A DISHONEST STEWARD

Luke 16:1-13

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is the Gospel lesson from Luke, chapter 16, verses 1-13, particularly these words, “Jesus told his disciples, ‘There was a rich man whose manger was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’ and “You cannot serve both God and Money.”This is our text.

In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends. Today’s Gospel lesson presents us with a very confusing parable. Again we must remember that a parable is “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” But what is the heavenly meaning this time that we can relate to? Is it that we should be very wise and even crafty — maybe even a little underhanded in the way we deal with money?? After all, the dishonest servant is commended by his master for his “craftiness”. Jesus gets to the bottom line and the lesson in the last words of today’s text. He said, “You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Now, money is something that is very important. All of us have to deal with money. Whether we have a business to run, a job to perform, or just a checkbook to balance each month — all of us have to deal with money in our every day lives. With money we provide housing, food, transportation, and all the necessities of life. Money is important.

But, we can view this money in our lives several ways. One way is to see it as a gift from God’s hand — a blessing given to us from God to provide for your families and ourselves, as well as a means to serve God by serving other people. Money can be a tool which is used to accomplish good in our lives and in the lives of others — a tool used to serve God from whom all blessings flow.

Another way to view this money is to see it take control of one’s life. For a lot of people Money drives their entire world. Every decision they make, every action they take, every task they perform is based on how much money it will generate or loose. Money becomes an obsession. Money becomes their God!! The Old Testament lesson for today talked about this view of money and gave a very serious warning about it. It said, “Hear this , you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land, saying ‘When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?’ — skimping the measure, boosting the price, and cheating with dishonest scales, buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat. The Lord has sworn by the Pride of Jacob: “I will never forget anything they have done.”

It is this obsession with money which Jesus is speaking of in today’s Gospel lesson and parable as he sums up his lesson saying, “You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Knowing the lesson, how do we now interpret this parable? Jesus makes a distinction between “the people of this world,”and “the people of the light.”Both the dishonest manager, and his master are examples of people of this world. The master is pleased that his servant is so crafty. They have a goal in life — to be comfortable in this life. Their only concern is about here and now, and meeting their own physical needs and wants in any way possible — even if that is by “hook or crook”. So the momentary gain is for this temporal life and is short lived. That was the goal of the dishonest manager. He said in the text, “What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg — I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.”Would they welcome him forever — of course not!! But it would be a temporary situation until he could get something else worked out. He was seeking immediate relief in this world and this life.

When Jesus explains the parable he said, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into ETERNAL dwellings.”Who is it that offers ETERNAL DWELLINGS — certainly not this world and certainly not the people of this world!!! Only God himself offers eternal dwellings. So you could paraphrase that verse to say, “Use worldly wealth to please God, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into ETERNAL dwellings.”Of course the law reminds us that we are sinners and fall short of God’s expectations of us. And the Gospel reminds us that Jesus Christ lived, died and rose again so that we might have eternal life in heaven. Heaven is not ours because we spend our money wisely — heaven is ours because Jesus Christ is our Savior. This verse then deals not with our justification — but with our sanctification — with how we live our lives as the children of God – NOT how we become Children of God.

Jesus is saying in this parable, “Where are your priorities? Do you look beyond the moment and the gratification of very temporary wants and needs or do you look to the future — to Eternity?

I said before that money can be a tool — a tool that a child of God can use to provide for the basic needs of the individual and the family — and also to give glory to God’s holy name. The text said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.”And so in this world God entrusts to our care part of his creation. He puts us in charge of certain blessings that He himself bestows upon us. Today’s text deals with money — but being stewards, or managers, of God’s gifts to us reaches beyond the money God gives, to the time that he gives us, and to the talents that he shares with us, and to the abilities that he gives us, even to the very life that he gives. How do we use that which he gives? He is the master of all that we have and we are the managers — the stewards of his abundant blessings.

We can be selfish, like the dishonest servant in the parable and use God’s blessings to our own advantage — or we can be faithful stewards of the blessings of God and use them to God’s glory and to the welfare of others.

Remember Jesus warning in the text, “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

So where do your priorities lie? Are they with temporal matters of this world? Or are they with God? Are you worried about the here and now? Or the “here-after”? Is Money a tool which you use to serve God and others? or is money your master which rules over your life and controls your life?

May the grace and strength which God gives, guide and direct us as we manage the blessings and gifts God has given us, and may our Lord and King, forgive our short comings and bless our efforts as we give Glory to his Holy Name through all the gifts he gives to us. Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

Luke 14: 25-33

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is recorded in the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 14, verses 25 through 33, but particularly these words: “IF ANYONE COMES TO ME AND DOES NOT HATE HIS OWN FATHER AND MOTHER AND WIFE AND CHILDREN, AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YES, AND EVEN HIS OWN LIFE, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE. ” This is our text.

In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ dear Christian friends. The story is told of a pastor who had just finished putting the weekly notices on the outside bulletin board in front of the church. The message for the week was the Bible verse; “The wages of sin is death.”As the pastor walked away, he noticed a drunk stagger past the church and stop to read the sign. Not seeing the pastor, the man went weaving on down the sidewalk muttering to himself, “Well, that’s one price that hasn’t gone up!”

In spite of his drunken state, that man never spoke a truer word. When it comes to the cost of sin, no inflation is possible. That’s because sin — any sin — little sin or big sin — demands the ultimate payment — and that is eternal death. The price just can’t go any higher than that — there is no higher price. And the price will never get any lower, because that is one of God’s unchangeable laws — “The soul that sins, it shall die.”We might convince ourselves that we can get away with sin, but God, who sees everything, knows our sin.

There is only one way that we can avoid the wages of sin. There is only one way we can find forgiveness for our sins — and that is to look to the cross of Jesus Christ. The same verse that tells us that “The wages of sin is death”also tells us that “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In order to avoid the wages of sin — we must put ourselves in the loving forgiveness of Jesus Christ. He died our death for us. He paid the price for our sins. He set us free. He has given to us the promise of eternal life.

But before we get the idea that since we are forgiven, we now have a free joy ride for life — we had better take a closer look at today’s text. Our text for today warns us that there is a price tag on being a follower of Jesus Christ. And what is more, that cost can skyrocket at any moment. The cost of discipleship can be so inflated that the prices of gas and the prices of groceries will seem like nothing by comparison. And that is where a problem develops for many Christians. When discipleship, following Jesus, starts costing them something — they default. One might get the idea that they think that the wages of sin would be cheaper than the cost of following Christ.

To a great extent that is what is happening in churches all over the world this day. People want their names on the roles — but don’t want to be involved in anything. People sign up for church — but don’t attend worship. Somehow they get the idea that God is looking at church records – and NOT the heart!

Our text is a very timely one — because all around us we see people who are looking for a religion of convenience. They want a faith that doesn’t cost them anything. People of our day and time are looking for a cheaper kind of discipleship than what Jesus demands of his followers. Of course, we’re not JUST talking money — we’re ALSO talking about time and talents — we’re talking about training of our children — we’re talking about Bible study and fellowship,– we’re talking about service to God and man done together. When we are asked to serve — too often the excuse is — “I don’t have the time.” What we’re really saying is — “The cost of discipleship is too high for me. Something else is more important.”

In our text Jesus tells us that one of the problems which leads to the rising cost of discipleship is that many people misread the price tag to begin with.

No one today, would try to build a three bedroom house with only $10,000 of financing available. That much might buy you a small lot in a “not to prestigious” neighborhood. But it certainly would not pay for slab, and walls, and wiring, and plumbing, painting, cabinets, and all the other things it takes to build a house. Jesus said in our text, “Which of you desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to mock him.”In our text, Jesus also used the example of a king about to go to war. No king would attack an enemy without first finding out how many soldiers the enemy had ready for battle.

A lot of people join the “Christian side” because they think that is the easy way out. Our text tells us point blank — that the Christian life will be a costly life for a follower of Jesus.

I know the bible says that the “Gift of God is eternal life.” But with that gift also comes certain responsibilities. Jesus described it pretty well when he described his own life’s work and purpose, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.”God did not give to you and to me the free gift of eternal life so that we might sit back and enjoy life — but rather, he made us his disciples, by grace, so that we could serve him and our fellow man.

The German Lutheran Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, wrote a book during World War II called, “THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP.” And only a few months later, he was executed by Hitler’s men. He was ready to pay the price of discipleship. Persecution has marked the history of the church from the very beginning as the early prophets, apostles and Christians were ready to suffer even death rather than to deny their Lord and Savior. As Jesus said in our text for today, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his cross, cannot be my disciples.”

A man stopped at the grocery store and asked for a quarters worth of tomatoes. But the clerk told him they could not cut the tomatoes, he would have to buy at least one whole one. That kind of inflation also affects our cost of discipleship. It costs more to be a Christian today than it did 10 or 15 or 20 years ago. There is so much more violence and immorality in our society today. There is NO respect for the authority of teachers in the classroom, or of policemen on the street, or of Pastors in the pulpit, or of any other person of authority any more — everyone is their own personal authority. Television shows, movies, magazines, and other media throw trash at us and our children day in and day out. The evil world has more influence on people today than the church has, because of peer pressure. It has always been hard to maintain our Christian faith because of the Devil, the World, and our own sinful flesh. But in my humble opinion, it is more costly to be a Christian today, then it has been in the past. The percentage of Christians in the world is dropping fast. There are more of them – and less of us each day. But the cost can go higher still. ARE WE READY FOR THE HIGHEST COST? Jesus said, “Whoever of you does not renounce all that he has, cannot be my disciple.”

Is Christianity worth the cost. You have a Savior who loves you and died for you. You have a God who gave you life and preserves your life. You have God’s promise that he who believes and is baptized shall be saved. You have God’s promise of eternal life — beginning now — and lasting forever and ever.

I have a needlepoint hanging at home that my mother did for me years ago. It is a picture of Jesus with these words, “I never promised it would be easy — just that it would be worth it.” That is the lesson from today’s text. To God be the glory. Amen

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

]]> http://ziontomball.info/wordpress/2010/09/05/luke-1425-33-the-cost-of-discipleship-pastor-jerome-teichmiller/feed/ 0 http://ziontomball.info/wordpress/2010/08/22/luke-1322-30-the-narrow-door-pastor-jerome-teichmiller/ http://ziontomball.info/wordpress/2010/08/22/luke-1322-30-the-narrow-door-pastor-jerome-teichmiller/#comments Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:12:00 +0000 admin http://ziontomball.info/wordpress/2010/08/22/luke-1322-30-the-narrow-door-pastor-jerome-teichmiller/ THE NARROW DOOR
Luke 13:22-30

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is recorded in the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 13, verses 22 through 30, particularly these words, “Someone asked Jesus, ‘Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?’ He said to them, ‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you.’” This is our text.

In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Dear Christian friends. What is the purpose of the Church? Why does the church even exist? There are several answers to that question. One important purpose of the church is nurture. We gather for worship and for Bible study so that together, through Word and Sacrament, the Holy Spirit can build us up in our Christian faith. The church exists so that we can strengthen Christian faith and love within the family of God through word and Sacrament. Our Christian fellowship and our Christian service play an important part in that nurture.

But there is also another very important purpose for the existence of God’s church — and it would be easy to argue that this is the MOST IMPORTANT TASK or PURPOSE of the church — and that is to proclaim the Gospel so that unbelievers are brought to faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. This was what our Lord commanded of his Disciples in the great commission, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” “GO making disciples—- by BAPTIZING them – and by TEACHING them.!!” Those were the commands that Christ left with his disciples and with his church.

Our Gospel lesson today deals with the question of Evangelism. One of the people with Jesus asks him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” We are not told why the question was asked. Did that person wonder why there were not more people following Jesus? Was there a question about why so few people recognized him as God’s Son, and the promised Messiah? Were they thinking about this trip to Jerusalem, and thinking that now, at long last, Jesus would gather together his mighty army of followers, to overthrow Rome? The question basically says, “Jesus, there are only a few of us who believe in you — will there be more, or is this all there is?”

Jesus did not answer the question directly — instead he gave a command to the questioner: “You make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many will try to enter and will not be able to.” Jesus tells his hearers that first of all they need to make sure that they themselves will be among those who are saved by entering through the narrow door. Jesus made it very clear throughout his earthly ministry, that he himself was that narrow door. Jesus told them, “the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Jesus was not conducting classes in theory — but was dealing with the only way people could be saved. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus never taught a general salvation where all people were saved. Nor did he teach a limited salvation which would be restricted to only a select group, race, or nationality. But he consistently called upon all people to enter the kingdom of heaven through Himself. He is the narrow door — and there is no other door to heaven.

