Monthly Archives: December 2023
An Odd, Blessed, Understanding of “Family”
Thoughts which drive me to Jesus, and the cross, and then to the world..
18 As Jesus was getting back into the boat, the man who was freed from the demons begged to go with him.
19 But Jesus would not let him. He said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man left and began to tell the people in the Ten Towns about what Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed. Mark 5:18-20 NCV
This is why, as a Christian sets out on his way of uninterrupted dealing with our Lord, his interior life grows and becomes more strong and secure. And he is led to engage in the demanding yet attractive struggle to fulfill completely the will of God. I might add that his not a path for a privileged few; it is a way open to everyone.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel: For He hath visited and redeemed His people,
And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us:
In the house of His servant David; As He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets:
Which have been since the world began;
That we should be saved from our enemies:
And from the hand of all that hate us;
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers:
And to remember His holy covenant;
The man, rescued from the clutches of pure evil, is told by Jesus that he has graduated from seminary, and now is being sent to his home, to share with what God (for that is what the reference Lord means here) has done, and the compassionate, intimate mercy shown to him. The man complies, with an odd twist, he redefines the term family in the widest possible way! He goes and share with them, the population of 10 very diverse cities of primarily non-Jewish peoples. People that moved there because of business, because of the military occupation, because of a thousand different reasons. It awaw san area so diverse, the people named it using a Greek name, not a Samaritan name, nor a Hebrew name,
Such is the kind of praise that wells up within us, that both St. Josemaria and William Loehe note (Loehe quoting Zacharias in Luke 1) as they consider the work done in the lives of the people of God. There is nothing abnormal about spending time with God, and then desiring that others find they are able to share in such a blessing.
St. Josamaria describes it as an observer, (but it was his experience as well!) Zacharias/Koehe see it as it happens, even though it hadn’t fully happened yet, but the response is the same as the man going to Decapolis – look at what God has done! It is not a forced evangelism program, as they embrace the “demanding yet attractive struggle to fulfill compactedly the will of God.” Again, we have to realize where our desire comes from–it is not an obligation it is not something the pastor can manipulate, or program into his people. It come from them seeing God, talking to Him intimately, allowing Him to show you that you are loved. As you realize that wonderful love, as you realize the demons God’s rescued you from, hear his voice telling you when it is time to go…for this is what we are all called to do.. to live in Christ and go to our “family” and completely fulfill His will.
A will explained simply by Jesus, “go tell them what God has done..to you.”
So go spend some time with God – and let me know what happens next… as He surprises you with people who need to hear!
Josemaria Escriva. Christ is Passing by. (New York, Scepter, 2002( no. 199
“the Song of Zacharia Benedictus”, William Lœhe, Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians, trans. H. A. Weller (Chicago: Wartburg Publishing House, 1914), 91.
Cry Out! “He is Home!” A Sermon on John 1:1-
A Painting of Jesus and Mary by my friend Mark Jennings. You can find all his art (and order copies) at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/mark-jennings.html
Cry Out:
For He has answered!
“He Is Home!”
John 1:1-14
† Jesus, Son, Savior †
May the grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ help you be at home with God
- Dwelling, Domicile, HOME
Yesterday, I made a comment about how I struggled with the newer translation’s attempt with Gabriel’s greeting to Mary before he announced she was pregnant. More familiar with an older translation, it resonated more deeply with me.
Today the tables are reversed. There is an incredible difference in my mind between saying Jesus “dwelt” among us, or even more stiffly Jesus lived here, and how our translation does it this morning, where it says He “made His home among us.”
It’s one thing to say he moved onto our street, it’s another to say He made our home, His home.
And the original language supports that, if not even more familial.
That is what Jesus does, that is what He wants, to walk into our homes, our lives, and make His home with us.
Even if a bit awkward, even if embarrassing.
I mean think about it,
God doing your dishes?
And that is where He wants!
God sharing your bathroom? Or something worse…
- Light in Darkness
There is a description in the gospel reading of what life is like before Christ. It is not life, and it is shrouded in complete darkness. The kind that happens when even the stars and the moon are shrouded by a storm, and all the power is out.
