Sermon in Seattle 09.11.2014

Let's quieten this morning in opening prayer and thanksgiving. Dear Heavenly Father, we again ask Thee, through Thy Son, that You be with us this service gathering and grant unto us Your nourishing and wholesome Word.

Dear Father, we come with prayers of thanks and praise to Thee for the blessings You have given us in this life. But we thank You, dear Father, above all that You have set Your grace kingdom so low that the weak and the poor can find comfort.

Dear Father, we especially petition You that You comfort those in deep sorrow. Dear Father, through Your Word and through Your love, reveal unto those especially who grieve and experience sorrow in this life that they could yet remember the purpose of our journey here. And that is the hope of the glory of Heaven.

For so often, dear Father, we lose sight of that purpose for our life here, with the cares of our life, our daily calling, family responsibilities. So, dear Father, remind us of that goal that's been proven and fulfilled by Thy Son for us who are such great sinners.

Dear Father, we also this morning pray on behalf of our Fatherland that even though we see the sun setting and the edge of darkness approaching, we yet pray that You bless our nation, grant unto our leaders wisdom, give us leaders that protect, first of all, our freedom to gather, but also those wholesome, virtuous, and moral things in our society that seem to be lacking.

Dear Father, remember our fellow travelers in whatever locale on this globe where they may be. For we know, dear Father, that You have called many in our time. Protect them. Protect them. Protect us. And yet, dear Father, call those weak and poor who travel under sin to the threshold of Thy kingdom that they can hear the preached word and believe and also behold and hold the glory of Heaven.

And we ask these in Jesus' name and still remember to pray as He taught us to pray, 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 a text this morning, we'll read from the 46th Psalm, the first seven verses. And we read this in Jesus' name. And in doing so, I'll mention this is one of the texts assigned for this Sunday in the calendar year. And it has to do with the day that we remember, which in our calendar year is called Reformation Day. And it's been observed for hundreds of years, but is in recalling that very difficult time in the history of living Christianity where God's kingdom separated from the dominating church at that time because of extreme corruption that had taken place gradually over many hundreds of years.

It was some 500 years ago where this took place. That time called the Reformation, which I think many of the Sunday school students would even recognize the name of Martin Luther, who was the one God chose to lead that very significant change. And we read this as follows.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved. God shall help her.

And that, right early, the heathen rage, the kingdoms were moved. He uttered his voice. The earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Amen. Amen.

The psalm was also written by believers, probably somewhat after the time of King David. Would have been not quite 3,000 years ago, but this psalm is attributed to those who were called the sons of Korah. And they also, these sons of Korah, recalled a very, very difficult time in their greater family, which were the descendants of Reuben, one of the sons of Jacob, one of the 12 tribes of Israel.

And they had had a very sorrowful thing happen with their ancestors where during the time of Moses, some of these Reubenites, who thought that they should be the ones who were called to be priests, they were not called to be priests. That was the Levites, the son of Levi. But the Reubenites, descendants of Reuben, became bitter over this and then rose against Moses.

And in some outward ways, it would have seemed perhaps that they had a reason from man's standpoint to sort of take Moses on and argue with Moses and say, hey, we should be the ones that are priests, not the Levites, not Aaron. Why is Aaron and Miriam and Moses the ones? It should be us.

And they actually gathered a following around themselves. These Reubenites, their Korah, is what they were called. And sad to say, on their part, they not only lost faith, but were utterly destroyed by God. The earth actually opened up into kind of an earthquake and swallowed them up. Many, many of them.

The ones who wrote this psalm, no doubt, were aware of that and thought of their own situation, how they happened to be preserved in faith, even though they were descendants of Korah and those who perished. They yet wanted to believe. And they did believe.

They wrote in many of the psalms, actually, not as many as David, but they did write quite a few of the psalms. And this one was written as a song that they would sing, like, was certainly from what we would characterize as their own hymn book that they had.

But in this psalm, perhaps you noticed that these sons of Korah who wrote this song or this psalm spoke about God being their refuge. And you also probably noticed, even you Sunday school students, who I'm sure you probably at least listened to part of the text, hopefully you did, that they also, in some ways, with their own minds, begin to fear because of the time of trouble that they lived in.

And it was a time of trouble. It was a time of strife. It was a time of, in many ways, monumental change in society for them.

We know, for example, during the time of the prophets, which would have been very close to this time and part of this time actually after King David and when the time of the prophets actually began, there was great distress in Judaism, in the Jewish society, and that stress was brought about by many, many of the Jewish people who turned against God and started to worship the pagan gods of that time, the Canaanites and those other tribes and peoples of their area that were in utter unbelief.

