Sermon in Rockford 25.12.2014

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen. Let us join our hearts in prayer and thanksgiving.

Dear Heavenly Father, we gather this Christmas night around your holy word and pray that you would yet open your word unto us to reveal unto us your love and the glory of the birth of your Son into this world and your great love for us, for sinful mankind. We thank you, dear Father, for this festive season, the special programs and services, the times to be together with our families and friends. It is a time that we have been able to enjoy, a special time on this earthly journey to pause and remember your work and your love, a time when we have been able to be refreshed.

And so we thank you, dear Father, for this and all of your blessings, for the lives which you have created and the gift of faith which we, who have been given that gift, are able to enjoy. We pray that you would continue to open your word, to proclaim your word into the world around us so that none would need to be dwelling in the distress of sin and without the hope of eternal life with you, but rather through the hearing of your word and the faith which comes as your gift. Such ones could also receive peace and joy of the conscience, repenting of sin and believing sin forgiven. Amen.

Thank you for all of your blessings, dear Father. Be with us now and always. Amen.

This evening, your brothers and sisters, this Christmas night, I will read four verses from the fourth chapter of Philippians, words that I think are familiar to all of us, many of you. Words being as follows in Jesus' name.

Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.

As we gather tonight, brothers and sisters, I'm sure our hearts and minds are filled with many kinds of feelings of these recent days that we've been able to experience and enjoy on this earthly journey. It is always a special time, this festive Christmas season. We have enjoyed those Advent Sundays. We've lit the candles and counted the Sundays toward Christmas. And in our services, we have remembered the Old Testament prophecies. How God revealed unto the prophets in those times of old, not only that his son, a savior, would come into this world, but how it would happen.

It is always a marvel, amazing to me, and I would say incomprehensible to the mind of man, to realize how hundreds and thousands of years before the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, his birth was foretold, and the root of Jesse, the lineage from which he would come, the little town into which he would be born, and that he would be conceived by the Holy Ghost, and what his life would be like, of healing and preaching, as one without sin, the fulfiller of the law, the perfect sacrifice.

Those Old Testament believers were, as you and I are today, brothers and sisters, they were believing upon a promise. They were believing upon God's promise of a savior, because they too were sinful, as all man has been sinful. They needed hope. They needed faith to journey in this life, as a child of God.

And so those Old Testament prophecies, we have remembered in our services, and in our many songs, we sing about them, and remember them, what the newborn king would be like. But we who live today, New Testament era, believe upon the son who was born. We believe that God fulfilled his promise, and actually sent his son into this world.

And as we remember today, Christmas Day, that word became flesh. The son who was with the father from the beginning of time, now came into this world as flesh and blood. To live as we live. To experience hunger and pain and tiredness. To do the will of God, but yet to be without sin.

We remember that miniature gospel, that for God so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten son into this world, so that none would be lost, that all who believe upon him would be saved.

And so today, yesterday, we heard the Christmas gospel, we've heard it in our programs, and perhaps even read it in our homes, in our family gatherings, remembering that story, how the Christ child was born, born in a lowly, humble way, the Savior into this world. And it's a comforting, beautiful story for us. We love to hear it over and over again.

But now, when Christmas Day has come, and we are at the end of that day, and we think of all that has taken place, what do we now think of? Isn't it feelings of great joy, dear brothers and sisters? Peace, and joy, and thankfulness. To be happy over that which we have, that which we have been given, and how God has so loved us to give us these times, to give us his son, to give us these festive moments, where time and time again, we can remember what he has done for us, and how he has loved us.

In many of our songs, we will find these words, our Christmas songs, about joy, and singing, and even thinking of our opening song this evening. It said how joy filled their hearts when prophets saw freedom in Christ from sin and law. In another portion, it says, that it speaks about rejoicing in paradise, speaks about praises, singing praises, and we sing those songs, like Hark the Herald Angels Sing, how the angels were singing, and we remember, in the Christmas gospel, how it tells that time, when the angels were singing, and made known unto the shepherds the good news, that a savior had been born. Joy filled the air. It was wonderful news.

