Ezekiel 37:1-14.                      God gives new life!!                           27/5/12

“The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.  He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.  He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know."  Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!  This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.  I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'"  So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.  I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.  Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.'"  So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet--a vast army.  Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.  Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.  I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.'"

            [An old dry bone will be held up as an illustration at various times]

Today as we celebrate Pentecost, we have a very interesting picture presented to us; One that has a real lesson, for us, and many others as well. It is a picture of old dry bones – rattily, old, dry, dead bones. Now I don't know if we'd appreciate being referred to as an old bag of bones: A bag of bones that has got about as much life in us as this old bone [old dry bone]. This bone we would say is without life; without hope; without a future; it really hasn't got much going for it: It is just another reminder of the death and decay that is all around about us.

Can you imagine being Ezekiel stepping into that valley and seeing just one great mass of old, dry, dead bones  - human bones - millions of them. What a disaster must have struck them, and caused such mass destruction. Sure, there wouldn't have been the stench of death any more, just a mass of old, dry, reminders of a death long gone. It would have been quite disturbing in a way.  Particularly in light of what his nation was facing at the time. And here God placed Ezekiel in midst of all this to give him, the Israeli nation, and you and I, a very important lesson.

At this time of Ezekiel, the people of Israel felt all dried up - like this old bone. They were without hope and could see no real and positive future. They were exiles in a foreign land. Slaves of a people who merely wanted to use them for their own dirty work. Their homeland had been taken over by these other peoples. Their temple was in ruins, and they were being made to worship the king of this new land and to desist from any allegiance to their God. As a race of people, and as God's once great nation, they now had about as much life in them as this bone. It seemed to them that all was finished, and there was now no hope and seemingly no future.

And today is it any different. We may not be taken over by another country and taken off to live elsewhere as their slaves.  However there are many, who, in the same way feel hopeless and without any real future. They are in trouble in one way or another and they know it. Perhaps they have lost or losing their business or livelihood: They are sick or even facing death itself. Perhaps they are like so many young ones today, who see life as rather pointless and futile; we are merely products of an evolutionary process where the survival of the fittest and best is all that counts. Or they see the morality of our nation going greatly downhill; the political scene in a mess; or the Church seemingly dying with many thinking that they don’t need to attend church very often; and I could go on. But as a result there are many who have lost or are losing hope, and who don't see much of a future ahead. In many ways they have got about as much life in them as this bone.

Now of course, there are many others who would like to think they are better than this. That yes, they have a good set of bones holding them together, and a good lot of muscles on them, and so can still get a lot out of life. They would like to think that they have got something between their ears, and a future out there for them to get out of it what they can. But in reality, they haven't got a thing because they haven't got what is important; they haven’t got anything here (heart), in heart and soul. They haven't got that which gives life itself, and that which gives life its meaning and purpose. They haven't got God's Spirit within them. So in reality they are only a rotting bag of bones, rattling around in their own self-importance.

Now can they- we - come back to life? Is there any hope for our world that is seemingly without hope? Is there a future out there for us and for our children? Is there any hope for our Church? Well that depends, If it is going to look to human strengths and technology and that kind of thing; looking where the rest of the nation is looking; and if in the church we are going to focus on me, and what I want, and my feelings; No! We will continue to rot away and decay. Yes, outwardly it may look fine at times, but in reality it is dead.

However, there is One who can and does give life. There is hope, and there is a great future ahead for us. As much as this bag of bones might be dry and useless as it is, there is One who can bring it right back to life and give it the best of everything.

So listen! Listen, all you who are without hope! Listen, our country Australia! Listen Church! Listen to the Word of Lord; “I will put my Spirit into you and bring you back life”. Yes, God has, is, and will come to you, into you, so that there is life, hope, and a great future ahead. With him there - here within us – we have everything going for us. So listen – listen, to the Word of Lord. Have good look in here [Bible] – your Bibles. Have a good look at what God has said and done down through the ages. This is not fairy tales. Check out what happened to these Israelites after God had given this vision to Ezekiel. And if you don't want to trust this book alone, go and have a look at your history books, and you will find that they did end up back in Jerusalem not that long after this, and they rebuilt their Temple again.

