August 13-15, 2022 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Luke 12:49-53 (EHV) “WHEN HAVING FAITH ISN’T FUN…”

 

PROPER 15

August 13-15, 2022

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Luke 12:49-53 (EHV)

 

“WHEN HAVING FAITH ISN’T FUN…”

1.     Keep your eyes on Jesus.

2.     Keep your eyes on the prize.

 

Luke 12:49-53 (EHV) “I came to throw fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already ignited. ⁵⁰But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is finished! ⁵¹Do you think that I came to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. ⁵²Yes, from now on there will be five divided in one household: three against two, and two against three. ⁵³They will be divided: father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

 

          So, there are these things called uncomfortable or inconvenient truths. Such things are factually true but then in some way you wish you didn’t know it, or it makes your life difficult. Like what glue used to be made of, or what goes into a hot dog. Jesus presents us with one of those today.  “Do you think that I came to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. ⁵²Yes, from now on there will be five divided in one household: three against two, and two against three. ⁵³They will be divided: father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” The very presence of Jesus in our hearts and lives will cause divisions, even with the people closest to us!

          You already know this and have experienced it, and it is nothing new, but it’s getting to be more and more. When our nation was at least culturally Christian it usually only showed up when a family member married someone who was not a church goer and so the family had that Sunday morning division. At least back then people watched their mouths at work and on TV. At least back then people talked about going to church even if they didn’t. Now things have changed quite a bit. We are not a culturally Christian nation, and we are heading down the road of being a culturally anti-Christian nation. I found out recently that some of our brothers and sisters who live in Portland, Oregon, are leaving for a church service that starts at 10 at 7 in the morning. You want to know why? So their neighbors don’t see them going to church. “That’s weird,” you say. Well you don’t live in a city whose anti-Christian sentiment  is so strong that the homes and vehicles of Christians are getting vandalized and graffitied and where it is not uncommon to have to clean the human  excrement off the church door handles before service.

          Division. In your family too. Have you started to be a little bit more careful about how you talk about moral issues that deal with sex. marriage, gender identity and abortion? Are you noticing how people you know who have grown up knowing the truth that only Jesus sets them free, that only the Bible is absolutely authoritative, that there are absolute rights and wrongs, suddenly don’t think their faith or their church life that connects them to Jesus is all that important or they blatantly question what God clearly reveals is right and wrong? Have you had it happen that your Facebook friends whom you assumed would certainly take Jesus’ side in any online discussion are taking the anti-Jesus side so that maybe they unfriend you or you feel like unfriending them or just dumping Facebook totally? (I would not discourage you from that. Doing so has brought a lot of peace to a lot of people’s lives.) It seems that those who have living faith in Jesus and are living their faith in Jesus are the odd ones out. When you get the opposition in your family there is hurt, pain and confusion. When you get it at work or in social circles there can be first some anger and then some questioning as the Devil works on your heart to get you to give up your faith. You start wishing the hymn went “Sit down, shut for Jesus, your life will be easier” as you realize you are living at a time when having faith isn’t always fun.

          So, shall we spend our time today throwing ourselves a little pity party? Woe is us! Shall we rush to have our names enrolled on the list of martyrs? Nonsense. When the blessing of faith and living your faith is no fun, keep your eyes on Jesus. “I came to throw fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already ignited. ⁵⁰But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is finished!” Life was not always easy for Jesus. As He speaks these words he has his eyes set on Jerusalem. He has spent the last three years proving beyond all doubt that He is the Messiah God promised and world needs. He did the miracles to prove it. As Matthew points out in his Gospel Jesus fulfilled every Old Testament prophecy. He faithfully proclaimed God’s words and will and offered salvation freely to all who believe in Him. He knows the fire is coming, the refining fire when it will be clear to these Jewish people He is the Messiah and family members will need to choose. Stick with your society which will be your own family members and with what they feel is right or stick with Jesus. It’s time for Jesus to complete His work as Messiah. He calls it a Baptism to undergo. It will be no fun. He will feel the hurt of betrayal and denial. He will not defend Himself when He is arrested, falsely accused, spit on and tortured. He will submit to the will of His Father and become the world’s one and only sinner so the full wrath of God will be on Him when He is forsaken. And why does He do this? For you! For me. Sinners. To spare us what we have earned for ourselves. Does he throw Himself a pity party? Shy away? Whine and complain? No. “Let’s get this started. I want it finished.  Let’s save these souls no matter what the cost!”

