Sermon in Minneapolis 07.12.2003

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, let us begin our services this evening with opening prayer and thanksgiving.

Holy and righteous God, our dear Heavenly Father, again we thank you for this opportunity that we have been able to gather together around thy holy and unperishing word. We thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, who is the reason for our salvation. And by faith and through grace, we can own the merit works of your Son here as members of your kingdom on earth.

So again, we ask for service blessings. Be with us this evening. Open your word so every hearer of the word could be refreshed, comforted, guided, and also fed with your everlasting word which has come from heaven. All of this we ask in the name of your dear Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The gospel for this second Sunday in Advent is from Luke 17, verses 20 through 24. When he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, the kingdom of God comes not with observation. Neither shall they say, lo here or lo there. For behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

And he said unto the disciples, the days will come when you shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you shall not see it. And they shall say to you, see here or see there. Go not after them, nor follow them. For as the lightning that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven shineth unto the other part under heaven, so shall also the Son of Man be in his day. Amen.

Amen. Amen.

When we read the scriptures, it's very important to, first of all, examine and have clear in your mind who is actually doing the talking, saying the words that are being read. And who are those words being directed to in the original context?

Here in the portion that we read, which is the assigned gospel text for today, these are the words of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, the Lord of heaven and earth, who is that only perfect and blameless teacher and preacher. And Jesus at this time is speaking with the Pharisees, who were a group of self-righteous people at that time. They were, many of them at least, part of the great Sanhedrin, which is the great council, which consisted of 70 members. And it was directed by the high priest.

But these Pharisees were also a very highly political group. And they were very nationalistic in their zealotry. And one unbelieving minister once was delivering a sermon on the radio. And he said that it is good that there are no such people as the Pharisees any longer today. Perhaps that is true. There aren't Pharisees in the literal sense of the word, perhaps. But if we think of what the Pharisee was and how they believed, they were ones who trusted in their own works and thought that they were heaven acceptable on the basis of them.

Also, it is important to realize, as we mentioned, who is speaking. A believer was once visiting with an unbeliever. And the unbeliever said to the believer, how can you say that you can forgive sins? For the Bible says that no one can forgive sins but God himself. But that believer had to point out to that person he was visiting with, let's look up in scriptures who actually said these words. It was a Pharisee who was exclaiming to Jesus when Jesus had forgiven sins and said, Jesus, you are blaspheming God, for no one can forgive sins but God himself.

So that unbelieving person was trying to base his statements on the scriptures, but they were based on a statement said by a Pharisee himself. Not the words of truth, the words of Jesus.

So here the Pharisees are coming and asking Jesus a very important question. And the question is about the kingdom of God. What is the kingdom of God? Where is it? And how shall it appear?

When Jesus was demanded of the Pharisees, when they asked this question, when should the kingdom of God come? It was a very common expectation that while they were under the reign of the Roman Empire, they were waiting for a savior, a new king, who would be a temporal king and release the people of Israel from under the yoke of bondage of the Roman Empire so they could be a free, independent nation again.

So this is kind of the idea that the Pharisees are asking of Jesus when they're demanding of Jesus to explain, when will the kingdom of God come?

Then Jesus answered the Pharisees and said, The kingdom of God comes not with observation. Or in other words, the kingdom of God does not come in such a way that a person can see it with his natural eyes or understand it with his own carnal reasoning.

Many of the young school children already in their classes, when they're studying geography, for example, I'm sure with the help of their teacher, they will open up maps and be able to clearly see the boundaries of different countries. For example, in the continent of Europe or perhaps even within the country of the United States, see the boundaries of all of our 50 states.

And it is very common that the boundaries often follow some geographical structure. Go along rivers or go along mountain ranges or some other geographical structure. And these have been in part delineating the boundaries of different nations or in our country the different states.

But what Jesus is here saying to the Pharisees is that the kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom. It is not a kingdom whose borders can be drawn on any map. It is impossible.

