Services/Sermon in Menahga 20.04.2019

We continue our services this afternoon in prayer of heart that the Heavenly Father would yet feed us according to His will. I'm about to read from the 16th chapter of Luke, beginning with the 19th verse. These words are as follows in Jesus' name.

There was a certain rich man which was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus which was laid at his gate full of sores and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores.

And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeing Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and quench his thirst.

And he said, I will not cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivest thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things. But now he is comforted and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot. Neither can they pass to us that would come from thence.

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, Father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house. For I have five brethren that he may testify unto them lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham said unto him, They have Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them. And he said, Nay, Father Abraham, but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. Amen. Amen.

A very familiar portion of God's word. The teaching of Jesus. And in this portion of God's word, there are two men spoken of. One whose name was Lazarus. And then the other man didn't have a name, but was just called a rich man. And in this text it says that this rich man had everything he needed for this life. He fared sumptuously. And this beggar Lazarus had nothing.

I was thinking of today, as we've heard through our dear brother, how on this Easter weekend, this Saturday, is a quiet day where Jesus was left there in the grave. And surely, as we heard, the disciples would have reflected much about the events and the happenings of the recent days. We also, as God's children, ponder things, consider things, ponder what this life is.

The Apostle Paul said that we have so little vision, we see in this life like through a glass, darkly. It's like looking through a foggy glass. That we can see something, but God only gives us glimpses of things that we will experience, or He prepares us for things that we will experience in His way, in His time, and in the way that is necessary for us.

So when we ponder the end of this life, and what life is to come, it's not easy for us to, at all, in any way, understand what eternity is, what hell is, what heaven is like. We only know what is here and now. We don't know what will happen even later this afternoon or evening, much less tomorrow or in the weeks to come. I think God protects us from knowing those things.

He's given that kind of a desire in us that we would be forward-looking people. He gives us things of joy in our lives to look forward to and make plans for. And this is how God has created us. But we are also very limited in scope in looking forward.

Not much either is written in scriptures about what happened with Jesus when he was in the grave. In Luther's Creed, when he writes in the second article of the Creed about, I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. And on the third day, he rose again from the dead. And he ascended into heaven.

There are some of the psalmists who write some of this event when Jesus was there. But it would be enough for us to know and believe that he went to hell to battle against death, to give us that hope of resurrection when he rose victorious on Easter.

But in this portion of God's word, we also see a little glimpse of what that hell was like. This rich man who died, this rich man who said in the Bible that he was dressed in, clothed in purple and fine linen. It was the color of royalty. In fact, you remember when Jesus was dressed before his crucifixion, he was dressed in purple and he was mocked. Now he looked like an earthly king. Some asked Jesus, Are you the king of the Jews? And Jesus reminded often that thou hast said. But they mocked him and they dressed him in the purple and, you know, the color of kingship and fine linen.

And so this rich man was this and he fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus who was laid at his gate full of sores. We can see the contrast of contrast. The rich and the poor.

When this rich man died, he was a man of the Lord. And the Lord crossed the road, and he paid him the offence. Romeo took the position, Gandhi took the position. And when they cracking down, and they put it at r err. And gladio set foot in the Lord's replaces mill under his parents' home. He fought therirts, and rich men who открыв their arms and fell to death. Magazines Paray.

Where that peace was, it says the rich man also died and was buried. But this beggar Lazarus died and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. Now this rich man, he descended into hell, the same place that Jesus was. And it gives us a glimpse of what it was. It says the hellfire is there. He was in torments. And this rich man lifted his eyes and he asked of one small thing. That Father Abraham have mercy on me and send Lazarus. He could see Lazarus a long ways off. And he asked that Lazarus would come and he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am tormented. I am tormented in these flames.

The bosom of Abraham, on the other hand, where Lazarus was taken, I thought is a beautiful picture of a perfect resting place for a child to wait for the call to the glory of heaven. But if we go back to consider that funeral, that this rich man had, he would have been recognized and known in this community. Known of many, many people. Probably given honor and glory of this life.

