Youth Days/Sermon in Rockford 11.08.2019

We will continue here yet for a few moments with that prayer of faith that God would yet give what is needed for us today. And we will read from the 18th chapter according to the Gospel of Matthew, beginning with the 15th verse onto the 22nd verse. And we read these words in Jesus' name.

And if he neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church. But if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Then came Peter to him and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee until seven times, but until seventy times seven. Amen.

Amen. I too here in the beginning wish to bring greetings of love and peace. Those greetings of God's peace from the brothers and sisters there in the close neighboring sister congregation in Elk River. I brought these greetings already yesterday, but I see here today many that weren't here, so wish to again bring those greetings. This is that greeting that we have that joins us, and that love that is extended and we feel among the fellowship of God's children. And we remember one another. Even though we don't often see each other, we yet remember one another.

This text that we have before us here is a familiar portion of God's word, and it is referred to as the church law of Christ. And it is found in this 18th chapter of Matthew, which contains much instruction from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And already in the beginning of the chapter, the disciples came to Jesus. They must have been visiting among themselves, and they were pondering this question, that who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Maybe they had that discussion, and might have even in their way there, been comparing notes, who does what duty, who does what duty, and even wondering if it might be one of them that was the greatest.

But Jesus gave them a different answer. He called a little child into their midst, took this little child and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. He held there for his disciples, and for us today, that example of the greatest in the kingdom, the simply believing little child.

And then this text goes on, or this chapter here goes on, where he talks about offending one of these little ones, and how if one of these little ones would be offended, for him that causes the offense, it would be better that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

I've thought of this teaching of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and thought of it from the position of a father, how in weakness and poorness, we as parents wish to raise our children. And may it be that there is this type of teaching, and that the teaching wouldn't in this way offend the little ones with this, that we would tarnish for them the image and the beauty of God's kingdom. That we would begin to teach a message that would cause them to question God's kingdom.

And in our own weakness and poorness, how important it is that we turn again and again to the gospel to care for those offenses that come there even at home.

Jesus then continued in this chapter and right before our text told the parable of a lost sheep, how when the shepherd realized that that one sheep was lost, he left those ninety and nine that were safe and secure and went to search for and find that lost one and bring it back to the flock.

And the core of this chapter then seems to be what Jesus says in the eleventh verse: For the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost.

And in this context then Jesus taught this church law of Christ of how we care for one another. And when we think of this care as is recorded also in God's word, that we wish to care for each other in this way, that we're not battling against individuals but as God's word records, the battle is against principalities and those things which war against the message of God's kingdom and the work of the Holy Spirit.

And here in particular Jesus gives this example of how we care for those offenses that come between us as believers.

Some of the other translations, and I know in the newest Finnish translation is also an example of this, it includes to this message of caring for offenses, I think as how it's recorded in Paul's letter to the Galatians: that brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such, and one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself lest thou also be tempted.

When we think of this matter of offenses, it could come up in this way that we feel, well, I wasn't offended, so it's not my position to go care for another. Because here as is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, it very clearly speaks of those times when we have been offended by another believer, by a brother or sister.

But it doesn't preclude the care that is offered in God's kingdom when we, even if it hasn't been a personal offense toward us, know of or have heard or have seen something that troubles us in the life of a believing brother or sister. We wish to approach that one and visit about those matters.

And then when we visit about these matters, that we remember the mind of Christ, that we would be as Paul recorded in the letter to the Romans, kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another.

This church love Christ is nothing other than the love of God as it's in His kingdom, the love of the Holy Spirit. But it does tell us that we are to care for each other.

And I think of this even in this context for you dear young people, how there are those of you that maybe have recently moved from your childhood home, you're living together with friends.

When you, as we just have recently experienced again conclusion of confirmation schools and for those newly confirmed, it gives this time of maybe spreading our wings a little bit and we're not there so closely with mom and dad anymore.

But dear young, dear youth, care for one another on the way to heaven. When those matters that come between you cause friction, care for those matters.

And how is it that we care for matters in God's kingdom? We care for them under the gospel. Put those offenses away, care for them with the gospel, believe those sins forgiven in Jesus' name and blood.

And then if we come to that spot as youth or older ones where we see that something isn't right in the life of our dear brother or sister, something that causes us question or worry that we want to approach them, approach them from that spot, not in a demanding way but in a way that comes alongside.

Just as we have all needed the care, we need our brothers and sisters on our way to heaven that they would care for us.

This church law of Christ brings us to the central matter that we visited about last evening, the forgiveness of sins.

How God there through His Spirit led the presentation and the discussion, and we heard again and again that matters haven't changed in God's kingdom.

At the core is this precious gospel message of forgiveness, and that's where this church law of Christ also leads us to, that none would be lost, that all would remain, that offenses that come would be cared for.

And Jesus then gives the order of how this care should take place, that first we would go to the one that has caused the offense and we would visit about the matter.

This seems in some way to war against what we would in our mind understand, and if we've been offended, what we even feel if we have been offended by one is our reaction firstly to go to that one and say and visit about the matter that has caused the offense.

Or has your reaction been like mine has been, where first I might go tell this to somebody else, just think, look what someone has done to me.

Or is our reaction sometime in this way, well, they are the one that caused the offense, why don't they come to me one on one with the one who has, we have been offended by.

And then Jesus says that in this visit, if he, he, he, he, he, he, he, thou hast gained thy brother.

That while there are these different steps and this order, anyway any spot along the way when these visits happen, when the offense is, when the matters are carried for with the gospel, the matters are then forgiven and forgotten, and it is as Jesus said here, we have gained our brother.

But if it is that in these discussions one on one it doesn't seem like headway is made, then we are instructed that we take one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

So we would take those trusted brothers and sisters along with so that we would be able to there visit about the matter again with that hope and prayer that God would open the matters and matters could be cared for.

And then what if the matters aren't cared for? The third step then is that if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church.

But if he neglect to hear the church, let them be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.

That these matters then, these matters that have caused the offense are brought before the congregation, that in the mouth of the congregation and the Holy Spirit gathered there would again be able to reveal these matters.

And if the one that has caused the offense yet does not hear, they are then bound in their sins.

And this act of binding often seems to our mind as something that would be very harsh, but this is that act of love to the fallen one that they are no longer held as a brother or sister in faith, and that even this act would show them where they are.

God would be able to stop them and they would be able to care for their matters.

This church law of Christ as it's recorded here has three steps to it, only is a few short verses in the Bible.

And but how does it happen? It seems like it's not a timetable that maybe we would have in our mind in this way that, well, I visited the one time, we didn't make any headway, we need to bring others, and then after one visit it would go before the congregation.

God is patient and longsuffering, and even in these things we know He holds the timetable.

And we approach these matters in this way in a timid way that God would yet continue to call the one who has strayed, God that God, God would continue to offer His grace, and that in His time these matters could be opened and revealed and that none would be lost, that all would remain as children God's kingdom.

But in our impatience and in dealing with these sometimes difficult and sensitive matters, we would wish that they would be behind us and we could move forward.

But we want to remember even in this the patience and longsuffering of our heavenly Father.

Even at those times where we feel very impatient, it's good also when we think of these matters.

And often it has been this that most times when we have had that offense that is common, we been able to approach the one who we have been offended by.

And I think there's even the wisdom here of God in this order.

Sometimes the offense happens when the one that has caused offense is completely oblivious to the fact that they have offended.

And when they hear that they have caused offense, while they may, they have wanted to care for matters.

And so often it is this way that when we visit about these matters, they're already at the first step.

We are able to preach the gospel of forgiveness and the love and the unity is there restored.

And my experience has been on both sides of this equation that when I've been reminded and encouraged, when I've wanted to care for a brother, have had those questions, that the gospel has been needed both ways.

Both find themselves before God and His word as sinful people needing the forgiveness of God and needing the gospel which washes away those matters.

Then the love and the unity has been restored.

We have heard in this time this type of a comment though that even in some of the discussions, and I don't know if even, and I think in this way that some of the discussions of our time are not matters necessarily or the order and the prescription of the church law of Christ.

When there are these matters that have been spoken in a way that trouble the congregation, it feels like maybe these aren't those matters where we personally care for.

When offense has come between brothers and sisters, that doesn't preclude even in these matters and these questions of our time and the difficulties that have been there that we would visit in small and private circles around these matters.

