John 6:1-21                         What’s all going on here???                                        26/7/15

¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). ¹¹ Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

¹² When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” ¹³ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

¹⁴ After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” ¹⁵ Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

¹⁶ When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, ¹⁷ where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. ¹⁸ A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. ¹⁹ When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. ²⁰ But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” ²¹ Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

This reading here today speaks of things happening that are way beyond what any reasonable person can accept. This is all impossible! Surely it is fantasy! Surely this cannot be accepted in our sceptical world today. Surely a person cannot walk on water; or feed so many with so little and then to finish up with far more than they started with. This has to be just a great story.

Yet, despite the impossible nature of these things, we are called on to believe that they really happened and to live in light of it.  This is for real and it is important for us today.  There is a lot in this that we today need to consider once again. This speaks a powerful word to a church and world that has lost its way. So we need to ask the question: What’s all going on here?

The first thing that we need to think about is the fact that so many people were searching for answers; for someone to fix things and make things right for them. And they were looking for hope. Crowds of them were prepared to go out of their way to receive these things when they catch a glimpse of the possibility that here in Jesus this might be so. They knew things were not right and good and so were searching for what they knew deep down in their heart should be there for them.

For us today not a lot has changed. People are still looking for answers, a better life, and for hope. The only difference is that they have given up on Jesus to provide these things. Sadly the church today all too often has failed to stand boldly and confidently on the truthfulness of God’s Word. They have twisted it to accommodate the thinking of a self-centred society. Christianity has become all about us and what we want it to be.

So the society around us no longer sees Christianity as being about the truth, power and love of God. They see the atrocities and sinfulness of Christians, but not the forgiveness, power and restoration to God’s family. They do not see the centrality of Jesus and his death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. So the wonder and power of Jesus death and resurrection is not seen.

Instead they see people who want to make Jesus their king by force. In other words, as I said a few moments ago, they want a Jesus who fits into their way of thinking, instead of the other way around.  Back in Jesus day, they wanted a king who could feed them without them having to lift a finger: heal them when they got sick or disabled; and who would hopefully drive out the Romans so that they could live and do their own thing.

So also today, too often, when people look at Christians they see people who are trying to use Jesus to suit their own ends. Is it any wonder then that they are not interested or even intrigued by the Christian message? They see Christianity as being phoney.

In our reading we hear that Jesus withdrew from the people when he saw what they were wanting to do, by making him their king. We could well ask, is the same thing happening today?  Has Jesus withdrawn from the church because they are trying to use him for their own ends? Serious questions!

However, to his own disciples he goes on and shows even great miracles. Here in this reading his disciples are out on the lake, going to the other side, when suddenly they see Jesus coming walking on the water. We are told that they were frightened. Who wouldn’t be? This is really weird.

For them and for many others; Here God himself is at work, big time. There is no other explanation. But still that question, I am sure, would continue to be, what is going on here? What is all of these impossible things happening mean?  Everyone is seeing these miraculous things and are drawn to him. But why? What is going on?

Yes sure, God is at work here; and he seems to be making that point clearly and powerfully with all his miracles. Gradually however, the disciples came to a clearer understanding that here was the Messiah; the one promised again and again throughout the Old Testament.  Here God was coming to rule his people in a way that has never been before.

Here now in Jesus this is all being fulfilled. Here in Jesus God has come to rule his people with power, truth and hope. But not in the way the world understands or wants; but needs. Here in his miracles he is establishing his credentials, so that when the important things happen, they might be accepted.

But at this point he is seeking to leave no one in doubt as to the fact that here God has come to do some very important things for his people for all time.  So sit up and take notice! Now it is time to take God and what he has to say and do seriously. God is here in all his power and glory; and is seeking to do what is necessary in order to give people what they need.

At the same time God presence is seeking to get people to see that they are far from being the people that God would have them be. Jesus continually in the midst of the miracles was pointing out that we are not doing or able to do what is necessary for us to be in God’s presence. We all are sinners who fall far short of what is required. So our only hope is to look to and believe in this one who has come from God.

Here we also need to remember that the Promised Messiah was connected to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is why he walked away from letting them make him king. He had for more important things to do yet before he becomes King. Besides the kingship that he has in mind is far greater and broader than what the people wanted.

To be Lord and King he had to go to the cross and die. It is only there that he could be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Only there could humanity look in order to be able to live and have hope. Only there could humanity receive the forgiveness and help that they needed. Only from there would he be able to truly rule over his people with justice and mercy.

But how could we look to this one and know that this is God doing what was necessary for our salvation. Surely God overcoming evil and death would have to be with power and a great show of God Almighty’s strength. But no, it was by giving his life that we might live. It was by his death that he could overcome the devil’s power over us.

But how can we be sure that this was not just another of the many crack-pots that have died for the cause of establishing some contrived kingdom? Well the miracles that Jesus performed were all signs pointing to the fact that here God has come. So here it was God who died on the cross. Here it was God who was taking the punishment that you and I deserve. Here is what God sees as absolutely important for us as human beings.

But then just to seal it completely, he raises his Son Jesus back to life and seats him at his right side. Yes he most definitely is God come to be Lord and Saviour for us all. Here is the proof that Jesus was God come to establish God kingdom for you and me and all of humanity.

This is what is all going on here? Here God is establishing his credentials for us all. Here we can know for sure that God has the power, salvation and hope for us all that we need, which is far more than we know or could have thought possible. Now we can look to Jesus and take everything that he has said and done, as for real. Now we have one that we can live under as king, knowing that he has our good in mind, in everything.

Yes he may not give us what we think we need, but he will give us what is good for us: even if it may not seem so at the time. But we know that he has the power to do the impossible. We know that everything he has given to us in his word –the Bible, is true and for our good. We know that what he says about our sinfulness is true, and we can acknowledge it. But we know most importantly that through his death on the cross and his resurrection that we have forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.

So now we can look to him with complete confident and accept everything that he has to say and do in our lives as for real and for our good. We can trust him, knowing that he is the Way and the Truth and the Life. To him then be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Jeremiah 23:1-6.               The Lord is my Shepherd              in tough times                  19/7/15

¹“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. ² Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the Lord. ³ “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. ⁴ I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord.

⁵ “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
    “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
    and do what is just and right in the land.
⁶ In his days Judah will be saved
    and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
    The Lord Our Righteous Saviour.

“The days are coming” and in fact are already here. The Good Shepherd has come. So we can have confidence as we face the future in an uncertain and deceptive world. As we look to him; trust him; and follow him we are able to go forward without fear and trembling.

Sure we are living at a time when our earthly shepherds are letting us down badly. In almost every aspect of life it seems that we are being let down. In church and state we do not find the leadership that is needed. Media, education, politics and science is all failing to give the care and direction needed. Even we as Individuals have lost our way and are simply focussing on self and selfish ideals. Again we surrounded by a society that seems to have lost its way and destined for troubled times ahead.

Yes we do have a lot of good all around us, and we are a ’lucky country’ to have all that we have. But we are seriously lacking in the leadership we are given and the direction that we are heading. Now that should not surprise us, for a club, church or nation is only as good as its leaders. And the leaders today are only representative of the people that they are leading.

Even in the church we are facing difficult and troubling times. The approach of many to God’s Word has shifted from taking it seriously as God’s inspired and inerrant word, to something that can be changed and altered to suit the culture of the day – to suit what ‘I’ think and want it to be.  In the western world we are now beginning to see the catastrophic result of this. As well, God’s word is clear about what happens when we do.

In the face of all of this, God’s Word, both here and throughout is clear and decisive. Leaders and peoples who do not take God and his word seriously will face harsh judgment. Those who seek to lead people away from God and his clear word will be punished. Also the nations and peoples will face difficult and troubling times.

However, even now we have God’s assurance and promise that he will still take care of those who remain faithful.  He will not, and has not, left those of us who look to and trust in him, without a shepherd.  He says: “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number.  I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord.

God will continue to lead and guide his people even if many have gone astray and been led astray. Even when it gets to the point that God has to bring destruction on his nation, as he did to Israel when he had them taken off to Babylon, He is still there at work for the good of his faithful people. Even before the event happens he makes this promise to those who continue to look to and trust him.

We know that in the case of Israel, when they got to Babylon and came to their senses and remembered what the prophets had continually been saying, a good number of them repented. Then not too many years later God enabled them to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. So God was true to his promises. His faithful people were returned and again for a period of time had faithful shepherds over them.

But here at the same time he is making an even greater promise to and for his faithful people, both back then, as well as for us today. No matter how bad things get and difficult the future may seem he gives this promise for his faithful people. And this promise is a reality for here and now.

We already have a faithful and true Shepherd to lead and guide us now, in light of his promise way back then.  So we no longer need to be afraid or terrified about what the future might be for us. Even if the church as we know it, or even our nation, faces very difficult times, we know that we have a Shepherd with us to guide us through.

But even if it does not come to that drastic point, and we pray that it doesn’t, we still have this Shepherd with us here and now. We still have one we can follow and that we can point others to and pray that they will all come under his leadership. He alone is the one who can get us through all of this. And he is the one who ensures us already that all those who are connected to him will have a great future, here and in eternity.

Remember what we were told in this reading that we have before us.

 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,  “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.  In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called:  The Lord Our Righteous Saviour.

Now of course we know who that is referring to: Jesus Christ. This is the Shepherd that God promised to come and lead his people in the right and good way. When we do not reject him and turn our back on him we find that he leads us wisely through the rough and tumble of life.

Now particularly at this time we need recognise and take seriously the fact that he knows what is just and right. That being the case we will allow his Word the Bible to be our guide in all the issues at hand. Even and especially when it goes against our culture and popular thinking of the day, we will follow it closely instead of bending and changing. Our Shepherd knows what is right so we will stick to what he says.

It is very interesting as to the name that he is given here: The Lord Our Righteous Saviour. He is Lord. Therefore he is God Almighty himself. He is the Creator and Supreme Being over all. So he is not someone that we can manipulate or ignore or think that we can use for our own whims and benefit. He is Lord over all, and knows what is good for all, for all time.

But he is also Righteous. He is holy; perfect; without sin; not able to accept anything that is sinful. So he is not one who bends and wavers to suit the whims of a sinful humanity. Nothing less than adherence to his perfect holy Word is acceptable.

However on the other hand that means that as we look to and follow him and his Word we that which is able us to see through any and every situation that is before us. We have something good and reliable to live by as we face all kinds of thinking that is seeking to be imposed on us from around about us. We are able to know what is right and wrong. And we are able to see that our sinful human nature will always get it wrong. So we ever want to stay close to this one who is truly righteous.

But then comes the most significant aspect to his name and being: he is Saviour. Thank goodness that he is one who has come into our midst as Saviour and not just as Lord and Righteous. All of us fall far short of what God expects of us, and justly deserve his punishment. However this Saviour takes that punishment on himself so that all may be saved. His love was such that he came into our world to give forgiveness, hope and a positive future.

So we now have one that we can fully submit to and follow. Here we have a Shepherd who truly has our best interests at heart. Even when we fail, we now know that we can repent: that is turn back to this one, and know that he forgives us and helps us to live new and better lives.

Therefore we can truly trust this Shepherd to lead and guide us through troubled and difficult times. As we remain under his watchful care we know that we have a Shepherd who is Lord over all and so will help us to live in safety. We also know that as the Righteous one he knows what is right and good, so we can look to him and follow what he has to say to us in his Word the Bible. And as Saviour we know that he has done everything necessary for us to be saved from the troubles and sin of this world and our own lives.

So we can go forward boldly and confidently: Holding firmly to him and his guidance, rather than giving way to shepherds who are dividing and scattering. The Lord Our Righteous Saviour is the Good Shepherd that we need to look to, trust and follow, in the difficult times ahead. To him be all glory and honour, now and always. Amen.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Amos 7:7-15.                      Straight up and down??                                                12/7/15

(7)  This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. {8} And the LORD asked me, "What do you see, Amos?" "A plumb line," I replied. Then the Lord said, "Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer. {9} "The high places of Isaac will be destroyed and the sanctuaries of Israel will be ruined; with my sword I will rise against the house of Jeroboam." {10} Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel: "Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words. {11} For this is what Amos is saying: "'Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land.'" {12} Then Amaziah said to Amos, "Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. {13} Don't prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king's sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom." {14} Amos answered Amaziah, "I was neither a prophet nor a prophet's son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. {15} But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'

What do you see? What have I got here? A piece of string with a weight at the bottom. Now, what is that all about you might say? What has this got to do with us here today? Well, with this little illustration here, God is making a very serious point. And it is not just something that was for Amos and those of his day. God’s standards are just as relevant to us here in the twenty first century. In fact this message is very real for us here in this country at this time, as well as for me as your pastor.

Now the plumb line was the spirit-level of that day and for much of history. It was the device they used to ensure that the building they were erecting was straight up and down. If not they would pull the building down and start again. The reasons of course are quite obvious: not only do you have a shoddy looking building if its walls are not straight up and down; but can you imagine if you are building a skyscraper today, and at the low levels you are not truly upright, when you get up to high levels you are way off and the building becomes dangerous. So the plumb line and its modern equivalents are very important in the construction industry. Anything less than straight up and down is not acceptable.

Now we can understand the importance of this exactness when it comes to the building industry and the like. In fact if we were the owner/ investor we would be very particular in this regard. We know and expect our buildings to be straight up and down.

Yet I am sure that we all will ‘buck’ when we hear God’s application of this illustration here this morning. How dare he be so critical and exacting when it comes to you and me? In this regard we want to be like Herod’s wife in the Gospel reading, and the church leaders here in this reading. We not only don’t want to hear this message, but we want to get rid of those who might make life uncomfortable by pointing out that we are crooked.

Remember though, that here it is God who is saying that he is holding his ‘plumb line’ up against his people. He is checking to see if we are ‘straight up and down.’ Through his spokesmen he is holding up his plumb line against us and calling us to the truth. Are we living in accord with him and his Word? Are we ‘fair dinkum’? Or are we so far off, that we have to be destroyed? Are we so bent and crooked that we are turned in on ourselves and don’t want to even know that we are in trouble? Are we too, prepared to ‘shoot the messenger’ rather than heed the message? This is serious stuff!

But surely it is not that bad, you might say. Surely that is the extremes. Surely that is not for us today. Surely we, and I in particular as pastor, must focus on the positives. Surely it is not good to speak out against other people’s choices and to decry that which is popular thinking. We are to be open and tolerant. We are to speak encouragingly and please people if we are going to draw them into the Church. We surely are to bend and be all things to all people if we are going to be effective: we need to fit God’s message into the prevailing culture of the time. Yet, what is God saying here: Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people... ; and a little further on: I will spare them no longer.

His rules; his Word; his standards of right and wrong, are the criteria that is being held up in our midst. Here there is no closing a blind eye to shonky practices, or ‘greasing of a few palms’; or having the right positions or knowing the right people; or just being as good as the next bloke. Here there is no twisting God’s Word so that we can fit our church practices into the culture of the day. The line is set, straight up and down.

Yes, that is exactly it; God has set down what is good and right and helpful for us and for our relationship with him; and for our church and what he expects of it; and more and more we are found wanting. It is no longer God and his Word that is our guide to what is good and right, but our culture and our own sinful desires. None of us can stand straight and tall. Without God’s help we are in big trouble.

But that is where the greatest tragedy of all comes. Not only do we not line up, but we have become so self-centred and self orientated that we will not accept that we are sinners to any great extent. The flow on from that is that we do not want to think too much about Jesus and his death on the cross – we do not want the help that is extended to us, for that entails accepting the reality that we do not measure up.

Instead of receiving and living in light of the fact that Jesus has died as punishment for our sin and that he wants to now freely adopt us into his family, as the second reading reminded us of. Instead we still want to live to our own glory and by our own rules. We want to put all the emphasis on ourselves and our own desires and feelings, rather than on him who has saved us. Even in our worship we place all the emphasis on what we do for God and feel about him, rather than on what he has done and does for us. We still want to be the centre of it all.

No, we don’t want God’s help: we don’t want him to straighten us out. We want God to let us go on by and for ourselves. Even in our ‘christianity’ we want to do it our way. We just want him to give us what we want, when we want it.

So all along it would seem that we are seeking to build our own tower. However because we are sinful human beings we can never do it the way that it should be: it will never be straight up and down. In fact it gets to the point that it will crumble. The selfish, self-centred life needs to be demolished, because we can not stand up to God’s plumb line.

The only hope that we have: the only way that we can stand the test, is that we cling to Christ. Only as we hide ourselves in Christ that we can stand. He is the only one who is upright and straight, and he has made it possible for us to stand in his righteousness through his death on the cross and his resurrection. In our baptism he clothes us with himself so that we can now be sons and daughters of God. Now day by day we constantly look to him and trust in him alone. There in Jesus we are enabled to stand straight up and down: that we can go forward with confidence and certainty.

So now Jesus becomes the centre and basis of our lives. He and what he says in his Word becomes what is all important for us. His word and his truth is what we live by and speak; even if it makes us unpopular and means we loose our head. Nothing is to be compromised, even if it means we are called to leave the country. God is all important not what I think or feel. Divine Service week by week is when we gather in his presence so that he can keep us in his shadow: his righteousness, so that we can maintain the upright stance. Here alone we stand: surely we can do no other. Tough as that might be.

So we join with Paul in our second reading from Ephesians 1:3-14.   Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. {4} For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love {5} he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- {6} to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. {7} In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace {8} that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. {9} And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, {10} to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. {11} In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, {12} in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. {13} And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, {14} who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.

Straight up and down. In Christ the plumb line measures true. To him then be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

2 Corinthians 12:2-10.                     Power in weakness                                         5/7/15

(2 Cor 12:7-10)  To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. {8} Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. {9} But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. {10} That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

(Ezek 2:3-5)  He said: "Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. {4} The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says.' {5} And whether they listen or fail to listen--for they are a rebellious house--they will know that a prophet has been among them.

(Mark 6:1-4)  Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. {2} When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! {3} Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. {4} Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honour."

This morning we have before us in these three readings a very powerful message for us here in this country, this parish and for me in particular. I myself have squirmed all week as I have read and re-read these passages in preparation for today. These are hard words for me and for us.

The Old Testament reading speaks of Ezekiel being called as God’s prophet to speak his word to a people who will not listen, and in the Gospel reading Jesus is rejected by his own people. Whilst in the other reading Paul has to put up with his ‘thorn in the flesh; despite the fact that he had been caught up into heaven itself.

What are we to make of this? What is God’s message to us here today?  There is no doubting the fact that it is not an easy time to speak out the Christian faith. We are living in a culture that does not want to listen to God and his Word. Even in the church there are many attempts to disregard what God has clearly said to us in his Word. More and more we a seeing a huge divide in our thinking as to what the Christian faith is all about. So it is not an easy time to speak up with regard to what God has given us clearly in his Word.

But by in large that is our calling. Not just me as pastor, but also you as God’s people are sent out to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn.