And right through history the same thing has applied, when the people were prepared to listen to the Word of the Lord, instead of avoiding it, rejecting it, and changing it to suite themselves, or having as little to do with it as possible. When they sought out God's healing, forgiving, and loving Word, they found that the most lifeless of situations were changed. Not by themselves, but by God: His Spirit, bringing life back in all of its fullness. New strength and vitality had come into their lives; peace, hope, love, joy, and all the rest abounded. Instead of death, there was life.

And it is that Spirit, which does all this, that has also come to you. Since your baptism he has been there in your life, and he has come to you to give you hope and a future. He is there now in your life seeking to give you all that he has promised. He is there, wanting to bring all of this to you too. So listen - listen to how he wants to bring all of this into your life. Listen again, and you will not be disappointed. Open up your Bibles and read it; study it; and listen to what your God is saying. And do it often; and it will surprise you what God can do. Through that Word his Spirit will transform life. Come also to the Lord's Table as often as you can and know that Jesus died so that YOU might be forgiven and have life in all its fullness, and that he goes with you throughout your life. Yes it is there in the Word and the Sacraments that God’s Spirit will bring life to any, and every, old dry bag of bones.

Remember also that it is he alone that can do it. You can't do it on your own; you can’t pull yourself together and be the sort of person that God, and even yourself, wants you to be. Nor will education, wealth, stars, clairvoyants, eastern meditation, or anything else, other than the Holy Spirit. Nor will we as church be able to build the Church back up if all we are going to do is to look to ourselves and what we do; that is, if we are going to focus on what we want, feel, and that kind of thing. And the same goes for our nation, when we look here, to ourselves, we are in trouble.

But with God anything is possible. This vision of Ezekiel’s shows that. So listen to him - listen to the Word of the Lord, and then you will know that God is for real, and there will be a rattle of bones, and the hope that you will have will surprise you. So listen! The Holy Spirit of Pentecost will bring life in all of its fullness to us.      Listen, for the Lord has spoken. AMEN.

 
PastorRoger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Ephesians 1:15-23.      Spiritually focussed!                                       20/5/12

 {15)  For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, {16} I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. {17} I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. {18} I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, {19} and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, {20} which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, {21} far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. {22} And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, {23} which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

 Today, our attention is focussed on Jesus Ascension to heaven, 40 days after his resurrection from the dead. This has some remarkable things to say to us as we live out our lives every day that can also help us to live with confidence and certainty. Yes Jesus’ death and resurrection has surely given us that wonderful assurance that the forgiveness of sins and eternal life has been extended to us. But, the difficulties and hardships of life in a sinful world can often leave us uncertain as we go about our lives day by day.

 On the one hand it seems to us, that if only we could have Jesus physically here with us, that would make all the difference. So why did he have to ascend back into heaven? Why couldn’t he continue to be with us today as he was with the disciples? Without too much thought we can understand that that just wouldn’t work: for he can only be physically in one place at one time. So if he is taking care of my needs, what about yours and everyone else’s. However with his ascension he can now be with everyone, all the time. Through his Spirit he can be at work for us all no matter where we are or what our situation might be.

The other issue in this regard, is the one that continually vexes us as Christians. That is, if we are Christians and God is good, why is it that we experience so much that is bad in our lives? Where is this good and powerful God in the midst of the difficulties and tragedies of life?  Is it that he has ascended into heaven and is not all that interested in what happens in our daily lives? Is it that he does not care what happens to us day by day?

 Again we have to say that God’s clear message in this regard is that this is not the case. In fact it is quite the opposite. He very much, cares about each and every one of us: No matter who we are or what our situation in life may be. His coming into our world and experiencing the worst of life in a sinful world, very clearly testifies to this fact. But even more so, his death on the cross for our sin demonstrates his love and concern for us and for our welfare. Through his death forgiveness of sins has been extended to us, which ensures that God no longer holds any of our sins or the sins that are committed against us, to be barriers between us and himself. He sees us as holy and blameless. He has already ensured a place for us with himself in heaven for all eternity; a glorious inheritance in the saints.

 What we also need to keep in mind, is the fact that while we still live here on earth, we have a sinful nature that clings very close to us. As well, we still live in a sinful world with its destructive forces at work against us. All of this is not God’s fault, but the result of our human sinfulness. He created us to be in a free relationship with himself, but we have chosen to live apart from him and as a result now reap the rewards of our choice. If however he took away that choice we would then be simply ‘robots’; programed to live a particular way. However God wants us to be in a relationship with himself, and that means we must have the ability to opt out. But of course, he tells us that this has its consequences; which we readily can see all around us. The only way that he frees us from this is when he takes us out of this world to himself in heaven. This is the hope to which he has called you.

 But as I have just said, he has now provided a way out for us, even though we are sinful. Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is our assurance that this is the case. That is why Paul prays that  the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. He prays also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. With God’s help we can know and believe that all of this is the case for us.

 But at the same time, he reminds us of God’s incomparably great power for us who believe. This power is at work in our lives even now; working for our good and the good of his kingdom. Despite our sinfulness and that of the world around us, he is now at work using everything that is happening in our lives for good. Now that is a challenging thought for us! We struggle to see how many of these things can be for good, as they are bad and often seemingly destructive.

 However, we do know that when all is going well for us, we all too often forget about God and the things that are important in life. We do know that many times, tough times brings the best out in people. But mostly we are reminded that the bad that is happening in and around us is a result of our selfishness and sin, and so it surely should turn us back to taking God and his Word seriously once again. Our difficulties and failures should surely turn us back to God and to seek his forgiveness and his help to live in ways that are good and appropriate for us as his people.

 At the same time Jesus himself reminds us that as Christians we will have to carry our crosses. Like him we will suffer in this life if we take him and his Word as the Truth. But he assures us that he will bring blessing through it, for ourselves and for others that we come into contact with. Through it we will be enabled to witness to the greatness of our Lord Jesus and all that he has done for us through his death and resurrection. Praise and glory will go to him and will also be the means thereby of others having to consider him also.

 But how can we have the faith and strength to stand up in the midst of our sinful world in this way. Well, again our reading here reminds us that it is God’s power alone that will enable us to do so. Here we are told that this power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

 That same power that was at work raising Jesus from the dead and taking him up to heaven on that first Ascension Day, is at work in our lives. But note also that he was not just taken up to heaven, but he was also placed in a ruling position over all things. He has all power over everything that has any control over us.  His Spirit is at work with that same power for us today and for our good. That being the case we can be sure that what is happening to us, is what God himself knows is for good.

 Yes, God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. The ascended Jesus has the power over everything for the benefit of his Church: all of you, and I, and every other Christian together. He is at work for our good! We all are his body; he in us and we in him; all joined together through our baptism into he himself. He now is with us: his fullness; everything that is Jesus is now with us and in us, for good in every way.  Now that is truly amazing.

 This is the assurance that we receive today as we are reminded and we consider our Lord’s ascension to heaven. He has not left us all alone. It was his physical, human presence which departed from this earth. But it was for our good, so that he and his Spirit could be with us all, as we face the rough and tumble of living in a sinful world. We are not alone. Our Lord Jesus is with us, with all of his power, at work for our good and the good of his kingdom.

So again, to him then be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.

 Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

1 John 5:1-6.               Living in the face of victory??                        13/5/12

 (1)  Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. {2} This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. {3} This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, {4} for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. {5} Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. {6} This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

 Today we are reminded again that Easter impacts all of life for us as God’s people. We now have every reason to live with hope and confidence every day as we live out our lives here on earth. In fact our whole approach to life is surely different for us as Christians, for we are now living in the face of victory. Because of Christ and his victory over sin and death, we can now have love for God and one another. We can confidently give of ourselves for the benefit of others, because we know that forgiveness of sins and eternal life is now guaranteed.

