Services/Sermon in Longview 10.04.2020

Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us join together this evening in opening prayer and thanksgiving.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you that once again we can join, gather around your most holy word. We thank you, dear Father, that you have seen our needs. You know our needs before us. And just as you provided Abraham with a ram in the thicket, so also you provide us with all of our needs, even those we are not aware of. And you, dear Father, now creator of heaven and earth and man, you also understand the mind of man and have provided for us a Savior that we can, through faith, through him, the one who died there on Calvary on Good Friday, our Lord and Savior Jesus, that through him, his work, and his rising again from the dead, that we were made heaven acceptable, and that we have here in your most precious kingdom a lively hope, that hope of eternal life.

And so we thank you, dear Father, this evening, that we can also be fed. And we pray, as your 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, forever and ever. Amen.

I will read for a portion on this Good Friday, a text that was appointed for this day, found in Luke 23, verses 32-46. And the words in Jesus' name are as follows:

And there were also two other malefactors led with him to be put to death. And then when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding, and the rulers also with them, deriding him, saying, He saved others, let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him, in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This is the king of the Jews.

And one of the malefactors, which were hanged, railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself, and us. But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, Dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds. But this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me, when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth, until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And having thus said, he gave up the ghost. Amen.

This text gives us many details of that event there so long ago, where Jesus was put on a cross, and suffered and died for all mankind, just as God for so many years had promised. That he had created man in his own image, and gave him commandments and instructions. And God was disappointed in man that he had created, and made that promise there, even in the Garden of Eden, so many years prior, that he would send a Savior unto man.

And so this moment, this Good Friday, that occurred, was the culmination, or the end of Jesus' ministry here on earth, and the end of his earthly life as a man. And we can see here that he was treated as a criminal, a malefactor, as it says in our text, put up on a cross between two other thieves. And he was mocked, derided, and even his clothes were removed, and auctioned, or given in a lottery, I suppose, as souvenirs for those in attendance.

But didn't Jesus, here, in the midst of his agony, and pain, and suffering on the cross, even in the midst of the mocking that was going on all around him, didn't he show us an example when he said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do? Even he, as God, loves all mankind, even wicked, deceitful man.

And here we see these men, or people, that put Jesus to death. How they knowingly put an innocent man to death, and mocked him, and challenged him to remove himself from the cross, saying, if thou wert the Son of God, take yourself down. And we know that Jesus would have had the power to take himself off that cross. But he knew that his hour was come. He knew the purpose that he was put here on earth. He fulfilled the law perfectly for man and obediently took his cross and died for you and for me and for all mankind.

God created man. God created man. And he gave us each a mind, or a brain. And this makes each of us unique. There is not one of us who is the same. But we all have similar life experiences. And we see how quickly our mind can go to places that we don't want to be.

Luther once said, you cannot stop birds from flying overhead, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair. Did we easily find ourselves doubting and even, you may say, spiraling in our thoughts that we want to recognize when this occurs? And how the apostle Paul even reminded the Philippian believers saying, finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

So, evening, even this evening hour, I would like to encourage each of you, dear listener, this evening, do not let your mind take you to those places that is not fit for a believer. Be encouraged this evening, you are yet believing.

And how quickly also we find ourselves saying those things that we didn't intend to say. If you are like me, maybe you have a tendency to speak before you think. How often in frustration or in sorrow or in anger we find ourselves saying things too quickly, hurting others, saying hurtful or mean things.

James wrote about this saying, out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same time sweet water and bitter? How often do we find ourselves in this state as believers? We are made righteous by the Holy Spirit that lives and dwells within us. But we find this old man, this fleshly portion, continues again and again to battle against that spirit.

Jesus once said, a good man out of the treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good. And an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

And if we go back to this text, we see these thieves, these two that were hung next to Jesus, also spoke what was in their hearts. Reading here, and one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him saying, if thou be Christ, save thyself and us. He had joined those others who were there mocking Jesus and railing on him. But the other, answering, rebuked him saying, dost thou not fear God seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds. But this man hath done nothing amiss. And then he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

In those words, Jesus gave that thief who spoke correctly with a humble mind contrite over his sins and deeds. He gave him everlasting life in heaven.

And so, how quickly we experience this that we think and say things that are contrary to God's word. And also how we do those things. Our actions also are not perfect. And how Paul even said, for the good that I would do not. For the good that I would I do not. But the evil which I would not that I do.

And so we, being human, relate so well to, you may say, evil thoughts, words, and deeds. And we here reading this text this evening would even wonder how could this have happened? That Jesus was innocent. During his life here on earth he fulfilled the law perfectly. Broke not one commandment. Did not fall into sin one time. And yet he was there in a court of law convicted.