When Jesus was captured and being brought before the tribunals Monday, Thursday evening and Good Friday morning, he was visiting with Pontius Pilate and Herod and they asked Jesus, are you a king? Because they had heard statements of the sort that he says that he is the king of the Jews.

Initially, Jesus didn't respond, but when they kept on pressing him, finally Jesus answered and he said, yes, I am a king. But continued that my kingdom is not of this world and my kingship is not of this world.

This kingdom is a spiritual kingdom and the borders of God's kingdom are invisible. They go from one believer's heart to another and these borders of God's kingdom are drawn by the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus was talking about the end of the world and how the end of the world would take place, he illustrates that it's not going to happen in some great catastrophe like World War III with the explosions of some mighty nuclear weapon which annihilates 90 or 95 to 100 percent of the world's population and everything will be suddenly destroyed.

But Jesus said, no, it's going to be in everyday like occurrence. There will be two people out in the field. There will be two people at the mill. And there will be even a husband and wife, two people in their bed at night.

And when it happens, one will be taken and the other will be left. Meaning that these pairs of people, the two out in the field, the two at the mill, and two in bed at night. In each case, one was a believer and the other was an unbeliever.

And the borders of God's kingdom went right between each of those pairs or people. One was taken and the other one was left. The invisible boundary drawn by the finger of the Holy Spirit spiritually separated the believer from the unbeliever.

Jesus talks about the kingdom of God in his sermon on the mount. And he talks about the importance of the kingdom of God and exhorts that seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all other things after this will be increased or added onto you.

So the kingdom of God is not up in the winds and in the clouds as Luther exhorts, as that if you wish to find the kingdom of God don't gaze up into the skies and into the heavens. It is not there.

But the kingdom of God is here upon earth. But neither is the kingdom of God some physical building or structure. It is not stone or stump. Something made of stone or something made of wood.

But it is a group of people who believe upon Christ.

It is also interesting to note it is not also some organization. One brother was asked to give a sermon at one special occasion in one locality in Finland. And they were commemorating 70 years of the existence of that RY Association of Peace as they call themselves locally. We call ourselves Minneapolis Lestadian Lutheran Church. They would call ourselves the Association of Peace in Helsinki or the Association of Peace in Tampere or Oulu or Rovaniemi or Kuusamo or whatever.

And this brother was speaking on this text that we have before us. And he was explaining about what is the kingdom of God. And in that sermon he said this RY has been officially in existence for 70 years today or this year.

But he said the kingdom of God and the work of God's kingdom has been done in this locality he mentioned for already tens and tens of years before this RY was ever established.

So he said that the kingdom of God is not equal to the RY. The kingdom of God is not equal to the SRK. The kingdom of God is not equal the same as the LLC or Minneapolis Lestadian Lutheran Church.

The kingdom of God was here in the city of Minneapolis tens of years before we were officially established and organized here in the city of Minneapolis.

But Christians, believers, in order to follow the regulations and laws of the land, officially organized, officially registered themselves with the county, the city, the state, so that they could be a tax-free religious organization.

And as their brother was saying that these organizations are like tools, they are like scaffolding that a contractor would erect when building the building, the actual building is the kingdom of God, which is likened to a temple made of living stones.

But these organizations are like the scaffolding that is used to help assist in building and constructing this temple of living stones.

This work of God's kingdom, if it would be only dependent on that work that is done within the walls of this church or all of the believers churches, Philistine churches here on this continent or even throughout the world, it would be a very small, it is a very small portion of the actual work of God's kingdom that is done.

The parents, especially the mothers at home, are doing the work of God's kingdom. Those that are school children in school are doing the work of God's kingdom. They are a light and a salt to the world.

Also, those who are working at their workplaces are doing the work of God's kingdom.

So, the work of God's kingdom is much, much more than just that work that is done from behind this pulpit.

But then also, if we can think about, for example, the membership here in Minneapolis, our treasurer, together with the secretary, attempt to keep good, precise records of who is a member here in this congregation.

But even though they tried to be very precise, it is impossible to keep a record of all the members of God's kingdom. Impossible for a human being.

The treasurer, even though he is very diligent and dedicated, I'm sure, has someone in his records marked down as a member, of which the Bible would say, you have a name that you are living, but however, you are spiritually dead.

We are, as human beings, very, very weak and imperfect.

And even though the secretary and treasurer are very diligent to try to record all the names of the people who are members here of this local congregation, for example, some most likely and certainly are forgotten for one reason or another.

But nevertheless, God who is all seeing, God who is all knowing, with his finger he has written down in his books somewhere, every one who is a true living child of God.

And those who are not believers, they are not even by accident in his book. His books are perfect and blameless.

So, John, the evangelist, when he was on the Isle of Patmos, was able to see that vision.

As Luther says, the kingdom of God is not in heaven.

And John, on the Isle of Patmos, confirms this and says that I, John, saw the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven. And it was beautified as a bride for her bridegroom.

And John says, I heard a voice, a loud voice, which said, behold, behold, the tabernacle of God. Or, in other words, the kingdom of God, which is here in the midst of men. It is here upon earth.

And Peter writes in his epistle that even the angels desired to see one of its days.

And we remember when John the Baptist began his ministry, or during his ministry, he said, the kingdom of God has approached, as drawn nigh. Make repentance and believe the gospel.

And I'm sure there were very few who believed and received and accepted the sermon of John the Baptist because he was such a lowly, uncomely looking person, eating grasshoppers of the field, and honey of the field, wild honey, and dressed in camel pelts.

And also in Jesus, when he began his public ministry, said, the time has now been fulfilled. The kingdom of God has now come close, drawn nigh unto you, my listeners, who are in the hearing of my speech. Therefore, make repentance and believe the gospel.

And this is the message that Jesus Christ spoke during his public ministry.

And this is the message that Jesus Christ spoke even after his resurrection from the grave on Easter morning.

The Bible says, and for 40 more days after his resurrection, he preached the message of God's kingdom until on the 40th day after his resurrection, ascension Thursday, he was taken up with a cloud, by a cloud, back up into the glory of heaven.

Also, the apostle Paul, during the last days and years of his life, while he was imprisoned there in Rome, it was a loose captivity, for he was able to see guests. They came and they went day after day.

And he had an opportunity still to preach to these friends and listeners that came to see him in prison.

And what was the topic of his sermon and message of his preaching? It was about the kingdom of God.

There are many translations that are existing out there in the world today. Hundreds and hundreds of them.

And perhaps even in the English language, there are perhaps tens of translations.

And there are deficiencies in all of them. All have been translated by unbelieving people.

There are some that are better than others and others that are worse than others.

And even this King James Bible, which we use as our official Bible at services, is not a perfect translation.

For here it says in our text, which is in error, Jesus continues in the second verse, neither shall people say lo here or lo there.

Then he continues, for the kingdom of God is within you.

Let's go back to the beginning when I asked that question, who was speaking, and who was the speaker speaking to.

It was Jesus who was speaking, and he was speaking to the Pharisees.

Would Jesus be saying to the Pharisees, behold, the kingdom of God is within you, you Pharisees?

Jesus, in chapter 23 in Matthew, says, describes you Pharisees, oh you hypocrites, you have not entered into the kingdom of God, and you do not allow those to enter in who would wish to come.

Would Jesus be saying that the kingdom of God is within you, you Pharisees?

Or John the Baptist when he was speaking to the Pharisees, he says, oh you vipers of men, make fruits meet for repentance. The axe has already been laid to the base of the tree. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be hewn down and cast into the burning fire.

So would Jesus be saying these words to the Pharisees, behold you Pharisees, the kingdom of God is within you? No.

But it is interesting however, that there is a marginal note along with this verse 21.

And if we would read what it says, it says two, and I'll go into the margin and under two it says, or another possibility in other manuscripts, it sometimes says, behold, the kingdom of God that is among you.

The kingdom of God was in Jesus Christ, the Lord and the king of God's kingdom.

The kingdom of God was within the disciples who were there present with Jesus at that time.

And the kingdom of God is within you and I, brother and sister, believer, this evening.

You can see that this would be the correct translation.

Salvation.

Jesus was saying to the Pharisees, lo here, some say lo here or lo there, but I say unto you, Pharisees, the kingdom of God is right now among you in your midst.

It's not in you, you Pharisees, it's in me, Jesus Christ, the king of kings and the Lord of lords.

It is in these disciples, my true believers and followers of mine that are here next to me and in my presence.

And so this is what Jesus is saying which is also mentioned in our marginal note.

And here on earth there is one kingdom of God.

There was one bishop in Finland some years ago who asked a group of believers to come visit him and he asked them that you are preaching about this one kingdom of God and saying that in your group there is only salvation and in no other.

That if this is the case why do you even stay within the state church if you do not believe that the state church is equal to God's kingdom.

Why do you bother to stay as members? Wouldn't it be better that you would just perhaps leave?

And so the bishop together with these believing brothers sat down and began to visit using the Bible as reference and also many of Luther's works and the confessional writing.

And the brothers for many hours during that day quoted many different portions of the scripture and also read portions of Luther's writing.

His explanation, for example, to the third article of the creed in the large catechism where Luther says that there is one kingdom of God here upon earth and it is formed of one body and its head is Christ Jesus.

It has no division or splinters and it is called together into one holy commune by and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

And Luther says I am a member by faith of this group and I wish and desire to remain so.

And at the conclusion of this long visit during the day the unbelieving bishop was very satisfied with the replies that were given to him and he said continue freely your work that you do and let them in peace.

So we remember when Naaman that king of Syria was finally after many events able to visit with prophet Elijah who or was it Elisha who asked him to wash himself seven times in the river Jordan.

Initially king of Syria was disobedient and didn't wish to heed this instruction but finally in the end he did and after he washed himself seven times in the river Jordan and which is a picture of his new birth or grace of repentance he immediately was given that eyesalve of the Holy Spirit and he said enlightened by the Holy Ghost behold now I see that there is the living God nowhere else but in Israel meaning that in the kingdom of God Israel was one of the pictures of the kingdom of God.

And so here at the end then Jesus turns from visiting with the scribes and the Pharisees and then he begins to visit with his own disciples and has words of exhortation for them and he said to his disciples the days will come when you shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man and you shall not see it and they shall say to you see here or see there go not after them nor follow them.

We remember when Jesus was visiting all night long with that Nicodemus was also a member of that great council the Sanhedrin and they were talking about important matters of salvation and of living faith and Jesus said to him Nicodemus that unbelieving man that unless a man is born again of water and of spirit one shall not see the kingdom of God.

And again as Jesus said here earlier the kingdom of God does not come with observation it's not something we can see with our carnal eyes and comprehend with our natural reasoning.

People are able to see us as believers as individual human beings but what do they see? They see that we are many times faulty and erring just like other people here in this world.

Sometimes our own corruption may rise to the surface we may become angry maybe a bad word may come out of our mouth or this or that.

People can see this humanness in us that is many times very visible.

But also the Bible says that you are a light and a salt to the world and the people are able to see your good works.

But first of all Luther writes in his preface to the revelations and he says that even though a person would put as many pairs of glasses on his forehead as he would wish with his natural eyes he cannot see the kingdom of God why for it is hidden with many false errors and blemishes.

But for us who as Paul writes to the Corinthians behold the former things have passed away and I have made all things anew by regeneration by new birth through the power of the Holy Spirit we see this kingdom of God which is the pillar in the ground of truth.

It is like a golden candlestick having no spot or blemish thereon.