This message is vitally important for us as we are constantly encouraged to face life focussed on ourselves and what we want out of life. Sadly even within ‘christian’ circles this same approach and thinking has taken precedence. The pressure is on us to perform and experience, so that we can be truly Christian. The results of this are becoming clearer and clearer as we go on. Numbers in churches are either dropping as people find that they and the churches can not live up to what is proclaimed; or others are becoming increasingly self-righteous and judgmental. With the focus on me and how I must live in order to be ‘Christian’, then we face not just a struggle in this life, but there is no certainty of the next. There is no guarantee of victory!

 In this regard, take careful note of how passages such as this, that have a great deal to say about love; hear how so many twist and turn this to a requirement that we have to perform: something we have to do if we are to be Christian. Again and again we hear that, ‘doctrine is not important; but it is love that counts’. ‘It is love that will overcome the world’. ‘Victory will come by us being more loving’ and more. It sounds good; but this is not the message that is given here and in the rest of the Scriptures. This is turning the Gospel into another law.

 No; our text here tells us that it is faith that is the victory that has overcome the world. It is faith that turns our world upside down. It is faith that enables us to go forward with confidence and certainty: no matter what it is that we are facing in life. Why? Because faith assures us that the victory has already been won for us. Faith simply trusts that what God has said and done for us through Jesus Christ, is what has given us the victory that is ours; even now as we live in the midst of difficulties and tragedies.

 But how do we know? How can we be so sure? Do we have the faith that is required? John here again assures us that we can say yes to these questions of ours. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. It is not up to us. Jesus has already won the victory through his death and resurrection. From Jesus’ baptism through to his death and resurrection we have all that is necessary for our salvation. There we come to know that here in Jesus Christ we have God himself come into our world. This is God’s very own Son come in love to do all that is needed for us to be forgiven and accepted once again as his children.

 So, who is it that overcomes the world? Jesus Christ has done it all for us. All we are commanded to do is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. As we trust that this is the case then we are assured that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God. Knowing that he is totally committed to us and to our welfare means that we can go forward with certainty and confidence: the victory is already won for us.

 Because we are now born of God we now surely love God and others around us. In fact here we are firstly reminded that the most valuable way for us to love others is to first love God and carry out his commands. Surely because of what he has done for us through Jesus Christ, we will want to now be completely devoted to him. He will be the one who is all important in our lives. What love he has for us! What an amazing and great God we have here! How incomprehensible and ingenious is his salvation. Through the cross - through death, he brings life in all its fullness. Surely we cannot help but to love him with all our being.  Instead of focussing on ourselves and what we want, we will look first and foremost to God and what he wants.

 This appreciation of God for who he is and what he has done for us will then be encompassed be these following words. This is love for God: to obey his commands. Because God is truly Lord, we will then seek to live and be the people that he wants us to be as we live out our lives every day. We will want to heed all that he has to say to us in his word. We will obey his commands, instead of wanting to do our own thing and to change his word to suit ourselves. We will seek to follow his command to love Him and our neighbour. We will take up his call for us to share his love with the people that we come into contact with. We will not do this because we have to; but simply because that is what our Lord has now created us anew to live and do. And he promises to help us and work in us the ability to do so.

 Again our faith: our trust in Christ is the best way for us to help the people around us. We therefore can and must keep pointing again and again to Christ; because there is our victory. That is the best thing we can ever do for one another. So as we keep focussing all our attention on Christ and his death on the cross we are both living in the victory and proclaiming that victory to the world. Greater love has no one than this.

That is why the Word and the Sacraments are so important for us, and how we can both live in the victory and proclaim that victory to the world around us. In baptism we are joined to Christ and his death and resurrection. There we died with Christ and were raised again by him to a new and everlasting life. There God himself has joined us to this victory of his, and there he keeps reminding us to look back to and go back to each day of our life. For there we are clearly telling ourselves and the world that God has saved us and brought us into his kingdom.

Then week by week he calls us forward to the Altar Rail so that again he can remind us and the world around us of the victory that has been won for us through Jesus death on the cross. There he gives us his love – his very body and blood which he shed for us and for our salvation. Now we can again be sure that we are forgiven and that eternal life is ours. It is here again that the focus is clearly on Christ and what he gives and does for us so that we can be sure that the victory is ours. There we proclaim the Lord’s death, until he comes again in his glory.

 Then daily as we go back to the Word we again and again hear and give all credit to God and what he has done for us through Jesus; and then of the things that we need to know in order to live as his people in the world. As we take his Word as his Word, we again are telling the world that it is God and what he has to say that is all important for us. Instead of trying to change it and discredit it, we will uphold it as God’s truth to us, and thereby proclaim God’s victory over all, for us all. This is how we know that we love the children of God. This is how we truly are loving toward our neighbour.

From there we will naturally follow on to show and extend God’s love to those around us in all kinds of other ways as well. We can now seek to do what is best for others instead of simply for ourselves, in whatever way is good for the people we are dealing with. Because of the victory that is ours we have no need to worry that we will somehow go short ourselves, or that we will somehow miss out. Christ has won the victory and he has extended that to us; and no one and nothing can take that away from us. 

Now surely his commands are not burdensome. Remember again everyone born of God overcomes the world. Eternal life is ours guaranteed, so we lose nothing. So each day we can live in the face of victory with confidence and certainty. We can believe it and live it. For Jesus Christ alone and his death and resurrection is our guarantee that this is so. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

So let us continue to give all glory and honour to our great God Father, Son and Holy Spirit: For to him alone belongs all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN

 Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

John 15:5-8.                Remaining in Jesus???                                                6/5/12

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. {6} If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. {7} If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. {8} This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Also with reference to 1 John 4.

 Here this morning we are reminded of the importance of remaining in Jesus and he remaining in us. If we are to bear fruit and be ‘successful’ in our Christian life, this is essential. In our present context today this is as vital as it was way back in the early days of the Church; for we are facing the same threats as did the people that John was writing to in his letter.

 More and more I am becoming absolutely amazed at how many ‘Christians’ are taking on board a little bit of this and a little bit of that, when it comes to their spiritual lives. We are taking ‘on board a whole variety of different thinking, that are often in conflict which each other when we get down to the basics; and we are building our lives around it. My truth and every other ‘truth’ is seen as equally valid and it is just a matter of picking and choosing what we believe is right for us and what suites us. And we think that this is right and good. Believe me; the only one who thinks that this is valid and good is Satan himself.

 In this regard, then, I believe that we in the Christian Church today are facing one of the most dangerous eras in the whole of Christendom. With access to so much, and such a variety of thinking, we are in danger of destroying ourselves. We are making ourselves the determiner of what it good and right to believe and hold as truth. We are accepting every ‘spirit’ as holding and imparting some good. But we need to recognise that this is just not so. There is a True and Ultimate Truth that is over and above every other ‘truth.’

But then the questions arise, as to who and what is this ultimate Truth? What are we to do with all of these other views that state that they are right and good? Which is right and which is not?  How much can we listen to and take in? Do we take the best of this and the best of that and put it all together? Or do we do what so many are doing today, and throwing their hands up in the air and their brains out of gear, giving up on it all, being prepared to take their chances. What do we do?

 Here let us begin by listening to what John has to say in: (1 John 4:1-3)  Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. {2} This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, {3} but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

 Then a little further on: {14} And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. {15} If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. {16} And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.

{10} This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. {11} Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Here then we have some very good advice for us, to give us a clear, simple and good way for us to approach this matter. There are three key points that we need to keep in mind: whether we are questioning what we are hearing and what is being pushed our way, or if we are seeking to live and speak in a responsible way in the midst of all of this confusion. Three simple checks to keep in mind.