But they yet attracted the Jewish people to start following their customs and their religious practices. And as a matter of fact, when we read what the prophets wrote and we read what's happening also in the Psalms, which many were written during that general period, we see that there really were not very many who were believing according to God's word.

Were they, in some ways, religious people? Yes, they were. There was a number of different religions at that time. Not just Judaism, but pagan worship. And there were hundreds and hundreds.

And many of those who, for example, had been either from believing families or were Jewish by birth, began to follow false religions. And this happened over and over again to where the prophets to a person, all of the four major prophets and all the minor prophets warned about the falling away from God's word and worshiping in the wrong way.

We know based on human nature that man has a natural innate desire. He's born with it to worship in some way. It's in us as humans. There's never been a culture or society that has been studied by anthropologists or historians where there has not been significant forms of religion. It's in the human nature.

But, it's also important to remember that man cannot of his own power, intellect, strength, approach the living God. He can't do it. Why is that? Because man with the fall into sin in paradise, Adam and Eve, lost the ability.

Jesus himself explained it this way. It's absolutely crystal clear. He says, I have chosen you. You have not chosen me. He was speaking to his own people.

Man does strive to find God in many different ways, but with his own strength cannot find. He must be called into God's kingdom.

Consider our society. There are many, many different religions and many, many millions upon millions of religious people. In some ways, it's certainly a good thing that people fear God. We hope they do. We pray that they have some reverence or fear from God.

We see what's happening in our society, we wonder. It's a very serious thing for not only an individual, but for a society when man begins to turn away from God.

And how is this seen, or how is this manifested? It's seen, in particular when we think of a nation or a culture, it's seen in the laws of that land. And the things that people value and the things that people, for example, choose and decide in society.

And it's troubling when we see in our society that people are turning away from God's word. And we would say we'd look at the history of our own nation. It was founded on Judeo-Christian values, a fear of God. But in our time we see people are turning away. They're using their own intellect, their own judgment in these decisions.

And we already know from God's word that man cannot approach God with his own temporal understanding. It cannot be done.

In many ways we would have to say it's a fearful thing. It's good to remember that during the time of the Reformation, this is Reformation Sunday, we think about those. Was that a difficult time? It was an extremely difficult time in the history of living Christianity. People lost their lives. They were martyrs.

About a little more than a hundred years before Luther was called to do this work during the Reformation to preach about God's word and God's kingdom according to what God's word says, there was another man, John Huss. He preached the same gospel that later Luther preached. John Huss was burned at the stake. He lost his life.

Was it a difficult time in history? It was an extremely difficult time in history.

The psalmist says here because they had a difficult time when the sons of Korah wrote this psalm. God is a refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. We can fear. In some ways it's a healthy fear but it's also good to remember what the psalmist wrote and how God protected them and how God protected during the tumultuous time of the Reformation 500 years ago or so.

He says therefore, this is what the psalmist wrote, even though they had difficult times, we will not fear. Though the earth be removed and though mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, massive changes in society.

Yes, our tendency is to fear and become troubled. Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled.

We see in our time those kinds of changes in society. We have a responsibility as children of God. First of all, we think of our responsibilities in a very, you might say, a sense that's the closest to us. It's with our own families. Parents have responsibilities. Teaching responsibilities.

But it doesn't end with that small family unit. In a sense, congregational. Of course, we have responsibilities of teaching and preaching and so on and so forth.

But also, think about it, you dear young people, do you have responsibilities in life? Yes, you do.

What's the most basic calling we have as a child of God? In our day-to-day journey? To keep faith and a good conscience.

We know that with our own strength we can't do that. But we also have the promises that when we endeavor as a child of God being called by grace, the Heavenly Father will remember us. He will notice us. Care for us.

Do we want to take that kind of a matter lightly? I think universally we would have to say no, we don't want to take that lightly even though the cares of this life oftentimes you might say dominate our thoughts and our lives.

It's good to pause. What is our goal in this life? Life is short. Young people don't. I didn't realize it when I was younger how short it is. I'm starting to realize it. It's not very long. It's the twinkling of an eye.

And we also have very profound reminders that it doesn't really matter what a person's age is when they can be called away from this life like that in the twinkling of an eye.

It's a sobering reminder about the importance of keeping faith and a good conscience because this life is not a stand-alone item. It's so brief it's short. It's the afterlife that we're promised those who believe the glory of heaven.

Do we know anything about it? Not much. Very little. But we trust in God's word. We trust in the promises of God's word where it says yes those who believe their mind and they will be called to the glory of heaven. Eternal life. Everlasting life.

Compared to this brief few moments that we have with our family and our friends and believing people we would say in the care and the loving arms of God's house. The kingdom of God on earth.

The psalmist speaks about God's protection because they also thought who wrote this about they thought about the time that they lived the difficulties that they were experiencing in life but they also gave a precious testimony or description about the kingdom of God and the house of God and the care that the wayfarer receives on the way that leads to heaven.

He says though the waters roar and it's troubled he says here there is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God the house of God the kingdom of God that place where the weak and the poor and the lowly raise their hands and beg that they can again and again hear the reassurance of the gospel.

Is it this way that the child of God goes in and out of God's kingdom many times a day? No. We're heaven acceptable those who believe moment by moment but we have a grace privilege and that's that gospel that the Lord Jesus spoke about himself saying whosoever send you remit they are remitted they're forgiven.

It's a wonderful grace privilege the child of God is heaven acceptable moment by moment but how often in this life with the trials we experience the temptations we experience do we again and again need to hear the reassurance it seems like it's so often.

Would the heavenly father become impatient and tired of such a one who begs for the gospel but his love is immeasurable the one who begs to hear moment by moment I want to believe all my sins and even this morning I want to hear the gospel can you preach the gospel to me?

And I want to reassure you from the children here to the oldest grandma or grandpa you can believe all your sins forgiven in Jesus name and precious blood and believing that gospel.

Don't we also say we don't need to fear even though we see things happening in society sometimes we worry about our children and loved ones or grandchildren and so on and so forth.

He says here there's a river and he's talking about the living water of the gospel that's there in the kingdom of God. Jesus himself spoke about the living water and those who believe out of their belly shall flow living water the gospel out of their heart and soul.

And we yet not only believe the gospel but believing the gospel want to preach the gospel there in the home the parents to the children the children to the parents yes little ones mom and dad grandma and grandpa they need to hear the gospel again and again.

And it's comforting for mother and father or grandparents to hear the voice of a child that Jesus said was the greatest in the kingdom and the little voice says mom or dad you can believe sins are forgiven in Jesus name and blood that's comfort.

He describes the psalmist does the kingdom of God he says God's in the midst of her she shall not be moved God shall help her and that right early.

He doesn't forget his own we forget a lot of things in this life but he doesn't and even though we see as the psalmist writes here and mentions here the heathen rage and you know the heathen you know what the heathen is the unbelievers those that don't believe in the living God yeah it's raging out there there's no question about it and we can become troubled or overburdened it's kind of our nature.

But he says here the kingdoms were moved and we see massive changes in our society the laws of the land are changing.

We think of things that are happening Friday night we had this presentation by our brother on marijuana and drugs we see massive changes in society not only in people's attitudes but the laws that result from those attitudes and we can begin to fear we do fear.

We certainly want to have a sober attitude toward this and you young people perhaps more than anyone it affects you that's why it's important to travel moment by moment keeping faith and a good conscience battle against those things.

When we think about decisions that people make in life and we make decisions daily we got many many things that we got some things are little things little tiny things we got to decide the human mind's faced with these there's other things that may be a little more important there's other things in this life that are monumental decisions they're life changing decisions.

One of them certainly could be for example the drugs that are available well you know the human mind thinking it's not that big a deal well we know even by looking around what's happening in society it is a monumental decision and a mistake to begin to toy and play with these things where God's word and even sober societies of our past have abhorred these things have taught against these things.

Where we see these changes in society where they're becoming acceptable for one reason or another they're becoming acceptable but God's kingdom even if it stands entirely alone on that issue which fortunately it doesn't at this time but it seems pretty dim that we would want to be obedient to the teaching of God's kingdom.

The Lord of hosts is with us it's easy to forget and we feel the raging sometimes the seas like it did for those in the boat when Jesus had taken a nap in the back of the boat the storm comes up and the water starts even coming over the gunwales of the boat save us we perish oh ye of little faith and he calmed the waters with his word the living word that he breathed onto his own receive ye the holy ghost.

The same living word that calms the seas it's preached yet from God's kingdom today and only from God's kingdom because it's only through the power of the holy ghost it's not the word form the form of word used it's through the power of the holy ghost that quickens or gives the words life the words that lead to eternal life when won by God's grace believes those words.

He says here the Lord of hosts is with us and it's the same God the one of Abraham Isaac and Jacob he's not a God of the dead he's a God of the living the God of Moses it says here the God of Jacob is our refuge the same God yet today guides his kingdom.

And we would also have to say about the decisions that we make in this life and there are many that the human mind itself and the decisions we make are not a measuring stick cannot be taken as a measuring stick to distinguish right from wrong with our own minds.

Yeah we can make some pretty good decisions God's given us that ability but when we think about those key issues of God's kingdom doctrinal issues and understanding this that God yet teaches in his kingdom through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Sunday will probably recall what he called the Holy Spirit it was in the last moments of his life and he gathered in a room closed room with his apostles his disciples and he started talking about his work his life they couldn't really understand that he was leaving within hours his life would be over that they could not at that point understand but he wanted to explain that he wouldn't leave them alone and he began to tell them about the work of the Holy Spirit and how he said the Holy Spirit will teach you in all things.

To the human mind it's baffling we can't comprehend it and he didn't say it's only going to be this group but he said I am with you until the end of the world and he called this Holy Spirit the comforter.

Think of it for a moment dear child of God what kind of comfort it is even though the waves rage and massive changes mountains are moved but yet we can believe this that in God's kingdom the comforter the Holy Spirit still teaches yes even on these critical issues of our time and some of them have to do for example with family values accepting children for example as God's gift we yet believe as our fellow travelers who have gone to glory past generations some of them are our own fathers and mothers they've gone to the rest but they believe that way.

Is it strange to this world? Yes it is they can't comprehend but we as far as family values and children we still believe we accept it's God's will.

There's massive changes in society and there are many of these issues drugs we've talked about those yes we comprehend that God still guides us and even though we often become distressed or troubled and it's good that we're concerned over these matters but on the other hand we don't need to fear in that sense that God will forget his people because he will always remember his people.

Jesus spoke about the good shepherd and the care and he said that the sheep know the voice of the good shepherd they can distinguish the difference.

Imagine that Jesus himself said that his sheep his lambs on this way they'll know his voice it's a comforting thought it's important to remember he will protect his own.

When we think about these massive changes in society we have to say in some ways it does affect us it does affect our families our loved ones to the point where there can be those close loved ones family members who begin to understand things differently than that which is taught and has been taught generation after generation in God's kingdom and begin to question those things.

Maybe they're these family values accepting children issues probably not drug issues hopefully but you never know but those kinds of issues where we see massive changes in society that may have to do with many many of these everyday things music and so forth except it's important that we remember them with love consider God's word not only the preaching from the pulpit but God's word because all of us who are believing are called royal priests we're ambassadors for Christ those who believe in our everyday not only families but our everyday interactions we speak with people we talk with people and there in the bottom of the heart of a child of God when we behold maybe the face and the expression of someone that we maybe met we wonder could God be calling that one.

We don't know it's happened over and over again people called from the outside and when we have a time of society where it is raging it's not unheard of in fact it's happened that people begin to seek their lost and some find God's kingdom.

Yes even and perhaps especially during a time of great change people begin to question and wonder what's happening.

We think about God's word as ambassadors God's word whether it's from the pulpit or from our everyday life it's not a word that seeks to alienate but it's calling words the call the weak and the poor.

Does that mean that there's not salt with word there's salt in God's word there has to be or it's thrown on the way to be trampled as Jesus said God's word is a two edge sword the writer of the Hebrews described it this way.

And we think about a two edge sword it's a sword that's been sharpened on both sides your typical knife steak knife that's got an edge on one side this is a two edge sword it cuts either way it can heal but it's not unfortunately common where God's word because of its very nature would turn one away but we can't change God's word to make it so that it's soft and this kind of word that is accepting of those things that are contrary to what the Bible teaches.

There are hard sayings of Jesus himself in the Bible about who is believing and who isn't the human mind would think hey everybody is acceptable all religions end they're all a different path to the same end that's the human mind but the truth of the word is they're different paths to a different end.

God's grace order has been established clearly we comprehend by God's grace through the teaching of the Holy Spirit what the word teaches we wouldn't comprehend what our own minds but the calling gathering word of God's kingdom yet today says dear one yes you can believe all sins forgiven in the name and blood of Jesus through the merit work that he accomplished completed gave his life on behalf of sin corrupt man the promise of eternal life.

This morning dear dear one you can believe even amidst doubts and worries and trials and temptations personal sometimes on a bigger scale we worry about our nation and our people and our families but we can put our trust in his hands in that sense we don't have to fear the water is calmed with the voice of a good shepherd all sins are forgiven in Jesus name and precious blood and peace freedom and joy.

And we have this prayer I know you do and I have to say I do that God would protect us individually first we have to think of our own journey but then our children and our families and then on a broader sense our nation our people our culture those fellow travelers in whatever nation they may be and there are many that they would be protected during time of trial and change and we can trust God's word that he will protect us believe again moment by moment sins forgiven in Jesus name and precious blood and journey with a good and clean conscience in Jesus name amen amen.

Let's close in with the benediction the Lord bless thee and keep thee the Lord make his face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace in the name of the Son and of the Holy Ghost amen amen.

Thank you.