"Herod's Evil" Sermon: Matthew 2:16-18 (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsXmaIAN0EU&feature=youtu.be

"Herod's Evil" Sermon: Matthew 2:16-18 (manuscript)

“Herod’s Evil”

[Matthew 2:16-18]

December 27, 2020 YouTube

            We have remembered the Incarnation of God in the person of Jesus – the baby born on Christmas.  We continue through the Christian year – with the next major liturgical event being Epiphany – the coming of the Magi – which, Lord willing – we will look at next week.

            A so-called “minor” liturgical event is celebrated on the Western liturgical calendar tomorrow – Monday – happens immediately after the history of the magi – the slaughter of the infants of Bethlehem.  We will consider this text today, even though it happens after the text we plan to look at next week.

            In the text preceding this morning’s reading, we read about magi – astrologers – who come from the east – possibly from Iran or Iraq.  They have followed a star which moves and leads them to Judah.  They determine that the star is a sign of the birth of a new King of the Jews, so they go to the palace in Jerusalem to look for him.  But he is not there.  Instead, they find King Herod, who ask his wise men who say the prophets say the King of the Jews will be born in Bethlehem.

            Herod sends the magi on their way and tells them that he wants them to return and tell him exactly where the newborn King is so he can worship him, and off they go.

            Herod the Great – called such because of his great building projects – including the renovation and expansion of the Temple in Jerusalem – lived from 72 B. C. to 4 A. D.  He was a descendant of the Edomites – of Esau – enemies of Israel – and a Hellenist – He favored all things Greek and Roman over traditional – biblical – Judaism.  So, he reigned as an intermediary between the Romans and the Jews, though his first allegiance was to the Romans.

            Besides being a great builder and ally of Rome, he was a wicked and paranoid man.  During his reign, he killed off most of his family members – including most of his children – sure they were conspiring against him, and at one point he killed off the members of the Sanhedrin – the ruling body over the Jews.  And just before his death – realizing that no one would mourn his death – Herod instructed his soldiers to gather the most respected people of Judah at the moment of his death and slaughter them so there would be weeping and mourning when he died – even if it were not for him.  This penchant for slaughtering people led Caesar Augustus to say, “It is safer to be Herod’s pig than it is to be his son.”

            This all being the case, we are not surprised to read:

“Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.”

The magi agree to come back to tell Herod where the newborn King is so Herod can go and worship Him, but an angel warns the magi against going back to Herod, so they return home by another way.  The angel also warns Mary and Joseph, and they take Jesus and settle in Egypt.

After a while – we don’t know exactly how long – Herod realizes that the magi are not going to return – they are not going to tell him where in Bethlehem to find Jesus.  And Herod becomes furious.  In his paranoia, he thinks the baby will be coming after him to steal the throne from him.  There is left to him only one course of action – kill all the male children under two years old – including one of his sons – to make sure the King is dead.  What he didn’t know is that Jesus is in Egypt, not Bethlehem.

Scholars estimate that some twenty-five children were killed in Bethlehem that day.

“Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.’”

We have talked about types in the Bible – shadows – parallels – things that really do happen in history but also point to something else that will happen in history or that did happen in history – especially with regards to Jesus and His ministry.

Matthew tells us that these children are slaughtered to fulfill the prophecy of Jeremiah.  The prophecy reads:

“Thus says the LORD: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more’” (Jeremiah 31:15, ESV).

            This prophecy – in the first place – concerns the conquest of Judah by the Babylonians and their being taken into captivity.  After the Babylonians conquer Benjamin, they have the captives gather on a hill in Ramah, where their ancestor, Rachel, was buried.  When they gather there, they weep for their children – who will be taken with them to a foreign land and might never return to the Promised Land and the Temple.  It is a time of great mourning and weeping for them and their children.

            Ramah is a significant place in biblical history:  it is also where Benjamin is buried, Ramah is called “Arimathea” in the New Testament – where Joseph who took Jesus’ body is from, Samuel is born there, and Saul is anointed King there.  It is near to Bethlehem.

            They might have looked back to another time when children are killed en masse – though not the children of Judah:

            Moses brings nine plagues upon Egypt by the Hand of God – and a tenth is announced if Pharaoh does not set Israel free.  Pharaoh refuses, and we read:

            “At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead” (Exodus 12:29-30, ESV).

            Likewise, the children of Ramah – Bethlehem – are taken away.  And the mothers of the children will not be comforted – they are not just taken into a foreign land, but they are slaughtered before them by the emissaries of their wicked king.