But he sends us out never the less. Each one of us is called to go out to those we have contact: Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says.' And whether they listen or fail to listen--for they are a rebellious house--they will know that a prophet has been among them. Now that is a real challenge. But it is an important one. And it is God’s call to all of us. Whether we think we have the abilities or not; that is the task.

But at the same time the task is simple: to say to the people; ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says. This is what the Bible says. This is what God’s Word says. So it is not what you and I think, or what our society says, but what God himself says: Simply, gently but confidently.  Remember God’s Word is clear and true and is the message and power that we all need in our lives.

A few verses on from there he says; ‘(Ezek 3:17-18)  "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.”

It is not up to us to convince them and change them.  Just tell them simply what God himself tell us in the bible. The Holy Spirit will do the rest. Again we have God’s promises that his word will not come back empty, but will achieve what he sent it out to do. Now that does not always mean that these people will all be brought to salvation. But they will have heard the message and will not be able to make excuses on Judgement Day. Also when they have heard God’s Word we can be sure that the Holy Spirit will use that Word to prick their consciences again and again.

Here remember that Ezekiel was not listened to, as was Isaiah and Jeremiah. In fact they preached for years and years without any change in people’s lives. In fact it was only when they were taken into exile in Babylon that the message finally sank in. Only then did they finally realize that this is what these prophets were saying for years would happen if they did not repent.  And we know that many did at that point and so they were restored back to Jerusalem.

Also remember that in our Gospel reading we were told that Jesus himself was not listened to and heeded; and that people were offended by him and his message and even the fact that he performed miracles. So we are in good company. But the call still is: to say to the people; ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.

Here also remember that Paul too had his weaknesses – his thorn in the flesh – whatever that was – it is possible that it was very poor eyesight. Three times he pleaded with the Lord to take it away from him. But God said to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Paul too had his struggles but is told to get on with the job despite whatever his problem was.

So he says: Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Here I too could boast of great happenings and of lives changed, and I would not be a fool because I would be speaking the truth. But I too will refrain from doing so because I do not want anyone to get the wrong idea, as was Paul. So I will boast not of those things, but of my weaknesses. So that you can see that anything good that occurs is not of me, but of God almighty himself. Time and time again the greatest events in my ministry have also been my very worst: they have been far from a reasonable effort on my part or it has from a human perspective seemed a disaster at the time; but by the grace of God the greatest good has come of it.

But my point is that God works in and through us despite our weaknesses. All we are called to do is to get on with what God has called us to do. No doubt we won’t always do that very well; and no doubt we won’t always reach to the level that some may want or need to hear. No doubt many people will not listen or want to hear what we have to say; but we must say it anyway.

Here we need to also consider what Paul had to say to Timothy. (2 Tim 4:3-5)  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

However I do believe that where people are open to listen, God will speak to them, through that message, despite our weaknesses. Time and time again people have in the past been helped and grown through our speaking and caring. Not because of us, but because it is God’s word and because his Spirit is there at work.

That word that the Spirit works through is God’s Word, the bible – in its entirety.

The Sovereign Lord wants people to hear his simple message of Law and Gospel, so that people can have that certainty of knowing that despite the fact that we are sinners, God loves us and forgives us for Jesus sake, and assures us of eternal life in heaven.

So we won’t shy away from telling people how God expects his people to live; and that we constantly fall short of those expectations. We will warn people about the dangers of approaching God’s Word with the attitude: ‘Did God really say?’ When we depart from God’s ways we will reap troubles, hardship and death on ourselves.

However we will also point out that as a result of our sin, God sought to provide a way out for us. So he sent his Son into our world as a human being so that he could be the sacrifice which takes our sin away. Jesus took the punishment we deserve for our sin on himself so that God might forgive us and accept us back into his family for all eternity.

Yes this is God’s call to all of us: say to the people; ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says. This is what needs to be said whether people want to listen or not. This is what we need to say whether we have our weakness or thorns in the flesh; for God says: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Then may all glory and honour go to our great God Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze

Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish