promises. Promises. Today at St Jacobi we are celebrating Confirmation. For many of us, this weekend is a reminder of very important promises that we made many years ago. Twenty four brothers and sisters in the faith will make their Confirmation promises for the first time. “Do you also, as a member of this congregation, intend to continue steadfast in the confession of this church, that is in the Word of God, and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it? Finally do you intend faithfully to conform all your life to the divine Word, to be  faithful in the use of God’s Word and Sacraments, which are His means of grace, and in faith, word, and action to remain true to the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, even to death?” Promises, promises. Important ones. Big ones. Will you keep them? It’s important that you do. Listen to the words of Jesus. “Be faithful even to the point of death and I will give you the crown of life. Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my father in heaven but whoever disowns me before men I will disown him before my father in heaven.” Confirmation promises need to be kept. The Good news I have for you today is yes, you can keep yours. Because Jesus kept his.

          A bit ago I read to you some promises Jesus made. He was with his disciples in the upper room the night before his death on the cross. He told them that things would be different soon. Jesus would visibly leave them. His work would be done. Theirs was about to start. They would have the mission of being Jesus’ witnesses to the world. They would proclaim God’s good news of salvation in Jesus. They would gather the church and teach the church everything Jesus had commanded. A daunting task! How could they do it? Jesus made a promise. “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

          This year Confirmation happens to fall on the same weekend as the Church Year festival of Pentecost. Pentecost is often called the birthday of the Christian Church because on that day in a most miraculous way Jesus kept His promise to the disciples and the Holy Spirit filled them in a special way. The Holy Spirit in a miraculous way reminded the disciples of what Jesus had taught them, the things He had said and done. Many of those things were then written down for us in the Bible. But before that happened and until that happened the disciples need not worry if they were up to that task. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” More promises from Jesus. He gave them His peace. That calmness that comes in the midst of trouble not from the absence of trouble. He did not give like the world gives with take backs and strings. Jesus kept His promises, this one and many more. It’s no wonder the Apostle Paul wrote later in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For no matter how many promises God has made they are “Yes” in Christ. Not one promise of God has failed.

          And because of that you can keep your Confirmation promises to stay faithful to Jesus. You are going to make many promises in your lifetime but of all the promises you make this one is the most important, yes, even more important than the promise you will make to your spouse when you get married. It is more important than the promise you will make if you go into law enforcement or the military. It’s more important because this promise connects you to Jesus to give you strength to keep your other promises. This promise connects you to Jesus who is the way, the truth and the live, the only way to the Father in heaven.

          I’m not sure exactly what your outlook on your future is. Younger people tend not to think too far down the road. I wonder what Jesus’ disciples thought when He told them of their future work and responsibility. Were they afraid they wouldn’t have the right stuff? And I have to believe that these promises Jesus made to them seemed like meaningless drivel that night when Jesus was arrested and the next day when Jesus died. But it wasn’t meaningless drivel. They were promises from Jesus and they learned something about the promises of Jesus. He keeps them and that meant the disciples could keep theirs too. And they did. Bible history and church history records that these disciples faithfully carried out the work Jesus gave them. Most of them died a lot sooner than they were expecting to. When that happened they saw Jesus keep more promises, to give them heaven.

          There are times in our lives as Christians where we will wonder about the promises Jesus has made. There are some who have a negative and pessimistic view because of the way things are going in the world or in our country. Maybe you’ve heard an older person shake their head and say they are glad they don’t have to bring up kids now or some other such concern. That’s understandable but there is no need for fear. Jesus has left us with the Holy Spirit. He kept His promise. That means we can keep ours. We have what we need. You have what you need. In promising to be faithful to Jesus you are not promising to live a sin free life. You can’t do that because you have a sinful nature and sometimes the good that you want to do you will not do and instead the evil you won’t want to do you will do. To be faithful to Jesus is to cling to Him as your hope in this life that you don’t have to be afraid. To be faithful to Jesus is to cling to Him as the reason you will be going to heaven. To be faithful to Jesus is to be full of faith in Jesus, not yourself. And because Jesus kept His promise you can keep yours. He has left the Holy Spirit here and while you can’t keep your Confirmation promises without Him you certainly can with Him. The Holy Spirit is available for you in the Bible. He works through Holy Communion. You’ve got what you need to keep your promises. In a sense then a promise to stay faithful to Jesus is a promise to stay in the word, to be at worship, to receive the Lord’s Supper. Promises, promises!

          Will you keep yours? Sadly the history of every church records confirmands who made promises and who meant them but then walked away. Maybe you know some. Maybe you were one of those who walked away for a time. If so it’s not too late. Today is the day that matters. Today you will promise your faithfulness to Jesus. You are showing it by using word and Sacrament. When your next today comes, you do the same. And the next today and the next today and the next today. You will keep your Confirmation promises and then someday the today will be the day that Jesus says, “Today you will be with me in Paradise!” And you will be, because Jesus always keeps His promises. Amen.

April 28-30, 2018 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: John 15:1-8 “YOU WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT!”

EASTER 5

April 28-30, 2018

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: John 15:1-8

“YOU WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT!”