          And Satan wants us to turn our backs on Him? No way. That’s why when the Apostles got their backs ripped open with a flog by the Sanhedrin they left rejoicing because they had been counted worthy to suffer for Jesus who suffered so much more for them. And that’s why when we have these times that having faith is no fun we need to rejoice to. It’s simply a sign that we are faithful to Jesus who was faithful to us first. And let’s understand what is really going on here. Satan is trying to get us to give up our faith. He can not snatch it away from us. God has forbidden him that power. Only we can give it up. So if he can get us to compromise Bible teaching, if he can get us to accept the lie that what the Bible says is not necessarily true anymore he can set us down the path of unbelief. All the moral issues that cause division, all the friction you feel with family members and friends really stems from that root cause, unbelief. It is rejection of Jesus. It’s what Satan wants in you because and it’s what condemns to Hell.

          So when having faith isn’t so much fun also keep your eyes on the prize. You don’t want to give up that faith. “Do you think that I came to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” Hey, wait a minute. I thought when Jesus was born the angels sang, “Peace on earth, good will toward mankind?” They did. But the peace they were singing of was not peace between people, but peace between God and people. They looked ahead to when Jesus would remove the divider of sin. Ever since Adam and Eve plunged this world into ruin and imperfection is has never been God’s plan to leave us stuck here in shame and pain and hurt. He has perfection in store for us. Call it heaven. Call it paradise. Call it amazing. Jesus did not come to bring peace on earth but between God and his people so we can one day live in the glory of heaven. That’s the prize! Keep your eyes there. It will keep your chin up for those times when being blessed with faith is not fun.

          The hymn doesn’t say, “Sit down, shut up for Jesus.” It’s “Stand up, stand up. Our last hymn is not going to urge us to surrender the good fight but to fight the good fight. Our opening hymn did not tell the church to kneel down and wave the surrender flag but to arise and put our armor on. We are not alone. Jesus is with us The Spirit is with us. The Father will never leave us or forsake us and as one dear Christian sister once put it, “One person plus Jesus always makes the majority.” And we have more than one person. We have each other. That’s why it is so important to gather regularly so we can encourage one another. That’s also why we give extra thanks today that our Lord has provided us with more called workers to serve us, be served by us, serve with us, serve Jesus. Pastor Langebartels, Mrs. Hackmann, Mrs. Mork you have been given a unique privilege and honor to serve God’s people at St. Jacobi. I hope you don’t take that lightly. I know you will have lots of fun. These are great people. But not perfect people. So sometimes serving won’t be fun. Wah, wah! Get over it. Join the called workers of the past who rejoiced if they got to suffer for Jesus. Join the rest of us in keeping your eyes on Jesus and your eyes on the prize. For one day, because of Jesus, all we’re going to have is FUN! Amen.

August 6-8, 2022 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Luke 12:22-34 (EHV) “GOD’S LOVING CARE FREES US!”

 

PROPER 14

August 6-8, 2022

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Luke 12:22-34 (EHV)

 

“GOD’S LOVING CARE FREES US!”

1.     From the daily distraction of doubt and worry.

2.     So we can get really rich!

 

Luke 12:22-34 (EHV) “Jesus said to his disciples, “For that reason I tell you, stop worrying about your life, about what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. ²³Certainly life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. ²⁴Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no warehouse or barn; and yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! ²⁵And who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifespan? ²⁶Since you are not able to do this little thing, why do you worry about the rest? ²⁷Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. ²⁸If this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith? ²⁹Do not constantly chase after what you will eat or what you will drink. Do not be worried about it. ³⁰To be sure, the nations of the world chase after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need them. ³¹Instead, continue to seek the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you. ³²Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not become old, a treasure in the heavens that will not fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

 

          Squirrel! Have you notice how easy it is to get distracted and lose your focus. It happens when you get up from the couch to get something and your phone buzzes and all of the sudden you are wondering “Now what was I going to get?” Think of how hard it is to pray without your mind wandering! So many things vie for our attention. But keeping your focus is so very important. It saves you from wasted time and trips. It helps with communication to God and others and it is vitally important for our eternity. What has our Lord told us? Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. Seek first the kingdom of God. But our citizenship is in heaven. That’s to be our focus. Yet we all know how easy it is to get distracted with those earthly things. Thankfully our Lord Jesus comes to us in His word to help. He points us to God’s loving care that frees us.

          It frees us first of all from the daily distractions of doubt and worry. What is it that keeps you up at night? A major financial issue? Relationships? Worrying about the kids? China? Ukraine? Personal safety. I’m guessing you don’t lose sleep over whether you will have food to eat tomorrow or clothes to wear. That has not always been so.  “Jesus said to his disciples, “For that reason I tell you, stop worrying about your life, about what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. ²³Certainly life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.” Jesus is speaking to his disciples. At that time many people’s daily hope was that they could earn enough to have food and clothing for the day. Jesus had already sent his disciples out once with the instructions not to take anything with them but live on the kindness of the people they served. Can you imagine? Think of how your life would be different today if you were wearing your only set of clothes and shoes and there was no food in the house. And Jesus dares to say to them, “Don’t worry!?” Why not?