1.             There is a clear need for acknowledgement that Jesus is the Son of God who came into our world as a human being to die for the sin and lostness of mankind.

2.             A willingness to listen to and base everything on what God has to say to us in his Word – the Bible.
3.             There needs to be love for one another with the love that comes from God.

Let us now consider the first. Acknowledgement of Jesus Christ.

The first thing we always need to ask ourselves: is what is being said and done pointing us to and helping us to see Jesus as the Son of God who came into our world as a human being to die on the cross for the sin of mankind. In other words is it pointing us to Jesus Christ, the sin of humanity and our need for the forgiveness that he has extended through his death, or is it focussing on something else.

Now in many cases there is no recognition of Jesus at all. And in fact he is ‘poo hooed.’ So straight away we know that we need to be careful. We recognise immediately that they are coming from a completely different basis and are heading in another direction all together. Others again speak of Jesus: perhaps as a great teacher or a good example for us to follow; or that he is some kind of spiritual being who can impart good feelings and some inner power, but nothing of his death on the cross for the sin of humanity. Jesus name is used merely to give credibility to some other focus such as how we should live in order to be blessed, or how we might get in touch with our inner feelings and being.

In most religious discussions and thought these days the focus is here on one-self: on me and my feelings, goodness and even what I think is right. What we say, do, think, feel and experience is what is important. There we have the age old sin of humanity rearing its head once again.

The importance of Jesus and his death on the cross is pushed aside and ignored. Yet it is precisely there that we can see and know the very heart of God himself. There in Jesus, death and resurrection we can see that the Bible is true to its word and can be trusted fully.

That of course leads us to the second point: the importance of the Word of God for our direction and guidance as to what is right and wrong. This too is absolutely critical today as well, because there are many who say they are ‘christians’ but are not willing to listen to and be guided by the Scriptures. We too often want to pick and choose what suites us: adding to or changing what is written to fit our own thinking or agenda. So again we start from the point; this is what I believe, and then we seek to make God’s Word fit into that thinking. So we end up where so many are at today; so far from the truth that they are not even christian any more.

We need to hold to God’s Word as just that, God’s Word in all its truth and purity. All of it. No matter what we are listening to, or speaking, we need to continually check back to see if it is what God is really saying, or is it a perversion of the truth. Most importantly we need to ensure that it seeks to focus us on and lead us to Jesus Christ and the absolute necessity of his death on the cross for us and for our salvation.

All the while we need to keep in mind the third point. The love of one another with that love that comes from God. How often don’t we see in any dispute, and in the promotion of more radical ideas, that love for one another is the first thing that goes by the wayside. Or we find that some self-proclaiming guru finally is seen for what he really was on about: seeking to get rich and powerful without any real concern for the people he is dealing with. Instead of serving others, so often they are self-serving. This is another way that we can identify whether the voice we are hearing is from God or not. If there is no love in action; then we need to walk with caution.

 For our part we need to ensure that we are always guided by the love of God. He is the one who determines what loves is and is the one who enables us to do what is needed for the benefit of God and others. So it is not primary our actions that are the focus But God and what he wants worked in and through us. Here we are called to love; even if we receive nothing in return: to love even if it hurts: to love simply for the benefit of the other person: to give of ourselves so that the other person may gain life. That is the love that God has extended to us through Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.

 
To do that we need to remain in Christ and he in us. If we remain in him and his word remains in us then we will be assured that we are safe and secure. As we look to and place our trust solely in Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for us, as the Bible clearly points out to us; then we can stand firm and at the same time love as we are loved. As we in this way remain in Jesus, we will then also bear much fruit, showing ourselves to be his disciples.  Not only will we not be lead astray, or lead others astray, but we will be enabled to point others to our only source of life and salvation – Jesus Christ. To him alone, be glory and honour now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish