Bethany Lutheran Church
Springdale, Arkansas
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
The Hymn #457 What a Friend We Have in Jesus
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
Introit
With the voice of singing declare ye and tell this:
utter it even to the end of the earth. Hallelujah!
The Lord hath redeemed His servant Jacob: Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Psalm. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
sing forth the honor of His name; make His praise glorious.
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
O God, from whom all good things do come, grant to us, Thy humble servants, that by Thy holy inspiration we may think those things that be right and by Thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. Christ, who hath redeemed us with His blood:
is risen and hath appeared unto us. Hallelujah!
V. I came forth from the Father and am come into the world:
again, I leave the world and go to the Father. Hallelujah!
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #458 Our Father Thou
Confidence - With Faith
The Communion Hymn #653 Now the Light Has Gone Away
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #660 Heaven Is My Home
Prayers and Announcements
- The Ascension Holy Communion Service is Thursday, May 9th, 7 PM Central Daylight.
- Randy Anderson, Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Sarah Buck, Lorie Howell, Kermit Way, Callie and her mother Peggy, those suffering from emotional distress and those with metabolic disorders.
- Thursday is Ascension Day, 7 PM Holy Communion.
- Next Sunday is Mother's Day.
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KJV James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
KJV John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. 26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. 28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. 29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
Individual Prayer
KJV John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
There is one religious institution or practice which is often ignored, even though there is nothing that can get in its way - individual prayer. Apart from faith in Jesus Christ, there can be no prayer at all. Nothing can take away prayer, and it is encouraged for all who believe in the Savior.
We are living in an era where anything goes, so prayer is stifled because of unbelief. The last few chapters of the Gospel of John are directed toward the disciples and us. As if nothing more could be said, Jesus has individually encouraged each disciple and each believer to ask for God's help, no matter how small the matter may seem to be.
Because faith in Christ is opposed and hated, prayer can be stifled by the general attitude of the population. But because faith is rejected and mocked, prayer is that much more appreciated and always bearing spiritual fruit.
A good time to pray is at night before sleep. The reason is - no distractions and plenty of things to consider. During the day is always good but our days are crowded with work and all the distractions of life. There are many things we can count, problems we can face, thanksgiving to God for blessings.
This section of the Fourth Gospel shows us how the disciples became fully informed about their future, because they were trained to be followers of Jesus but also encouraged by what would happen in the future. Their new life was with the Son of God, who called them into service. Jesus' resurrection and ascension meant He would govern His kingdom from heaven, His holy angels carrying the work directory - always the Word with faith.
The Holy Spirit teaches us the work of the Father and the Son.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
This is one of the many Promises of God. When we ask in faith, we receive. That relationship continues, so we become more trusting in God and also receive more from Him, according to His will. The more we receive from God, the more joy we experience. That builds our trust in God, as the word - confidence - literally means - with faith.
Not asking means not receiving, and so humanity goes deeper and deeper into falsehoods, false religion, false hopes, and false words.
25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
We have the advantage of all the Gospels, more than enough letters from Paul, more writings from Peter and from Hebrews (either Paul or Apollos). But that is just the beginning. The Scriptures in the New Testament sense mean 39 books of the Old Testament. They are the Promises of God about the complete picture of the Messiah - the anointed King. Read Psalm 22 and 23 together. They are songs about the atoning death of Christ in Psalm 22 and His gentle leadership in Psalm 23.
Many statements of Jesus to the disciples were difficult to follow and understand during His earthly ministry. However, they were the basis for realizing those Promises when He rose from death and ascended to Heaven. We are all careless with the Promises until we realize what they mean in times of stress and turmoil.
26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
Whether we pray in the Name of the Father or of the Son, we are praying to the Trinity, the Spirit helping and guiding us. Many people have questioned the basics and asked me if I actually believe those things. I say, "Of course I do." I get my training from small children, who say it so plainly, so clearly, "Jesus is God - He can do anything."
Jesus has explained that to us. "Unless you believe as a child, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God." Because God the Father loves us, we also believe that Jesus comes directly from God the Father. That seems so simple, and it is. Nothing is more frequently and defiantly attacked than the divinity of Jesus Christ and His miracles. Just when we thought no more false teaching could have been throne at the Son of God's power and mercy, even more attacks rise up.
Here is
- the great wisdom of Hollywood,
- the unbelieving seminaries,
- the snip and clip Bibles sold at outrageous prices.
Bound up together, they have an explanation for all their doubts, and they are great missionaries of doubt, explaining away everything. The truth of God's Word makes them rage. Instead of pursuing the truth, they condemn and destroy.
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| The modern Bibles erase words, phrases, verses, and larger sections like Mark 16:9-20. The Westcott-Hort Greek New Testament starts out Mark 1:1 - The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ...erasing the Son of God. |
The love of God gives us faith in Him, and great spiritual benefits come from this. Whether people snicker or rage about the Word of God, they are only confirming their hardness of heart and perhaps their fear that it may actually be true.
27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. 28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
We live in a terrible time of violence, distrust and fear. Satan is that much more angry and anxious as his time draws near. Everyone who believes in Jesus Christ defeats the forces of evil, which build up in the last days, not because the demonic is so strong but because the Kingdom of Satan is so weak before the Savior.
| 2 Cor 12:7 | And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. Paul felt the terrible burden of his thorn in the flesh, and his opponents mocked him for it. |
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
Jesus knew His disciples would face more than they could imagine, but He strengthened them with faith, and it all came together in the locked room, the time after the Resurrection, and His ascent, which we will celebrate on Thursday.
Confidence - With Faith
An Outline for Prayer - By Martin Luther - Rogate, Second Sermon, Lenker Edition
- "The first is, that we have from God his promise or his permission to speak to him, and that we remember the same before we pray and remind God of it, thereby encouraging ourselves to pray in a calm and confident frame of mind.
- In the second place, it is necessary that we never doubt the pledge and promise of the true and faithful God.
- In the third place, if one prays doubting that God will hear him, and only offers his prayers as a venture, whether it be granted or not granted, he is guilty of two wicked deeds. The first is, that he, himself, makes his prayer unavailing and he labors in vain. The other wicked deed is, that he regards his most true and faithful God as a liar and an unstable and doubtful being; as one who can not or will not keep his promise; and thus through his doubt he robs God of his honor and of his name of truth and faithfulness.
- In the fourth place, some say: Yes, I would gladly trust that my prayer would be heard, if I were only worthy and prayed aright. My answer is: If you do not pray until you know and experience that you are fit, then you will never need to pray.
- In the fifth place, one should so act in this confidence of prayer as not to limit God and specify the day or place, nor designate the way or measure of the prayer’s fulfillment; but leave all to his own will, wisdom and almighty power. Then confidently and cheerfully await the answer, not even wishing to know how and where, how soon, how long, and through whom."
| 2 Cor 12:7 | And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. |
| 1 Th 2:18 | Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. |
| 2 Th 2:9 | Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, |
| 1 Tim 1:20 | Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. |
| 1 Tim 5:15 | For some are already turned aside after Satan. |
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