In our text, Jesus emphasizes this point. He said, “Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But he will answer I don’t know you.’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ But He will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoer’s!” Jesus makes it clear that no one is received into God’s kingdom based on something they did. No one is saved by just listening to Jesus teach in the streets. No one is saved by eating and drinking a dinner with Jesus. No casual acquaintances are accepted. Entering the narrow door takes a faith-filled commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

I sometimes wonder, on that last day just how many people will say to Jesus, “We were in church every Christmas and every Easter, wasn’t that enough?” “We went to church when there wasn’t something else to do. Wasn’t that enough?” We were never unfaithful to our spouse, we never beat our kids, and we were certainly much better than Old John Doe the drunk, who lived down the street. Wasn’t that enough?” And Jesus will reply, “Even if you had perfect church attendance — even if you gave everything you had for the poor — even if you were the best person in your whole town — WITHOUT FAITH — without entering by the narrow door — IT IS NOT ENOUGH!! Why?? “For by grace have you been saved through faith, it is a gift of God not of works, lest any man should boast.”
And our last point from this text is that there is a certain urgency — not only for those who will follow Jesus, but for the whole world. Jesus talks about the closing of the door — and once closed, it will not be reopened. There is a time limit to this world and there is a time limit on the invitation to salvation in Jesus Christ.

And when that door is closed, there will be some surprises in store. Jesus said in the text. “People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and there are those who are presently first, who will be last.” God sees what you and I cannot see — the heart of humankind. God judges on the basis of faith found in those individual hearts. And that will produce some surprises on that last day. Some of those that we have judged by our human standards to be outstanding citizens and “First” in the kingdom of God — will be last — because God knows the heart. And then the opposite is true as well. Some of those that we have judged rather harshly by human standards, will be first in the kingdom of God — again, because God knows the heart.

That is why Zion Lutheran puts such an emphasis on Christian Education – through our early Childhood Center, through our Sunday School, through our Bible studies offered regularly and at different days and times of the week, through different service groups within the church who serve the church and others: Always proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We must proclaim the message, we must get the Word out, because there is a time limit to this world.

Throughout our text for today, the focus keeps coming back to Christ. There is one door, and one door only, into the Kingdom of God. That door is very narrow, because it allows no one to enter carrying his own baggage of personal goodness and merit. Each person entering that door must be doing so as a result of a close, personal relationship with the savior, a faith created by God the Holy Spirit, a faith created, nourished, and strengthened through the means of Grace, through Word and Sacrament — A casual acquaintance with Jesus is not enough. The response is urgent and cannot be postponed. No one knows when the door will be closed, but when it is closed, it will not be reopened – there is no second chance. And those who will be saved will come from all nations around the world.

So what does today’s text say about Evangelism. First of all, make sure of your own faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. After all, if you do not believe it yourself, you can not share it with others! And then, cut to the heart of the message — Jesus Christ is Lord!! Jesus is the Narrow door. There is salvation in no other. But in Jesus Christ, there is joy eternal. That is our faith. That is our message. That is our hope for eternal life. To God alone be the glory, now and always. Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

DO NOT BE AFRAID

Luke 12:22-34

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is recorded in the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 12, verses 22 through 34, particularly these words: “Jesus said, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body what you will put on. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”This is our text.

In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends. Think back for a moment to the last time you were given a gift by a small child. Maybe it was a flower that your son or daughter picked out of the yard. Maybe it was a fishing lure that your child picked out just especially for dad or grandpa. Maybe it was a hand drawn picture which the child painted themselves and now wanted you to have. The gift itself is not important. The cost of that gift is not important. What was important and what had value that money cannot buy, was the smile, and the pride, and the joy that were written all over that child’s face as the gift was given. There is nothing expected in return. There are no thoughts about wither or not it is good enough. There are no thoughts about what that gift might cost. The ONLY thought that goes through that child’s mind is, “This is mine — and I want to give it to you — because I love you. It is a gift given with great joy and pleasure.

Every time I read that verse of today’s text, I think of children and their giving of gifts. Jesus said, ‘Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.’”It pleases God — to give us the kingdom. NOT because we have earned it — because we haven’t. NOT because we are great people who deserve the honor, because we don’t. NOT because it is an inexpensive gift, because it is a pearl without price for which God gave his only begotten Son. BUT it is a gift, given purely out of grace and love, “Your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”God has on his face the smile, the joy, the love — of a child giving a gift to someone very special — and that someone special, is you!

The gift is ours by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. So how does this gift of God effect our lives? First of all our text tells us to focus on Spiritual things. Jesus said, “Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Instead seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.As God’s people we need to seek God’s riches through Word and Sacrament. We all know Jesus’ parable about the rich fool, who has so rich and had so many earthly goods that he could say to himself, “Eat, drink, and be merry.”But God said, “This night your soul will be required of you, then whose will all this be?”And Jesus concluded his parable by saying that we should be “Rich toward God” or as our text for today says, “Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.”Regular worship, regular Bible reading, and regular use of the sacraments, are all ways that the Holy Spirit uses to build up our faith in Jesus Christ, so that we experience first hand the forgiveness and the love which our God has pleasure in giving to his people. There is no greater treasure in all the earth than a right relationship with God by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.

Secondly, knowing that the kingdom is ours will help us greatly in setting priorities for our lives. Jesus said in the text, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

That which we value the most, usually takes up our time, our talents, our efforts, our devotion, and our resources!

A prominent theologian of the 1940′s said that religion is, “The one thing which is most important in our lives” (depth dimension). If the most important thing in life was work, to him work was that man’s religion. If money was the most important thing in a person’s life, then money was that man’s religion.

What is the most important thing in your life? God has made you his very own. God has given you the kingdom. IS GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIFE? Do people“see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven.”Or do they see other priorities in your life? Remember Jesus’ words in our text. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”What are your priorities? Our text said, “Seek FIRST, the kingdom of God.”

But what about the anxieties and the fears of our every day life? Do we worry over “what we shall eat, or what we shall drink, or what we shall wear?” Because of our sinful human nature, sometimes we fall short of full trust in God’s providence and care for us. Sometimes we lose sight of how God takes care of the ravens and the lilies. But God’s promise to us is sure – “If God so cloths the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.”As sinful people, we all too often doubt that promise — As sinful people, we all too often worry and fret over things over which we have no control — As sinful people we trust our own abilities to solve the problems of life, rather than putting things into God’s hands and trusting his providence and provision. AND for that we ask his forgiveness.

The Promises of God are sure! “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.”And “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”And today’s text, “Do not be afraid, little flock for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

In the life of the Christian there is anticipation, and expectation, as we joyfully watch for the coming of our Lord and the fulfillment of all his promises to us.

