Isaiah 58:13-14. Honour the Sabbath 26/8/07

(Isa 58:13-14) "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honourable, and if you honour it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, {14} then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
(Heb 12:28-29) Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, {29} for our "God is a consuming fire."
(Luke 13:14-15) Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath." {15} The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?

Today our readings throw out a challenge to us all with regard to our Sunday worship. More to the point, we are called on to reflect on what is our attitude towards Sundays and what and why we do what we do? And on reflecting on these readings this morning we see that we all fall into the dangers that God is making us aware of here. But even more significant is the fact that we are denying God the opportunities that he wants for us.

In light of attendances in recent weeks, we would do well to reflect on what God has to say to us here. I recognise that there is sickness and holidays for a number of people, but at the same time the devil and our sinful nature is at work as well. Unless we take these things seriously we too will find ourselves in serious trouble; and we will be denying God the opportunity to bring the blessings that he wants, to us and our nation. He may well level at us the term hypocrite.

As we reflect on this issue then, we see that there are three keys problems that we regularly find at work in our lives and which the devil feeds.
The first one is that we don’t need to take what God has to say with regard to the Sabbath seriously. I’ve heard many comments over the years that go along the lines of: ‘You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian? I can miss a Sunday here and there and it is not going to affect my faith! I have to do this or that on Sunday. Worship is boring. I don’t get on with the people there.’ And the list could go on. Underlying many of these comments is the attitude that we have more important things to do on Sunday, or that we decide what is good and right for ourselves.

The other problem that so often arises and which our Gospel reading places before us, is the legalism that all to often becomes associated with the Lord’s day. ‘You can’t do this or that on the Sabbath! We can only do it this way. It has to be hymns out of the hymn book or it is no good. As long as I ...... Or, I cannot commune because I am too sinful. And again the list could go on. Here underlying it all is the attitude that we must do things just the right way or else we will not receive God’s blessing.

But overarching these problems is that much deeper and more pervasive issue of the fact that we see ourselves as the centre of what the Sabbath is all about. Worship is what we do for God, not first and foremost we he does for us. It is we determining if and when, where and how, we worship, and everything else that has to do with this day. Even right down to what we think is important and what needs to be in our worship services. Or more to the point today, what we can discard and not have. Therein lies the sin of each one of us. We want to be like God and we want to decide for ourselves what we think is good and important. We want to be our own gods. And it is that attitude which brings death.

However here it is that Jesus reminded the Pharisees of his day, as well as us today, that there is a far more central issue involved here, than what we do and how we do it. This day has to do with us being freed from that which binds us and grinds us into the ground. He speaks of being freed from Satan. It has to do with forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. It has to do with our Lord and who he is and what he does. It has to do with, as Paul says to the Hebrews:
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Yes, that is what God has in mind for you and me here this morning and every time we gather here in his presence. He wants to meet with you here, together with all the saints, and he wants to reassure you that you are part of a new covenant where we can have that guarantee that we are forgiven for all your selfishness and sin, and that he has many blessings surrounding that for you and me. God and what he has to offer is what is essential for this life and the next. He is here to do just that and along with that he gives us the directives that we need for our worship and for life.

Here also remember that he was the one who set aside the Sabbath so that he could allow us to rest in his presence and receive all the good that he has in mind for us. He commands us to ‘Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” That means as Luther says; ‘we should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and his Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.’ We are to use the form of worship that he has set down for us since the early days of the Church.

Here also listen to what he says in our Old Testament reading today.
"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honourable, and if you honour it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

This is just as important for us today as it was back then. So we use this as an opportunity to turn away from doing that which “I” want to do and instead look to him and receive what he has to give. Following his Word, rather than the word of our sinful selves and the world around us. We take on board the fact that he is the “Lord of the Sabbath.” He is the one who is important, and he has much to give us as we live in a world full of temptations and troubles.

So as Paul said to the Hebrews: See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. [That is Jesus and his word of forgiveness] If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."

We have a great, awesome, and loving God who calls us week by week into his day of rest and receiving of all the good things that he has in mind for us. Through Word and Sacrament he seeks to richly bless us. Who then are we to deny him this opportunity. Or do we think that we are greater, stronger and wiser than God himself. No let us be challenged and encouraged to see the Sabbath as God’s gift to us for our welfare and good. And through it all may all glory and honour go to our great God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba

Jeremiah 23:23-29. Use of God’s Word faithfully!! 19/8/07


(23) "Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD, "and not a God far away? {24} Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD. {25} "I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!' {26} How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? {27} They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their fathers forgot my name through Baal worship. {28} Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?" declares the LORD. {29} "Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?


Here today we are challenged by God to heed carefully what we listen to and what we speak: For he is a God who knows what is going on, and even though we may be able to ‘pull the wool over others eyes’, he knows and often does not approve. And in the end his Word will have its way, and will destroy all that is not of God. This message then is as important for us today as it was way back when it was written.

Now by way of example, what would you think if I was to stand up here this morning and tell you, that ‘I had a vision two weeks ago that every Lutheran in this area should sell everything they had and give it all to the poor. Then as confirmation of this vision, we had last Sunday, Jesus tell us in the Gospel reading that we should “sell all your belongings and give the money to the poor.” So obviously that is confirmation of my vision. In that regard we need to remember that God will richly reward all those who do so, and so if you want God’s blessing on your life and you want eternal life; then go and sell everything you have and give your money to our church so that we can distribute it to the poor. When you do so don’t worry, the good lord will take care of you.’

No! Don’t get up and walk out and set about getting rid of me: nor go out from here and do what I have just said. For that is not what I would ask of you in the least. More particularly that is not what God is seeking to say through me. But the point is that if I was a good enough of a speaker and a ‘charismatic’ sort of person, and I used enough Scripture I could do a great deal of harm to this community and to peoples spiritual lives. And above all I would not be speaking forth what our Lord wants from me. Yet this sort of thing has happened again and again many times throughout the history of God’s people.

In this day and age therefore we too need to be very careful, on the one hand what we listen to, and on the other what we ourselves are saying. Let us remember that it is God’s Word that is all important; and it and its message stands on its own in being able to determine what is right and good. Yet, today, we have many gurus running around with their own revelations and interpretations, and are claiming that they know where things are really at for our modern times. “I had a dream! I had a dream!” ‘I know what the church today needs to make it grow.’ ‘I have a new understanding of God’s Word for our day.’ And I could go on. All of them are wanting us to think that they have a directly inspired message for us today.

However, here, as in many other places, God tells us to be very careful when people start running around with new ideas and saying they are God’s word for our day. Often they are deceptive people who are ultimately leading people away from God rather than to him. Even though they use God’s word and mention his name, and have their altar calls and the like they are leading people away from what God has said and done and placing the emphasis elsewhere. In most cases you will find that they are not giving God’s message, but the delusions of their own minds.

Yes they may be able to fool many people, but as Jeremiah says here, they can’t fool God. He cannot be fooled or manipulated. And if they or we are leading people astray God will ultimately metre out his just rewards. No one can hide away in secret places so that God cannot see them.

But for our part here, let us take note of what our Lord says and beware. Yes let those who want to play around with their own thoughts and ideas do so. They really are only playing around in the straw. We however need to concentrate on the grain of God’s Word.

Now what a good illustration that is for us, of straw and grain. Now a farmer doesn’t spend all his time and effort in growing and gathering straw, and letting the grain go to waste on the ground. He knows what is important and valuable; so he gathers the grain, and sees the straw as only a secondary product.

So also do we need to concentrate on that which is valuable and not simply on the straw, when it comes to the Christian faith. That of course is the Scriptures themselves and its central focus which is Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. There is what is of absolute necessity for our lives. If we want something which will change peoples lives and give them the certainty of eternal life, then look no further than what Scripture has to say to us with regard to Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. There God’s love and power is truly evident. There we know that God is near for us. There we have that which can cleanse us from all impurity and rid us from the secondary straw of all of our good deeds. And it is that Word alone which can smash the hardest heart.

Yet it is that Word which the lying prophets are avoiding again and again. The lying prophet likes to speak smooth words which are pleasant to the ear and encouraging to the ego. The focus is not on the stumbling block of the Gospel but on what you and I must do, and on health, wealth and happiness theology. In their thinking, the fire of God’s Word which separates and divides must be avoided. That which smashed the ego and leaves us shattered as to our human aspirations is seen as abhorrent.

Yet it is this Word of God that we are called to speak faithfully; even though it is like fire, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces. Because it is only then that the sweet word of God’s forgiveness in Christ Jesus finds its way into our hearts and the hearts of unbelievers. So we are called to faithfully speak God’s word of truth, in season and out of season. We are to speak it and listen to it even though it is not what our itching ears want to hear. Then with the faithful proclamation of the truth of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for our salvation will come forth a rich harvest of souls. God will again lift up his people and richly bless them.

Now to close, let us take heed to our second reading from Hebrews, which has an encouraging challenge in this regard. (Heb 12:1-2) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, [that is Christians who have gone before us holding to the truth of God’s Word and trusting that God has given us life and salvation through Jesus Christ and his death on the cross] let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Yes, let us look alone to our Lord Jesus, and give him thanks and praise, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba

Colossians 3:1-11 The New Life in Christ 5/8/07

{1) Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. {2} Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. {3} For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. {4} When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. {5} Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. {6} Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. {7} You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. {8} But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. {9} Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices {10} and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. {11} Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

This morning God is putting before us, us through this reading, another very important question: ‘What is it that motivates us to live the kind of life that we do? In other words, what is the basis and foundation on which we live our life? Does our life revolve around and stem from God or merely from the things of this world? Or to put it another way, are we a man or woman of the world or are we a Christian? This question and our answer to it is of utmost importance for ourselves; and its consequences will he felt throughout our life and by others around us as well; either for good or bad.

Here let it be made quite clear that we are talking about our life and our motivation here and now. If one doesn’t have the right motivation for working, playing sport, being involved in leisure activities or whatever, then we are destined for a life of uncertainty, loneliness and pain. On outward appearances of course this life may be very little different from anyone else’s; although we can see what is happening in our society as more and more people are choosing to ignore God and what he has to say to them. People are ripping one another off, greed, selfishness, divorce, suicide, and abuse is rampant; and I could go on. Our society is starting to fall apart because so many people are choosing to build their lives on the hollow philosophies of our present society; Where science, money and pleasure are held up as being all important we are seeing more and more of this.

There are many people today living life for what they can get out of it for themselves, to hang with the family, community or anyone or anything else; even to hang with God; and we all are reaping the rewards. Their motto in life, too often, seems to be very much, ‘let us eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we will die.’ Whilst others again, think security, and positions of importance in society is all important. So everything they do – friendships, finances, work and sport - is done in order to build up their level of security and acceptance. Or again they might simply think that as long as they live a reasonably good life and do the right thing now and again, then surely they will get to heaven and everything should go well for them. Underlying all these attitudes is a neglect of that divine and everlasting foundation that is to be had through Jesus Christ.

Our reading here this morning points out some outward signs of a wrong basis for living life every day; sexual perversion, evil desires, greed, anger, hateful feelings and divisions. Now we do not need to go very far before see how widespread these are in are community around about us. They are all signs that things are not what they should be. They are the results of sin which has taken control. Here we are reminded that all such actions which do not have as their basis Jesus Christ and his death on the cross, will in the final analysis be as our first reading says, a chasing after the wind. And like the rich farmer who built his bigger barns only to die and leave his inheritance to who knows whom. What we would do well to remember is that all people who do not have Jesus Christ as their basis and foundation are doomed to God's judgment and the verdict of eternal damnation in hell. Now that should surely be sobering thought for us all.

However that is not what God intends for you and me. We are reminded here that we have been raised with Christ. That is at our baptism we were joined to Jesus' death and resurrection. We therefore have been joined to God's family and have been given a new and better life; eternal life with God. As a result we now have a new basis on which to live our lives. We don't have to live selfish, self-centred lives any longer. Our salvation is secure, we do not have to work toward our acceptance and our need to have to do enough to gain it. It is a free gift to us here and now.

So surely now our values, attitudes and behaviour grow out of this right relationship, understanding of, and with, Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. Because we believe in him and the forgiveness of sins that he extends to us, we can give our all for him and the people around us. This life is not one where we sit passively in Church here when it suits us. It is more than simply believing that Jesus died and was raised again so that we can have eternal life. It is more than just having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, these are important - all important - but we are also called to live this new life, here and now. For our faith to be credible and alive we need to live a life which is in accord with Jesus and how he would have us live.

And how are we to live this new life? It is first and foremost a life which is focused fairly and squarely on Jesus Christ. How can we really do anything else but focus our attention and life on him after what he has done for us. He rescued us from eternal death – and restored our broken relationship with God, making us a part of his family. He has given us whole better way to our lives so as to live at peace with God, ourselves and one another.

Since he has done all of this for us we now surely want to live in light of it. We will want it to effect everything we say and do. How can we not but turn our attention toward him and do what he would have us do, for our own good and for the welfare of others.

For us as Christians, we can only know how to live property if we keep our hearts and minds looking to and focused on what is above. Our motivation for all our living; and living the right kind of life here on earth, can only come when we have this goal in mind. We can only live correctly when we actively seek those qualities, attitudes and actions which are associated with Jesus Christ and the Bible.

Here we need to remember that he came to love and serve; not to be loved and served. So now we allow him to lead us to love and serve in the same way. When we look at life in this way we will find that we can and will be able to live our life to the fullest. That means that when we died with Christ at our baptism, we died to that old destructive way of life which leads to ruin and heartache, and so will do our best to avoid those things.
Surely we and our community really have no room for that way of life which destroys and alienates, because we now have a new and better way. Christ has saved us and now rules over us and cares for us.

Now the we seek to live for him, taking on board the attribute and actions that Christ would have for us. Here let me read the verses following our text this morning ........ Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. {13} Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. {14} And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. {15} Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. {16} Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. {17} And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col 3:12-17)

So then let us all allow the love which Christ has for us motivate us to now go out and love others and to live this new life that we now have. Letting that love be the basis and foundation of our life every day. Here remember that our Lord Jesus goes with us where-ever we go: when we are at work or in our play; in the good parts of life as well as in the bad. He is there with us when we are with our non-Christian mates: He is there at all times to help us to live and be the person he wants us to be. So go from here focusing on Jesus and how he would have us live. There may he be glorified as is fitting for our great God and King; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba