Sermon in Phoenix 18.08.2007

May the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the love of God our Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us now and forever. Amen.

Let us quieten our hearts this evening in opening prayer and thanksgiving. Father, holy and righteous God, our beloved Heavenly Father, we, your children this evening, pause with hearts of thankfulness and praise for this day of grace that you have granted to us as your children. Today, we have been reminded again of your great love for us, your children, and that you have provided for us our daily and temporal needs. That you have given to us this country in which to live, a free country where we can gather together even this evening around your holy and precious word.

But even more than this, dear Father, today, you have reminded us that we are yet your children. And that you have given to us this gift of faith, traveling with the heart of faith toward our heavenly destination, eternal life one day with you and your Son in heaven. We wish, dear Father, to thank you for this gift of faith. It is not a gift that you've given to all but have reserved it for your children, of whom this evening we are named.

So as we gather around your holy word this evening, dear Father, we pray for your service blessing, that you would be with us through your Holy Spirit, enlightening us according to thy will, feeding us with those crumbs of grace which fall. And we pray that you would give words to your servants to speak according to thy will. That you would give to each of us ears to hear. But even more importantly, dear Father, that you would give to each of us a heart of faith to believe that word which is spoken. For we know it is this faith, this gift from your hand, that will carry us to eternal life one day in heaven.

We also this evening, dear Father, pray on behalf of loved ones not with us, both those ones who are believing, wherever they may be gathered, protect them in their place of watching. Amen.

Are not believing, those prodigal sons and daughters, loved ones who have left this precious kingdom on that broad way that leads to eternal damnation, would it be, dear Father, that you would allow such a one to return?

Father, we also this evening remember our servicemen and women serving us in our country. Would you, dear Father, also protect them, give them a source of comfort and strength, grant to them that comfortable place of watching, and strengthen them in their faith as they serve us in our needs as well.

And finally, dear Father, we yet enclose our hearts in that prayer that your Son himself taught, saying, Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

For our mutual study of God's word this evening, with that prayer of heart that the Heavenly Father would bless us with his word, I will read a few verses from the 24th chapter of Genesis, verses 64 through 67. And the words are as follows in Jesus' name:

"And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master. Therefore she took a veil and covered herself, and the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. And Isaac was comforted after his mother's death." Amen.

Before we examine, study, this word of God, I with joy bring you, brothers and sisters, here in Phoenix, many loving greetings from home there in Colorado, where we just returned to from two weeks at confirmation on the West Coast last weekend. Special greetings from my wife Maggie and our children, but also those brothers and sisters who knew we were coming also asked that their greetings would be sent here to you, brothers and sisters. But also greetings from that camp on the West Coast. There were a few of your congregation members that were there with us: Larry Miaho, I don't see him here this evening; Casey Johnson, a couple of our students there at that camp. And it was a very, very precious camp. We felt there the love and unity of the Spirit of God. And we also felt that the students that came to that camp came with that hope in their hearts that God would bless those days together. And we rejoiced at the end of that camp that God did bless those days there. And he gave those necessary words of instruction for those times. And he gave into the hearts of those children there the desire to hear of the teaching and instruction of God's word.

They also were able to enjoy there at camp a few very special blessings that God gave. One was our brother Larry Martin. He was a very special person. Many of you who know, perhaps from the Seattle congregation, Larry, we know, is a very special child that God has granted into the kingdom. Larry is a Downs child. He's a very special gift that God has sent. He was a reminder to our young ones there, even of this matter, how God has created each of us according to his will.

The first thing that we're able to benefit from, which is taking our God's wisdom and our knowledge, is to be part of God. The person, are living in the San Diego area. Her father was born and raised in a believing home, a Lestadian home in Finland. But at some point in his life, he denied faith and went into the world and married a girl in Finland from the world. And they've been living now in California for three years. And they sent their daughter to that confirmation there on the West Coast.

It would be well, and I have thought of her many times of these last days. She left camp without the gift of faith in her heart. It was one evening where we had an opportunity to visit with her there. And she recognized the place where she was. She recognized that she wasn't acceptable in her condition to the Heavenly Father. She knew that she wasn't a believer. We offered her that gospel. But to this day, she is unable to believe of that gospel that was preached there. She felt as if it was somewhat hopeless when she returned from that confirmation camp to that small family there in San Diego with no believing influence around her, no believing mother or father, no believing brother or sister, no believing congregation in which to live, that there would be any hope for her if she was to believe.

It was very sad to see how she had come so close to the kingdom of God and how the preaching of the gospel was there for her, but yet how she was not able to believe. It brought home this matter very closely. That the call of God is a call that goes out in His time and in His place. He has given man a time of visitation in which they might hear of His word. And it is His hope that all would believe who we all see. And we also recognize that faith is not given to every man.

So it was very humbling there to experience this, that some of us have been granted that grace to believe and others are less fortunate. So even this evening, I personally, perhaps you also would include this dear young one in your thoughts and prayers that would God someday bring fruit to that seed that was planted in her heart there at camp. That would God someday allow her grace to believe.

This text that I read this evening is the end of the very lengthy chapter that gives us the story or the experience in the life of Isaac when God granted him a wife. Perhaps you thought this evening when I was reading this text, what is this text about? But I have thought of this portion of God's word, not only this portion, but many portions of scriptures that speak about the importance of marriage, the importance of rearing of children in our day.

There at camp, we were with those young people and it was evident from some of their lives that they came from difficult family situations and backgrounds. Not only was this Elisa from an unbelieving home, there were also students there at that camp. One young woman, one young man came from a home whose mother and father are not believing. This son is. His father left his mother for another man. He is living his life as a homosexual. His mother is not believing. And this boy from confirmation goes back to this life.

Another girl at camp came from a broken family whose father was unfaithful, began to live his life in the world with other women. There was another child at that camp whose parents are struggling mightily. There was another child at that camp whose parents are divorced. There were many of these kinds of situations that these young people came to camp with.

And I would say, brothers and sisters, that my heart aches when I think about the fact that I was born in a family of people who were not faithful to God. My heart ached for these 15-year-olds who came from such difficult situations. These 15-year-old young people, they want nothing else except that their family would be made whole. That their father and mother might believe. That their mother and father might live together as loving husband and wife.

We discussed around these matters there at camp through the lessons and discussions. And in our question box that evening, or many evenings, matters of marriage, of divorce, of the acceptance of children, were asked by these students. And it is felt to me that this is the place now where the enemy of the souls is directing his attacks very vigorously.

I don't think that the enemy of the souls liked at all this fact that the enemy of the souls is going to be the one who is going to be the master of that family. That in a happily believing family there is a father who is endeavoring. There is a mother who is faithfully served in that place where she has been called. And there in that happily believing family the Gospel is preached. Sins are forgiven in the name and precious blood of Jesus. And those children are reared in the nurture and admonition of the Lord as the Apostle says.

The enemy of the souls hates this institution. He knows that a strong family, a strong believing family constitutes and makes up a strong kingdom, a strong believing kingdom. And he knows that this then is a difficult place for him to battle. So he has placed stumbling blocks in the lives of all of us that we might stray from the teachings of God's word and the teachings of his kingdom.

Brothers and sisters, may it be that we would each as we endeavor in faith contemplate and study what it is even of these matters of marriage and these matters of family and these matters of raising of children. We know according to God's word in the beginning pages of the Bible it says that God made them male and female. And in this institution then he granted through marriage that a man would live and a woman, man and wife, would live together in a marriage.

We have, however, seen that in our day institution of marriage has been attacked and has been questioned. We have seen, sadly, or the other, or by both husband and wife, the enemy has been able to break the love in which those two had begun their marriage.

In God's kingdom, we teach that when a man leaves his mother and father, and a wife is given to him, then they cleave together as one flesh. And in the early pages of Scripture, it says that where God has joined together, let no man put asunder.

However, we have seen this question raised often, that is divorce okay? And when we look to God's Word, it says very clearly in Scriptures that divorce is not for the child of God. God ordained that these two would be married until death.

In Mark, this question arose. The Pharisees came to Jesus and asked Him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife, tempting him? And He answered, And He said unto them, What did Moses command you? And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement to put her away. And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart, but from the beginning of creation God made them male and female.

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they twain shall be one. And they twain shall be one flesh. So then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

The enemy of souls in the world, and even our own sinful flesh, would question these things. And we would request at certain points perhaps a reason, or an allowance for divorce. But brothers and sisters, this is one place that the enemy of souls has attempted to drive some wedges, and to break the love and unity even in God's kingdom.

He would place this thought into our minds and hearts at a time when, perhaps in a relationship, where the husband and wife might be having a difficult time. And I'm sure those of us this evening who have been married for any length of time, or even any short period of time, recognize this, that our marriages need work. It's just not automatic that we live in love and unity and harmony. But there is a lot of work that goes into a marriage.

Sometimes it even requires that we would seek some outside counseling to help get over a particular difficult problem in our marriage. But when we face those times of difficulty, don't allow the enemy of souls to be there as well, and to place these seeds of doubt, that did God really mean that me and my wife, or me and my husband, were to be married?

We can trust and rest assured that the marriage that God granted us would not have happened except that God allowed it to be. And it was God's intention for us that He gave us, He would want to give us a believing spouse.

And this also then goes to another point, another point of importance and a matter of consideration, one of which we spoke much of at Confirmation Camp. It seems funny that we would visit about marriage with those 15-year-olds. But it's never too early, I think, to discuss the importance of this institution in which God is ordained.

And that is first in this that we would seek a spouse from within God's kingdom. This has also been a place recently where the enemy of souls has been able to work among some of our young people. And not only our young people, but sometimes older ones have also been in the time of loneliness, perhaps, unwatchful, and looked to the outside of God's kingdom for a spouse.

But when we think back to this text which we read, if we were to read earlier in the accounts of Genesis, and it speaks of this matter when Abraham recognized that his son Isaac was without a wife. And it says that he had given him this son Isaac as an older man, and his wife Sarah was in her 90's when Isaac was born.

It says that Sarah had grown old, and Abraham realized that her son Isaac was without a wife. And so he called his servants together. And he told his servant that, go into my home country. And find there a wife for my son. For I have vowed and I have promised that I would not give or take, or my son would take a wife from among the Canaanite people.

They were living during this time with Abraham and Sarah, far away from their homeland. We remember that was one of Abraham's tests of his faith when he left his home country and to live far away. But he sent his servant back to his homeland to find a spouse for his son.

It's quite interesting when we read from that account that here the father sent a servant to find a wife for his son. I have jokingly told my daughters and my sons at times that maybe I would send, or I would choose a spouse for them. But they're not too willing to accept my proposal. They feel like they have a lot better handle on who they might marry than I would.

And perhaps it has been that way when I look now to my own family. How I see that God has blessed my children in many different ways than I would have chosen. But in all of my children's marriages, I rejoice that God has chosen such a perfect spouse for them. The choosing was not by chance. But God allowed it to be so.

But nonetheless, when Isaac was going to be given a wife, Abraham sent his servant to his homeland to find that wife for him. How important is it, brothers and sisters, that the wife or the husband would come from within God's kingdom?

What is the goal of each of us? Isn't it, brothers and sisters, that each one of us would attain eternal life in heaven one day? Isn't it this, that we would want to, one day, be called as one of God's own to that place of eternal rest?

And the journey there to heaven is a journey of faith. And we know from our own endeavor as well as through the teachings of scriptures that this endeavor of faith is often a difficult endeavor. We have felt the temptations of the world. And the world has drawn us close at times.

And I think especially to you, beloved young, He places the world as a very beautiful and enticing place that you might live. Live in those pleasures of sin and so on, away from the narrow way of faith. But our flesh is also drawn to those things. And so also is the enemy of souls there causing and teasing and tempting us.

And his soul's desire is this, that not one of us would attain eternal life. But rather would fall prey and leave this kingdom into the kingdom of this world. But it is the Heavenly Father's desire that we would be called as one of his own.

And so our Heavenly Father has blessed us in this endeavor of faith. And he often blesses us with a spouse. And this spouse, as we read in the pages of scriptures, is a helpmeet, as it was told to Adam. That I will create a helpmeet for you. And this helpmeet is such a one that is able to...

Our spouses often complement us. Where we are weak, they might be strong. Where we might be tempted, they would lead us away from those temptations. And where we would need help and forgiveness, they are ready and willing to preach that gospel to us.

And this is the beauty of the institution of a believing marriage, where we can use that escort whom God has given us. Mostly in the greatest measure of love, that dear husband or dear wife. Your sins are forgiven in the name of the precious blood of Jesus.

How comforting is that spoken word even when we can rest our head at the end of a weary day. You mothers, at the end of a busy day of rearing your children, you fathers, after facing the temptations and the onslaughts of the world and facing in your workplace, often the ridicule even of your own faith life, but to go to the rest at night to be able to preach that gospel.

This is a blessing, brothers and sisters, that God has given. And may we freely use this as a blessing in the name of Jesus. As a blessing and as a gift that God has given.

But also, may it be that God would, for you single people, grant this kind of heart, and this kind of heart of patience, that you would be patient, that God would bless you with a spouse in His time.

We often find that when we lose sight of this matter of patience, and we begin to force issues, whether it is as a youngster, or it is with us older ones as we grow older, and we begin to force the issue of matters, and we lose this patience, patience that God's will, as we even prayed in the beginning, that Thy will be done.

When we lose sight of this, we then find that we begin to struggle in our everyday life, because we become dependent on our own understanding, and our own will, and our own strength, instead of the strength and care of our Heavenly Father.

And it has been so, when there have been those who have become impatient even, waiting for the blessing of a believing spouse, and have turned to the outside of God's kingdom, that blessings have not been there.

The Apostle Paul writes of this, he says, what union has light with darkness? What relationship does Christ have with Delial? And he says, how can it be that both living and dead would live together? It is impossible. It is not the way that God wishes it to be, just as it was when Abraham sent his servants to the world, to his homeland, to find this spouse for his son.

If we were to read then, of this account, if we would read it in its entirety, we read how that servant did go into that homeland of Abraham, and he sought this wife for his master's son. And he wanted some sign given. When he went there, the Lord had told his servant that you can go there and trust that this sign will be given, that you will know who is the wife for Isaac.

And he questioned this, that how will I know? And is this also a question for you young ones? It is often a question that my own children have asked, it is also a question that has been asked of me when I have been in marriage counseling situations, pre-marriage counseling situations.

And I was even asked this question by my beloved wife. Many years ago, I was sure that she was the one that I was going to marry, I had not a doubt in the world. One evening when we were making plans for our wedding, she asked this question that stopped me, she said, how do you know when you love a person enough to get married?

And I didn't have a clear answer. Just as perhaps this servant also was seeking an answer, but how do you know who is the right one? I don't know that there is a very definitive answer, but what I do know is that I have a very clear answer.

For one matter is always this, that what is the content of the heart of that one whom you are seeking? Is there the heart of faith? And are there the fruits of faith? There have been sad cases where warnings have been given from within God's kingdom, to a young man or to a young lady.

Warnings about the readiness of one of the people or the other. Perhaps there has been one who has been recently converted into God's kingdom, and they are endeavoring as a child of God. And there is an attraction then that begins between these two people.

Perhaps the admonishment of the parents is this, that would it be better to wait for a while to make sure the fruits show good in that young person who was recently converted. These are healthy discussions to have there at home with you mothers and fathers, with your children, but also healthy discussions that we would have within God's kingdom, one to another.