This is what sin, the sin of a nation, of a community, of a family and of the individual does – Paul talks of such sin as being a veil, covers our ability to see the glory of God,
Without Jesus being our home, we dwell is the despair of that darkness, without the hope, peace, joy and love that we talked through during Advent.
But John promised that Jesus is the light and life, that He cuts through darkness, that cuts through the despair, not only does He destroys that darkness, He does more—He invites us into the light of the glory of the Father, for where He is, the Father is as well.
For Him to make His home with us in us, is not like he’s staying for a few days as a guest that needs to be served. There are other churches that might talk more about that, I think that we let Him care for us, what He calls us to be and do makes itself manifest.
But He cares for us…
Unfailing love and faithfulness
Last night we talked about His care for as as being driven by His passionate commitment to us, today, John the Apostle describes this as His unfailing love and faithfulness towards us. He is our God, who pours out that love on people, that those willing to receive it, to depend on Him, will have been saved.
We have a God who is so at home in our lives, that He ”does all the housework” cleaning up for us, feeding us, making sure we are well cared for, even when life seems broken. He is there, He is home with us. His our Lord and God.
This is the work of Jesus Christ, that started way before the manger, it started in creation – a creation with one purpose, to make us the children of God. This is why we are here… this is who we are.
We are His.
The Passionate Commitment: A Christmas Eve sermon on Isaiah 9:2-7
The Passionate Commitment
Isaiah 9:2,6-7
† I.H.S. †
May the grace of God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ teach you that God has committed everything He is to loving you!
Zealous, Devoted, Passionate Commitment
He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!
What an amazing description of Jesus, our promised Savior. Those four titles have made up so many Christmas Eve sermons, so many Advent sermon series have been based on those 4 titles, those four descriptions of the ministry that Jesus would have to His people.
Descriptions of how He would minister to us.
But that is not the thing to focus on this night.
This night, two words from the next verse are the point that we, and the world need to not just hear, but need to understand. Hear the end of that verse,
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s armies will make this happen.
The two words I want us to focus on are “passionate commitment.”
Most translations use zeal, some use devotion, some use determination, one even uses jealous love, but looking at the word, passionate commitment seems to bring across the message better than any other.
Tonight, we need to realize His passionate commitment, and we are the object of that passionate commitment.
The roles are needed – but the commitment more needed
The four roles are important, we need to understand how Jesus fulfills each of those roles. We’ve looked at that before, and there is a lot of value in knowing what God promised to do, but that is not enough.
Here is why–we live in a world full of broken promises.
How many times have you been disappointed in life? Maybe it was a boss with a promise that he or she couldn’t follow through on. Maybe it was a teacher who didn’t fulfill their role. Maybe it was your parents, and the expectation of what you would get for Christmas.
It could have been you, in the role of boss, teacher or parent, who had to break a promise.
We just live in a world where it becomes difficult to depend on others because of such broken and shattered histories,
The word commitment is life a 20 dollar bill—we found out it doesn’t have the value we once thought it did. We get cynical, either about promises made to us, or the ability we have to live in a relationship that is based on them. For certainly, over time, we will cannot keep our end of the bargain.
It really doesn’t help us when we are gifts are give to us by someone “making a list and checking it twice!”
We may not think God would do it, but it is a part of how our minds think – that we have to be good enough to deserve our gifts, our presents, and the help we so desperately need.
This doesn’t have to happen… it has!
God, through the words He entrusted to Isaiah, put everything behind this promise.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s armies will make this happen.
Of all the things God could invest his passion in, His care for you and every human is primary. Each person is critical, that is why He is so patient with us, despite our brokenness. He puts everything He is into fulfilling that promise,
And He has.
That’s the advantage that is beyond compare for us. We don’t see Isaiah’s words as a future promise, we see this commitment fulfilled in Jesus’ birth, life, teaching, death , resurrection and ascension, and know He is interceding for us with the Father, and has sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us.
This promise ha been kept, the passionate commitment seen here in the manger, and even more on the cross. And someday, believers will look to the sky, to see Christ returning for us, and then to the throne, where they will see God in all His glory, welcome all believers home.
And until then, think through these promises, and realize the glorious love of God which drives the passion that made it happen. AMEN!
Cry out! “The Lord is With You!” A sermon on Gabriel and Mary from Luke 1:6-28
Cry Out:
For He has answered!
“The Lord Is With You!”
Luke 1:26-38
† Jesus! Son! Savior †
May the grace and peace of God which passes all understanding enable you to ponder the depth of His love. For you and your world. Amen!
- Hail Mary… full of grace, the Lord is with thee..
As someone who grew up Roman Catholic, hearing the gospel this morning seemed, well, a little off.
I mean, I know it is perfectly accurate when it says,
“Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
but I will always hear this passage in the way I memorized it as a kid,
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee….
It means the same thing – and we have to understand what it means, and more importantly, why it means that….
It is not for us a prayer to her, but as with so many in scripture, an opportunity to contemplate the work of God in her life, that we might comprehend His work in ours.
The reason for this is clear, though we don’t carry Jesus physically for 9 months, we are still united to Him, because “we are favored by God”, or to use the old words, “we are full of grace!”
- Confused and disturbed – at a message from God?
Before finding out she was about to become pregnant, Mary reacted to the presence of the angel, and his opening line about being favored—filled with grace.
It isn’t a bunch of “praise the Lord!” and “Alleluias.” She was in shock. The older translations say she was “greatly troubled,” but the modern translation does a good job—she was “confused and disturbed and she tried to think what the angel could mean!”
If she was confused and disturbed by an angelic being telling her she had been found in favor with God, that she would be blessed beyond belief, how much more would she be confused by the idea of carrying Jesus for nine months and giving birth to the One who would die to save mankind?
But we have the same confusion when it comes to God visiting us. We have the same reaction when God is calling us to something – especially if it is difficult and may leave us open to ridicule, or lead to uncomfortable conversations.
Who me God? How can this be? I have never done anything like this before!
Or maybe we answer like Moses, I am to shy, I can’t speak, I don’t have the charisma, I am not the right age, I don’t want to go live in the desert, I don’t….
It’s not that we don’t believe in God, but we struggle to depend on Him when what He has planned for us is beyond our imagination, beyond our comfort zone.
It would so easy to say “no”, it would be so easy to say, “that’s impossible, it would be so easy to dismiss the call of God on our lives.
Or so we think….
- Our Response to the Word of God not failing
The angel gave her an answer, this is how it will be, and here is a great thing you can do to confirm this, go check with your cousin Elisabeth, she’s got some interesting news… even though she’s over 75-nearly 80- she’s pregnant! You remember her – the one everyone gossiped about because she was considered cursed and barren…
Now I would suggest – even hope that none of our 70 plus year olds would have to get pregnant for God to make His point about your life being one that is special, but if it has to happen….
Seriously, we have a promise that proves it, the presence of the Holy Spirit given to us as we were born again with Him in baptism. The Holy Spirit who Jesus promised will “teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” John 14:26 (NLT2)
It is the same thing that Paul taught about when he wrote,
“18 I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people, 19 and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength 20 which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world.” Ephesians 1:18-20 (TEV)
That Holy Spirit, who came upon Mary and resulted in her pregnancy and our salvation, is at work in us- blessing us, filling us with His grace – as much as He filled Mary with grace, and because of the same death and resurrection that makes this all possible.
So as we transition from Advent to Christmas in this service, as we celebrate God coming into the world to dwell with us…
You may find this confusing and overwhelming – as much as Mary did, when the Angel spoke those words,
But Greetings my friend, the grace of God is poured out on you, for the Lord is with you!
Now bring Him into the world – and let God’s word determine your life, for you live in Jesus… AMEN!
Cry out “What Amazing Things!” A Sermon on Psalm 126 from the Concordia Lutheran Church
Cry out “What Amazing Things”
Psalm 126
† I.H.S. †
May the grace, mercy and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ cause joy to flood your life!
- What is your “dream”?
A week or two back at a Dallas Cowboy game my childhood hero, Roger Staubach was honored. Despite playing for the Cowboys, he was a hero, I had three books about his life, and all of them mentioned his strong faith.
It was partially that, and partially his unconventional nature that made me want to emulate him – I wanted to be a pro-quarterback! It was a dream…
We all have dreams—and some of them change over the years! I mean, I really don’t think I want to start this afternoon at quarterback for a NFL team! Some days my dream is having a day where I don’t feel like I played qb in the nfl yesterday, and was sacked 8 or 9 times.
Well – think about your best dream – the perfect life you could imagine, and think what might be better than that…
(pause) – no—think about what would make life perfect….
Now hear these words again, “When the LORD brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!
And if that was what it was like for them in Ezra and Nehemiah’s day, when they brought exiles back to Jerusalem…how much more when God brings those who chose exile today, or when the exiles are brought into God the Father’s presence when Jesus returns.
- We need restoration…!
In the psalmist’s day, the people of God had become exiles. They had set aside God once again, and done what they thought was good.
The Apostle Paul describes them clearly
“28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. 29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. 31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. 32 They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.” Romans 1:28-32 (NLT2)
That doesn’t just describe the people of God then, it describes the society in which we live today. Perhaps, we are even talking about some in the church, or some in this church.
After all—we can sin in our thoughts, word and deed- and we do. And even if we aren’t sinning in our thoughts, words and actions, we passively sin, or we actively or passively sin by encouraging others to live in sin.
- Here is what is guaranteed to happen in our lives
That is why there is such joy when Christ Jesus brings anyone of us back home! Or when revival hits our community and people are breaking down the door to come in and hear about Jesus, because one of us invited them to come and see Jesus.
That is all that revival is, the bringing of a group of prodigals home! What an amazing thing it is, to help us understand the love of God.
This is what is so amazing, this love—this glorious love that God pours out on us.
It changes everything…
That’s the challenge for us who’ve trusted in God for a decade or eight. We know we’re going to heaven, we know God is with us, but do we realize how much He has delivered us from!
Think about Jesus words:
“A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” 43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said. Luke 7:41b-43 (NLT2)
He goes on
47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Luke 7:47 (NLT2)
You should notice that Jesus never tells Simon the Pharisee that he’s been forgiven a little. For Simon should know – as well as anyone, that he has will be forgiven just as much as she has!
As have we!
That is what is so amazing – God has completely cleansed us up – He has brought us home to His throne, to His altar, to a place where His promises are pouted out through the gospel!
To realize is like what happens to a field full of dead, dry weeds when the rain hits it, and life become new in that desert field.
Or when the Psalmist says, “Restore our Fortunes”
The word picture there is more than a monetary figure. Think of Job, after God reveals himself and has more children, more animals, more feasts celebrating the love of God than he did before.
The word for fortune is “way of life”, or what just Jesus promised in giving us an abundant life, one where we are sure of God’s presence and love. This is the reason for great joy, this hope we have of life that is more than we can imagine, so much so that it Is like a dream.
For we are home, with our Lord, and we have an eternity with Him! – As the old hymn said, “How great our joy!” AMEN!
† I.H.S. †
May the grace, mercy and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ cause joy to flood your life!
- What is your “dream”?
A week or two back at a Dallas Cowboy game my childhood hero, Roger Staubach was honored. Despite playing for the Cowboys, he was a hero, I had three books about his life, and all of them mentioned his strong faith.
It was partially that, and partially his unconventional nature that made me want to emulate him – I wanted to be a pro-quarterback! It was a dream…
We all have dreams—and some of them change over the years! I mean, I really don’t think I want to start this afternoon at quarterback for a NFL team! Some days my dream is having a day where I don’t feel like I played qb in the nfl yesterday, and was sacked 8 or 9 times.
Well – think about your best dream – the perfect life you could imagine, and think what might be better than that…
(pause) – no—think about what would make life perfect….
Now hear these words again, “When the LORD brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!
And if that was what it was like for them in Ezra and Nehemiah’s day, when they brought exiles back to Jerusalem…how much more when God brings those who chose exile today, or when the exiles are brought into God the Father’s presence when Jesus returns.
- We need restoration…!
In the psalmist’s day, the people of God had become exiles. They had set aside God once again, and done what they thought was good.
The Apostle Paul describes them clearly
“28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. 29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. 31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. 32 They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.” Romans 1:28-32 (NLT2)
That doesn’t just describe the people of God then, it describes the society in which we live today. Perhaps, we are even talking about some in the church, or some in this church.
After all—we can sin in our thoughts, word and deed- and we do. And even if we aren’t sinning in our thoughts, words and actions, we passively sin, or we actively or passively sin by encouraging others to live in sin.
- Here is what is guaranteed to happen in our lives
That is why there is such joy when Christ Jesus brings anyone of us back home! Or when revival hits our community and people are breaking down the door to come in and hear about Jesus, because one of us invited them to come and see Jesus.
That is all that revival is, the bringing of a group of prodigals home! What an amazing thing it is, to help us understand the love of God.
This is what is so amazing, this love—this glorious love that God pours out on us.
It changes everything…
That’s the challenge for us who’ve trusted in God for a decade or eight. We know we’re going to heaven, we know God is with us, but do we realize how much He has delivered us from!
Think about Jesus words:
“A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. 42 But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” 43 Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said. Luke 7:41b-43 (NLT2)
He goes on
47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Luke 7:47 (NLT2)
You should notice that Jesus never tells Simon the Pharisee that he’s been forgiven a little. For Simon should know – as well as anyone, that he has will be forgiven just as much as she has!
As have we!
That is what is so amazing – God has completely cleansed us up – He has brought us home to His throne, to His altar, to a place where His promises are pouted out through the gospel!
To realize is like what happens to a field full of dead, dry weeds when the rain hits it, and life become new in that desert field.
Or when the Psalmist says, “Restore our Fortunes”
The word picture there is more than a monetary figure. Think of Job, after God reveals himself and has more children, more animals, more feasts celebrating the love of God than he did before.
The word for fortune is “way of life”, or what just Jesus promised in giving us an abundant life, one where we are sure of God’s presence and love. This is the reason for great joy, this hope we have of life that is more than we can imagine, so much so that it Is like a dream.
For we are home, with our Lord, and we have an eternity with Him! – As the old hymn said, “How great our joy!” AMEN!
Thoughts for Those Who Care for Others
Thoughts which pull me toward Jesus, and to the Cross
They say, “Turn to the LORD for help. Maybe he will save you. If he likes you, maybe he will rescue you.” Ps. 22:8 NCV
Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up the mountain 10 and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was a surface that looked as if it were paved with blue sapphire stones, and it was as clear as the sky! 11 These leaders of the Israelites saw God, but God did not destroy them. Then they ate and drank together. Exodus 24:9-11 NCV
Instead of worrying about the types of questions to ask or interventions to offer, I ground myself in who I am as God’s beloved being, a person called to provide accompaniment to those hurting, using the gifts and graces I have been given to do so.
For many, this is a dark, lonely and painful season. There are people we miss, pressures no one else may know about, hurts that build up resentment, and fears that often result in hate, and experiences of trauma – both today and in times past, that suck the life out of you.
There are people that give the same advice–“pray about it!” But some give it from a place of their own disillusionment, some from not knowing what else to say, and others, because they know it is the only source of the hope of healing, peace and joy that exists. It is hard to know which is which–for tone of voice and body language can only give away so much!
But the advice is still solid – God does love you – and He will intervene.
Not only for those who are in the midst of the struggle, but as important for those caring for them.
This is what Dr. Nolaso is pointing to in the quote. Overwhelmed too often by the cries of those broken, trying to plan out their therapy and finding plans impossible because of the the pain, he sought a way to maintain his own sanity and health, so that he could assist those entrusted to His care. The answer he comes up with is akin to that of the psalmist. Find your place, your identity in Christ, know His love and that He likes you, and will guide you through the storm. It is from this position that we can accompany people in and through all forms of brokenness, helping guide them to healing.
For in His presence we are being healed – and can pass that gift on to others. Even if we have only begun to heal, even if we haven’t eralized the power of grace and forgiveness, even if we only have the slightest idea of what it means to be in the presence of God, to know He is with us.
For He is our bright light in the darkness of this world.
I believe this is why the 70 elders plus Moses and his crew went up and feasted with God. It wasn’t just to celebrate the communion feast – it was to assure them of God’s presence, so that when they ministered to others, they could lean on God. THey had to realize God was with them, that He liked them, that He would be with Him.
And He was!
As He is with you!
Amen!
Rolf Nolasco Jr., The Contemplative Counselor: A Way of Being (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2011), 24.
Cry out “Comfort my people!” An Advent sermon on Isaiah 40:1-11
Cry out “Comfort my People!”
Is 40:1-11
† I.H.S. †
The grace of God our Father is yours, as Christ comforts you and causes you to dwell in peace!
- The prophet’s Advent cry – you have to come and..
- Peace? Comfort – or in Hebrew – need to catch my breath!
As we meander through advent, hearing the cries of the prohetcs ofGod to pour out hope, peace, joy and love on His people, I really praise God for this cry fin Isaiah—for in it we see the heart of God,
“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. 2 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.”
What an incredible thing to know, that God wants you to be comforted! As we talk about the advent concept of peace – that Christ comes to bring peace, we have to realize this has been God’s desire for His people.
Comfort, peace…
And I love the word picture behind the Hebrew here, the word means “to let someone breathe deeply!”
Or maybe as we say it—God wants those ministering to God’s people to help them “catch their breath!”
What a concept!
To relax, knowing everything is taken care of, that everything is finished, and perfect!
Even for those who sin! Hear the full passage in context!
““Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. 2 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned.”
Hmmm – part of that comfort is that the sad days are gone, and all our sins are pardoned—and that is part of the comfort.
- Without God – you fade with
That is what all the raising and lowering and straightening out the roads. It’s about making things easy, allowing us to breathe easily, to rest, to be at peace. Which is Christ’s goal, and it should be ours as well…
But the challenge is how we help people to catch our breath.
First, we have to deal with what stops us from breathing…
A voice said, “Shout!” I asked, “What should I shout?” “Shout that people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the LORD. And so it is with people. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fade,
Again, there is a picture behind one of the words, that word “beauty.”
It is that favorite word of mine in Hebrew, “cHesed.” What is facing as quickly as flowers without water is the ability to love. What ability to love?
The ability to love God,
The ability to love our neighbor, including those who are enemies and adversaries.
That is not only the symptom of sin, but it is the root and because of it. It is what causes us to dry up. That is why we fade, why we die off when caught in sin, when we are in the midst of rebelling, when we don’t ask for mercy and forgiveness.
This dried out, unable to breath feeling, as if the life is sucked out of you…
To which the Lord of heaven tells Isaiah that He is crying out,
“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. 2 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned!”
- Who heard the cry?
So one question I ask Bob and others who work on sermons is where is Jesus in this passage. Simply because if you don’t see Jesus in a passage, you can’t preach on it. You can give a lecture, or a talk—but you can’t preach the gospel, the news that comforts the broken, that allows us to breath when we are crushed by the sin of the world, and even your own.
So where is Jesus in this passage? Simple –
He’s who the Father is crying out to—He’s the one that will comfort us, and allow us to breathe. The cry is to Jesus, and is a prophecy as much as a cry…
For on the cross, Jesus died so that we could breathe, just like the skeletons that were reassembled—and then the Spirit blew life into them.
He comforted them…
He comforted us…
He allows us to breathe, knowing He has saved us, knowing He has taken care of it, all of it, for us.
- The second cry
There is a second cry – and this one is not to Jesus, but to the people of God.
That means to us!
Here are those words,
9 O Zion, messenger of good news, shout from the mountaintops! Shout it louder, O Jerusalem. Shout, and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah, “Your God is coming!”
Our job is to take this message and shout it, shout it even louder, and not be afraid of doing it!
But what is the content of that message?
Those sinners, those who God longs to comfort – this is how He will comfort them…
Tell the towns of Judah, “Your God is coming!” 10 Yes, the Sovereign LORD is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd.
Here is the part that blows my mind,
He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
What a picture of Jesus!
At those moments when life is crushing the breath out of us, Jesus is lifting us up, holding us to his heart, and guiding us along…and safe in His arms, cleansed and made whole… and now, there, you can breathe… as can all who you help come there! AMEN!
Cry Out, “Display your Glory!” A sermon on Psalm 80
Cry Out:
For He has answered!
“Display Your Glory!”
Psalm 80:1-7
† I.H.S. †
May the grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ prepare you for the second coming, knowing God will answer His people!
- Advent Cries
Psalm 80 this morning starts with a powerful prayer, a loud cry out to God for Him to “Display Your Radiant Glory!”
It is a very appropriate cry, a very appropriate thing to beg for, as we look at the 2nd coming—just as it was very appropriate as the people of God waited for the Messiah to come and be born of a virgin.
It doesn’t stand alone, throughout the Old Testament the people of God learned the hard way that they needed God, consider these other cries,
Ps 60:1 — You have rejected us, O God, and broken our defenses. You have been angry with us; now restore us to your favor.
Ps 80:19 — Turn us again to yourself, O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies.
Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.
Ps 85:4 — Now restore us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside your anger against us once more.
La 5:21 — Restore us, O LORD, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had!
Part of Advent are these cries, for like the people of God awaiting what would be the birth of Jesus, we look around us and see a great need, one so great that we need to see the full power of God’s love unleashed on the world..
- Anger and Bread and Drink of Tears
There are times where the insight of how bad things are, well, let’s just say the world is in denial about how bad it is. Israel was as well, blaming others for the consequences of their sin.
God had a way to deal with those who denied their sin!
Here is how the psalm describes it,
4 O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies, how long will you be angry with our prayers? 5 You have fed us with sorrow and made us drink tears by the bucketful.
Psalm 80:4-5 (NLT2)
The Hebrew here is bread of tears, and to drink the equivalent of a gallon and a half of the tears that comes when you are sobbing uncontrollably.
If only there was an option to suffering God’s wrath in a way that produced tears in that quantity! But Israel needed to get to where they not only could cry out—but they would cry out.
Does this mean that God causes our struggles, those times of tears?
No, but the consequences of the sins that causes those sins, God doesn’t prevent…that we might learn to turn to Him for help.
But He never forgets His love for us.
- Ephraim, Benjamin, Manasseh – gen 48:16
I want to go back to the cry again, but this time, let’s hear the entire cry,
O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph’s descendants like a flock. O God, enthroned above the cherubim, display your radiant glory 2 to Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Show us your mighty power. Come to rescue us! 3 Turn us again to yourself, O God. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.
It is interesting to me that hear, instead of using Jacob and or Israel to describe the people of God, the Psalmist focuses on Joseph and his brother Benjamin, and then Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. These are the offspring of Rachel, the children of the wife that was dearest, so dear that Joseph’s sons were given equal shares with the brothers of Joseph.
The picture, by using their name is the love and devotion that God has for His favorite people – and it is to them God compares all of His people as they cry out. Why?
Because they would have the confidence that dad would answer, or to use the word for this first Sunday of Advent – the hope of the cry being answered.
A hope that isn’t maybe, a hope that based on a Father’s love!
- Between the Wings – another feast
I commented a moment ago that there should be a better feast provided by God. There is actually a reference to the sacrifice of Christ, the body broken and the blood shed for our sake.
When it talks about God enthroned above the enthroned above the cherubim, it is a reference to the Ark of the Covenant in the tabernacle/temple. It is the same place Moses wrote of….
Ex 25:22 — I will meet with you there and talk to you from above the atonement cover between the gold cherubim that hover over the Ark of the Covenant. From there I will give you my commands for the people of Israel.
On either side of the Ark were the carved cherubim – whose wings covered the mercy seat – where the blood for atoning for sin was poured out once a year….to cover the sin…
God’s spirit would hover there, ministering to the people of God…. Which is why cross is there, and why the body and blood is here… to remind us why we have hope, that every cry – for us to see God’s glory, His glorious love
Why I Am Not Ready for Christmas Carols
Thoughts that leave me at Jesus’s feet, and at the Cross
10 So now I am sending you to the king of Egypt. Go! Bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt!”
11 But Moses said to God, “I am not a great man! How can I go to the king and lead the Israelites out of Egypt?”
13 Moses said to God, “When I go to the Israelites, I will say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors sent me to you.’ What if the people say, ‘What is his name?’ What should I tell them?”
4 Then Moses answered, “What if the people of Israel do not believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?”
10 But Moses said to the LORD, “Please, Lord, I have never been a skilled speaker. Even now, after talking to you, I cannot speak well. I speak slowly and can’t find the best words? Exodus 3:10–11, 13, 4:1, 10 NCV
The songs of Advent, which we hear ever so often during these weeks, could perhaps become for us beacons of light that show us the way and make us lift up our eyes to acknowledge promises so much greater than those based on money, power, and pleasure. To be awake for God and for our neighbor—this is the meaning of the Advent call to stay awake. Such staying awake finds the light and makes the world a brighter place.
Awake, my soul! from sadness rise,
Come, see what in the manger lies:
Who is this smiling infant Child?—
’Tis little Jesus, sweet and mild.
Twice welcome, oh! Thou heavenly guest,
To save a world with sin distressed;
Com’st Thou in lowly guise for me?
What homage shall I give to Thee!
Verily it brings shame and disgrace upon the Church of Christ, when Christians,—Christ’s servants and followers,—neglect their duties so flagrantly and have no more a spirit of praise and thanksgiving in them; and, it is high time that every one who deserves correction shall permit himself to be sincerely corrected through God’s Word and Spirit.
Tomorrow starts the church season we call Advent. At some point, people will start asking why we aren’t singing Christmas Carols and why we keep singing O Come O come Emmanuel–as if Christ hasn’t yet been born! There is always an explanation, something akin to comparing Advent to their presents under the tree, and how they don’t unwrap them until Christmas Day. There is joy in anticipating what are in those packages, there is hope that it will finally be something special.
But as I look at Christmas this year, I realize I am not ready for it, any more than Moses was ready to lead a ragtag group of Jewish people to the Holy Land.
The people I see enslaved to sin are too numerous, the challenges to much for this aging, health-challenged pastor. I look at the church, as torn apart by sin and strife as the world, and wish with Loehe that the time of correction would occur. ( I hate to say it must include me.. and yet that is needed a well!)
I am not saying we have to be perfect to celebrate Christmas – just the opposite – we have to realize that the baby Mary gave birth and laid ni the manger is the only hope for our brokenness. He is the Creator/Guest who came to save us. THe darkness of this world,with empty promises of money, power and pleasure–we have to have tired of them, and grown to despair the cruse they bring.
We have to cry out for hope… and cry out with the expectation it will be delivered in the presence of the one laid in the manger, and then on the tree to be nailed to it and lifted up….there to draw men into His death, that with HIm, they would rise as something new.
Advent is a time for this meditation – this time thinking of how much, how desperately we need for Jesus to come to us, where we are at, today.
I need this time, I need to experience the hope that brings light to despair.
For then, Christmas comes in a different way….in all of its power, in all of its brilliant glory…
for those trapped in darkness will see a great light… and then they will sing!
Joseph Ratzinger, Co-Workers of the Truth: Meditations for Every Day of the Year, ed. Irene Grassl, trans. Mary Frances McCarthy and Lothar Krauth (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1992), 379–380.
Martin Luther and John Hunt, The Spiritual Songs of Martin Luther: From the German, trans. Thomas Clark (London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co., 1853), 31.
William Lœhe, Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians, trans. H. A. Weller (Chicago: Wartburg Publishing House, 1914), 42.