            We might wonder why this is a feast day – even a minor one – why is it on the liturgical calendar?  Why would we want to remember this slaughter?  What good did it accomplish?

            Matthew Henry writes, “They are a noble army of martyrs. … They shed their blood for him, who afterwards shed his blood for them.”

            King Herod does this evil to make sure that the newborn King of the Jews – Jesus – is dead.  The angel has Mary, Joseph, and Jesus escape to Egypt.  And the male children under two in Ramah are slaughtered so Herod will believe that Jesus is dead.  The slaughter of these children was part of God’s plan to save Jesus that He could die for all those who will believe.

            Mary and Joseph know what will come one day.  At Jesus’ bris, we read:

“And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed’” (Luke 2:34-35, ESV).

Jesus is prepared to die at the hands of wicked men to save all those who will believe, “saying, ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised’” (Luke 9:22, ESV).

And Peter preaches, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it” (Acts 2:22-24, ESV).

Why ought we remember and rejoice in such a wicked event?  Because the death of those children keeps Jesus safe, so He can live a perfect life under the Law, die for the sins of all those who will believe, physically rise, and ascend back to the Father – having saved all those He came to save – making us right with God – and assuring us eternal life in His Kingdom.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, we are horrified at the wickedness of King Herod, and we weep at the slaughter of the children of Ramah, yet we rejoice that You kept Your Son safe through their death that He would live and die for all those who will believe that He is God the Savior.  Help us to be confident that You are working all things together for the good of those who love You.  We pray that Your will would be done, and we believe that no matter what happens, You will is being accomplished.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

"God with Us" Sermon: Matthew 1:18-25 (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgYsOQjSwos&feature=youtu.be

"God with Us" Sermon: Matthew 1:18-25 (manuscript)

 

“God with Us”

[Matthew 1:18-25]

December 24, 2020 YouTube

            Our time of waiting has ended, we are about to celebrate the remembrance of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, God Incarnate – God in the flesh.

            This evening we look at what is recorded about Joseph prior to the birth of Jesus.

            First, the claim that God is born in the flesh is unbelievable.

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.”

Mary and Joseph were betrothed – they were engaged, and in Ancient Israel, engagement was a done by a legal contract not unlike marriage.  Today we get engaged and unengaged and it is no big deal.  It was a big deal in those days – it was entered into with much more seriousness that we do today.

Mary – who had been visited by the angel, Gabriel, told Joseph that she was with child by the Holy Spirit.  One thing Joseph knew – this was not his child – they had not had intercourse.  But God impregnated Mary?

Imagine your fiancé comes to you and says, “Honey, I’m pregnant.  Don’t worry, I haven’t cheated on you – this is God’s baby – He caused me to be with child.”  

We should not be surprised that Joseph does not believe her, should we?  This sounds incredible.  It is incredible.  God caused Mary to be with child?

Joseph can’t comprehend this.  He doesn’t want to believe that Mary cheated on him, but what other explanation is there?

But Joseph loves Mary – deeply.  He does not want to disgrace her or take revenge on her.  It would be more that he wishes to leave her pregnant with her explanation.  But does he really want to be looked at as that fool who married a woman who cheated on him before the wedding?

Joseph could bring her before the elders for them to check to see if she is still a virgin, as she claims. Joseph could have brought Mary up on charges of adultery and even had her stoned to death, but he loves her.

So, he decides to divorce her quietly.  He wants to hurt her as little as possible, but he cannot bring himself to marry her when he knows the child is not his.

“And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.”

The claim the God is born in the flesh is just unbelievable.

Second, Jesus is God born on the flesh – God with us.

“But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

As Joseph is figuring out who to call to get the divorce through as quietly as possible, an angel appears to Joseph, and he tells Joseph three things:

Joseph, you are a son of David.  The royal family line flows through your blood – the line of the Kings of Jerusalem. (And Jesus is to be known as the King of kings.)

Joseph don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife.  No matter how many people shake their heads and mock you for marrying a woman who bears a son that is not yours.

Joseph don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because she is actually with child by God the Holy Spirit.

Your son is God in the flesh.  Mary is telling you the truth.  This is all part of the mystery of God working out His plan.

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

This son that Mary bears, you shall name Jesus.  He is the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior Who was prophesied in the Garden and ever since.  He is a real human being, because only a real human being can take the place of a real human being before God – and that is what He will do:  He will stand before the Father – bearing all the sin of everyone who will ever believe – and God will punish Jesus in that moment on the cross with eternal punishment for each believer – He will pay the debt for all of our sins.

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).”