It is a kingdom of God which will not shake or quake or tremble.

But also Jesus says that you are a light and a salt to the world.

On the other hand they can see our humanness at times which becomes manifest invisible.

But on the other hand even though we in the midst of the world endeavor to travel as the way of a believer would be often we are so weak that our lips remain closed and we do not have the strength to even verbally confess our faith saying that I am a believer this is how I believe and so on and so forth.

But oh how many times even there at work or at school or wherever you may be in the community many times and often is the case the unbelieving friends and neighbors notice that something is different they are different than the other people because of their speech their behavior and so on and so forth.

Even our actions and our behavior speak a powerful sermon to the unbelieving world around us.

It may seem to us at times that it is such a weak small flickering flame and so flickering it is just about turn to smoke is there any flame at all.

But if all the lights were turned off here in this room the darkness around us would be a picture of the dark world of unbelief that is around us and you would very clearly be able to see these two little small flickering flames even from the farthest corner of this room.

Even though your flame of faith is small insignificant and seemingly weak it still shines in the midst of this cold dark and evil world.

So then Jesus says here at the end and talking about the end of times for just as lightning when it strikes it comes out of the east and will shine all the way to the west lighting up the heavens a part at a time lighteneth out of one part under heaven shineth onto the other part under heaven and so shall also the Son of Man be in his day as Jesus said in our text.

The kingdom of God is invisible it cannot be seen with natural eyes it can only be seen with eyes of faith.

But one day at the end of the world when Christ comes the second time today our brother this morning spoke on the text which was assigned for first Advent Sunday and it related about the procession of the king of kings when he came into Jerusalem his last time and he was riding on the colt of a donkey or an ass.

People came out in great throngs and sang unto him Hosanna to the Son of David blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest.

Many people took off their outer garments laid them on the road upon which his donkey was trotting.

Many broke palm branches and began to wave them in the air while they were singing that song from Psalms 118.

There were many in the throng of people there who were truly believing and through faith they realized and understood and saw here is the king of kings even though he is coming in such a lowly form.

But I would venture to say the greatest portion of those people who were watching that procession were not believers did not realize or comprehend that this was truly the promised Messiah.

And yet I'm sure there was even many many more who stayed in the city in the villages and had no concern whatsoever about this man who was riding on the donkey coming into the city of Jerusalem.

Only those whose eyes were opened by faith were able to see the true Messiah.

But now Jesus is here speaking about the end of the world when he comes the second time and then he will have all of those marks and symbols and signs of the king of kings and the lord of lords.

And when he comes if our departure would be individually perhaps we would have a stroke and a vein in our head would suddenly erupt and we would die suddenly and depart individually from this life or have a heart attack or be involved in a car accident or whatever the departure may be.

Many will leave individually one by one or there may be many who are taken up at that final common departure at the end of the world when Jesus returns a second time bringing all of his angels with him to gather his own to take him up into the wind and into the clouds to be with him forever.

Everyone every human being will step forth on that day the sea will give his own the graves will open up and the dead will step forward.

Everyone will know and realize here is the king of kings and the lord of lords.

It shall not be hidden from any person and from every person will be asked one question did you have your sins forgiven?

This is the only important question which is asked on that day were you departure ready at that moment when you left individually from this world or are you now departure ready at this moment at the common universal departure?

Brothers and sisters this is the Advent message for the second Sunday of Advent the kingdom of God the people of God are waiting for his second coming and we wish to have our lamps burning we wish to have our loins girded we wish to have that festive wedding garment the garment of righteousness by faith wrapped around our undying souls.

Then we are departure ready then we will hear from the king of kings on that day come you who are blessed of my father to inherit that kingdom which has been prepared for you and for many from the beginning of the foundations of this world go into the rest of my lord.

So even now you can be happy free and encouraged believe sins forgiven in Jesus name in precious blood this gospel lifts it carries and will bring us one day to our heavenly home. Amen.