We saw that those authority figures Pilate and Herod, who Jesus stood before, that they both proclaimed him innocent and announced to the people there his innocence. But the people, those high priests, those Pharisees, those captains of the temple, those officials, those high ranking levels in the church all wanted him crucified.

What drove the minds of the chief priests and captains? It was their positions of power in the synagogues, in the temple. Jesus during his life performed many miracles, spoke often words that nobody had heard. He taught at levels that were easy to listen and easy to understand. And he had many, many followers.

And those who were in charge of the synagogues and temple, maybe it was jealousy. Maybe it was fear of losing their exalted positions of power. They were nervous that they may lose their status in life. And Jesus' actions and words threatened their power. They were blind in their hatred of Jesus.

Even we can struggle with our minds. Even as Peter did. Last night, being Monday, Thursday, we heard that story where Peter had denied Jesus. We can also struggle with the praise of man, especially in confessing our faith.

Jesus had told Peter that he would deny him three times. And when he was after his arrest, he was there in the house of one of the high priests, being questioned and beaten by those captors. And Peter stood outside as close as he could to watch. And he was questioned there three times by different bystanders. Jesus. And three times Peter denied knowing Jesus. He denied even admitting that he was a disciple of Jesus.

And we also relate to this. And we can also be affected as the Pharisees were at that time, how they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

God gave each of us a mind. And we are thankful for all that we are able to do with this mind that God has given us. We use it often in our place of employment, we use it to solve problems, to think and to communicate with others. Even at school we are able to perform well with the mind that God has given us.

But don't we also find that we can struggle within our own mind when it comes to matters of faith? And we will go back to our text. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

That this during the crucifixion of Jesus there were the authorities stood watching and mocking. From noon on that day till three the sun was darkened. That certainly this was quite an awakening to those witnesses. That God allowed that whole earth to go dark as Jesus was suffering there on the cross.

It may be easy for us to think that was I if I had been there it would be easy to believe there witnessing that crucifixion and witnessing that power from heaven which darkened even the midday.

That how often we here today in our daily lives find ourselves doubting our faith. We may even with our mind find ourselves thinking deeply about faith. Yes, we find ourselves contrite, sorrowful over sin. Yes, we find ourselves desiring yet to hear God's word again. But we still doubt. We still find that we are weak in temptation.

That how many times we find ourselves falling again and again making new promises finding that the flesh within us has won. And how we also may find ourselves struggling to confess our faith before the world. That it's easy to stay quiet in this we may doubt am I yet believing? And how we may even wonder even doubt the sincerity of our confession.

How we may find that our mind is even more difficult as a three-fold enemy, the world, the devil, and our own flesh. How it can be the most difficult battle on our journey.

But here in the end of it, our text speaks also of another event that occurred. Word, it speaks, that the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. That there in the tabernacle the veil between the holy place and the most holy place was torn in two.

How with Jesus' work, his suffering, and death, his fulfilling the law, he suffered and died for mankind. He fulfilled that promise that God gave. That man did not need an intercessor before him with that promise. That that promise was now fulfilled.

And Jesus even spoke when he came back to the earth after he arose and promised to those disciples there that he would send a comforter back. And he also taught them the keys to the kingdom. That God gave power to his own the keys to loosen and bind.

And how here in God's kingdom the gospel of life flows freely. This water of life that we all find ourselves needing even daily glory. This gospel gives power, gives strength to us. It uplifts us on the way. It cares for those matters where we find ourselves struggling and losing the battle against sin and even our own mind.

Be encouraged yet this evening dear brother and sister. And believe even now every sin and doubt forgiven in Jesus' name and precious blood. And I too need to hear that gospel. Can I yet believe? That we in this daily battle that we find ourselves we are so thankful that God has brought us even up to this moment.

How we find ourselves at times losing these battles with our own mind, thoughts, words, and actions. But through faith we can win the war. Through faith we have a sure hope of heaven. And we thank God that he has given his Son for our sakes.

Jesus even spoke and encouraged those disciples. When they asked reading from chapter 18, at the same time came the disciples unto Jesus saying, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him and set him in the midst of them and said, verily I say unto you, except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of God.

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

So this is such good instruction for us this evening that we can struggle and doubt in our own mind. This same mind that we are thankful for also gives us great doubt. But uplift your heart and mind this evening and believe freely, believe simply, believe humbly as Jesus says here, as a little child.

God has brought us to this day and God will carry us as he has promised unto eternal life. And we look forward to this Easter weekend spending time with our families and remembering those works that were done on our behalf so long ago.

It pays to believe. Be encouraged yet tonight in Jesus' name. Amen.

Let us join together in the benediction. The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make his face shine upon us and be gracious unto us. The Lord lift up his countenance upon us and give us peace. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen. Amen.