Sunday, December 3, 2023

Advent 1 2023

  



Bethany Lutheran Church 

10 AM Central Time

The First Sunday in Advent, 2023

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson


The Hymn #67           The Bridegroom Now Will Call Us - Loy translation
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit
Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul: 
O my God, I trust in Thee.
Let me not be ashamed: 
let not mine enemies triumph over me.
Yea, let none that wait on Thee: be ashamed.
Psalm. Show me Thy ways, O Lord: 
teach me Thy paths.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19 

Collect
Stir up, we beseech Thee, Thy power, O Lord, and come, 
that by Thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Thy mighty deliverance; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.

The Epistle and Gradual 

Gradual
All they that wait on Thee shall not be ashamed, O Lord.
V. Show me Thy ways, O Lord: 
teach me Thy paths. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. Show us Thy mercy, O Lord: 
and grant us Thy salvation. Hallelujah!

The Gospel 
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22

The Sermon Hymn # 290      We Have A Sure Prophetic  

Faith in Our Gracious Good Shepherd

The Hymn #306              Lord Jesus Christ
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 #68            The Advent of Our King 




Prayers and Announcements
  • Our Biblical doctrine series has a name - Reformation Seminary. Zoom has another step in W-9.
  • December 4th, 2002. Walter Boeckler, husband of Norma, died.
  • In treatment - Kermit Way; Randy Anderson; ; Pastor Jim Shrader (surgery) and Chris; Sarah Buck; Lori Howell; Dr. Lito Cruz and his father. 
  • Callie and her parents; little Aaron with the heart problem;
  • Those suffering from emotional and metabolic stress.



KJV Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

KJV Matthew 21:1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.


 Norma A. Boeckler


First Sunday in Advent - Viet Dietrich
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee, we bless and praise Thee forever, that Thou didst send Thy Son to rule over us poor sinners, who for our transgressions did justly deserve to remain in the bondage of sin and Satan, and didst give us in Him a meek and righteous King, who by His death became our Savior from sin and eternal death: We beseech Thee so to enlighten, govern and direct us by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may ever remain faithful to this righteous King and Savior, and not, after the manner of the world, be offended with His humble form and despised word, but, firmly believing in Him, obtain eternal salvation; through the same, Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.


Faith in Our Gracious Good Shepherd

KJV Matthew 21:1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the Mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

The setting is often missed today, because the clergy were beguiled into ignoring the Gospel of John. Jesus came from Bethany, John 11, the site of Lazarus' death and coming to life again. This was electrifying news for Jerusalem, because Bethany was a short distance from the village and people knew Lazarus for his wealth, as shone his stone tomb. Moreover, Lazarus came with Jesus!

 John 12:2There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
John 12:9Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
John 12:10But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
John 12:17The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
Jesus, by bringing His friend Lazarus along, was showing the crowd, the Romans, and the religious leaders that He was and is the Lord of Life, God Himself. The jubilant crowd was able to prove the resurrection to the hip Jerusalemites because they were at the funeral and stayed days after the burial of Lazarus in the tomb.

Jesus Himself called Lazarus from the tomb, against the wishes of the mourners. He called Lazarus by name to come out, showing that He was indeed the Son of God, Messiah. The daring trip into Jerusalem was the divine announcement that the Messiah (Christ in Greek) was claiming His throne as the Son of David. This explains why the crowds were wild with excitement since the miracle took place 
1) Nearby at Bethany
2) Involving someone well known
3) The miracle being supported by those who were there.

One 90+ old church member said in Columbus - "I never heard this in my life. Never, not from anyone."

The Mount of Olives - Luther

Luther emphasized this as the Mountain of Grace.

"It is also full of meaning that he comes from the Mount of Olives. We shall notice that this grace on account of its greatness might be called a mountain of grace, a grace which is not only a drop or handful, but grace abundant and heaped up like a mountain."

The entry into Jerusalem declares the open and dangerous threat which Jesus presented to the religious and government leaders. This opposition always takes place when faith in Jesus is the priority. Today people tolerate Jesus as long as He is simply a good person, kindly and unassuming. That fueled a series of Life of Jesus books, which used their topic to declare Jesus was an ordinary man.

3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

Some will say with dismay that the Old Testament quotations are not verbatim the same as the New Testament citation.

"It seems to me that the Holy Ghost led the apostles and evangelists to abbreviate passages of the Scriptures for the purpose that we might be kept close to the holy Scriptures, and not set a bad example to future exegetes, who make many words outside the Scriptures and thereby draw us secretly from the Scriptures to human doctrines."