But what of Lazarus when he passed away? Jesus, neither did he have a wonderful funeral. But it says in scriptures that when he was taken off of the cross, Joseph of Arimathea took him and wrapped him in clothes. And there he was put in that tomb to await the day of resurrection.

Today, in this weekend, we've traveled and visited a number of places here in this area of Managa and Wolf Lake. We went out to camp at Stony Lake today. And I thought, I'm not much of the settlers who have lived in this northern parts of Minnesota for many years. I'm sure there are graves in this area of whom are relatively unknown and unmarked of those who left this life as a believer.

I don't know. I'm only assuming. It's often the case that the believer isn't so wealthy that they could afford some kind of a beautiful funeral or one that would be known and recognized of people. But yet, recently, when we buried my father, I was very happy to see him. And those of you who have had to bury loved ones, you know of how the feelings and effect of death are.

And we lowered my father and it was the middle of the winter, the end of January. And when we left that grave site, it was well below zero. And I thought there, when we left, that it was a very good thing that we had a grave site. But now my father is resting in a cold, cold grave. He was taken back to the earth from where he had been created. From dust thou art until dust thou shall return.

But I pondered what happened to my father's soul. My father told me that his son had died and had hanged himself between a rock and a stone and had had his body ready. His body, his whole body. If I were sheep and I were a calf. For this is what brings me such joy. 2 Peter 1:6. This is that which brings such joy. That those who die in faith are carried, just as this poor beggar, to the bosom of Abraham and a source of comfort.

In some generations, my father will only be some distant memory for people to consider. Just as it is for me when I think of my great-great-great-grandfathers who came from Finland and settled in Kokato when they traveled from Finland. I've only been to their gravesite, but I have no recollection or understanding or any idea of the personalities, natures, or anything of these brothers who have passed on in life.

After some generations, I've been to their gravesites, and we are quickly forgotten. But the remarkable thing is we are not forgotten by God. The Bible says that when Jesus comes a second time, and Paul writes in his epistle to the Thessalonians of how that end will come and when Jesus returns a second time, he writes very comfortingly.

And I think something that all of us as God's children should consider and ponder that what is waiting for me beyond this life? Paul writes that, But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep. Those ones who, as Jesus said, are in the grave, but are only sleeping.

Concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words.

Can you imagine, brothers and sisters, of that which waits for us as God's own? It's well that we would continue to endeavor. Even as this beggar who went to the end of the rich man's table, it says, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.

Let's say it's a pitiful picture that is there for this beggar. Later on, in this text, when it speaks of the reward, and when this rich man had seen Lazarus afar off, he cried, Father Abraham, have mercy upon me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.

And now, look what Abraham said. Son, son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivest thy good things and likewise Lazarus evil things.

Too often, because we are so carnal, we are so short-sighted, all we know is the here and now. And it was especially evident, and I speak from my own experience in life, when I was a young boy, even a teenager and a young adult, it was so difficult to be patient for anything, any kind of blessing that God would give.

I was soon to be married. And I got married at a very young age. I was a single man, graduated from high school for exactly one month. I graduated from high school on June 9th, and I was married and became a man. I was a married man on July 9th.

We were making preparations, Maggie and I, and we had gone to our place where we were going to rent. And upstairs where we were going to live, there was a believing lady living there, a very dear friend and still is.

And she jokingly told me, she says, Why don't you just wait for a couple months to get married? She says, You're so young. And I remember still, as she still teases me to this day, that my response was this, that, Why? Do you want me to die? I don't, I'm not a patient man. And I expect, and I would always hope for things to happen yesterday.

When I was a young boy, I would look at those 16, 17, 18 year old guys, and I thought, if I can make it until I'm 18, then I'd have it made. They had, you know, cars that they were driving, they had money, they could go buy whatever they wanted, and they were far removed from any temptation of childhood, of young boys' temptations. That they don't even have temptations anymore at the age of 18. Wow, how ignorant that was.

But in my mind, I could not see past the immediate. And so in many ways, God has needed to take me in my life and to teach me and to settle me. God has had his hands full, I know.

But one of the ways that he taught me very, very powerfully was when I lost my daughter. She would be very next in line to Daniel. I was a young father, as I said, I got married young. And my daughter, at the age of two months, was taken from us. She passed away in the night.

And this was a very harsh, difficult experience for me to accept. I didn't blame God, but I really questioned inwardly that what is God trying to teach me? This impatient, young, often angry, doubting, believer, father, and dad.

I don't know that God has any intention to make our lives difficult, but God truly tries us. It's like he sets his loving thumb on us and gently, gently, nudges us and reminds us of the way and the journey and reminds us of the important things in this life.

This rich man needed to be reminded from the depths of hell. Remember, in this life, you had all of those luxuries, those things that were in abundance. But now, Lazarus, who suffered much in this life, now has gained the victory in glory.

Brothers and sisters, may we be content with little. God has given us enough, but he's not given us too much. He wouldn't want to spoil us. He wouldn't want us to leave our first love. He wouldn't want us to give up this faith that we own for the pleasures and riches of this world.

There's that parable of the prodigal son where that younger son left his father's house. And you remember how that story went where he was in the world. God didn't bless his life there. But God was gracious also in allowing this younger son to return to his father's house. He remembered, I'm sure, especially in a time of difficulty, the love of the father's home.

We also live in God's kingdom and we feel the love of the father's house. And those of you young boys and girls here today who have been granted the same grace that I was as a boy to be born and raised in a place where I was a young man and I'm a young man. It is a wonderful blessing and I don't know in this life that we know enough to be thankful. Maybe in heaven we'll know enough then to thank God for that wonderful gift and blessing.

I've spoken many times of a trip that I took to Detroit and out of this one home when we were touring the city in a very poor section of town one little boy four five years old came out of the house with a dirty diaper. That's all he was wearing. Walked across the sidewalk into the street and I wondered that where is the mother and father of this child? What hope would this child have to ever be taught the mysteries of faith to be shown the father's love, the love of the father and the mother in their home?

I take all of that which God has given for granted. What we see in this experience that Abraham reminded how this rich man had received the good things in life while Lazarus received the evil but now he is comforted and now heart tormented.

But he also mentions that even if I was able there is this great gulf fixed beside all this between us and you there is a great gulf fixed so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot and neither can they pass to us that would come from thence.

It was impossible to pass through this abyss from the depths of hell to the glory of heaven. Once the life comes to an end the last breath of this life stops. No more can anything make changes or adjustments.

Some of those, excuse me, worldly churches have those special kinds of prayers and special kind of works that they do that might take one who died after living a fairly ungodly life and do certain works on their behalf and prayers on their behalf so that it would nudge them from parts of hell to a lesser evil and so on. And the more work that they would do they would gain greater favor with their creator.

It's not according to God's word. When this life ends God's word is not God's word. God's word so ends any chance of making any amends for eternity.

I think it's important for us especially beloved young. The devil comes only comes close. You know I thought when I would be 18 then these temptations would be gone but now I'm a 60 year old man and those temptations still come very close.

But those things of eternity those matters of eternity need to be made in this time and in this life. Jesus talks about his second coming. He will come as a trump quickly the sound of a trumpet and Jesus will then come to judge all things.

May it be that when we leave from this life there will be faith in our hearts there would be we would be believing so that we would be gathered into the granaries of heaven.

We cannot make those changes just as Jesus says here there's this great gulf fixed. Then this man who was in torments of hell he said I pray thee therefore Father that thou wouldst send him to my father's house.

He said I have five brethren and that he may testify unto them lest they also come into this place of torment. Honorable request if I can't have it at least send them to my loved ones.

Well yet Abraham said unto him they have Moses and the prophets let them hear them. And he still argued and he said nay Father Abraham but if one went from the dead they will repent.

And he said unto him if they hear not Moses and the prophets neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.

Brothers and sisters it speaks now of God's kingdom and the work of God's kingdom. The spreading of the gospel the sowing of God's word all of that which has been entrusted to God's kingdom here upon earth.

After Jesus' resurrection he appeared to his disciples and after his resurrection he only appeared unto his disciples and his loved ones. Believers. And there he breathed on them the Holy Ghost. And he sent then his disciples to continue the work of God's kingdom.

And today the work of Christ continues in God's kingdom through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives life to God's word. Man's wisdom is for naught. Man's wisdom and knowledge is only for this life.

But this spirit that gives birth to faith and gives life to God's word is that which goes and calls and gathers and lightens and sanctifies all of that which Luther writes in the third article of the creed.

And we see that happening today in God's kingdom around us. We see how the Holy Ghost sanctifies. It also calls us and gathers us together just as a mother would gather and a mother hen would gather her chicks the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit calls its own.

We can huddle and we can gather in God's kingdom and feel the security and love of the Father's home. On the outside of God's kingdom the world rages. We see the evil, the sinfulness, how corrupt the world is becoming. Day by day more and more evil.

But as the world becomes more evil the light of God's kingdom shines even more brightly. This is what Abraham was speaking to. He was speaking about how the prophets, the word of God, the teachings of Moses, the preaching of the gospel still remain and still resounds from God's kingdom today.

This weekend there are those kinds of mission services going on around the world where God is calling lost souls on to repentance. In these services of God's children the voice of the Good Shepherd is being heard here and far away.

And if we have been able to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd it is a blessing. It is a heavenly blessing that God has given.

Brothers and sisters, if that voice of the Good Shepherd starts to dim or our hearts starts to wander into the ways of this world and we start to question and doubt it is important that we come back to the hearing of God's word and even put those matters and sins away.

It is only sin that separates one from God's kingdom. Nothing else separates us from God but unforgiven sin. And that's the message of God's kingdom that none of us need to fear worry or be concerned.

Even during the last heresy many angels asked that how would they be preserved and the voice of the Good Shepherd was always this to keep faith and a good conscience in the same way that that beggar was able to remain believing a beggar of grace in the house of his father.

God cares for his own. He will protect you. He will guide you. Fear not little flock for it is your father's good pleasure to give you his kingdom.

And in this kingdom we hear the voice of the Good Shepherd that exhorts us and encourages us to take another step. One day the graves will be opened the voice of the Archangel will be heard.

Come ye blessed of my father inherit that home which I have prepared for you from the foundation of the world. The book of Revelation speaks of that call.

Now the book of life will be opened and from that book of life the name of God's children will be read and will also be heard.

Can you imagine on that day when there's that book in heaven and there from that book is read your own your very own name. You know how special your name is when someone calls you by name whether it's George or John or Harry there's a certain resonance to that name.

When you hear it called the special name that God has given you. When that name is called the last time it will be beckoning you to come. You have believed you have trusted in the voice of the Good Shepherd. You have placed all of your cares and worries and doubts upon him of whom God has sent.

All of that. But we also remember as Jesus said when those names are called those sheep are gathered and Jesus says when I was hungry you fed me when I was naked you clothed me when I was thirsty you gave me drink.

Enter in now little one the Bible says that weak one will ask that when did I? But Jesus says insomuch that you've done it to the least of these mine own my brethren you've done it unto me.

Heaven is reserved for those weak ones not for those strong and mighty and rich ones. But for those who are left today as grace beggars in God's kingdom.

Dear brothers and sisters on this day of grace remain believing as you find yourself all sins and doubts forgiven in Jesus name precious atoning blood. He who is faithful in little in Jesus name and blood all sins are forgiven.

He who is faithful in little I will reward thee with much. Think of what kind of an exchange it is. We can bring a sinful heart to the heart of our heavenly father and he gives us a crown of life in exchange.

That's the best deal I've ever heard of. It's the best deal that you can get that children could ever make. You're always making deals with your brothers I know because I once did. I'll give you two baseball cards if you give me this.

But think that you can bring your sinful heart to God. And Jesus himself washes it clean and he gives us the crown and the glory of heaven.

This brothers and sisters is the message of God's kingdom it is the message of Easter. Fear not little flock. But yet dear brothers and sisters it is much easier to say than to do and much easier to say than to believe.

I'm also left with doubts worries and fears can I still hear the gospel from my own sins and shortcomings. I want to believe with each of you. In Jesus name Amen.