1.     Keep your connection to Christ.

2.     Embrace pruning.

3.     All to the glory of God.

John 15:1-8 (NIV)  "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. {2} He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. {3} You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. {4} Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. {5} "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. {6} If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. {7} If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. {8} This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

          Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Yes, He is. Jesus lives. And because He lives you too will live even though you die physically. Have you thought much about that day? That day when for the first time you see Jesus face to face? What do you think He will say to you that you will hear with your own ears from His lips for the very first time? “Welcome home!” “Well done good and faithful servant!” “Good job. You have borne much fruit!” “No way. Not going to happen. Not me,” you think with proper self evaluation and correct Christian modesty. Think again. Did you hear the words of Jesus and were you listening when He talked about bearing much fruit? These words are for you and me and give us an encouraging outlook for the rest of our lives. “You will bear much fruit,” Jesus said. Now let’s see how this is true.

          Jesus spoke these words first to His disciples as they gathered in the Upper Room the night He was betrayed. He had already told them He would be leaving them visibly and then comforted them with the truth that He would return, that they would not be left alone but would have the Holy Spirit. Their lives would not be worthless or in vain. They would have purpose. So do you. "I am the true vine. And again later, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. {6} If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”

          These are important words from Jesus. Not only do they make clear the only way to eternal life but the only way to a fruitful earthly life. Jesus said I am the true vine. That means the only legitimate or authentic source of life with God. All others are fakes. The attack on Christ in our country continues from New York City wanting to reject Chick fil a because it is Christian owned to our WELS pastor and his wife who were on the Southwest flight that had the engine failure receiving Facebook rants for daring to give credit to their safety to our Lord God. Too many Americans want no god or a god by whatever name you call him but hear Jesus’ truth. He’s the only real thing. Apart from Him you can do nothing God pleasing on earth. Apart from Him you your fate is the fire of Hell. You can expect the Devil to try to wear you down, pressure you to accept another vine, another source to heaven. It will start with “Well Jesus is my way but maybe there are others.” It will continue with a desire to fit in, a fear to stand out and stand up. Only Jesus is the true vine so pray with me now: “Dear Lord Jesus please keep me connected to you. Do whatever you have to do so I and my family and friends and my church family will always stay connected to you.”

          Now let’s use the picture Jesus provided. He is the vine. That’s the thick almost tree like part. See how it has roots in the ground drawing an endless supply of energy and nutrients from the soil and moisture God provides. Attached to the vine are the branches. Those are the things we normally think of as vines. Their only way to get moisture and nutrients is from the vine. And when it does, much fruit! You see what job number one is, don’t you? Keep your connection to Christ. The Holy Spirit made that connection at your Baptism. That connection has been maintained and strengthened through God’s faith giving Word. This is why you prioritize weekly worship. This is why you do a Bible reading, devotion or Bible story at home every day. It keeps you connected to Jesus so you will bear much fruit. It’s what Jesus meant when He said, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

          A good pruning helps too. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. {2} He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. {3} You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” Did you hear that? Good branches get pruned. Pruning dead or sick parts of a plant make it healthier. Pruning a fruit tree that has too many branches, is too full of itself, protects is from wind damage. Go back to our picture. Those are loving hands with the cutter. God’s hands are even more loving. Jesus’ hands have the marks to prove it. So we need to learn to embrace the prunings that come into our lives. They come from a loving God who helps us bear much fruit. What’s a pruning look like? Normally something that doesn’t feel good. As simple as a reprimand from a teacher, a slow down reminder (speeding ticket) from an officer to the bigger disappointments in life and its hardships. Job loss. Relationship break up. Don’t make the team. Money loss. Maybe can’t play golf for a bit. A prized possession gets ruined. It is loving of God to guide and help us have the right priorities. It is loving of God to humble us when we are getting prideful. It is loving of God to help stay connected to Christ by cutting out of our lives those things that threaten our faith. It is loving of God to work in each of our lives so we will bear much fruit. Let’s learn not to complain about life’s disappointments but to embrace them as prunings from a loving God who is helping us bear much fruit.

          And when we do it gives glory to God. “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. {8} This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."  Brothers and sisters, think now of different sort of garden. A rose garden. One that has been meticulously planted, cared for and pruned. And the visitors come to see the roses in bloom and they ooh and ah. They are giving glory to the gardener, aren’t they? When you and I stay connected to Christ, when the word does its work and shapes us and prunes us and when fruits of faith show in our lives it gives glory to God. Sometimes it will be people who do that when they notice your acts of kindness to them, or your hard work and reliability. Sometimes it will be the angels alone who cheer louder than sports fans as your love for God moves you to speak kind words rather than angry ones or to secretly help someone in need. Sometimes it will be God alone as you glorify Him by praying. Praying to God is a fruit of faith. We honor God as we go to Him trusting in His power and love. Our prayers for ourselves and others work as God answers them in the way that is best. “You will bear much fruit,” said Jesus and this gives glory to God.

          Much fruit. Brothers and sisters, when you leave here today I want you to keep that phrase in mind. “Much fruit” your Lord Jesus said. Don’t let anyone make you feel like you don’t matter, like your life here is worthless and has no purpose. Don’t put yourself down or think that you aren’t making a difference. And don’t just look for great big things to do. Much fruit, said Jesus, not one big large one. Your faithful Christian parenting. Your providing for the needs of your family. Your care for your aging mother. Your prayers for missions, for your church, for your grandchildren, your daily hard and faithful work in the workplace, not for recognition or money, but because it’s what God wants you to do, your daily diligence with homework and your refusals to cheat. You will bear much fruit and the day is coming when you will see Jesus face to face and He will welcome you into heaven with the words we all can’t wait to hear, “Well done!” Amen.