We should always look at the Old Testament as the bedrock, from which everything about Christ is expressed. Instead, the not-so-learned clergy run away from studying Hebrew, Judaism, and the ancient history going back to Creation. The very dense do not see the Son in the Creation, but that is clear to the simplest of minds. When I go into a room with covered windows, I do not say "Let there be light." I just open the shades or turn on the light. If someone is also there, I might say, "Open the curtains" or formally "Let there be sunshine."

Likewise, the Holy Spirit hovers (or soars) over Creation. The Spirit is not absent and waiting for the New Testament to take action. The Spirit is teaching the work of the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is not "the shy member of the Trinity," something only a WELS writer could publish without smirking. The most powerful statements of the Trinity often come directly from the Spirit. One is central to the entire Bible:

KJV John 16:6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.

8 And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9 Of sin, because they believe not on Me;

10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Verse 9 declares the intent or work of the entire Bible - to teach faith in Jesus Christ. That is the central and abiding work of the Spirit - not social agitation, not a justice that suits the Left, not turning the Bible into a self-help book. Verse 9 should make all the Objective Faithless Justification people choke on their devouring of Halle Pietism and Walther fanaticism. CFW, in his clumsy dogma, taught that the whole world was absolved, but that was only for those who "make a decision" for Jesus. That has two blundering errors.
  1. Universal forgiveness is false doctrine from rationalists, Universalists.
  2. "Making a decision for" replaces faith in the Savior.



6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

Israel, in rejecting God repeatedly, became a vassal state. They broke into freedom for a brief time in 165 BC and Judah Maccabee rode in on a donkey. The desecrated Temple was rededicated to God, taken away from the pagans. The crowds may have been similar between the two centuries of turmoil, but Jesus was the true Messiah, the Son of David, and the crowds cheered him as their Savior from slavery to Rome.

9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

Because the crowds, even the smallest children, cried out in faith "Hosanna to the Son of David, the anointed King" - not because He reminded them of Juda Maccabee, but because Jesus was the real Savior who raised the dead by His Word.

Our gracious Good Shepherd deliberated headed toward Jerusalem, first to raise Lazarus from death... by His Word, and second to offer Himself as the Lamb sacrificed for the sins of the world. The symbolism of the innocent lamb goes back to Moses and the Exodus. All the pieces of the puzzle are found in the Old Testament, if only we dwell on them. They confirm and support our faith in Him who was named when Adam and Eve were expelled from Paradise.

KJV Genesis 3:14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.

The end. 

Reformation Seminary - The Son of God

 

Duerer's famous painting of the Holy Trinity.

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson PhD


I will try the Vimeo set up later today.



Genesis 1 establishes the Trinity:

  • The Father commands.
  • The Son executes the commands.
  • The Spirit teaches us from the Father and Son.

KJV Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.


The Son is manifested throughout the Old Testament.

Exodus 3 shows us that the Angel of the Lord is the Son of God, not simply an angel.

KJV Exodus 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.



 

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Trinity 25 - 2023

 The Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Trinity, 2023

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
 

 


The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
Introit
Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies and from them that persecute me.
Let me not be ashamed, O Lord: 
for I have called upon Thee.
Psalm. In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: 
let me never be ashamed.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
Almighty God, we beseech Thee, show Thy mercy unto Thy humble servants, that we who put no trust in our own merits may not be dealt with after the severity of Thy judgment, but according to Thy mercy; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual  

Gradual
Thine enemies roar in the midst of Thy congregations: they set up their ensigns for signs.
V. Remember Thy congregation which Thou hast purchased of old: the rod of Thine inheritance, which Thou hast redeemed. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. There is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God: 
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. Hallelujah!
    
The Gospel              
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

We Walk by Faith

The Communion Hymn #316                O Living Bread  Winkworth translation

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 #649           Jesus Savior Pilot Me  
           

Prayers and Announcements
  • Our Biblical doctrine series has a name - Reformation Seminary. Zoom has another step in W-9.
  • In treatment - Kermit Way; Randy Anderson; ; Pastor Jim Shrader (surgery) and Chris; Sarah Buck; Lori Howell; Dr. Lito Cruz and his father. 
  • Callie and her parents; little Aaron with the heart problem;
  • Those suffering from emotional and metabolic stress.
 Norma A. Boeckler 


KJV 1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.


 Norma A. Boeckler 

KJV Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.


We Walk by Faith

KJV Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.


These passages leave us with two parallel thoughts. One is that the end will come at any time, appointed only by God the Father. Jesus warned the disciples strictly, and this is recorded more than once. No one knows the time.