The psalm text for today, from Psalm 100, begins in this way: To praise the Lord with singing. To make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness, come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord, he is good. It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Be thankful unto him, and bless his name, for the Lord is good. His mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations. To make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

And as we think about this matter, the joy builds, dear brothers and sisters, to such a point that one can hardly contain themselves. But the joy spills out of our hearts and our mouths, seen in our faces the radiance of the joy and the love that we feel. And the wondrous works of God he has done for us through his Son.

And so this text that I read in the beginning from Paul's letter to the Philippians says, Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. And I must tell you why this text has been on my mind, thinking of it here and how beautiful a Christmas text it is. It's one of those portions of scripture that words are familiar and I know I've heard often, but I guess personally I have to say I have not studied them.

But when we were on the trip to Finland in October, I heard these words spoken by a brother there in a service. And by the way, for those whom I haven't related greetings from that trip to Finland, I happily do so now from the brothers and sisters there. Many greetings from the children of God there who are endeavoring just as we are here in one kingdom, one faith, one love and one hope.

And also I want to thank you for my part and my wife's for the many cards and Christmas wishes, gifts we've received. During that time in Finland we were one weekend at a camp at Pika Terma. It was a camp arranged for SRK board members and their spouses and a portion of the SRK staff.

And that Saturday we had a beautiful day as the whole camp, the whole event was warm and encouraging and instructive and very interesting. And at the end of the day, when they were closing the day as we close our days, there was a devotion. And the brother spoke from this same portion of God's word, to rejoice in the Lord always and again, I say, rejoice. Rejoice. And spoke how the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The next morning we left from the camp and we went to congregation in R.Y. in Pabola, where they were having fall services. And we were there for that Sunday of fall services. And in the evening when those services were coming to an end, the brother who served took this same portion of God's word and spoke again, rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say, rejoice.

As speaker brothers know, we are always interested to know the text that a brother may choose to speak from. And for me I would say if I've heard a text recently or it's in a similar setting, maybe I would want to choose something else when it's my turn. But this portion, now I heard the next night, two nights in a row. And again the brother spoke so nicely from it, comforting words of God.

And it was a completely different gathering from the night before. I would say except for my wife and myself, Noel and me, there weren't any people the same. It were two different events entirely, two different gatherings of God's children. But yet the same portion was spoken of again.

And I thought that why is God speaking to me through this text? Is there something here that I need to hear so that he would want to repeat it to make sure that I'm getting the message?

Well, the trip continued and I remember this experience. And we were home some weeks and during the Thanksgiving weekend we were not able to be in Minneapolis for the Thanksgiving youth days, Thanksgiving congregation days. But I, as I have a chance, enjoy listening to services from different places at different times and as I was listening to the closing service from that weekend, brother chose this text and spoke from this portion once again. Little different verses in different order, but the same portion. And the message again was a comforting message and thoughts that weren't necessarily exactly the same, but certainly not inconsistent with what the other brothers had spoken.

And again I wondered what is God wanting to speak to me through this text that I would hear it again. And then last Sunday we had the blessing, the opportunity to join Monticello to attend their Christmas program. It came time for the devotion, and our brother chose this portion to speak from. Again, this portion, same verses and a wonderful message.

And as I thought about this portion of God's word, I thought that it's something that I've needed to hear, but do I understand why I need to hear this, that God wants to bring this portion to me. And now when it's been used so much recently, it seemed in my mind maybe it would be a portion that we would stay away from and use another portion of God's word, but yet my mind hasn't gone anywhere else.

So I have read it again and again in recent days and thought that even tonight I would read it here.

When we think of this letter, Paul's letter to the Philippian believers, that congregation in Philippi was a new congregation, a congregation that was formed, of course, in his missionary journeys, and it was the first congregation that was formed, considered to be one of the European congregations.

And earlier in this chapter, Paul says, I entreat the also true yokemen helped those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also and with other my fellow laborers whose names are in the book of life. That actually it was women who first repented and believed when Paul went there to serve and living Christianity began.

But another point in this letter was that Paul was in prison when he wrote it. We know that he needed to suffer for preaching the word of God and it was one of the occasions when he was in prison that he remembered the believers in Philippi and he was remembering them but they were remembering him also because it tells us in the end of this chapter how he thanks them for a gift.

Those beloved believers Philippi had known he was in prison, had worried about him and they sent him a gift and he wrote them this letter to thank them for the gift that had been given and to remember them and to encourage them and to instruct them.

You know when we think of the trial of being in prison I can't comprehend how difficult a trial that would be. Especially if we think this that Paul hadn't done anything wrong that this prison would be just sentenced for him. All he had done was preached and confessed his faith but because of this he was in prison.

Wouldn't it be good reason to be angry, to be frustrated, to be resentful? But what does Paul write to them but to rejoice. And he says to rejoice in the Lord always.

Rejoice means to be full of cheer, to be full of happiness. And he says it rejoiced in the Lord always. Always.

If there would have been reason not to rejoice or be happy, Paul would have had reason. But he says always to rejoice.

And what it spoke to me was this. As he says, rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Not only once, but again twice he emphasizes to rejoice, to be happy.

It reminded me of a time when I was young and a child at home and perhaps the day wasn't going so well and I was grumpy. And my mother walked by and said to cheer up and be happy. And to have her say that was like to make me want to be more grumpy because I thought how can I just flick a switch and all of a sudden be happy when I have these trials I'm dealing with.

But Paul says to rejoice in the Lord always. And when we think of it brothers and sisters we always have reason to rejoice when we're a child of God. We always have a reason to be happy and to rejoice when we're a child of God.

Life has its trials. We have our sorrows temporally health-wise with family and loved ones. It is true we carry one another during those times of life which are difficult. But in spite of all that when we are able to be a child of God and we are able to believe our own sins forgiven to hear the preaching of the gospel to know that we have the hope of heaven and will inherit heaven one day as God's child.

We have reason to be happy and rejoice because it's the most important thing.

And so Paul here is telling them yes I'm in prison. There are difficulties that must be dealt with on the journey but rejoice always in the Lord God.

And he says to let your moderation, to let your patience, your gentleness be known unto men because the Lord is at hand. To confess your faith and let the light of faith shine unto those around you especially to those in the world that through that light of faith that is in your heart. Even one who is in the dark world of unbelief might be able to see the specialness of God's kingdom.

And he says to be careful for nothing or to be anxious or impatient for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And here it's good that we remember when we have matters that we don't understand and matters that can only be understood through eyes of faith that we would not let those questions, those lack of understanding overtake us but rather pray that God would give unto us that which we need in his time and be patient and wait for it.

Finally he says the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

This is what we remember this season the peace of God the peace of Christmas. It is amazing unto the world who comes into contact with God's children in some very difficult circumstances of life to see how accepting children of God are. We accept matters as God's will even if they are difficult. And we don't want them to shipwreck us on the journey.

So in this way we have patience and want to have patience brothers and sisters. The peace of God which passes all understanding all do not experience this peace or understand it through carnal mind and reasoning but we feel it through the spirit when we have been able to simply believe our sins forgiven.

Love and it is a peace which the world can see also a calmness a quietness a peacefulness and a joy but they can't understand it and certainly they cannot feel it when they have not the Holy Spirit but we here too would hope and pray that it would be a peace that they would long for and ask this question how could I own such peace in my heart and that we who are able to believe could encourage them that that peace can be theirs if they would believe if they would be able to believe their own sins forgiven and the proclamation of the gospel from the children of God spoken through the power of the Holy Spirit.

And so this evening as we end this Christmas day brothers and sisters be happy rejoice be filled with joy to have been given another beautiful Christmas a festive time to experience the celebration of the birth of our Savior the Lord's Son into this world and we know that the peace which we experience is a special peace it is owned when we are able to believe our sins forgiven and know that if God would now choose this time to call me home I will be ready to meet him the peace of God which passes all understanding.

So we will end this day dear brothers and sisters with this joy and peace uplift your hearts to believe all sins of the journey forgiven in Jesus name and precious blood name and precious blood and to remember that we as God's children always have reason for a special joy and rejoicing.

I want to believe with you and ask if I may yet believe my sins forgiven in Jesus name Amen.

Let us close with the Lord's benediction: The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make his face shine upon us and be gracious unto us. The Lord lift up his countenance upon us and give us peace. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost Amen.