Isaiah was given the prophecy that the virgin will conceive – without a man – and bear a son.  This Son is God in the flesh.  This Son is God with us.  This Son is Immanuel.

Jesus must be God with us, because salvation requires that we keep the whole Law of God perfectly – God requires that we be sinless and righteous.  No mere human has ever perfectly kept the Law.  He is only Immanuel – God with us – a human born without the participation of a man – born without Original sin – without a sin nature, so He can keep the whole Law of God perfectly – and, having taken all of our sins upon Himself, He can credit each one of us with the perfect keeping of the Law, so we are now not just sinless, but righteous.

Therefore, Jesus must be more than just a human.  He must be a real human, but sinless, to pay the debt for our sin.  But He also must be the One True God – in the flesh – yes, God with us – among humans, so He would live under and keep the Law for our sakes.

Paul writes of Immanuel:

 “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

“He was manifested in the flesh,

“vindicated by the Spirit,

“seen by angels,

“proclaimed among the nations,

“believed on in the world,

“taken up in glory” (I Timothy 3:16, ESV).

And of Jesus, he writes:

“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,” (Colossians 2:9, ESV).

            Jesus is God in the flesh – God with us.

            Third, Love came down.

“When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”

The fact the Joseph obeyed and did not have relations with Mary until after the birth of Jesus is told to us to assure us that Jesus is not Joseph’s biological son.  Jesus is born of the Virgin.  He is God Incarnate.  God with us.  The Savior – being human and God.

One of the ways we can understand God with us and put a little context to this event is to say that Love came down.  Jesus came – God with us – Jesus of Nazareth – because God loves His people.

Many of us will know this by heart:

Jesus says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:16-17, ESV).

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:14-15, ESV).

There is a real sense in which we should understand God with us as God loves us – Love came down.

In the Nicene Creed (325 A. D.) we read, “who for us men, and for our salvation, came down and was incarnate and was made man” [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_versions_of_the_Nicene_Creed].

God loves His people and sent His Love – His Son – God with us – to incarnate by the Holy Spirit, through the Virgin Mary, as a real human and God – to make us right with God – to save us – to make us able to love God.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, we thank You for sending God in the person of Your Son to be with us – to be our Savior.  Help us to focus on Him and what He has done as we celebrate the remembrance of His birth as Jesus of Nazareth.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

"Come, Meet with Him" Sermon: Hebrews 10:19-25 (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT5aGxgkbCA&feature=youtu.be

"Come, Meet with Him" Sermon: Hebrews 10:19-25 (manuscript)

 

“Come, Meet with Him”

[Hebrews 10:19-25]

December 20, 2020 YouTube

            The hymn, “O Come All Ye Faithful” begins

            “O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant

“O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem

“O come and behold Him, born the King of Angels

            “O come, let us adore Him

“O come, let us adore Him

“O come, let us adore Him

“Christ the Lord”

This is now the fourth Sunday of Advent – we have almost concluded the period of waiting before the celebratory remembrance of the Incarnation of God in the person of Jesus – the little baby born to the Virgin Mary.

This Sunday or next Sunday – maybe Christmas Eve – we will see people we haven’t seen all year – unless they felt guilty during Easter – or had the money to dress the kids up.  Now, that’s not being cynical – the vast majority of people who call themselves Christians – at least in this area of the world – do not attend worship in the Church with other Christians on any regular basis.

“Come and worship, come and worship” – yes, Christmas is a special day in the liturgical year.  Is the lack of commitment due to the stress that is put on the fact that we can speak to God – pray to God – anywhere that we are? Is it because many churches don’t preach the Bible anymore – and offer up poor imitations of entertainment that people get sick of in favor of better options?

It’s interesting that one of the Lectionary readings for today is this text from Hebrews.  R. C. Sproul one asked a group of teens if there is a command in the Bible about being in worship with other Christians.  This text, he said, is that command.

We see first, Jesus entered the Holy of Holies.

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God,”

Just prior to our text, the author of Hebrews explains that in Jesus’ life and death, He fulfills the role of High Priest and the role of blood sacrifice on our behalf.  Whereas the Law commands blood sacrifices to be offered up continually for the sins of the people, and whereas the High Priest administered over the blood sacrifices and entered the Holy of Holies in the Temple just once a year to make atonement for the people of God, Jesus has opened the Holy of Holies permanently for all those who will believe.  Through His blood – the Holy of Holies has been thrown open and we can confidently enter and not fear death, because we come through the blood of Jesus – by His sacrifice – we can enter the Holy of Holies and come before God and ask Him through Jesus – directly – to forgive us for our sins.

There was an enormous, heavy curtain that separated the Holy of Holies – which contained the Ark of the Covenant – from the rest of the Temple – and the High Priest entered once a year.  But when Jesus bled out and breathed His last, we read:

“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

“And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many” (Matthew 27:50-53, ESV).

For the first time ever – by the shedding of Jesus’ blood – the Holy of Holies was open to all who believed – all could confidently – safely – come into the presence of God.

Since Jesus entered the Holy of Holies through His blood – the opening of the veil of His flesh – we can come before the Father with confidence – Jesus is the Sacrifice for our sins and the High Priest Who offers Himself up.

Jesus says, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:18, ESV).

We have the gift – the privilege – that believers did not have for four thousand years – through Jesus offering Himself up on our behalf, we can come into the very presence of God and worship.

Second, we are to draw near to God in worship.

“let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

When we draw near to God in worship, we do so with full assurance in Jesus and His work for our salvation because our hearts have been cleansed, and our bodies have been washed.

After the priests offered up the blood sacrifices in the Temple, they were covered with blood.  There was a huge vessel that sat in the air in the Temple called “the sea” that was filled with water, and it could be opened so it functioned like a shower for the priests.  All the defilement that was on their bodies was washed away.

These external rites have been replaced with a true change of heart – symbolically, our hearts are washed clean of our inclination to sin, and our sins are forgiven in Christ.

Our bodies are washed with the pure water of baptism.  Christ washes all who are baptized, and that baptism is sealed by God the Holy Spirit in the public confession of faith.

The language of these two can be found in Ezekiel’s prophecy of the coming and indwelling of God the Holy Spirit in all those who will believe in the Savior:

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules” (Ezekiel 36:25-27, ESV).

Since God the Holy Spirit indwells each believer and enables us to live according to the Word of God, Paul writes, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1, ESV).

Through Christ’s work, we are able to come into the presence of God to worship, and we are to come into the presence of God to worship.  Coming into God’s Presence is not an option – it is a command and a privileged.

Since we can enter the very presence of God and we are commanded to come into the very presence of God, how ought this to look? What ought we to do and understand?

Third, we are to come and worship Him together.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

When we come together for worship, we are to hold our common confession of Jesus as God and Savior – and we hold that confession with hope – believing it is true and assured – not because we hold it, but because Jesus is faithful and can’t not be faithful.

The truth of the Gospel – the salvation that Jesus provides for all we who believe – is our confession.  It is true and we have hope in it – we have a sure confidence in it and all it promises and means to us – because Jesus cannot lie and will always accomplish and do what He has promised.

So, we gather together to confess together that joy and assurance we have in our Savior because He is God.  There is not the slightest inclination to wavering in our confession because, if Jesus is God, there is nothing more to say.  God cannot lie.  God cannot fail.  Everything God promises will come to pass.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,”

Since we come together and profess the same confession based on Jesus being God our Savior, when we gather together for worship, through our words and actions, we are to do two things: 

We are to stir each other up in love of one another – if we have been made brothers and sisters of Jesus together – saved by Him and for Him – in the love of God, there is no doubt that we ought to love one another.

Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35, ESV).

As brothers and sisters in Christ we are to love each other with the same sacrificial love that Jesus loves us and gave Himself up for us.  This is the perfection of the command to love our neighbor as ourselves – all the more obvious and necessary due to our union in Christ.

The other thing is we are to stir each other up to good works.

Paul writes, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV).

We were created by God in Christ Jesus for good works that God ordained that we would do empowered by God the Holy Spirit that we would be able to do them – to His Glory – in a world full of sin – and we are to gather together to encourage each other to continue to do those good works – not matter how difficult or frustrating or hopeless it may seem at times.  Christ is Victorious, He loves us, and we show our love for Him through our obedience.

“not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,”

The author of Hebrews then commands Christians not to neglect to meet together.  Don’t not meet together.  You must meet together as Christians.  Being a Christian is not something you do all alone like the Lone Ranger.  Being a Christian is something that is done in community – gathered together for worship.

That does not mean that we can never be alone of worship alone.  It does mean that we ought to normally, regularly be in worship with other Christians – and with other Christians who are not just like us.

The word that is used here is “episynagogue” which means “assemble together” and in the context refers to Jewish and Greek believers.

So, make sure you meet together in a group fo worship – and don’t separate yourself by social identity or identities of heritage.  Christians ought to regularly worship together and it should be normal for Christians to worship regularly together with people who are not like each other.  Christianity – Christ and His work in us – overcomes all differences of birth and society.

It is monstrous, then, to build a church just for white people, or just for Republicans, or just for children of single parents – and so forth.  The Christian Church is open to all believers no matter what.  Things that could divide us in one way or another must take backseat to our worship together as brothers and sisters – the flock of our Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

And He says, “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd” (John 10:16, ESV).

“but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Another reason we gather together in worship is to encourage one another in the faith, in living under persecution, in our joys and sorrows, and to build each other up by confessing that we all believe the same things about Jesus and our salvation. 

It is encouraging, is it not, when you say you believe and another person says, “I believe that too!”  It’s encouraging when someone says he or she is here for you – will cry with you – will celebrate with you – will protect you – will stand with you for Christ against the evil one.

It’s encouraging when we come together as the Church – with other Christians – knowing that Jesus is coming back soon.  The world will not be like this forever.  Paul tells us that our suffering now will be forgotten as we enter the glory of the Kingdom.  We need to be with each other, meeting with our God and Savior, to help us stand for Him in this world – in this life.

“So, are you saying we should break the Covid rules?”

No.  No more than saying that we should gather with others for worship when we have the flu.  There are exceptional circumstances.

What we are being told is that whenever it is possible, as much as it is possible, we are to gather together with fellow Christians, meeting with our God and Savior in worship.  We are not to stay home and not meet with Him if there is no good reason for us to stay home.

“Come and worship, come and worship” – now and always – come and worship our God and Savior.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, we thank You for sending Jesus for our salvation and for opening the Holy of Holies and making us able to come before You.  We thank You for giving us other Christians that we can gather with – especially in a country like the United States where we have a great deal of religious freedom.  Help us not to take that freedom for granted.  Help us have a right perspective about worship and the importance of our gathering together.  Forgive us for our excuses, and make us passionate about gathering as Your Church, meeting with You, loving each other, and working together for the Gospel.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Review: "Kindred Spirits" (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5z8ummZMtc&feature=youtu.be

Review: "Kindred Spirits" (manuscript)

 

            Kindred Spirits by D. J. Monroe is a supernatural mystery with a side of romance.

            Nate Palmer’s father wants the old family home sold before he dies, so Nate heads out to figure out how to clean out the house stuffed with decades of things and memories as well as get it ready for sale.

            Creed Autry – a school mate of Nate’s – has just lost his job, so it is a welcome happenstance that he runs into Nate and agrees to work with him on the house.

            While they are working on the house, they look through an old camera belonging to Nate’s aunt, Tammy, who disappeared as a preteen – assumed to have either run away or been murdered.  As they look through the camera, they see visions of clues leading to the resolution of Tammy’s disappearance – one clue at a time.

            The story ends with a very believable and satisfying resolution.  A very enjoyable read.

            [This review appears on my blog, my YouTube channel, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

Review: The "Little Me, Big God" series of books (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9Juc1WCD6Y&feature=youtu.be

Review: The "Little Me, Big God" series of books (manuscript)

 

            The “Little Me, Big God” series of children’s books from the Good Book Company contains three volumes (thus far):  The Man Who Would Not Be Quiet!, Never Too Little!, and The Best Thing to Do!  All three are written by Steph Williams. These sturdy paperbacks are just right for beginning readers or for reading to even younger children.  These three books will go to my two-year-old niece for Christmas.  (Don’t tell her!)

            Each page of the book has colorful pictures and short sentences – one or two sentences per page.  At the end of the book, there is a section of “notes for grown-ups” to help grown-ups explain what the story means and how to respond to it.  Also included is the biblical text from the NIV version – which would be good to read to the child, as well as the book to encourage recognition of the Scripture and to encourage learning to hear and understand it.

The Man Who Would Not Be Quiet! Is a telling of the story of Blind Bartimaeus. The child learns that there are some things – such as Jesus being the Savior – that are worth shouting about.

Never Too Little! Is a telling of the children coming to Jesus.  The child learns that he or she is not too little to come to Jesus and ask for His salvation.

The Best Thing to Do! Is a telling of the story of Mary and Martha.  The child learns that the best thing to do is to listen to Jesus.

This are a great series of books, and I encourage you to buy them and give them to the little ones in your family.  Who knows, their parents may come to Jesus through reading to their children.

            [This review appears on my blog, my YouTube channel, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]

"Exalt His Name" Sermon: Psalm 99:1-9 (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbhGQ7qxeNQ&feature=youtu.be

"Exalt His Name" Sermon: Psalm 99:1-9 (manuscript)

 

“Exalt His Name”

[Psalm 99:1-9]

December 13, 2020 YouTube

            The angel, Gabriel, came to the Virgin Mary and said, “And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end’” (Luke 1:30-33, ESV).

            And the author of Hebrews, writes, “But of the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions’” (Hebrews 1:8-9, ESV).

            On this third Sunday of Advent, we remember that this Baby, Jesus, Whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, is a king.  He is the Eternal King of the Kingdom of God that is coming among us.

            As we consider Psalm 99, we consider the Kingdom of God.  We see that God blessed Israel – and blesses all His people.  Therefore, He is worthy of praise.

“The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!”

 

The psalmist begins by telling us that the Lord God – this is YHWH here – that most personal Name that God gave to Moses to tell the people Who God is – this is the God Who sits upon the cherubim. 

We will remember that on top of the Ark of the Covenant there were statues of cherubim, so the idea here is that this is the God of the Holy of Holies in the Temple.  This is the God Who led His people out of Egypt and gave them the Promised Land.  This is the Almighty.  This is the God Whom Isaiah met:

“In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!’

“And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: ‘Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!’” (Isaiah 6:1-5, ESV).

To come into the Presence of God is to shake – to tremble – to recognize that God is Holy and we are not – that we are unworthy – unable to offer up anything to God but our sin – as Isaiah cries out.  To rightly understand Who God is and His Power – on our own – is to be wholly undone, shaken, and trembling.

Though we ought to take God with all serious, through Christ, we are His adopted sons and daughters – we are in a different relationship with God and can come before Him boldly:

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16, ESV).

This is the God of Israel Who reigns from Zion – Jerusalem.

“The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he!”

All the people of the Lord are called to exalt Him – to praise Him for Who He is and all He has done for the people and each individual.  God, the Holy God, chose a sinful people to make His people – a people He would send His Son to be born in human flesh for.  All of this, the Holy God was under no obligation to do.  Out of love for us and His Glory, God chose Israel and also chose a people to be His people.

We will remember that Israel was surrounded by enemies – just as God had said, the descendants of Israel would be surrounded by the descendants of Ishmael, and they would be at war with each other.  But God protected Israel from total destruction by her enemies.

Even we who believe in the Savior Who has come are protected by Him, the same One God of Zion, so we will never totally fall away.

Jesus warns, “And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand” (Mark 13:20-23, ESV).

The devil and his angels will try to deceive those who believe in Jesus, but they will never succeed.  Even though we continue to sin and have need to repent daily, we will never totally fall away, because the God Who has saved us is Holy and no one can take us out of His hands or nullify His salvation of us.  We are forever in His Kingdom, and He is our Father, Christ is our Brother.

“The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.”

The only way for a person to be right with God is for a perfect human to live a perfect life according to the Law and then take on the eternal punishment for another human’s sins.  Jesus is the only One able to do that.  Our King loves justice.  He has satisfied justice and saved us for Himself and brought us into His Kingdom of Righteousness and Justice.

Our response is to praise God for Who He is and worship Him – to devote our lives to His service and to godliness.

“Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!”

If God had done nothing more than send His Son to be our Savior, we would have every reason in the world to worship Him and given thanks to Him for all of His blessings to us – to Israel and all of us who believe.

But there is more, is there not?  You are alive – breathing.  You can read this sermon – or see or hear it.  You can eat and drink and have shelter of some sort.  You can understand what is being said.  You can react to it in right or wrong ways.  You can get around to some extent – or in some way.  It would be easy to think of things to give thanks for round the clock. And ultimately, all these things are given to us by our Holy God – the perfect, sinless God.  So, He is to be worshipped – we are to show His worth in everything we do.

“Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the LORD, and he answered them. In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them.”

God chose people throughout history to serve Him in positions of priest – a position, which is now, eternally held by Jesus.  God used Moses and Aaron and Samuel – among others – to bring the Word of God to His people.  They prayed and God answered.  God always answers and will always do what is right and good for all those who love Him.

God spoke to them in a number of ways – through the burning bush – through the cloud that led the Israel through the wilderness – and through His Word – the testimonies and the statutes.  God gave us His Word so everyone would always know Who God is and what He has done to make the way to be right with Him – the way of salvation.  And so, we are also to keep the testimonies and statues that He has given us.

If we believe in God, our Savior.  If we believe that He is the Holy and Almighty, the Only Way to salvation – being made right with God, then we are to be a people who pray to God and wait on His answer.  We are to be a people who read His Word and obey the things He has told us to do. And why wouldn’t we?

Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15, ESV).

“O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.”

Our God answered His people then and He answers our prayers now.  God forgave them for their sins when they repented then, and God forgives us for our sins when we repent now.  However, our sins must be avenged.  God cannot just say, “Oh well, all is well.”  Since God is Holy and Just, sin must be punished – even if we repent, there is a debt that must be paid.  And that is why Jesus had to die.  He had to be born to keep the Law, and He had to die to pay our debt for not keeping the Law.

Paul says, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31, ESV).

We must strive not to sin, because it is wrong.  It is an offense against God.  But Jesus has paid the debt to God for all the sins that everyone who ever believes will ever commit.  That should not make us lax, as though sin doesn’t matter.  Rather in thankfulness, it should make us all the stronger in our efforts not to sin, because our sin merited Jesus’ suffering for us.

As Simeon prophesied to Mary and Joseph at Jesus’ bris, “And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35, ESV).

God has made a covenant – an agreement – a testament – between Jesus and all those who will ever believe in Him, and we are assured through this covenant that we will always be with Him forever in His Kingdom, forgiven, loved, and at peace, so we ought to show our love for Him and worship Him now, as He deserves.

We are assured of always being with Him:

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:31-39, ESV).

“Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy!”

When we exalt the Lord, we recognize and confess that He is to be held in highest honor and known for having all power.  We worship Him as He commands, and we know Him as Holy.

Sometime after Jesus’ birth, magi – who were Gentiles – followed the star to where Jesus and Mary and Joseph were staying.  They recognized Jesus as King.  The understood that He is worthy of worship.

“Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.’ After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way” (Matthew 2:7-12, ESV).

As we look forward to celebrating the remembrance of the birth of God in human flesh, let us remember that God has given us myriad blessings – no matter how dark it may look on any given day or how many complaints and aggravations we have – He has done for us more.

And let us remember that we have a covenant with Jesus – He has saved us and will bring us into His everlasting kingdom where we will worship Him forever in joy.  Let us begin today by exalting the Lord as He so richly deserves.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, we thank You for loving us and sending Your Son to live and die to save us and bring us into a kingdom of His own preparing.  Help us to recognize all the blessings You have showered upon us.  Help us to hold fast with assurance to the covenant You have made.  And send the Holy Spirit with power that we would worship You with all that we are.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

"The Word is Enough" Sermon: Luke 16:19-31 (video)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFEPstFuXN8&feature=youtu.be

"The Word is Enough" Sermon: Luke 16:19-31 (manuscript)

 

“The Word is Enough”

[Luke 16:19-31]

December 6, 2020 YouTube

            This is the second Sunday of Advent and we are looking at the story of Lazarus and the rich man.  We are looking at this story with the Incarnation of God in mind asking how do we get people to believe the Christmas history?  What do we need to do to get people to believe?

            The answers that have been proposed in my lifetime have focused on the idea of looking to see what draws people in at non-religious venues and then imitating that in a “Christian” way.  Christian sports teams, toys, bands, plays, dancers, the promise of miraculous healing and new revelations from God through your deceased relatives and pets.

            Has God ever said how to present the Gospel so people will believe it?

            This morning’s text comes after a series of parables about the wrong use of wealth and the dangers of being wealthy.  (Keep in mind it is not wrong to be wealthy or to enjoy what wealth can do for you.  Wealth is a gift from God.  But, just as there are right ways to enjoy wealth, there are wrong ways to use wealth.)

            We see that the rich man had been gifted with extreme wealth.

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.’

Purple dye and fine linen were rare and extremely costly in the world of the first century.  For him to have these clothes – and to wear them every day – means that he is extremely wealthy.

He also feasted sumptuously every day.  He did not merely have a feast one or twice a year.  He did not just the best food one or twice a year.  Every day, he had a feast of the best most expensive foods that could be found.  Again, this shows that he is extremely wealthy.

Again, there is nothing wrong with being extremely wealthy.  There is nothing wrong with having the best clothes and the best food and enjoying them.

But something is missing in the description of him and his life, isn’t there?  Where is his love of neighbor?  Where is his loving his neighbor as much as he loves himself?  When he had a poor man at death’s door at his gate begging for alms, was there nothing he could do to show his love for another human – a person who bore the Image of God?  Did he have no old clothes he could give?  Or leftover food to share?

Some will object and say, “Well how do you know he isn’t a con man?  How do you know he won’t use the money for drugs?”

There isn’t an easy answer – we must pray for wisdom and know the best ways to show love to those who need physical and mental health.

In this case, Jesus presents a man who could have shown love by helping and a man who was in true need.

This man is Lazarus.

“And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.”

It was common for poor people to sit at the gates and in public places to seek alms.

There is debate over whether this story is history or a parable, but, in any case, the name Lazarus means, “destitute, in need, poor.”

            Jesus doesn’t say how this man came to be poor, but he had been reduced to seeking alms on the street.  And he is in front of the gate of the rich man where he, apparently, received alms from the passersby, but not the rich man.

 Lazarus is also sick – he is covered with sores – and he knows who lives in the house where he begs, and he wishes he could even have the crumbs that fall to the rich man’s floor – the food a dog would lap up.

Unlike the rich man, the local dogs know that Lazarus is ill, and the lick his sores in the hopes of relieving some of his pain.  They better show love of neighbor to Lazarus than the rich man.

And the two men die.

“The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.”

Notice two differences – both men die. 

Nothing more is said about Lazarus’ death. He is probably laid in a pauper’s field.  But he goes to Paradise – at Abraham’s side.  He is at peace and in joy. 

The rich man also dies, and we are told that he is buried.  He has a proper funeral and is buried with the best pomp and circumstance of the day.  But he dies and goes to Hades, where he suffers great torment in flames of fire.  And he can see Lazarus with Abraham in the distance.

The rich man understands he deserves his suffering and doesn’t ask to be set free.

“And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’”

Ironically, what the rich man asks for is a little mercy.  He asks that he be shown a little love of neighbor – just a drop of water to ease his suffering for a moment – that’s all.  Not all his riches and power and luxury – no excuses for the life he lived.  He just wants a little mercy.

Abraham explains that is not possible.

“But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’”

Abraham reminds the rich man that his life was full of blessings, whereas Lazarus’ life was filled with suffering.  For reasons that are not stated here, the rich man is suffering in Hades and Lazarus is with Abraham in Paradise.  And the distance between Hades and Paradise is so great that no one can pass from one to the other – even to show a little mercy.

And then the rich man shows a little mercy of his own.

“And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’”

The rich man has five brothers, and he doesn’t want them to go to Hades and receive the torment he is receiving – notice the rich man never says that he doesn’t deserve to be in Hades – he understands that he does deserve to be in Hades.  But he wants his brothers warned so they can change their lives and not end up there with him.

The rich man asks Abraham to raise Lazarus from the dead so he can warn his brothers of the fate currently awaiting them.  If nothing else, he shows some mercy for his brothers.

But Abraham says, “no.”

“But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Abraham tells the rich man that the Word of God is enough to convince someone that they need to believe in the Savior for salvation – nothing more is needed – nothing more will be effective.  The Word of God is enough – and they have the Word of God – they should listen to that and believe.

But the rich man says that they will not believe the Word of God on its own.  But if someone was to raise from the dead, then they would believe and repent and be saved from this end – from Hades.

And Abraham explains that all the other things someone might employ to get someone to believe savingly in Jesus will not work.  It is the Word of God that causes people to believe – and if they will not hear the Word of God – if they will not believe the Word of God – then nothing else will convince them.  If it would, then everyone in Israel would have believed when Jesus rose from the dead.

That means that the church must center on the Word of God read and preached.  If the Word of God is not center, people will not believe it is important – even believable.  If testimonies and miracles, and bands and so forth take priority – if the sermon is being shorted or even dropped from the worship service to make room for something else – the youth leading worship – whatever – worship is being done wrong, and people won’t believe in Jesus for their salvation and they won’t believe that you believe the Word of God.

Paul writes, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith’” (Romans 1:16-17, ESV).

And:

“For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” (Romans 10:10-15, ESV).

What do we have to do to get people to believe that Jesus is God Incarnate, born of the Virgin Mary on the first Christmas?  What do we have to do to get them to believe that He grew up, lived a perfect life, died for the sins of all those who will ever believe, rose from the dead, and ascended back to the Father, and will return again?

Read the Word.  Talk about the Word.  Preach the Word.  Teach the Word.  Proclaim the Word.

Nothing else will cause a person to believe.  The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to convict a person, to have faith, and repent.

This Christmas, as we gather with friends and family who do not believe, don’t tell them that Jesus healed you of your ingrown toenails, or that your church has a rock band that sounds like Genesis, or that your youth group has the best sports team in the community.  Rather, point them to the Scripture.  Tell them and show them what the Bible says, having prayed that God will use it to cause them to believe.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, we thank You for the gift of Your Son.  We thank You that we can celebrate and remember His coming to earth in the person of Jesus for us and for Your Glory.  Help us not to be shy or embarrassed, but to have confidence in Your Word.  Help us to tell others that this is what Christmas is about – what God says in His Word.  And may our sharing of Your Word draw many to You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.