On the other hand, the warning is clearly stated so that no one takes for granted what will come, how quickly time will come to an end. So what did the early church fathers do? This is very important, because it became the core of institutional thinking. The answer teaches us all about the decline of the Christian Faith, even though the institution grew across the world. The era of the pope was already established by Augustine's time (the 400s). When there was a dispute about justification, Augustine wrote famously - "Rome has spoken - the case is closed." Gone was the meeting of Biblical teachers in keeping the truth of the Scriptures. Following the rigid structure of the failing Roman Empire, the Christian Church set up one supreme ruler, the Bishop of Rome, who called himself the First Among Equals, not just a bishop (shepherd) but superior to the rest.

Nothing teaches us in the Scriptures about holy people going out and living alone or in groups of believers far away from society. Nothing forbids marriage. In fact, the Scriptures show us that marriage and family are blessings from God, not burdens of sin. Nevertheless, already by Augustine's time, priests did not marry. Communes of women and men gathered to follow religious orders and to keep each other working to support themselves, sometimes by begging as well. 

This set up a toxin which remains to this day, not only the Antichrist sitting on his throne, but also people seeking holiness by craving a higher order of the Faith with robes, incense, special clothing, retreats away from society, and all kinds of drama in worship. Chemnitz said about the Roman Mass (Holy Communion) that the priest carried on so much that it was difficult to laugh or cry during the performance.

What do we have today? Supposed Lutheran pastors (Latin for shepherd) crave special, expensive clothing, clouds of incense, bowing, kneeling, long on requirements but short on Biblical knowledge, often opposed to the Gospel itself, especially Luther, Melanchthon, and Chemnitz.

As Luther wrote in this sermon, what is essential? Going out into the wilderness to form a secluded hideaway, free from sin? My relatives in Michigan were Millerites, named because they began by selling all their goods and going up on a mountain to wait for the End of the World - twice! They became the Seventh Day Adventists and set up all kinds of special rules. One Noel/Jackson family` decided to move from their Ohio farm to Iowa, where they began raising pigs (not allowed!) and became Evangelicals. 

One Adventist family in Midland, Michigan told us they could not use any animal products at all. They told us about many of their other rules as well. Their son could not dance but he showed us how to do the Moon Walk. I said, "I thought you were not allowed to dance." He said, "Of all the dances I am not allowed to do, that one is my favorite." I thought that summed up legalism quite well - ignoring the Gospel and making up rules for sanctification (holiness, perfection, purity).

In spite of the dire warnings from Jesus about the end of time, various Christian leaders have ordered and emphasized the opposite of what He taught and still teaches today. The answer is not to run into the wilderness to be away from society. This not only goes on today in the Church of Rome and Eastern Orthodoxy but also in various world religions, such as in India and the rest of Asia. The response of so many kinds of religions, expressions, and worship suggests there might be one answer, not 10,000 opinions.

22. Now it is high time for him to run and flee, who is able to flee; let everything he has behind and depart; the sooner the better; not with his feet but with his heart, in such a way that he will be rid of the abomination and enter the kingdom of Christ through faith. 

False religions search for actions and works, but Luther wisely taught that the answer is faith - and the answer can only be faith in Jesus Christ, because all the actions are the work of man. The substance of the entire Bible is Jesus Christ the Savior, Who died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead to show His victory over sin, death, and the devil. 

That is true from beginning to end. The more we see this, the greater the impact. When graduate students deal with Genesis, they have many ideas to follow from one book. One group wanted especially to emphasize Abraham believing and being counted righteous. I added this because I previously did not catch wording.

KJV Genesis 15

And, behold, the Word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

The Word of the Lord is the Son of God, so He is predicting to Abraham the Kingdom of Christ, not just an enormous family but millions of people who will believe in the Good Shepherd and follow Him.

KJV John 8

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. (See Exodus 3, the Burning Bush)

The present and future tenses are dazzling because the Son of God establishes Justification by Faith in Him in Genesis and then - in the Roman Empire - states that Abraham rejoiced to see Him, Who was - and is - God Himself.

These two passages teach us the unity and the harmony of the Scriptures, including Exodus 3 and many more examples, because the Bible is One Book of the Holy Spirit, not a combination of ancient sayings. That is what gives us peace and hope, knowing that the Scriptures exist to teach us and turn away from error.

19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.