Jesus said in our text, “Fear not, little flock!”Fear is built on concern or anxiety about the future. Because God has given us the kingdom through His Son Jesus Christ, our future is secure. Our confidence, our faith, and our courage are rooted in Christ, in His promises, in His presence, and in His power. In Christ we have nothing to fear. “Fear not little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” To God be the glory! Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

]]> http://ziontomball.info/wordpress/2010/08/08/luke-1222-34-do-not-be-afraid-pastor-jerome-teichmiller/feed/ 0 http://ziontomball.info/wordpress/2010/06/20/june-20-2010-luke-826-39-casting-out-demons-pastor-jerome-teichmiller/ http://ziontomball.info/wordpress/2010/06/20/june-20-2010-luke-826-39-casting-out-demons-pastor-jerome-teichmiller/#comments Sun, 20 Jun 2010 18:58:00 +0000 admin http://ziontomball.info/wordpress/2010/06/20/june-20-2010-luke-826-39-casting-out-demons-pastor-jerome-teichmiller/  

CASTING OUT DEMONS

Luke 8: 26-39

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is our Gospel lesson for today from Luke, chapter 8 verses 26 through 39, particularly these words: “A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.”This is our text.

In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends. A popular comedian 35 years ago had one line that became his trademark. He would say, “The Devil made me do it.” and the audience would laugh. The things that the devils or demons in our text for today, made this man suffer were not laughing matters. I guess we could get into an argument about if demons really exist — and if they do, if they can possess people. I really don’t want to be a part of that discussion because the Bible makes it perfectly clear that demons do exist and that they do possess people. Mary Magdala had seven evil spirits or demons that came out of her according to Mark and Luke. Jesus cast demons and evil spirits out of many people in his ministry. Saint Paul, writing to the Ephesians, says the believer’s intense conflict is “not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, world-rulers of this darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

According to scripture, demons have great knowledge and also great strength. Several times Jesus was confronted by demons who said, “We know who you are”, so obviously just knowing God exists and who he is does not constitute saving faith. Even Jesus own disciples after the stilling of the storm just before today’s text ask, “Who is this man? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” The disciples did not even know who Jesus was! But the demons did.

AND our text for today tells us that this man’s family and community had tried to confine or restrain him, even to the point of putting him into chains — The text said, “For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. Many times the spirit had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot, and kept under guard, he had broken his chains, and been driven by the demon into solitary places.”The demons were in complete control of this man’s life. They had deranged him mentally, morally, physically and Spiritually.

The man is totally helpless against the demons. He is powerless to save himself. He is completely controlled by the power of evil.

Isn’t this a very vivid picture of our spiritual condition by nature? Because of Original Sin, we are, according to Scripture, spiritually blind, spiritually dead, and enemies of God. How many times have we made promises to God of what WE WOULD DO for him, only to find ourselves falling short again. How many times have we promised to change our sinful life, especially that one sin that seems to always keep coming up in our lives, only to find ourselves falling back into the same old rut, the same old habit, and the same old sin. And using the excuse “The Devil made me do it!” is only half true — because we gave in to the temptation. The “sinner” in us, overpowered the “saint” in us — and we sinned!

The man in the story had no hope whatsoever, until Jesus showed up in his village. He was probably NOT a child of Abraham and probably not a believer. Jesus had just crossed the Sea of Galilee to the region of the Gerasenes. And he is in an area that raises pigs — obviously, NOT a Jewish village! But here the man meets Jesus. We know these things just do not happen by chance! Jesus was there not by accident or chance — but by choice! And Jesus recognizes the need of this poor man and commands the demons, the evil spirits to leave him.

At this point Jesus begins a conversation with the demon through the man. First the demon makes a profession of absolute truth and orthodox theology, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!”Even in a pagan land — the demons still recognize the Son of the Most High God! The demons know that Jesus is the promised Messiah — the “seed of the woman” who would crush Satan’s head — together with all his minions. The demons know that this is the one — who by his life, death, and resurrection will defeat them, for all time and for all eternity. The demons know they have already lost the battle — “Jesus, Don’t torture us — Make it quick!” They ask for the pigs and Jesus grants it. They leave the man — enter the pigs — and the text said they rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. Jesus has saved this man from evil!! End of story??? Not quite!

You see, Luke does not tell us how many pigs there were in that herd. But Mark does! Mark tells us that there were 2,000 pigs in that herd! If some farmer in Harris or Montgomery County lost 2,000 pigs in a drowning it would probably be on the 6 o’clock news and in the headlines of the Chronicle! They see the dead pigs — And they see this man that they have known for years now dressed nicely, cleaned up, talking intelligently, and acting quite normal — and what do they do?? They ask Jesus to leave!!

Doesn’t that seem strange? This man has power over demons! This man can help people who are possessed! This man could be a great help to them in their needs! But they send him away. The ESV text tells us they sent him away because, “They were seized with great fear.” But this verse uses the same Greek word which elsewhere is translated as “Being filled with AWE.” It’s the same feeling which Peter had when he saw the large catch of fish. Peter told Jesus to depart from Him because he was a sinful man — and the people want Jesus to depart — for they too know their sins, and they fear they will receive judgment just as the demons received judgment.

But what about the man who had been delivered of the demons? Our text tells us that he wanted to go with Jesus. He wanted to be a disciple. He is not afraid of his Savior. The evil has been removed from his life — he has been delivered from the evil over which he had no control — he wants to follow Jesus! But Jesus tells him to stay where he is. He is to tell others what God has done for him. He is to share the good news — the Gospel of a Savior who really saves, with all who will listen.

Jesus has delivered us as well. Jesus, has forgiven our sins, made us his own, and given us the promise of life eternal in heaven. What wonderful things he has done for us. We too are His witnesses to the marvelous things God has done for us. Maybe Jesus didn’t cast demons out of us, but by his life, death, and resurrection, he has given us the final victory over sin, death, and the devil. Let us tell others what great things God has done for us! To God alone be the glory, now and always! Amen.

And may the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is recorded in the Gospel of St. John, chapter 16, verses 12 through 16, particularly these words: “All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.” This is our text.

In the name of our Blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends. Today is Trinity Sunday. A day that we remember, and celebrate, the fact that our God is three persons, yet only one God. This is a mystery which we cannot fully comprehend, nor can we fully explain it. And yet it is a doctrine that is central to our Christian faith. It is a doctrine that is clearly taught in the Scriptures, even thought the Scriptures themselves never use the word “Triune”.

Since the doctrine of the Trinity is an unexplainable mystery, I am not going to even try to do the impossible and explain to you the Trinity. But I do want to share with you the comfort and the hope that is ours because we know for sure that our Triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is at work in our lives and in our world, every minute of every day.
We will start off first of all with the Father. Jesus said in our text, “All that belongs to the Father is mine.” What is it that belongs to the Father? The comforting truth is that EVERYTHING belongs to the Father! This is God’s world. He created all things. He made out of nothing, everything that exists. Because he created all things — all things belong to him.

