Sermon in Outlook 24.09.2010

Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, let us join our hearts in mutual thanks and prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, this evening we have received grace from Thee to gather around Thy holy and precious Word and in the fellowship of Thy congregation here upon this earth. In doing so, dear Father, we wish to thank Thee. We wish to thank Thee for all gifts and blessings Thou hast so graciously and abundantly provided. All that we need for our everyday lives. But especially, dear Father, we thank Thee that Thou did send Thy dear Son to pay the sin debt of all mankind.

We thank Thee for the kingdom, Thy kingdom, which Thou hast established here on this earth, over which Thy dear Son, according to Thy word, has received all power and authority. We thank Thee, dear Father, for the gospel of Thy kingdom, which has been prepared by our Lord and Savior, through His redemption work, through His suffering and death on the cross, in the shedding of His holy and innocent blood, through which we have permission from grace to believe the forgiveness of all our sins.

We thank Thee, dear Father, that Thou hast provided for each one of us that living hope through the resurrection of Thy dear Son. His victory over the power of sin and death and hell is also our victory through that precious gift of faith which Thou hast placed into the hearts from Thy great love.

And so this evening, we ask, dear Father, that Thou would grant a service blessing. Thou knowest all our needs. And so we trust, as according to Thy word, Thou art faithful and will not forsake us. Increase our weak faith so that we might be able to fasten those eyes of faith on that reward which Thou hast, through Thy word, promised.

This we pray in Jesus' name and also that prayer which He 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, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

For our text this evening, we will read from the first epistle of John, the fourth chapter, the first eleven verses. And we hear these words in Jesus' name.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God, because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the spirit of God. Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God. And this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come, and even now, already, is it in the world.

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. They are of the world, therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God, he that knoweth God heareth us, he that is not of God, heareth not us.

Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love. God is of God, and the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Amen.

Well, first of all, I am very happy to bring greetings of love and peace from the believers in my home area, Upper Michigan, the congregations of Ishpeming and Helki. Even though we did not speak to so many of them, nevertheless, we always have that trust and confidence that that spirit into which we have been united speaks even in a way that words are not necessary.

But I would also bring greetings from the Haskeb Lake Seniors Camp, which was held last weekend at Haskeb Lake Camp. There were over 70 gathered there for the weekend, and we can certainly rejoice over this that we experienced once again, that unity of faith and love into which we have been called. God richly blessed our moments together. And as we parted, we certainly parted with memories that will last for a long time. So, greetings of love and peace.

Perhaps this text that we read is very familiar to you, brothers and sisters in faith. The Apostle John, who is known as the Apostle of Love, and as we heard in this text, spoke of that love that bonds the believers throughout the world into this perfect unity of faith and in such a unity that we have and hold in our hearts a living hope unto eternal life in the glory of heaven.

Is that not our reason, dear travel friends, to endeavor in this most precious faith? The words of Apostle come to mind when he said that we do not have here a continuing city, but we seek one to come. And so, we travel in this very precious unity with that common goal.

And as we gather, we often say that our moments seem to pass too fast. It seems as though they hardly begin and they draw to a close. But we always would want to remember that we have that hope in our hearts of one day gathering there in the glory of heaven, where festive moment will begin but will never ever end.

We have been carried, dear brothers and sisters, in this love of the Lord Jesus Christ even unto this moment by and through the power of that gospel. That gospel message which comes from the heart of our heavenly Father.

It is good to remember that God has prepared such a simple way. It is not through great understanding or great knowledge or by any deeds of any kind by which we would merit eternal life but simply by and through faith believing that message, that message which was from the very beginning that has carried all the former saints on to eternal peace and rest.

And so this evening as we begin to study this short portion of God's word, dear brothers and sisters, be of good comfort and believe even now your sins forgiven in Jesus' name and precious blood.

And remembering those words of the apostle when he said that they who preach the gospel also live of the gospel. And so finding myself as a very poor and weak servant with doubts and fears I ask can I believe together with you. Amen.

Apostle John touches on a very important and precious part of the doctrine of our Lord and Savior. And he gives a very important advice because he himself was able to experience in his day how the enemy of souls was also very cunning, very active, and very deceitful.

These words remind us or teach us that there are many spirits in this world and many of them are so deceiving that Apostle Paul has written that the enemy of souls has transformed himself into an angel of light.