Because it is essential for a happy marriage that there are two hearts of faith in the beginning. When there is a heart of faith and a desire to believe, for Jesus says that seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all things will be added unto thee.

And one of these things surely would be the heart of faith, the love of faith, the love of God. These are two considerations in marriage. So that would be one consideration that what is the heart and the fruits of this child of God.

There would also be some other considerations naturally when it comes to career and the ability to support this marriage, and so on. My own experience as well as the experience in my life, as well as the experience of God's kingdom.

Isn't it possible that God would bless in all things if there is the desire to believe? This goes all the way to the extent of financial blessings. I remember one camp that was held here in Arizona a few years ago when this matter of marriage was discussed and courtship was discussed.

And one young man was pondering that when would he be ready to marry, even is he financially capable and so on. One sister mentioned that why would God bless you with all of the things you would need in marriage before you're married? Why would God give you a five-year marriage and a five-year marriage? Why would God give you a five-bedroom house if you're living by yourself and so on?

And when we look back and we have even in our days seen how there have been those loved ones who have passed from this life to eternity. And when we look to their life and how God is blessed, haven't we seen how God is truly blessed, even financially and temporally?

Those of you who are living in this world and who have been in this world and who have trusted in Him. There haven't been too many. In fact, there haven't been any who have gone to the grave needy. But God has seen fit to bless them. Why do we doubt even in these things?

So you, beloved young, when you are considering these matters of marriage, consider first this, that the heart of faith is right. And then, all things would be given according to God's will and His blessings.

If we were to read from this life then of Isaac and Rebekah, of whom God blessed into this institution, God blessed both Isaac and Rebekah with the gift of faith, they believed. But then also in the continuing care of their children, and we remember even there the work that the mother, Rebekah, did in that family.

And this also has been a thought of my own. Often when we discuss these matters of marriage during our time, and I especially remember you, dear mothers, in that place where you have been asked to serve.

In God's kingdom we know also according to the Spirit, and in His teaching, that we don't practice in any way the control of birth of our children. We trust and believe that God gives life, as it says in the book of Deuteronomy, throughout the book of Proverbs, that the Lord gives life.

The Lord gives life, and the Lord takes life. The Lord kills and makes alive. It is the Heavenly Father who was ordained that the Lord gives life, and the Lord takes life. It is the Heavenly Father who was ordained that the Heavenly Father takes His children that He has given to us would be born in His time.

Last year at our couples camp, this was a point of discussion. The presentation was entitled Children, a Gift of God. And the dear sister who presented this in that presentation even spoke of her own temptations in the acceptance of children.

But at the end of that presentation, she said that today, I can firmly believe and trust that I have, with a heart of faith, accepted all of those children whom God has wanted me to have.

We also recognize that this can be a very strong temptation for our mothers. In society today, it has changed much from what it was during the time of Abraham and Sarah, for example.

It was a disgrace in those days that Abraham and Sarah lived not to have children. In fact, Sarah was made fun of in her day because she was barren. Remember that the first child born to Abraham was not Isaac at all, but rather his son Ishmael who was born with his servant Hagar.

It wasn't until much later that Sarah was given a son. And also, this Rebecca recognized this. She was also barren, it says in Scripture. It wasn't until later in her life, after some years of marriage, that she was granted sons.

And remember, those sons of Esau and Jacob, whom were a struggle even in her womb. We can read from that experience as well. But it was a disgrace in their time not to have children. They thought it was a curse from God if they weren't blessed with children.

How has it changed today? Today, it seems to be a disgrace to have children. In our society, in some ways, a mother, or a wife, who is without children is almost more recognized than a mother who has been granted in abundance.

And I know, even in our family, we were blessed with 17 children. It was not always an easy endeavor to accept the children that God gave. There were many doubts, there were many worries, and many fears. There were even temptations in these matters. It doesn't end today.

But I know many of you, beloved young mothers today, are faced with this question as well. Society says that you can be much more financially well off without having so many children. Mother's health comes into question. And so on.

But don't we recognize this, brothers and sisters, that God is the one who gives life. It is impossible that a child to be born except that God would grant it to be so. It doesn't happen in any other way.

Recently, it was quite, I don't want to say amusing, but so typical. One of our daughter-in-laws, who has wanted many children as one, and she had experienced that her pregnancy, that she was so anticipating, had come to an end and she miscarried.

It was her second or third baby in a row. And she was at a gathering there and she went upstairs and she was by herself and she was crying. She was crying that she had miscarried again. And that would be that God would just give them the one child.

One of her friends came upstairs to visit with her. And this friend had three children. She had two children as was expecting her third. And those babies had come very, very quickly. And she had lamented that she wasn't so willing to accept these children back to back to back.

One of the other sisters came and had just been told that she was expecting her first baby. And the first babies were going to be twins. And she was crying over this that how does it be that so shortly after we got married now we're going to have twins and our life is going to change so suddenly.

And then one of the fourth sisters came. And she was crying because she had none. None of these four were content. Isn't this the way it is brothers and sisters? Aren't we all willing and ready to walk in the footsteps of our brothers and sisters in faith?

But who knows better than us in these things but God? God knows. And even in these matters of reverence. When we've accepted our children as our children. When we've accepted them as gifts from God. We still must get over this matter.

That we are so inadequate as parents. We have felt the inadequacy of raising these ones whom God has given. We have been so stumbling and so slow to rear them in that love in which we have been reared.

Too often these children have been so inadequate. Too stubbornness of our own flesh wells up. And as parents we are impatient in rearing these ones often with anger and so on.

But I also remember one quote from that presentation that our sister kept in the rearing of children. And I try to hang on to this because it is somewhat comforting when I look at how poor my endeavor has been in these matters.

This mother said, you can look and see and believe that you are the perfect parent for this child. Not a perfect parent but the perfect parent for this child. Meaning this that God knew you and God knew your wife. God knew this child of whom he would give you. And he knew that you would be the perfect one to rear this child. And to raise this child.

And hopefully brothers and sisters raise this child in the nurture and care of God's rich word.

This matter of marriage and family strikes so close to home. This text which we read speaks of this marriage of Rebecca and Isaac. After the servants had returned from that trip to Abraham's home country and where he had been shown that this Rebecca was to be the wife for Isaac.

He brought Rebecca then to Isaac. And it says, and Rebecca lifted up her eyes. And when she saw Isaac she lighted off the camel. For she had said unto the servant, what man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, it is my master. Therefore she took a veil and covered herself. And the servant told Isaac all things that had been done.

Isn't it just how it is brothers and sisters even for us this evening. When we consider this place. When we consider this place of where we have been called. This evening we are believing. It is a gift that God has given to us.

So now also may God give us the right understanding. In these matters of marriage. In these matters of the acceptance of children. Would God give us a heart of faith. To believe and trust. That he promises to care for us, his children. And that he only requires of us to be obedient to his will.

And everything else he has promised that he would care for us. So we this evening can lay all of our cares and worries aside. And lay them upon him who has promised to carry us to the end.

We have been given. In his precious name. In his precious kingdom. Many, many blessings. They are blessings that God has entrusted to us. So that we one day would attain eternal life in heaven.

Remain even now with patience. Believing all of your sins and doubts of this journey forgiven. In the name and precious blood of Jesus.

And if you have felt, as I have often felt, the compassions that come from the world in these things. How my own sin corrupt flesh often questions these things. And how I have lacked trust.

We can also believe that God hears and knows the heart of his children. And he has promised to care for us on this endeavor of living faith.

Remain believing. And we can also believe that God has done all of our sins forgiven in the name and blood of Jesus.

But I also ask this evening brothers and sisters, that I could also believe of my own sins and temptations forgiven. I promise to believe with each of you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Let us be quiet in our hearts. In closing. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.