But I have heard this that while the care was wrong or the church law of Christ wasn't followed, and I have been pondered in this way, that can that question come from the enemy where the focus becomes on how the care was administered and that the order was wrong or the care was done in the wrong way and lost sight is this matter that care was needed.

It may be, and surely it does happen, that the care happens even at times in a wrong manner because it's weak and faulty believers caring for each other.

And we go wanting to care for matters but we go carrying our own sin corrupt portion.

And it's true at times that the caregiver needs also that same care of the gospel.

But dear brothers and dear sisters, let's not have this type of a question that was the care administered wrong and this becomes such a focal point and such matter that we would latch on to that we lose sight of the core of the matter that care was needed.

We all need forgiveness. We have all needed God's forgiveness. We all need the support and the care of our brothers and sisters here on our way to heaven.

None of us will make it there on our own. We need our brothers and sisters who care for us and care for us especially at those times when we don't see care that is needed.

May it be that we are always preserved in this way in the place of a child needing the care of God, needing the care of His congregation, and then simply believing, putting matters away, believing and living of the gospel which is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe.

Our text then continues and concludes with what Peter then came to with this question then to Jesus.

Jesus had given this instruction. Peter here realized, and we don't know if this is Peter alone or Peter often served as that spokesperson, spokesman of the disciples, if he was coming with the question collectively of them or just on his own.

But he asked this question. He understood the need for care and that we need to be forgiving.

And he said, well, how often is enough? That surely seven times in a day would be enough.

Jesus yet taught Peter and teaches us today, not until seven times but seventy times seven.

And here we see as the Psalmist records the measure of God's grace, how God's grace is unlimited.

The 103rd Psalm is recorded for as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.

We have a gracious and loving heavenly Father who wishes to care for His children here in His kingdom.

And this care comes to each and every one of us individually, and the care comes again and again in the message of the gospel.

Luke, where he records this same portion here where Jesus explained to the disciples that it isn't only until seventy times but until seven times, but seventy times seven.

Luke records the disciples' response to this teaching of Jesus. He said as Luke records, the apostle said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

God isn't this where we find ourselves dear brothers and sisters today?

The disciples didn't tell Jesus, well, let's sit down and visit about these matters further, let's clarify the understanding, have we understood these things correctly or have we understood them deeply enough or have we understood them precisely.

The disciples' response was, Increase our faith.

Isn't it important dear brothers and sisters that we travel in this way today trusting and understanding that and knowing, believing that all the understanding that's needed for us to make it to heaven is found here in God's kingdom?

It's not given to one individual or to a small group of individuals but collectively here in God's kingdom all the understanding that we need to make it to heaven is here.

And we then find our place in the same places those disciples as recorded here in the Bible, Increase our faith.

It's not important that we understand, and it certainly is true we will never understand everything, but the most important matter is that we are able to believe.

And then when we have faith, we wish to endeavor in faith battling against sin, putting sin away when sin attaches so faith would be preserved.

And this is that simple message which we heard so clearly last night in our introduction and discussion on the forgiveness of sin, the gospel message that's been preached and is always preached in God's kingdom and is available yet today.

Dear brother, dear sister, as you find yourself this morning, you yet have that permission to believe sins, doubts, failings are all forgiven in Jesus' name and precious blood.

Be encouraged, be emboldened with the power that comes through the gospel to continue yet for today on the journey toward heaven.

We travel here in the grace shelter of God's kingdom, in the protective care that God has given here in His kingdom.

And when we are able to travel simply believing in this way, we will one day make it to our home in heaven.

It pays dear brothers and sisters to keep these matters simple, simply believe.

And when we are able to believe in this way, our faith will one day change to see there on the shores of heaven.

I came here today with my own doubts and fears and worries and feel even before the word of God my own sinfulness and ask, can I also believe? I want to believe along with all of you.

It's secure to remain as little children in God's kingdom.

And we will continue this afternoon. We have an introduction and discussion and then closing devotion.

But here already I want to thank you dear brothers and sisters for the love and the care and the heartfelt welcome that I felt here coming to serve in your midst.

It has felt good to come among God's children and have felt that love and care and that support also on my journey toward heaven.

And I will promise to take those greetings of love back to my home congregation also and yet ask that you remember me, my family, and your prayers that God would continue to protect and protect us and keep us as His children all the way to the home in heaven.

In Jesus' name, Amen.