Perhaps we can be fearful when we think that how can we know that voice of the true spirit of God. This advice that the Apostle gives here is very straightforward. He first advises to try the spirits whether they are of God and says that there are many false prophets who have gone out into the world.

And we know today there are countless numbers who have invented or established or made up various types of doctrines and understandings by which one could be saved. But Apostle is very simply and basically saying here when he said hereby know ye the spirit of God. This is the sign of the spirit of God.

He says every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. So what does this mean? There are many in this world if we would ask them do they believe that Jesus Christ was born into this world? And perhaps most of them would answer yes they do believe that.

But what Apostle here is referring to is that Jesus Christ is here in the flesh now. Apostle Paul explains very simply and plainly, was it in the epistle to the Romans or was it the Corinthians, but perhaps in two or three different places how that the congregation of God, the believers, are described to be the body of Christ and Christ is the head of this body.

So Jesus is in the flesh now here; he lives in the hearts of those who have been called into this precious faith and into his kingdom here upon this earth which is his body.

Apostle explains that the body is made up of many members and each member has its own function and the members that are attached to this body live of that blood which flows through the body.

And so if one is not attached to this one true body of Christ which is here on this earth he has no part of that life and the hope of eternal life.

But we dear travel friends have been called as Jesus once was teaching that you have not chosen me but I have chosen you.

The words of Luther also come to mind when thinking of this matter when he said that I believe that I cannot with my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him but the Holy Ghost has called me through the gospel enlightened me by his gifts has sanctified and preserved me in the true faith and in perfect unity and harmony with all believers and that he daily and richly forgives me and all believers all our sins most abundantly.

And so Jesus is in the flesh; this is how we understand through faith.

John further then says that every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that spirit of antichrist whereof ye have heard that it should come into the world and even now already is it in the world.

This is the stumbling block onto those outside of God's kingdom.

Perhaps you have visited some time with some person who has a very sober and serious outlook on life who lives a very good life by the standards of human reasoning but when it comes to this point that there is only one true living faith, one holy congregation here upon this earth, that is where the difference comes and that is where we are able to witness what John here is saying.

That those who do not confess that Jesus Christ is here in the flesh, that his one small holy flock is his body into which we have been attached by and through the power of the gospel.

And even in a natural sense we can easily understand that if a member is not attached to the body it is dead.

It is through the power of the gospel that a sinner, an unbeliever can be united into this body. It is a great mystery, the power of the gospel.

It is that mystery of which Jesus told his disciples, "Unto you has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God," that it is the body of Christ.

And apostle Paul then also explains how this body of Christ or this holy congregation is the pillar and ground of truth.

It is here where God through his spirit, the Holy Spirit, speaks and teaches with patience, with love, with forgiving love.

This love of God cannot be described any better than this way to say that it is a forgiving love.

It describes how long-suffering and patient and merciful our heavenly Father is and all this has been entrusted unto his own beloved Son.

It is written, I believe in apostle John's gospel, how that when God gave power and authority unto his Son he gave it not with measure.

In other words, the fullness of God's love is revealed by and through his Son.

We remember those very precious words of the Lord Jesus when he said that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son and that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life.

And apostle John here is also, as we heard in this text, that this is how the love of God was manifested onto this world and especially to you and I, brother and sister, who have been called into this kingdom and to own in our hearts that living hope of life everlasting.

Our Lord and Savior is the author and finisher of our faith. Our entire hope lies on his redemption work. We have nothing of ourselves. There is nothing that we can do or is there anything that we can give God in return except our thanks.

Do we not have reason, brother and sister, this evening to thank our dear heavenly Father for that great love that he has revealed unto us? He has revealed unto us his kingdom and in this kingdom we have been able to experience the power of his gospel.

When we have become burdened by sin, when doubts and fears have weighed heavily on the heart and mind, God has then given us strength to visit with our brothers and sisters or to choose a confessor, father or mother, to visit about the issues of our journey of faith.

And the gospel then uplifts and comforts and gives us strength to yet continue to believe.

Always remember those words of apostle when he said the gospel is the power of God unto everyone that believes.

And so John's words are very comforting, brother and sister, when he says that ye are of God little children and have overcome them, that is those of this world, because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.

They are of the world therefore speak they of the world and the world heareth them. We are of God he that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us.

Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

God's holy word is our foundation. It is that word that was made flesh. The Lord Jesus is that word who came into this world to bring this message of grace and forgiveness.

Apostle John writes in the beginning of his gospel the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.

And John, that is John the Baptist, bear witness of him and cried saying this was he of whom I spake, he that cometh after me is preferred before me for he was before me.

And of his fullness have all we received, grace for grace.

For the law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

No man has seen God at any time, the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

Also come to mind the words of Jesus as he was comforting and teaching his disciples and they certainly are heartwarming words even for us this evening, brother and sister.

He said that no man hath known the Father but the Son and no man know the Son but the Father.

I might have that mixed up, no I can't find the exact place, but no man can know the Son except the Father reveal him.

Or in other words, dear brothers and sisters, we have not been able to know God and it is only by and through the Son and it is only he who can reconcile us unto the Father.

In another place Jesus says that no man can come unto me except the Father draw him.

And so it is the work of God through his Son that even we have been called and have been reconciled unto God and that is through the power of the gospel.

It is that word of which apostle Paul also spoke when he said that he has given us the word of reconciliation.

It is that word that has called us and it is that word through the power of the word of the gospel that we have been united into that perfect fellowship of God's kingdom.

And so the last part of our text apostle speaks of that love and he is encouraging us to love even as we have been loved.

He said beloved let us love one another for love is of God and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love.

And this was manifested the love of God toward us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him.

Herein is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

And so also remembering the words of apostle Paul the message of the kingdom of God is Jesus Christ and him crucified.

And we preach not as apostle says we preach not ourselves but we preach the Lord Jesus.

It is only by and through him that there is the possibility of being reconciled unto God and to own in one's heart the hope of everlasting life.

In this hope we have received dear travel friends because God has shown his love and this love we are encouraged in this same love we are encouraged to love one another.

Apostle John also wrote in the first chapter of this epistle he that saith I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.

But whoso keepeth his word in him truly is the love of God perfected.

Hereby know we that we are in him.

He that saith he abideth in him ought also to walk even as he walked.

And so it is in that love that we have been united and the apostle reminds us in was it one of the first beginning chapters of the book of revelations concerning that love or rather it is in this epistle when he says that the first love whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and everyone that loveth him that begat loveth also him that is begotten.

In other words the love first is toward him who has first loved us and because that love is so great it is also toward all those whom God has also called into his kingdom.

But it is not limited only to our brothers and sisters in faith for Jesus teaches to love our enemies and those who are not with us are in a sense the spiritual enemies if they are not willing to hear the word that calls even them as a sinner and inviting them into his kingdom.

They are as apostle Paul has said enemies of the cross of Christ.

So we are dear brothers and sisters of all people most fortunate.

This love of which the apostle John speaks is also described in this way for this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous.

And this only means this that we would endeavor in obedience of faith and that when sin besets and when we feel the hindrances of our own flesh and blood or when we feel the enticements and the attractions that are of this world whatever it is that would hinder and cause doubts and fears the gospel is the power of God.

And so endeavoring in faith and putting away sin assures us brothers and sisters that we would hear that voice that speaks from the kingdom of God from this holy congregation and that spirit will always lead us safely on this journey of faith.

It will carry us onto that eternal destination.

Be encouraged brothers and sisters to put away sin and believe all sins forgiven in Jesus' name and precious blood.

In this way we are assured of that reward of which Jesus said great is your reward in heaven.

Be of good comfort and look to him who has loved us so much that he gave his life and shed his life's blood for the remission of sins.

Jesus has said that greater love has no man than he would lay down his life for his friends.

And apostle Paul also then saying in this way that when we were yet his enemies yet Jesus died for our sins and he has promised to continue this good work that he has begun in each one of you each one who has been called into this kingdom unto that day when faith will be changed to seeing.

Believe young and old alike this evening all sins and journey falls forgiven in Jesus' name and holy and precious blood and be of good comfort in Jesus' name. Amen.

Let us close in thanks and benediction.

Dear Father we thank Thee for Thy holy and precious word. We thank Thee that Thou hast given unto us this living hope eternal life and we ask Dear Father that Thou would continue to bless the work of Thy kingdom give strength unto Thy weak and poor servants to serve with those gifts which Thou hast given.

And dear Father we thank Thee and praise Thee for all gifts and blessings and say 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 of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.