Services/Sermon in Roaring Fork Valley 17.12.2017

Let us thank and pray. Holy, righteous God, our dear Heavenly Father, we have come before Thy holy face into Thee, hearing of Thy living and precious Word.

Dear Father, we ask that service blessing that You would be present with us through Thy Spirit. That You would comfort and instruct us, teach us according to Thy wisdom. We ask that Thou would again give unto us ears to hear and hearts to receive and to believe this Word.

Dear Father, Thou who knowest all things, we have come here together as those that need to hear that holy and precious Word. So we ask that Thou would warm our hearts through the love of Thy dear Son. Speak unto us closely and softly that we might receive this Word into our hearts for the benefit of our souls.

Dear Father, we pray also for our prodigal children, for our friends, our next of kin, who have one time been partakers of this holy calling, but that have been deceived by the enemy of the soul. We pray on their behalf that Thou would open their hearts too to receive this precious Gospel that they too, together with us, could again be partakers of this hope of eternal life.

Dear Father, we pray for the work of Thy kingdom. We pray for Thy servants that Thou would give them courage to proclaim this Gospel unto all people, unto our communities, unto our fellow countrymen, and across the face of this earth, wherever Thy children are gathered. Lord, we pray that Thy holy Word would yet go forth to seek and to find those that yearn for a gracious God.

Dear Father, we pray too for our nation. We pray that this time of visitation would yet be continued in our country. May it be that many of our countrymen, those people of our communities, those people that we work with, could be called here to Thy kingdom and through repentance and the forgiveness of sins, enter in here to this house of grace and together be partakers of this hope.

Dear Father, each of us have come here today with our own cares, our own fears and doubts. We have come from our own places of watching and we wish to enclose into that prayer that Thou hast given us, that Thy Son has given us, all those many unspoken petitions. We pray as Thy Son has taught us, 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 for ever and ever. Amen.

Before we start the study of our text for today, I wish to again bring greetings of love and God's peace from my wife especially, but many of the children of God in Minnesota and those that work at the LLC office.

I've got to read a somewhat unusual text that is found in the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew. It is not a text that is used very often, but in trying to search for a text today, I found that I was not able to feel in many of them that that was the text that was intended to be used. And this text came to mind, I think only one other time have I used this text. And it is sometimes a text that the speaker brothers tease each other that, why don't you take this text?

So we will read from the first chapter of Matthew, the first six verses, and then jump down to the 16th verse, and then read the 18th verse. We read these with a prayerful heart and in Jesus' name.

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac, and Isaac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren, and Judas begat Pharaoh, and Pharaoh, Thamar, and Pharaoh begat Ezra, and Ezra begat Aram, and Aram begat Aminab-dab, and Aminab-dab begat Nassim, and Nassim begat Salom, and Salom begat Boaz of Rashar, and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth, And Obed begat Jesse. And Jacob begat Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Now, the birth of Jesus Christ was on his wives. And as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

As we mentioned, it's a seldom used text. Probably many believers go through life and they have read this portion. But it's not commonly used as the services of God's children because it seems at the surface to be so complicated or so detailed.

So, in the generation or the lineage of Jesus Christ, I'm sure that many of you recognized some of the names, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And you recognized, of course, the name of King David and King Solomon. And, of course, the final part of the lineage that we read, that of Joseph, the husband of Mary.

And I think that in the very simplest explanation that we can make of this text, we must say that it simply lists the names of real people. People that form the relation, the grandfathers and great-grandfathers and many distant grandfathers of Jesus Christ. And so, Jesus came from a lineage of real people.

We know that Christmas is one of those two great celebrations that we have, that of Christmas and Easter. At Christmas, we recall that Jesus came as mankind, as one of us, to know our lives and the situation that we live in, to experience life as we experience it.

We know that Jesus was born into a family that eventually had several brothers and sisters. So, he knew family life. He knew the struggles and the temptations. And all that goes with family life. And he worked in life with a profession. And he knew that part of life, too.

So, it is with that kind of background that we can study this part of God's Word.

We know that Jesus came to save sinners from the condemnation of eternal death. We heard that both on Friday and Saturday at the programs that we enjoyed here. And that was his purpose for coming into this world. To save us, each of us even today, from that condemnation that we deserved.

He had to come as a true man, as well as true God. He had to come as true man. Because we, as the lineage of Adam and Eve, we deserved that punishment. That punishment for sin. And only by coming in the form of man could he be that perfect sacrifice and pay for that sin death.

But he had to come, too, as true God. The Son of God. So that he could overcome sin and death and hell. And make that payment for sin as one who is sinless.

But further, when we look at some of the names in particular, we didn't read all of the names for the sake of time. And it would have been confusing, I suppose. But when we look closely at the names of the lineage of Jesus, we see that there are some that stand out as being those that were very sinful people by anybody's measure. They had committed sins that were public. And very, we could say, for the most part, the left side of the journey. The sentence of the flesh.

But there were also others. Martin Luther, in thinking about this, he said that it was not by chance that it was this way. That Jesus came from such a relationship. Because he wanted to come unto those that were needy. Those that were sinful. So that we could approach him. That we would not be so ashamed. That we could not draw close unto the throne of grace in time of need to bring those matters that have occurred in our life.

So he came in a slowly way, in the way of mankind. So that he could to win salvation for us.

But in particular, we read of Judas. And the New Testament was written in Greek. Whereas the Old Testament was written in Hebrew. And if you go back this afternoon or at some point, and you look up these names, and you will find them in the Old Testament, they are not spelled exactly the same. Because in the New Testament, when they wrote them, they wrote with the Greek writing of those names. Similar to when Saul of Tarsus was converted, he became Paul. And it's the same name, but one is in Hebrew and one is in Greek.

But we read, And Judas begat Pharaoh and Zerah of Tamar. And if we went back, we would recognize that Judas is Judah, one of the sons of Jacob. And Tamar is Tamar, one of the daughter-in-laws of Jacob. Or one of the daughter-in-laws of Judah.

And it so happened in the life that they had at that time that the husband of Tamar passed away. And the custom of that time was that then Judah should have given the next son to be a husband to Tamar. But that son was quite young, and Judah kind of dragged his feet, we could say, and time went on.

And Tamar began to worry about this and approached her father-in-law many times. And it did not come to pass. So she took matters into her own hands. And she waited by the roadside. She dressed herself so that her face was covered and so forth. And waited by the roadside.

And it so happened that she presented herself as a harlot. And she conceived twin boys by her father-in-law, which she did not know who she was. She did not declare who she was. And so she conceived two twin sons. And those are the sons that we read up here, Ferus and Zerah.

And from Ferus he begat a son, Ezra, who then begat Aram. So you can see how the lineage of Jesus Christ came through people that we would say maybe are colorful, using the best of terminology from our time. But those like Tamar and Judah, who had fallen into the sin of adultery. From such a one, such a one had the lineage come.

There would be much more that we could even say of that relationship, but perhaps it's not necessary, but more sufficient at this time just to get that picture that Jesus came from such a lineage.

And when we trace that further in the writings, we come across another name. And it says in this way that Solomon begat Boaz of Rasha, and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth, and Obed begat Jesse, who was the father of King David.

So likewise, when we would study closer, Rasha is Rahab. Rahab of the Old Testament. Rahab of that ancient city that was overthrown by the Israelites. She too was of that lifestyle. Well, we can say that she was a harlot. But when the Israelites spied the city and sent people to look, she became converted to living faith. When that city was overthrown, she was spared her and her family.

And so the lineage of Jesus Christ came through her.

We also read then that Boaz was her son, who then begat Obed of Ruth. Ruth was a Moabite, not an Israelite at all. And she or the Moabite people were the descendants of Lot and one of his daughters. And so she came from that lineage or that nation, that bloodline.

But if we recall of Ruth, her husband had passed away too. And she was the daughter of Naomi. And when all of their husbands had died, Naomi wanted to return back again to Israel because the situation was quite difficult in Moab. And so Ruth went with her.

Ruth wanted to continue in that same faith that her husband and her mother-in-law and father-in-law had living faith. She did not want to remain with her people. Who were not believing people. So she was a Gentile. And the lineage of Christ came then, even through the Gentile people.

So we can again think and repeat perhaps even that Jesus Christ came into this world to save the sinners from sin. And God's kingdom is made up of those that are sinful people. Those that need the power that comes through the gospel of the forgiveness of sins.

And we receive that gospel, we know by the oral proclamation of it. We preach one to another that core of the gospel. The core of the gospel is the forgiveness of sins. We oftentimes refer to the gospel, we mean simply that, the forgiveness of sins.

But the gospel also contains those teachings and even admonitions that we receive that come from the truth of God's word. That too is part of the gospel.

But most commonly when we, when someone says that, I want to hear the gospel, what they mean is that, they would want us to bless them in the name and blood of Jesus. With the forgiveness of sins, that assurance.

And so that is the way that we make our journey of faith. Because when God gave us his spirit, we know that, and his word, his word is quite, very bright, and shines into our hearts.

And we see every day the most sinful of people that we are. And we, it's sometimes been described in this way that, that we feel the emotions of sin in our flesh. We know the tendencies that we have, that we have inherited from our first parents, Adam and Eve, has come each generation.

We could say as Luther, Luther thought that each generation from Adam and Eve, we became, or man has become more and more sinful, more and more dark in his thinking.

So we, we cannot even fully comprehend the depth of corruption that we carry in our flesh, and our mind. But we do realize it to the extent that we find it in our thoughts when they stray, and we, we feel it in our, our flesh and blood, that we are not only those that fall into sin, but we are, our sinful people, totally carrying this corruption.

We could say from the top of our head to the bottom of our feet, we are sinful people, so we can't escape ever from that until we pass away from this life. We carry with us this corruption.

When the light of God's word that shines into our hearts, we see that corruption, and sometimes it is quite depressing, and we, we lament that we are so, so much that way, so sinful, that, that, we doubt, that, are we really believing? Can, such a person who thinks such evil thoughts, or so forth, can such a one, still be a child of God?

And, again, one of Luther's thoughts comes to mind, he said that, the enemy of the soul, one time, approached him, and, very vividly, with that kind of accusation, that you are such a great sinner, and, that, how can you be a child of God? How can you make that claim, that you are a child of God?

And, Luther, from that, experience, he, advised all of us, and the road of it, and, we can, take that as, part of our, weapons of warfare, even, but, he said that, should the enemy of soul, approach you in that way, and accuse you of being such a, unworthy member of God's kingdom, and such a great sinner, that you can agree with him, and you can say that, yes, that's true, I am such a great sinner, but it was, also, you can answer that, it was for such, ones as myself, that the Lord Jesus, suffered and died, and shed his blood, and opened to heaven, so, we are, sinful people, in our entire being, but of course, we, too, fall into sin, we, we, fall into, sins, sins, that we, call names, sentences, sometimes, and maybe, maybe the emphasis, is too much on, on, trying to, define, so perfectly, what we have fallen into, but, I have, I have sometimes, thought of it this way, and, after, listening to a, sermon, last summer, services, where a brother spoke of, his childhood, and, how it was with him, growing up, in a believing home, and something had happened, and, he was still a young boy, and, and he, had conscience, his conscience bothered him, and, he, knew that, he, he needed to, hear the gospel, so, he went in the middle of the night, and, and his parents were sleeping, and he, they, one, the father, I think he said awoke, and, and asked him, what, what is it, that, and he, he, he, he found strength to, to tell of what it was, and, he, his father, blessed him with the gospel, of the forgiveness of sins.

And, I thought back to my, my own childhood, I, I grew up in a, a, a, believing home, but, we, we did not have, such a teaching, we, uh, always went to services, and, we, uh, went through Sunday school, and, confirmation, not in, uh, the same way as, uh, that, that it is today, but, the confirmation, and, we were taught, about, to, avoid sin, not to, uh, partake of certain things, and, things like, uh, uh, alcohol, and, movies, and dances, and the things, of, that time, that seemed to be, great temptations.

But, uh, I, I, I, I, don't remember, ever, that, uh, my mother taught me, that, in this way, that, if you do fall into sin, that, uh, don't, give up your faith, for, you can, uh, you can receive, the forgiveness, the gospel message, even for, that particular, matter.

And, I, I, didn't grow up, learning, that, I, you could say, I had to learn, things, the hard way, and, it came to, such a, a point, that, uh, I would have liked, to talk about, was, what was on my, heart and conscience, but, I, I didn't know, what to do.

So, I know, that, sometimes, the, uh, question, can come up, as, as to, the place, of confession, in our, lives, and, to me, it is, it is quite a simple thing, uh, based on my, childhood experience, that, uh, when, we are, uh, able, when, when, when we have that privilege, when, we have a, mother, or, father, or, sibling, or, friend, in faith, that we can, actually, go, and, talk to, and, and, explain, to a degree, what happened, that, that, is, uh, where, where we can, say, what's happened, and, we've confessed, what's happened.

But, but, the greatest part, is this, that we, hear the, gospel, of the forgiveness, of sins, for our, confessions, are, never, perfect, and, they can, never be our, our, the reason, of the hope, of salvation, that we have, it is, not in that, that we confess, but in that, that we believe.

But, we, we are, we are who we are, uh, we carry, uh, our flesh and blood, we have our own places, of watching, we've come from our, our own, lineage, families of origin, and, and so forth, and, but yet, we've been called together, by the spirit of God, we've been united together, in a way that, is not humanly possible, but a way that the, only the spirit can do, to unite us together, in a common hope, of eternal life, and, uh, and, in a, love, a love for the, undying soul, where we are, willing to, sacrifice, our own pride, for the, uh, helping, one another, in the trials, and the tribulations, difficulties, that we face, as the, children of God, God.

But we, we too, dear brothers, and sisters, uh, uh, we have, much reason, for joy, and they, and I have to say that, to myself, uh, more than I can say it, to you, because I can, tend to, uh, concentrate on, what, what is not right, instead of what is, what is right, and become depressed, and, uh, negative about, such things.

But, uh, we, have been called, to be the children of God, the, greatest, name, has been given, to us, a child of God, and we, have the hope, of eternal life, and that promise, that, Jesus will be with us, each day, unto the, end of the, world, and, uh, guiding us, and caring for us, in his kingdom, so that we will be able to, safely, reach that destination.

Of course, the enemy of the soul, is, such to that, he would like to, cause us to, uh, lose this, uh, eyesight, of faith, or cause us to be, uh, turn our gaze away from, uh, that goal of life, eternal, uh, to, uh, turn unto the cares, of this life, or, those things, that appeal to flesh, and blood, that is what he'll, always try to, do.

But, uh, I think if we, live us, in that, childlike way, trusting in the, power of the gospel, and, uh, with that, uh, uh, hope, of, eternal life, in our hearts, then we will, we will make it to that destination, that, eternal, we could say, eternal Christmas service, or, eternal Advent service, as we, have now, when we, more closely, remember the, uh, birth, and, life, of our Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ.

But he has called us, with a, holy calling, to be his children, and, uh, may he, protect us, in this calling too, may it always, be the most important thing, when we, make this journey, through life, that, we would make our decisions, and, think our thoughts, through that, or from that point of view, that, uh, how does it affect, my life of faith.

But, we are, on the journey, many of us, I'm sure, could tell, and, uh, speak of the, the, times, that we have been, wounded by, the, by sin, and, deceived by the, enemy of the soul.

But, we could speak too, of the, victories, over, over the enemy, of the soul, and the, washing away, of our sins, in the, name and blood, of, Jesus.

And, I know, probably, I'm the, maybe, maybe, the oldest person, here, today, and, uh, have seen, um, many things, but, likewise, those that have gone, before, the generation, before, that I have, had the privilege, of going, and, and, uh, discussing, the way, and the journey.

I know that, there isn't, uh, older, person, in God's kingdom, that would say that, oh, I wish, I wish I had done it, differently, I wish I had, enjoyed the, things of this life, and of this world, more.

But, uh, what we find, when we grow, older, is, we become more, thankful, that God has, preserved us, and given us, strength, to, uh, put one, put in front of another, in this, journey of faith.

Sometimes, I have, thought of it that way, I read, uh, used to read, to, to my, children and grandchildren, some of those, uh, fairy tales, as I suppose we'd call them, or, or stories of, olden times, and, one of them was, a, story of a, journey to, the city of London, England, and it went, something like this, that, one, foot up, and one foot down, that's the, way to London town.

And I, I thought of that, years later, uh, how, that is the way it is, with the, journey of faith too, it, it is a step at a time, and sometimes, those steps are, difficult to make, dependent on, the, doubts, and fears, or, uh, difficulties, that we are facing, at home, or, in our life.

Uh, we, many, many are the temptations, and, many are the woes, that we can face, as, even as the children, of God.

But somehow, through the, power of faith, and the, power of the, forgiveness of sins, somehow, the children of God, are, able to, make that, journey, uh, step, at a time, because they, see the, homeland shore, they know, that there is a, a far better life, a far better, more beautiful home, that awaits, the child of God.

And so they, they journey towards that, so, we journey towards that, with that hope of eternal life, in our heart.

So, dear brothers, and sisters, I want to encourage you, never to despair, of the power of the gospel.

I have learned that, too, in, in, uh, my life, when I have, uh, uh, prejudged, I suppose, I didn't think, I, I was doing that, but, and people that I knew, that I was sure, would, would never come into faith, and, I, I was, pleasantly proved, wrong.

But I had to, to, to, understand, that, truly, God, is the, giver, of that gift, Jesus Christ, is, truly, the author, and finisher, of faith, and, the, it is he that calls, and it is he that preserves us, in faith.

And so that we need not be, uh, discouraged, we need not, think, like a certain, man I met in Africa, when we, offered him, uh, the power of the gospel, we brought it close to him, and he said that, he, he had done so much evil, in his life, that he said, not even, God, can forgive my sins.

So we have, we have brought that, gospel of the forgiveness, of sins to him, but he could not, believe it, he could not believe, that it was true, he, he despaired, totally, of it.

But the, enemy of the soul, is, he is clever, even in God's kingdom, to, create that kind of, image in our, mind, as travelers, that our sins are, are too gross, and they're, and no one has sinned, as even I have sinned, and, try to discourage us, and think that, that not even the gospel, of the, forgiveness of sin, sentence can, sustain me, on this life of faith, or this journey of faith.

So dear, brothers and sisters, don't, be discouraged, the gospel, of, the gospel, is the power of God, and the salvation, for everyone, that believes.

So uplift your hearts, again, today, to believe, most assuredly, that your sins, are forgiven, in Jesus name, and precious blood, and you get, and believe, unto peace, and unto freedom, and unto joy.

And as a, a poor brother, and faith, and the weak, servant of the word, I, I too desire, to, again, hear that, that, sweet message, of the gospel.

I, I have, not, grown tired, of hearing it, neither, neither, have I, gotten to that point, that I, do not need it, but I do, need to hear, that message, and, so, want to hear, can I believe, my sins forgiven, I, promise, to believe, together with you, in Jesus name, Amen.