And another comforting thought is that he not only created the world — but he is still in control of His world. The Bible reminds us that it is God who sends rain on the just and the unjust. Luther explained the petition about daily bread in the Lord’s Prayer by saying that “God gives daily bread to all people, even to the wicked.” But there is a difference between the Christian and the unbeliever, the Christian recognizes that these gifts come from the loving hand of Almighty God, takes the time to say “Thank You” to God for the blessings received, and then uses these gifts of God to the glory of God, not selfishly for self.

What a comfort it is to know that Our Father in Heaven, who controls the movement of the stars and the universe, loves you and me. He cares about us. He even promises to listen to us when we pray to him. And we know that because he had the power to create this world, he also has the power to care for us and to answer our prayers.

What a comfort it is to know the first person of the Trinity: God, our Almighty Father, Maker of Heaven and earth.

Next we look at God the Son. Jesus said in our text, “All that belongs to the Father is MINE.” I guess the question might be asked, “Just how did all of this that was created by the Father become also the property of the Son. And that is an easy question to answer.

First of all, Jesus was there at creation and participated in that creation. John 1:1; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God!”

But there is also another reason. You see, when God the Father created this world, he created it perfect and Holy. God looked at his perfect world and said “It is good!” But then something terrible happened to this great creation of God’s. Man listened to Satan in the serpent, and sin entered into the world. God’s perfect creation was no longer perfect, but instead was stained and blackened by sin. No longer was man perfectly happy and blessed in the Garden of Eden — but now suffered because of sin.
In order that this world might once again be set right, a price had to be paid. The world had to be bought back from sin and death. The world had to be redeemed.

And that is just what God the Son, did. He paid the price. It was not cheap either. “The wages of sin is death.” because of sin, someone had to die. And the only ransom good enough, the only person who could fully and completely pay the total bill for sin, was the very Son of God himself — Jesus Christ. Remember what Luther said about the work of God the Son? “He redeemed us, not with gold or silver, but with his holy precious blood and his innocent suffering and death.” Christ paid the price. He redeemed you and me, and all sinners from everlasting death and condemnation.

What a comfort it is for us to know that God the Son has redeemed us, has bought us back, so that we can be God’s people, so that we can be forgiven, so that we can spend eternity in heaven. It is the work of God the Son to redeem and to restore sinners, so that we might be right with God the Father.

God the Father creates and preserves the world. God the Son redeemed sinful mankind through his perfect life, his innocent death, and his glorious resurrection. What then does the Holy Spirit do in our lives? Our text says, “The Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.” That is the work of the Holy Spirit, “To make things known to us.”

It is very important that the Holy Spirit is at work in and among us. Our scriptures make it very clear that because of original sin, which each and every one of us has, we are by nature at odds with God and God’s will for our lives. By our sinful human nature, we do not do good, instead we do the opposite of what God wants for us. By our human nature, we are spiritually blind, spiritually dead, and enemies of God. That is why Luther started his explanation of the 3rd article of the Apostles’ Creed with these words, “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in my Lord Jesus Christ or come to him.” Luther couldn’t do it! I can’t do it! You can’t do it by yourself either! As a matter of fact the Scriptures say, “No one can say that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Spirit.” That is why it is so important for the Holy Spirit to be at work in us — because we cannot save ourselves. We cannot “make a decision for Christ” without the Holy Spirit calling us by the Gospel, enlightening us with his gifts, sanctifying us and keeping us in that one true faith.

Jesus said in our text, “The Holy Spirit will make it known to you.” The Holy Spirit is God at work in us, and among us. The Holy Spirit works through the Means of Grace, through Word and Sacrament to make known to us the Love of God the Father, and the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit moves in our hearts and in our minds through Word and Sacrament, to create saving faith, and to show to us the pathway that God would want us to walk in life. All this we call “SANCTIFICATION” — which is a big word which means, “to make holy”. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring us to faith in Jesus Christ, and to keep us in that faith, and to make it possible for us to walk in that faith.

What a comfort it is to know that God the Holy Spirit is active always through Word and Sacrament to keep us in our Christian faith, and to strengthen us for a life pleasing to God.

God the Father creates us! God the Son redeems us! God the Holy Spirit sanctifies us! That is a rather simple way of understanding the process by which God works within our lives. The Holy Three-in-one and One-in-three. This explanation does not fully explain the Triune God — but it at least gives us some guideline of his love, his strength, and his care for you and for me. On this Trinity Sunday, let us rejoice in our Triune God. And let us celebrate His wonderful love for us. To God be the Glory, now and always. Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is recorded in the book of Daniel, chapter 12, verses 1 through 3, particularly these words: “There shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time, your people shall be delivered.” This is our text.

In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends. We are now in the last few weeks of the liturgical year of the church. As we draw near to the end of that church year, our Scripture readings remind us that we are also drawing near to the end of time — to the second coming of Christ — to judgment day.

There has always been a lot of debate over the “End Times”. There is even a movie out now telling us that the end of the world is coming in 2012. Will there be a 1000 year earthly reign of Jesus — As some think? Will there be a rapture as some teach? Does Russia and Israel fulfill the symbolic prophecies of the Old Testament and of Revelations? OR is all of this stuff about the “End Times” just the result of an over active imagination of people who specialize in meaningless trivia?

There is a lot of interest these days in prophecy. People want to know the “Signs of the times.” Just like John and Andrew in today’s Gospel lesson, people are asking, “When will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” Today’s text, together with today’s Gospel lesson, answers a few of those questions for us.

The first point of our text for today is that there will be a period of great tribulation before the world comes to an end. Our text reads, “There will be a time of trouble such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.” And Jesus, in today’s Gospel Lesson, explains further this period of tribulation. He says, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me.”

In the last 100 years alone, we had World War I and World War II. There was Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and now Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, the Middle East and Central America are heavily armed just waiting for that one mistake by someone to start another major war. We have NEVER been without wars and rumors of wars — they have always been with us — and according to Jesus — they will be with us until judgment day. This part of prophecy was fulfilled long ago.

There have been earthquakes around the world forever. There are famines going on even today in Africa. There have been natural disasters around the world for centuries already — This part of prophecy has been fulfilled long ago.

Child abuse and family violence is at an all time high not only in the U.S. — but around the world. But with the sinfulness of man — this is not something new. It has always been with us ever since Cain killed his brother Able. This part of prophecy has been fulfilled long ago.

From what I see in our world today and from what I read in world history, those who spend their time trying to read the “signs of the times” — are basically wasting their time trying to figure out when the world will end. The Scriptures are very clear that the end will come “Like a thief in the night, when no one is watching.” It will come like a twinkling or the blinking of an eye. The signs have long ago been fulfilled. As Paul said even in his day, “Today is the day to be saved, this is the hour to receive God’s favor?” There is no reason to look for signs — they have been fulfilled!

A true Christian does not have to worry about what the future holds. That is made clear by the second point in today’s text. We have this promise in the text, “At that time, your people will be delivered.”

The one thing that makes people fear the second coming of Christ is that separation of the sheep and the goats — and their conscience makes them fear that they will be numbered among the goats, instead of among the sheep. If you live in fear of God’s return to judge the living and the dead, then you need to look for signs and wonders – you need something to give you a warning, so that you can prepare at the last minute!

But the Christian does not need to worry about that second coming because we have God’s own promise in today’s text — “At that time, your people will be delivered.” Jesus said it this way in today’s Gospel lesson, “He who stands firm to the end will be saved.” That is God’s promise to us. By grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, we will be saved. It doesn’t matter about the tribulation! It doesn’t matter about a rapture. It doesn’t matter about a millennium — Jesus Christ is our Lord and our Savior, and if we believe in Him, we will be saved. That is certain! That is sure! That is God’s promise to you and to me!

Guessing about when Jesus will come again — or trying to figure out all the symbolism of prophecy so that we know when He is coming again will do us no good. When Jesus comes again all that will matter is the answer to that one question — “Do you believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior?” If your answer to that question is “YES – by God’s Grace”, then you will rejoice to hear Jesus say — “Come into my kingdom prepared for you!”

But there is a third point to our text for today concerning those coming end times. And that is found in these words, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” In the Old Testament — Wisdom was always rooted in the faith and trust of God. We remember verses like, “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.” So what the verse is telling us is that those who are wise — that is, those who have faith — will shine, and they will lead many to righteousness.

Christians are not to just sit back in their easy chairs waiting for Jesus to return and take them to heaven. We have a lot of work to get done for the Lord while we are waiting for His return. There are many people who do not yet know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. As Christ’s ambassadors, as Christ’s representatives on earth, it is our joy and privilege to share with them that Love of God. To share with them the only way of Salvation — which is faith in Jesus Christ.

Through our faith in Jesus Christ, you and I are ready for Christ’s second coming. We know that we have a task to fulfill yet here on earth — and that when the right time comes — God will take us out of this world into His eternal kingdom. But don’t be misled by all the talk about what “might be,” or by what “can be,” or by what “possibly will be.” Rather put your trust in the one thing that is sure — “God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have everlasting life.” That’s God’s promise to each of us. Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

Proper 25

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Our text for this mornings meditation is recorded in the Book of Jeremiah, chapter 31, verses 7 through 9, particularly these words:  “Thus says the Lord, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born.”  This is our text.

In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ dear Christian friends.  The text says, “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel.”  Those were the instructions that God was giving to his people Israel through his prophet Jeremiah.  But these instructions for celebration came with a promise — and that promise had special meaning for the Children of Israel — just as they have special meaning to you and me, as the people of God — today.

The first part of that promise, given by Jeremiah was that God would father his people together.  God said, “Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here.”

This was a very special promise to the children of Israel.  Their entire nation for years had been upset — divided — separated — deported to many nations and lands by those who had captured them in war.  Now God promises to bring those broken families back together again.

And God does not promise to bring back only the strong — but he also promises to bring back the blind and the lame — and even those who are the most vulnerable, those who normally do not travel — the women who are with child, and those who are already experiencing labor itself.

God’s promise means healing for the children of Israel — it means a restoration of their nation.

That promise also has meaning for you and for me.  For you and I also live in a world that is scattered — divided — separated — and torn apart by hatred, hardship, bloodshed, strife, and greed.  Just read the headlines of the newspaper on any given day: Wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan;  Mothers starving their 3 year old child to the point that he weighs only 19 pounds; murders, rapes, robberies, and all kinds of crime all around us.

But it is not only around us, it is even among us, and even in our own private lives.  We too, like others, hold on to those hard feelings and grudges.  We too, like others, want and desire things that are not good for us.  We too, like others avoid people we don’t like and are avoided by others who will not even attempt to settle differences.  Why is our world — and our lives — in such a mess??  Because of sin –  Because of sin, the human race is a scattered, and shatter, race of people.  And even our own lives, are scattered and shattered.

But this shattered, scattered, sinful people — God promises to call back together.  And it won’t be just the strong — it won’t be just the great leaders, or just the wealthy, or just the very religious — But rather, God will reunite His people — all his people — the murderer, the thief, the adulterer, the drunks, all the sinners — and he will unite them with the one thing that can unite them — and that is the love of God, and the forgiveness offered through His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  This broken and scattered people, can only be reunited in the blood of Jesus Christ.  Only when we see ourselves forgiven before God by Christ, can we begin to forgive others and begin to restore those broken and fractured relationship brought about by sin.

God promises to reunite His people — Only through Jesus Christ and His forgiveness, can the world’s people — our people — be reunited.

The second part of God’s promise is that he is going to lead this reunited people back to the promised land.  God said through Jeremiah, “With weeping they shall come and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they will not stumble.”

For the children of Israel — this promise of coming back home to their promised land had very special meaning.  For only in the promised land would God keep that other promised for which they had great hopes — the Messiah would come and save his people.

For you and me — this also has special meaning — in two ways.  First and most obvious is that God has a promised land for you and me.  A land where we store up treasure — where rust and rot cannot decay that treasure — a promised land of heaven — that is one fulfillment of God’s promise to you and to me.

But there is another, a more immediate fulfillment to that promise of our God, and that fulfillment is being met right here at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball — right at this moment.

Israel had to return home so that God could keep His promise to send a Savior.  You and I meet at God’s house, as a Christian family to celebrate, to sing, to praise God for sending a Savior.  And here God keeps his promises to us as he forgives our sins through the sacraments and through absolution — as he strengthens our faith in Jesus Christ — and as he gives us hope and joy so that we can live another week as God’s own children in this sin stained world.  God keeps his promise to us here through Word and Sacrament — God’s means of Grace, that he uses to fulfill his promise that “he will be with us always — even unto the end of the world.”

We are not alone in this world.  We are gathered here together in this house — gathered around God’s Altar — Gathered around God’s Word and God’s gifts to us.  Here we find shelter.  Here we find joy.  Here we find comfort, peace, and forgiveness.  The church is not a social-club — but it is a group of people, joined together by God himself, where he keeps his promises and gives his gifts.  Here, in God’s church, he keeps his promise to lead us by brooks of water, and in a straight path in which we shall not stumble.”

The third part of God’s promise is that he will be our Father, and we will be his children.  He said in our text, “I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born.”  For the people of Israel — this relationship with God was very important.  They were God’s own special, chosen people.  But that is also true of you and me — we are God’s own special, chosen people.

The use of the name “EPHRAIM” in the text is very important to the message of the Text.  Ephraim was an Egyptian born son of Joseph — who was adopted by Jacob, his grandfather.  Consider for a moment Ephraim’s position in Jacob’s house — He was the youngest son of the 11th son — born of an Egyptian mother — in a foreign land — and adopted by an ailing and aged grandfather.  Ephraim’s position in the family would just barely rate him a little bit higher than the servants.  But God says in our text, “Ephraim is my first-born.”  Or as Jesus said in last Sunday’s Gospel reading, “The last shall be first.”

What glorious promise this is to you and me.  For we are like Ephraim.  By our own power, we cannot win God’s favor.  Our sins are always setting us apart from God.  Because of our sins we deserve no favors from God.  AND YET, God makes us His first-born.  It is the first-born who receives almost all of the power and wealth of the Father.  It is the first-born who is honored and respected by the family.  It is the first-born who represents the family to the world.  It is the first-born who receives the inheritance of his father.

You and I are God’s first born — even though we are adopted children of God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We live today with the forgiveness and strength of being God’s first-born — and we live today with the assurance and the hope of the eternal inheritance which awaits us in heaven.  What a wonderful promise that we are God’s first-born children — and his heirs to eternal life.

“I will gather you together, to a special place, and make you my first-born child”.  That is God promise to you through Jesus Christ our Lord.  To God be the glory now and always. Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting.  Amen.

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text for this mornings meditation is from Ecclesiastes, chapter 5, verses 10 through 20, particularly these words, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth, with his income; this also is vanity.”  This is our text.

In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends.  Jesus said to his disciples in our Gospel reading today, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”  And when the disciples heard what Jesus had said, they were amazed.  They were astonished!  And they asked him, “Well, if rich people have that much trouble getting into heaven, “Then who can be saved?”

The disciples had a very human view of the world around them.  People generally thought that people with money could accomplish pretty well anything they wanted to do.  They had the position, the power, the prestige, the influence, and yes, the where-with-all to get done for themselves, their families, their businesses, and their friends, anything they wanted done.  It never crossed their minds that people with money just might have problems of their own.  And those problems, are what our Old Testament Lesson is talking about today.

It was King Solomon who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, somewhere around 930 B.C.  It was toward the end of his reign as king and the end of his life.  Solomon had been given great wisdom by God at the very beginning of his reign — and because Solomon had not asked for victory over his enemies and great wealth — God gave these things to him as well.  Even though he had greater wisdom than all, and greater wealth than most, in the end, Solomon could not enjoy them.  Late in life, Solomon allowed his 300 wives and 600 concubines, to lead him into idolatry and the worship of false Gods.  In the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon describes his pursuit of power and pleasure, which did not bring joy or happiness, but instead, only lead him to emptiness.  And so the book of Ecclesiastes comes across very depressing, with it’s negative outlook of “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.  Vanity of vanities!  All is vanity.”  At the end, in the last chapter, Solomon pulls his readers out of the despair, and points them to God’s care and wisdom which alone can give rest and peace to the troubled heart and mind.

Why can money, or fame, or position and power, or anything else — not give that peace which mankind seeks and needs?  Our text tells us well.  “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income.”  The problem with money, and position, and power, and fame, and lust is that sinful mankind can never get enough!!  Like the golfer who hits his ball off to the right, it hits and tree, bounces up on the green and stops inches from the hole — and he is upset because it didn’t go in!!.  We always want more.  When these evil wants and desires take over our life, it is never enough.  Our text even mentions riches that were kept by their owner that brought him hurt — and one rich man who sank his money into a very bad venture which went bankrupt, couldn’t even provide for his son.

All these things are like the Devil’s lies — they promise good and pleasant and pleasing things — But what they produce is misery, and pain, and heartache, and guilt.  When money becomes your master, it produces greed, and covetousness, and stealing, and false dealings with others, and even a stinginess that produces hording and selfishness.  What about sex when it becomes master of one’s life?  It produces lustful desire for the wrong person, it produces lies and deceit, it produces adultery, and in King David’s case — it even lead to murder!  When sin rules our lives, and when sin becomes the master of our lives — not only is it a temptation — but it is a mighty temptation which is very hard to control.  I guess we need to ask the same question which the disciples asked of Jesus in the Gospel reading, “With all this evil around us, tempting us, and leading us astray, THEN WHO CAN BE SAVED!”  And Jesus answered them “With man it is impossible, but not with God.  For all things are possible with God.”

The world, with all its wealth, possessions and powers, is a very demanding master, always wanting more.  But God is totally different, instead of demanding more — he gives the best he has.  “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.  That whosoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life.”  Jesus said, “My peace I give to you, but my peace,” he said, would be different than the peace which the world would give.  God’s peace comes with sins forgiven.  God’s peace comes with no stings attached.  God’s peace comes with an unconditional love.  God’s peace brings life and joy and happiness.  God’s peace cannot hurt us or disappoint us, because God’s peace brings eternal life.  That is why the last verse of today’s text tells us, “He will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.”  God, through his grace and his mercy, gives us peace and joy without end.

So, what about all those goodies around us in this world of ours?  There are some who misquote the scriptures and say, “Money is the root of all evil.”  The actual quote is “THE LOVE of money is the root of all evil.”  Once again we come to Luther’s explanation of the first commandment — “We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.”  Nothing can be more important to us than God himself.

The goodies around us in this world are the creation of God.  It is God who has given us all things — not for our greed and lust — but for our good.  God’s gifts are to be used by God’s people for the common good — in a Christian way.  And it is God himself who gives us the faith, and the strength, and the will, to use the gifts he has given us, so that his gifts are a blessing to ourselves and to others.  There is nothing wrong with being rich — but use the riches God has given you in a God blessing manner.  There is nothing wrong in having strong political influence in the community — but use this gift God has given you in a manner pleasing to God.  That was what Solomon was talking about in our text when he said, “Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting, is to eat and drink, and find enjoyment, in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.  Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy then, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil — this is the gift of God.”

That is true peace — To live life with a joyful heart, to trust in God with all our heart, and to make use of the gifts God has given to us as his people to God‘s glory and to the welfare of all. May God grant us that peace, through Jesus Christ, his Son, our Lord.  Amen.

And may the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting.  Amen.

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text for this mornings meditation is recorded in the book of Genesis, chapter 2, verses 18 through 24, particularly these words:  “God said, It is not good that the man should be alone… Therefore, a man leaves his father and his mother, and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.”  This is our text.

In the name of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends.  In the Houston Chronicle this week, a Dallas judge said that her court had jurisdiction over divorce proceedings between two men who married in another state.  The Texas Attorney General ruled that a Texas court cannot grant a divorce to anyone who is not legally married in the first place according to Texas State Law. Stay tuned for the outcome of that dispute. A few months back, a religious denomination which even dares to call itself Lutheran, declared that same sex marriages would be permissible in certain circumstances and that congregations that wanted to do so, could call openly gay and lesbian pastors.  Not Missouri Synod by the way.  Obviously, there is a lot of confusion concerning marriage and how individual people relate to each other these days.   There are so many different kinds of relationships these days between men and women, men and men, women and women,  that it gets very hard at times to tell who is married, or who is just dating, or who has a “meaningful relationship”, or who is just fooling around.  We hear and read about lawsuits for palimony, about surrogate mothers, and there are advertisements for sex therapists.  Our televisions, our movies, our magazines are running over with all kinds of articles, and programs, and talk shows which are really unfit for children to watch, or hear, or read.  Our nation seems really confused as to just what is a proper relationship between men and women in general, and between husband and wife in particular.

With all the confusion over sex, marriage, and the relationship between men and women — how does the Christian make a good and right decision on this matter within his or her own personal, private life?  This morning, our assigned Scripture readings tell us what God has to say concerning these issues and this debate.  Let’s let God speak to us through the Words of today’s Old Testament reading and our Gospel reading!

First of all, we read, “It is not good that the man should be alone.”  The first thing that we learn about the relationship between man and woman is that “it is not good that the man should be alone.”   And although the text doesn’t come right out and say it, the opposite is also true – it is not good that the woman should be alone either.

God made man a social creature.  Barbara Streisand (and those under 40 are saying, “Who?”) used to sing a song which said, “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.”  There are a few hardy souls who want to buy their own little island and get away from everybody else — but basically we all need someone around us for company.  As God said, “It is not good that man should be alone.”

But even in a crowd, you can be lonely, and so God recognized that he had to make a “Helper that was suitable for the man.”  Call her a “counter-part” to man if you like.  The rosters had their hens.  The bucks had their does. The gander had his goose.  But for man – no suitable helper was found. So God created Woman — Eve –And as He gave away the first Bride and brought her to Adam, God himself established the marriage relationship.  Eve brought great joy into the life of Adam.  You can almost hear the excitement in his voice, “This is bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh.”  Eve was created — not inferior to man — not superior to man — not even equal to man — Eve was created different from man!  To each God gave certain responsibilities in life — responsibilities that were supposed to complement each other — not compete with each other!  Adam was to be husband and father — and Eve, as the “Helper suitable for him,” as his counter part, was to be wife and mother!  This is what we call in theological terms, “God’s order of creation.”

This relationship between man and woman were created perfect and holy.  It brought joy and happiness to both Adam and Eve.  “It was not good that the man should be alone”.  That was why God created woman — and marriage.

What happened to this perfect creation of male and female and marriage?  Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit.  Sin came into the world.  And with sin came the knowledge of good and evil.  Now they knew just how badly this precise gift of God could be misused and abused – so they blushed for the first time, they got embarrassed to see each other naked – and they hid from each other by sewing fig leaves together to make cloths for themselves.  Sin not only tore apart their relationship with God – but also with each other.  In the Gospel reading, the Pharisees asked Jesus why Moses allowed divorce and Jesus said it was because of the “hardness of their hearts” – because of sin.

It is still sin even today, which tears apart God’s perfect creation of marriage.  Selfishness, greed, lust, and unfaithfulness among many other things rob God’s creation of marriage of the blessing that it should be for all mankind.  Husbands refuse to love their wives even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her – And wives refuse to submit in love to their husbands in the same way as the church submits to Christ.  God’s perfect creation has been turned into smut, and porn, and dirty jokes by a sinful world!

At their creation in the garden there was a special interdependency between the two — man needed woman — and woman needed man.  Paul made this clear in the book of Corinthians where he reminds us that Woman was taken from man — and that man was born of woman.  They are dependent on each other!

I feel that some of the problems of marriage today is that husband and wife no longer need each other.  In the days of the old west — when husbands and wives had to fight side by side to protect their lands, cattle and crops, and when they had to protect the family against wolves and other wild critters, and when they had to make a living farming land with only an old mule and a broken plow — husband and wife needed each other to survive.  But today — when the husband makes a good salary — and the wife makes a salary equal to or maybe even better than his — they can each go their separate ways and still survive.  If they have a small argument or disagreement, they go their own way — because they don’t need each other.

That wasn’t God’s intention for man or woman.  God made woman from man — and God brought woman to man — and God meant for them to be good for one another — for them to need each other — for them to live together, sharing all that was to come – for them to reproduce the species.  God’s plan was an interdependency between man and woman — sharing all that was to come in a life time commitment of marriage.

And that brings us to our last point for today — God intended this relationship between a man and a woman to be a lasting and deep relationship.  We read from the text, “Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother, and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.”

Jesus quotes this Old Testament verse in Today’s Gospel lesson and then he added, “What God has joined together let not man put asunder.”  Our Gospel lesson for today recognizes that because of sin — separation and divorce are a part of life — only perfect people have perfect marriages and those don’t exist!  But God’s intention when he first created Adam and Eve and marriage was for a life time union between a man and a woman.  And this is not an easy task or assignment that God has given.

Some like to blame their problems on “THE MODERN DAY LIVING”.  But those people who celebrate their 40th or 50th or even 60th wedding anniversary didn’t have it any easier than the young married couples of today.  In fact, if we take a close look at history, they lived through some very difficult times.  The great depression, world wars, Korea and Vietnam, and many of the diseases that are easily cured today, were killers back then.  Times are not any harder today than they were back then!  But what made those long term marriages work was FIRST, a commitment to God, and THEN, to each other — that they would share the hard times, they would share the sorrows, even while they shared the good times and the joys.  Most importantly of all, they forgave one another as God for Christ’s sake had forgiven them.  When we look at marriage as a life-time commitment, not a temporary living arrangement, then the problems of any one given day seem kind of small.  To make a marriage work, both man and woman have to be committed to the relationship and forgive one another, as God has forgiven each.

Even in our crazy, mixed up world — God’s will for a man and a woman is the same as it was in the Garden of Eden — between Adam and Eve – “It is not good that man should be alone,” so “A man should leave his father and his mother, and cleave to his wife, and they would be one flesh.”

Living in the forgiveness earned for us by Jesus Christ, and living in the strength that God gives us for our daily lives, let us commit ourselves to God’s will for us.  Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting.  Amen.