Faith in Jesus Christ means that God will take care of us, even in the great tribulation. All things are in God's hands. Those who glory in their shame will have a great awakening but it will not be a pleasant one. They draw people together as followers, as Luther wrote, because people like wolf-preachers. One of my funny moments was listening to the announcements at Willow Creek Community Church (no crosses, lest they offend). After the service was an expensive food court to sell food to those who came for the meaningless service. And like many other fake churches, it fell apart all at once, and the founder was expelled...for cause.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 


Ordinary people are so easily overlooked when people are looking for excitement, for something new, for a "breakthrough unlike anything ever experienced before." Many overlook the Christ within their neighbor, even within their own families. The time is fleeting, so we should spend our time wisely, since that is the only commodity we have, each and every one of us.  

25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.


The Apostle Paul's letters to the Thessalonians were his earliest ones (so we think). 1 Thessalonians 4 is one of the two lessons today. 2 Thessalonians 2 is all about the Antichrist, which is clearer than ever. Neither one is being fulfilled at this moment, but they prophesies are clear. That should make us wary of being to bold in our predictions, hopes, and accomplishments. 

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Thanksgiving 2023

  

Bethany Lutheran Church
Thanksgiving Service -  7 PM Central
Pastor Gregory Jackson

The Hymn #574            Come Ye Thankful     
The Order of Vespers p. 41
The Psalmody Psalm 100 p. 144
The First Lection Philippians 4:4-7
The Second Lection Luke 17:11-19
 

The Sermon Hymn #577      God Bless Our Native Land


Thankfulness



The Prayers and Lord’s Prayer p. 44
The Collect for Peace p. 45
The Benediction p. 45

The Hymn #644     Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow

 Author - Bishop Ken - name a bishop hymn-writer today!

In Our Prayers
  • Cancer treatment and diagnosis, good news - Randy Anderson; Pastor Jim Shrader, operation needed - and Christ Shrader; Doc Lito Cruz; Lori Howell.
  • Little Aaron (heart issues); Callie and her parents.
  • Our military, President Trump, and those who defend the U. S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Philippians 4:4-7. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

KJV Luke 17:11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.




Philippians 4:4-7. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

                             Thankfulness

4 Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice.


The changes in our lives can generate all kinds of negative feelings, such as fear about finances, worries about health, crises far beyond our defenses, and fears which negate everything good. It is easy to say, "What's the use?" 

The disciples are examples of these matters, time after time. They are unknowing and fearful and dense. There are many statues of the Apostles in holy stances, but the best paintings show them terrified on the boat, asking "Don't You care if we die?"

If we are at all alike, the mildest things seem so burdensome until the crisis is over and we see how anxious we were.

In contrast, thankfulness removes or dampens down our feelings of dread, failure, and misery. And the root of thankfulness is faith. What did Jesus say? 
  • Have you no money? 
  • Have you no insurance? 
  • Have you no friends?
He said, "Have you no faith?" because the natural fruit of faith is joy. Trust in God opens our eyes to all He has given us and even more to come. The greatest joy often comes from the aftermath of a great crisis. When Paul could not come out of the gloom of his depression (Luther's conclusion, which I favor), he received his answer from God, 

KJV 2 Corinthians 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. 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. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Let your forbearance [gentle, kindly,  or yielding nature] be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 

Mothers and teachers are good examples of this, which their children/students  discover best when they can no longer say, "Thank you for all the intangibles you gave me." I enjoy editing the alumni of our middle high school; the school only exists in our memories now. We post photos and memories of our teachers. We are reminded of special teachers who set us geeky rebels up for a responsible life. I have learned of a number of special problems, even medical ones, that the teachers addressed in their wisdom.

I have heard many horrible stories about children raised in poverty, alcoholism, and brutality. The impact is more obvious when the tragedies are described by individuals.

The Apostle Paul was writing - Consider the Lord Jesus Christ coming soon. How does that diminish what is happening now - so tiny in comparison. Winning the big lawsuit against Microsoft is not going to mean much at the end.

6 In nothing be anxious [full of care, distracted, divided; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

This is the best remedy for anxiety. Whatever we are worried about, wherever we feel guilty or inadequate, pray to God in the Name of Jesus. This is followed by a beautiful blessing which addresses all issues and gives us reason to be thankful, because God really does act beyond our expectations and even before we think to ask.


The Votum - Prayer - Used at the End of the Sermon

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

Maybe the Votum is used too often and we all fail to listen to this great Promise from the Holy Spirit. Forgiveness through faith gives us joy, peace, and love. The extent of these fruits of the Gospel is so great that they transcend our understanding (ability to think) and these fruits of the Spirit guard our hearts and our thoughts in Jesus our Good Shepherd.



The end