          He points to God’s loving care. “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no warehouse or barn; and yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! ²⁵And who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifespan? ²⁶Since you are not able to do this little thing, why do you worry about the rest? ²⁷Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. ²⁸If this is how God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith? ²⁹Do not constantly chase after what you will eat or what you will drink. Do not be worried about it. ³⁰To be sure, the nations of the world chase after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need them. ³¹Instead, continue to seek the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you. ³²Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.” How different our Lord Jesus is! If you have gotten stuck watching political commercials, have you noticed what is often used as a motivating force? Fear. Worry. Inflation. Recession. How does Jesus motivate? Love. Provision. Look at how God takes care of the plants and animals. They have their food. They have their beauty to wear. They have no bank accounts! No paychecks? How is this happening? God provides. Sometimes through my birdfeeder or yours. Sometimes in other ways. Always what is needed.

          And he loves you more. I want you now to think back in your life to something you spent time worrying about. Did not God provide and take care of things in some way? Maybe not the way you thought but he did provide. And if you can find something that He did not provide an honest look will reveal it was a want, not a need. God’s loving care frees you, brothers and sisters. You may worry and doubt if you want. It won’t accomplish anything good. And you don’t have to. God will provide. That is His promise.

          And that promise frees us to get really rich. Do you know anyone who truly doesn’t want to be rich? A couple of things. There is nothing wrong with earthly wealth in and of itself. Money is simply a tool, a thing. It helps you get things done just like spoons and shovels and saws. What’s wrong is when we value money the wrong way. People are what really matters. So, you treasure people and use money. You don’t use people and treasure money. The problem with money is it does not last. At the beginning of this Gospel text Jesus said, “For that reason I tell you…” That reason is what you heard last week in church. The parable of the rich fool who died and could not take his money with him. It was a vapor. Did you hear about the person from Illinois who won the 1.2 billion dollar lottery? Do you know how much of that they will receive? Forbes magazine crunched the numbers and if they take the upfront payout, after federal and state income tax, they will receive about 434 million. That’s still a lot of money but it started out as 1.2 billion. Where is the rest of it? Vapor.

          And yet we want to get rich. But brothers and sisters, we already are and we will be really rich. Jesus went on to say, “Do not be afraid, little flock, because your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not become old, a treasure in the heavens that will not fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Gas prices, taxes and recessions, Oh my! Do not fear, says Jesus. You are rich. The Father will give you the kingdom. He’s talking about our life in heaven and he’s urging us to get rich with everlasting money bags and treasures that don’t evaporate. Do you know what he’s talking about? People. People are the only space takers on earth that will take up space in heaven. Everything else will turn to vapor when the Lord comes to judge. But not all people go to heaven. Only those who believe in Jesus.

          I was talking with a member recently and they described an interaction they had with their neighbor. This neighbor has a lot of money. But when he stopped over and saw our member’s family he remarked how wealthy our member was. He was talking about family. And he had none. Now maybe you have lots of immediate family, maybe you have none. Maybe yours are all dead or because of you or because of them they don’t want to be with you. Lots of messes in this sin ruined world. But you are all rich and you have the chance yet to get really rich. Because the blood tie that matters most for eternity is not what flows through these veins but the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, that cleanses us from every sin. Everyone who believes that is saved for eternity. And so every person that I have some part in proclaiming God’s salvation plan becomes my treasure. Same for you. Of all the disciples who first heard these words from Jesus we only know the Apostle Peter got married. We hear nothing of any children, but Jesus said they would have many treasures. Makes me think of how the oldest living Apostle John wrote in his epistles, “My dear children.” His family of faith was his family and he is rich, really rich.

          And so are you and more and more can be added. The more witnessing we do for Jesus with those we have built relationships with, the more lambs we teach in our schools, the more we get the message out, the more we support mission work, the more opportunities we have to be a part of building a lasting family of faith in heaven where no sin will divide, no hurt separate, no longing go unfulfilled, the more treasures we will have in heaven. Why can we do this? God’s loving provision frees us. My work, my retirement account is simply a mask for God to wear. He provides. Don’t worry, be happy. Keep your focus. It’s about people. Pray for people. Personally and together, get the Good News of Jesus to people, lots of people. They are your treasure. Who knows? One of us might win the 1.2 billion people lottery of people in heaven. That would make you really rich. And no government could take a cut of that. So watch out for those “squirrels” and keep your focus on what will last. Everything else, the Father will provide. Amen.