November 22-24, 2014 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Ezekiel 34:11-24 “YOUR KINGDOM COME!”

CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY

November 22-24, 2014

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Ezekiel 34:11-24

“YOUR KINGDOM COME!”

For in God’s Kingdom the King…

1.     Rescues

2.     Tends

3.     Brings Back

4.     Strengthens

5.     Keeps Order

6.     Is Jesus!

Ezekiel 34:11-24 (NIV 1984) " 'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. 17 " 'As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. 18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19 Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet? 20 " 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, 22 I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. 23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. 24 I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.

          So what do you think the best form of government is? Well since we are Americans the sentimental favorite has to be our form, a democracy. Considering all the freedoms we have it’s pretty good but those in the know of government will tell you that our form of democracy is inefficient. It’s wasteful of resources. Good ideas can get shot down and blocked by our bulky legislative process. Actually if you talk to a political science person the best and most efficient type of government if it could exist is to be ruled by a benevolent dictator. That’s a setup where one person has total power but always has the best interest of the people at heart. You can guess why no one really lobbies for that form of government. You see benevolent dictators don’t exist. Or do they? Today we celebrate Christ the King Sunday and God’s words remind us that Jesus Christ is our King and we Christians live first and foremost in His kingdom and a kinder ruler you cannot find. Let’s see what that means for us as we look at God’s words through Ezekiel that have God’s people praying “Your Kingdom Come!”

          A little background first. God had Ezekiel speak these words when God’s people were stuck in Babylon. Not exactly a benevolent dictator there, not a fun kingdom to be in. They were there as conquered people. Now the kingdom they had left in Judah hadn’t been fun either. Actually many of the people God had appointed to rule and shepherd his people, the kings and priests were schnooks, just looking out for themselves. God came with his comforting words announcing a new kingdom. Look again at the whole text. Underline perhaps all the times God says “I will…”

God’s people back then and now looked forward to God’s Kingdom because in that Kingdom the King rescues his people. “I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.” Throughout this section God pictures the kingdom like a flock of sheep. This isn’t the precursor to George Orwell’s Animal Farm but God’s picture. A thunderstorm has scattered the sheep. The shepherd rescues them from where they ran to. This is great comfort for the storms of life. God’s Old Testament people had the long lasting storm of exile to Babylon. The King would come for them. We have our own storms. The diagnosis of  a serious illness. The death of a loved one. A job loss. A serious accident. Or one of those relationship problems. When those happen like sheep in a thunderstorm we can panic and run, maybe away from the Lord, maybe to a bottle for relief. Does that describe you or a loved one? In God’s Kingdom the King will go after you and rescue you in just the right way and just the right time.

In God’s Kingdom the King will tend his people. “I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD.” How good this must have sounded to God’s people that Ezekiel wrote to. Their minds must have thought immediately, “Yay! We get to go back home.” Now that’s understandable but missing the point. The point was that in this Kingdom the King Himself does the tending, the caring and the providing for and always with good in mind. What good news for us when we live in normal times. How often we can let our eyes gaze to other people’s lives and what they have and we don’t. You’re being tended by the King Himself. He’s providing what is good for you.

And this King will go after you if you need it. “I will search for the lost and bring back the strays.” In our Christian Parenting Course we are going through on Thursday mornings we regularly talk about the number one goal of a Christian parent. It’s to see their children with them in heaven someday. You can easily then guess what a Christian parent’s worst fear is: that their child will fall away from faith. Sometimes it happens when the little birdies leave the nest and deal with freedom that they leave their Lord and His word behind. Parents did you hear some really good news if that happens to your child? In God’s kingdom, the King Himself searches and brings back the straying. Don’t give up. Take your fears to the King who brings back the straying.

And the King who strengthens those who need it. “I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak.” It can happen in the workplace. It can happen in the home. The weak get pushed to the side. Those easily hurt are manipulated. In the Kingdom of God things are different. The King strengthens the weak. He heals the injured. This is good news for Christians living in a sin sick world. We’re not called the Church Militant for nothing. There’s a war going on out there and there’s a war going on in our hearts. Trying to do what’s right when others continue to do wrong, fighting against temptation, often leads to getting hurt. Your faith can hurt. Your trust hurts. Your feelings hurt. Guilt hurts. The King strengthens. He heals guilt with forgiveness and doubt with trust. And the weak? Actually we are all weak. If we had faith the size of a mustard seed we could move mountains but we don’t. The King takes care of us anyway.

Even when we are the problem. “The sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. 17 " 'As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. 18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19 Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet? 20 " 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, 22 I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another.” There is a lot of meat there and I am not just talking about the fat sheep. Ezekiel uses a picture of sheep beating up on sheep, pushing away, eating and drinking their fill and ruining the water and grass for the rest. Here’s the deal. If you are one of those people who makes others walk on eggshells, if you walk in a room and leave it in mayhem, if people see you and try to avoid you, if you are a bully in your family, your classroom, your workplace, your church, always pushing for it to be your way and about you, you are in trouble with the King. It’s natural for wolves to tear apart sheep but not for sheep to tear apart each other. Those that think they are sleek and strong the King says He will destroy. Might be a good time, while you still have a chance, to change your ways. And those who are getting pushed aside, rest assured the King will keep order. He’ll take care of it. He said so.

We know this because the King is really Jesus! “I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. 24 I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.” Now since this was written about 400 years after King David died we know this doesn’t refer to him but to the second David, the descendant of David whose rule would last forever. That’s Jesus. You couldn’t ask for a better King. Instead of asking us to give our lives for Him, He gave His life for us. Instead of punishing our many wrongs, He offered Himself to be punished in our place. Instead of ruling us with force and threats He rules us with love.

It’s no wonder God’s people pray, “Your kingdom come!” It’s already here. Jesus is ruling in the hearts of believers. He is controlling events of the world even if it doesn’t seem that way. But the best is truly yet to come when Jesus returns in glory and every eye shall see Him and every knee bow before the King of kings. So do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. We have the best ruler, Jesus, our King and His kingdom comes! Amen.

November 1-3, 2014 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: 2 Kings 22:1-11 WE ARE COMMITTED TO ONGOING REFORM

REFORMATION SERVICE

November 1-3, 2014

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: 2 Kings 22:1-11

WE ARE COMMITTED TO ONGOING REFORM

2 Kings 22:1-11 (NIV 1984) “Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath. ²He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. ³In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the LORD. He said: ⁴”Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. ⁵Have them entrust it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. And have these men pay the workers who repair the temple of the LORD—⁶the carpenters, the builders and the masons. Also have them purchase timber and dressed stone to repair the temple. ⁷But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are acting faithfully.” ⁸Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. ⁹Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the LORD and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the temple.” ¹⁰Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. ¹¹When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.”

          Brothers and sisters, why do we continue to observe and celebrate the Lutheran Reformation? I mean it’s something that happened almost 500 years ago. It’s not an event in the life of Christ that the Church year calendar follows. I suppose we could say the reason is because we are a Lutheran church and that is what Lutherans do. Historians would say that even thinking about not observing the Lutheran reformation would foolish because of its historic significance to the world. Google, if you will, like I did, the most important events in history of the second millennium and see how many lists include the posting of 95 Theses on the church door on October 31, 1517 as the most influential event of the last millennium and if not the  top always in the top 5. Sometimes we Lutherans can feel a little uneasy celebrating the Reformation. We don’t want to give the impression that we are deifying Martin Luther, making him anything more than he was a claimed to be, a simply German monk that God used to help his people. We also don’t want our celebration or observance to come across to our Catholic neighbors and friends as another round of Catholic bashing. So why do we celebrate it?

          To answer that question I want to take you back to the time and words of our text in 2 Kings 22. It’s about 600 BC. Josiah is often known as the “boy king” because he became king at age 8. He’s described as a king who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord which is surprising because the two kings before him were evil. Somehow God worked in faith in him. When Josiah was 26 an important event took place. He set about to do some repairs to the Temple. No doubt it had been sadly neglected when the evil kings were in place. Something happened during that renovation that should have caused your ears to perk up. ”Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD.” What do you mean he found the Book of the Law, the Old Testament Bible to that point? This was the Temple, the place where God’s people were supposed to gather to hear God’s words. Where else would it be? Well it was there but not used, set aside. Probably under old records in some store room. That would be like coming here to church but neither seeing or using any Bible. I wonder what they talked about instead of what God said.  In any case this found book was brought to King Josiah. “And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. ¹¹When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.” He tore his robes and then Reformation began. The Reformation of the people of Judah as Josiah led them to a renewed commitment to God’s word and actually living it in their lives.

          Brothers and sisters this is why we continue to celebrate the Reformation. It’s because we need the reminder to have ongoing reformation in our own lives and our own church. I could have started back much earlier than with King Josiah to the time of the Judges when instead of following God everyone did what was right in their own eyes and God’s words were ignored. Reformation was needed. God did it through Samuel. Things go well for a while. The people get a king who is supposed to help God’s people stay close to God. But some kings and God’s people ignored God’s words and Reformation was needed again! Read the books of the kings! How about at Jesus time. They had the Old Testament Bible complete but the chief priests and teachers of the law were not teaching the people to repent and to see their sin and need for a Savior. Reformation was needed so God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus. The church goes on. God preserves His word but over time it is ignored and replaced with the teachings of popes and councils. Reformation is needed. So God used Martin Luther to bring the focus back to what God said. Salvation by grace alone and through faith alone, not by works.

Are we starting to see a pattern yet, my friends? A pattern where God blesses His people with His words and gradually they stray from it and so Reformation is needed. This is why we continue to celebrate the Reformation. Things are a little different than with God’s people of centuries past. We have His words, the Bible easily accessible. Bibles are everywhere, even at our fingertips with our smartphones and tablets and yes if I see you on your phone during church I will assume you have your Bible app going. We can read God’s words in our own language. But are we? Or is Reformation needed?

It’s so important. God’s words are given to bless us. God’s word gives life. It gives life eternal by proclaiming Jesus the Christ as Savior of all. Whoever believes in Him will be saved. God made it that simple. It gives life now when guilt of sin overwhelms it God’s word and Sacraments proclaim forgiveness to us, they take us to the cross to see our every sin on Jesus laid. The word gives life by proclaiming we are righteous, perfect in God’s sight right now through the perfect life of Jesus. That  frees us to live lives of loving obedience to God rather than out of fear of punishment or the burden of earning God’s grace which can’t be earned. It frees us from having man made laws bind our consciences. Only God’s word does that. It proclaims Jesus. No wonder the Devil keeps trying so hard to hide the Bible even when it’s in plain sight.

Besides being known as the “singing church” Lutherans used to be known as people of the Word. Ask them what they believe and they tell you. When Lutheran pastors or church bodies have strayed from God’s Word it was the people in the pew who said, “Now wait a minute. That’s not what God’s Word says.” At the end of this service we’ll sing about God’s word as our great heritage that shall be ours forever. That’s only going to happen with ongoing reform. When King Josiah realized reform was needed he tore his clothes. Now you can do that if you want. I’m not going to because I’m too cheap to buy new ones. Better that we recommit ourselves to opening our Bibles so that God’s word s reform us on a daily basis. There’s a good reason to celebrate the Reformation. Amen.

October 18-20, 2014 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Matthew 21:28-32 “WHAT THE FATHER WANTS…” 1. Those who change their “yes” to “no?” 2. Those who change their “no” to “yes?” 3. You!

PENTECOST 19

October 18-20, 2014

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Matthew 21:28-32

“WHAT THE FATHER WANTS…”

1.     Those who change their “yes” to “no?”

2.     Those who change their “no” to “yes?”

3.     You!

Matthew 21:28-32 (NIV 1984) "What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 29 " 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 "Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. 31 "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”

          I’m pretty sure it comes from my sinful nature, this irritation I feel when people get ahead of me. I say that because of the times it happens. Like when I am driving down the interstate and traffic is tight and that lane darter is easing along side to gain that one spot in the pole position and instead of letting him in I just want to speed up and squeeze him out. I just don’t want him ahead of me. Or have you ever had it happen at the store when the lines are long and you spot the shortest one and just as you head there someone else does too? When that happens to me I just get this overwhelming urge to speed up and get there ahead of them—even if it’s a lady or someone older than me. I know foolish, childish, from the sinful nature. I wonder then how the chief priests and elders of the people felt when they heard these words from Jesus, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.” Those are hard words to hear. How did it happen? Let’s find out.

          Our text takes place during Holy Week. Jesus had triumphantly rode into Jerusalem to waving palm branches and shouts of “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Do you remember how the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law reacted? They told Jesus to make the people stop. You can see, can’t you, how their sinful natures were being fed, jealousy rearing its ugly head? Now it is during Holy Week. Jesus knows He has come to Jerusalem to suffer and die, to face the pains of Hell for the sins of all. So what does He spend His time doing? He’s teaching in the Temple courts! Can we learn something here, people, about the importance of learning God’s word more and more, about making sure it gets taught? See your Savior’s priorities, what He spends His time on when time is short.

          As Jesus is teaching in come those chief priests, elders and teachers of the law again. This time they question Jesus’ authority to be teaching God’s word. Jesus told them he would answer their question if they would answer a question about John the Baptist. Where did he get baptism from? You get a little peek at what kind of people they were from their discussion of the question.  “They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' 26 But if we say, 'From men'--we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet." 27 So they answered Jesus, "We don't know."  Weasels! But Jesus still loved them and so He said to them, "What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 29 " 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 "Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. 31 "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered.”

          The parable seems pretty obvious. When a father tells his son to do something what kind of a son does he want? Does he want one who says yes but changes later to a no? “Well of course not!” we all say. Children, you know that, right? If dad says, “Go clean your room!” and you smile and respond, “OK, I will,” but then go to your room plop on your bed and play games on your Gameboy for the next two hours I would expect it would not go well with you. But that is exactly what the chief priest, elders and the teachers of the law did to God. They read their Old Testament Bibles that proclaimed God’s holy laws, that pointed out again and again how God’s people failed to keep them and needed a Savior, that promised that the Savior, the Messiah would come and they said, “Yes, God, send that Messiah.” But they changed their Yes to a No. They changed the message of God’s word from you need a Savior to you can save yourself if you are good enough. They exchanged God’s way of saving them with their own. So Jesus said to them, “For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him.” Not what the Father wants!

          How about the other son, the first one? Remember he was the one who said, “I will not go,” but later changed his mind and went. Again children think of things in your home. Dad is on his way out the door and says, “Clean your room before I get back from the store,” and since you are in the middle of a game on your Gameboy you say, "No” to his back as he goes out the door. Later you start to feel bad, guilty. So you clean your room before Dad gets back. Well that’s better right? Jesus pointed out that some of the tax collectors and prostitutes of His day were like that first son. They had said No to God when they chose to make money by stealing and fornicating. But John the Baptist called on them to repent, to own up to their sinful way of living. He told them to go to Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. And they did. That they could actually be forgiven by God amazed them and they left their sinful ways of living and followed and believed in Jesus as their Savior, Messiah, God’s way to save them. They had said No but changed to a Yes.

          Now when you read God’s word and there is a parable with 2 different people to identify with it kind of calls you to make a choice. Which son am I? Am I like the first son who lived a life apart from Jesus but now I know forgiveness and it has totally changed my life? Some here can say that. Well am I someone who has known God’s Word and my need for a Savior but now says well No I think I’m good enough to get to heaven on my own? I sure hope none of us can identify with that. I seriously doubt that describes any of us. Well where are we in this picture then? By God’s grace we are the third son that’s not talked about. How about a son who says yes and does yes? Isn’t that the kind of son a father wants? And that is us. You see this parable is not really about what we do. It’s about what we believe. Listen again to Jesus’ response to the chief priests and elders. "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”

So the third son would be the one who believes that Jesus is the Savior, the way of righteousness, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and who keeps believing in Him life long. That’s how all our readings fit together. You can’t go to God and say but I used to believe. Nor does God come to you and say but you used to be an unbeliever. Today is important. Test yourself today. Believe in Jesus and you are saved. Only He is the way the truth and the life. Hold on to that truth as the pressure continues to mount in our nation. Satan batters at the walls of salvation only through Jesus.” Isn’t it enough to believe in some god and to try to be good? Maybe Jesus is one way of many ways to the Father and everyone finds their own path.” But that’s not true. And it’s not what the Father wants. Because what the Father really wants is you. He wants you with Him forever in heaven. He’s given Jesus for you. He’s brought you to faith and provided word and sacrament to keep you there because what the Father wants is you. Amen.