Sermon in Phoenix 06.03.2011

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, let us quieten our hearts this morning in opening prayer and thanksgiving unto our Heavenly Father.

Father, dear Lord God Almighty, we thank You, dear Heavenly Father, that Thou hast again awoken us this morning, that we can awaken to a day in our lives where it is again a day of grace, a day of mercy and forgiveness. We thank You, dear Heavenly Father, for this gift of living faith, for continuing to carry us, dear Lord, in the bosom of Abraham, in this precious kingdom here upon this earth. And we give thanks unto You, dear Lord, that Thou hast even given us this kingdom, that Thou hast forgiven us our sins, that we can still be called a child of God.

And we pray, dear Heavenly Father, for those who are even on the outside of this kingdom, that Thou would also offer this grace unto them, that Thou would call them to this kingdom, that through the blessing of the gospel, the scales can even fall from their eyes. And they too can see the brightness and the preciousness of Your grace kingdom.

We thank You, dear Heavenly Father, for all of the gifts that we have received in this life. And we acknowledge, dear Heavenly Father, that all gifts come from above, that You are the creator, and that all blessings in this life come even from Your hand. Lord, we thank You, dear Heavenly Father, for all the other many blessings of this life.

Most of all, dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for giving us the gift of Thy beloved and precious Son, who gave His life on that middle cross of Golgotha, that He has given that greatest sacrifice of all. And we even pray, dear Heavenly Father, as we even enter into this season, season of Lent into this festive time of Easter, that Thou would allow us to remember even the work that He performed for us on our behalf. How He suffered and died on that middle cross of Golgotha. How He suffered even in the depths of hell. And how He rose again on that third day, victorious over sin and death.

And we even pray in that perfect way that He has taught us to pray. 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. 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.

Before we begin our services this morning, we have a wedding announcement to share. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Aho request the honor of your presence at the marriage of their daughter, Layla Tymey, to Mark Benjamin, son of Mrs. Jeanette Ouellette, on Friday the 11th of March, 2011, at 7 o'clock in the evening, Phoenix Lasati and Lutheran Church. Reception following ceremony.

Let us pray on behalf of this couple. Dear Heavenly Father, this couple, Layla and Mark, have entered into this promise and would have that desire to be married. In the grace and in the love of Thy holy and precious Word, we pray, dear Heavenly Father, that Thou would give them the wisdom and the guidance throughout their marriage and that Thou would even protect them. And most of all, dear Heavenly Father, we pray that this gospel of the forgiveness of sins would be present even in their lives during both their courtship and also during their marriage. We pray, dear Heavenly Father, that Your love would be present in their lives and that Thou would bless them and keep them even as one, even as Your Word speaks of how they would leave their parents and enter into this most holy and precious gift of marriage. In Jesus' precious name, Amen.

For our text this Sunday morning, we'll read a text that's set aside for this Shrove Sunday. And it is a text that was written by Paul unto the Corinthians. And we'll read from 1 Corinthians the 13th chapter in Jesus' name.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Charity suffereth long and is kind. Charity envieth not. Charity vaunteth not itself. Is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly. Seeketh not her own. Is not easily provoked. Thinketh no evil. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. Beareth all things. Believest all things. Hopeth all things. Endureth all things.

Charity never faileth, but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail. Whether there be tongues, they shall cease. Whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

When I was a child, I spake as a child. I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, and then shall I know even as I also am known.

And now abideth faith, hope, and charity. These three, but the greatest of these is charity. Amen.

Today is Shrove Sunday. And Shrove Sunday marks those events that began in the life of Jesus as he looked towards those events or that work that needed to be performed and occur there in Jerusalem. We know that the gospel texts for this Sunday were those texts where Jesus began to speak of those matters of his death and resurrection and how he began to explain unto them how it was necessary for him to travel on that road to Jerusalem and how it was necessary to be ridiculed by those who were in unbelief, those who did not see him as the Son of God but rather would lead him to that middle cross of Golgotha where he would suffer and die on our behalf.

Shrove Sunday speaks of the sacrificial way of God's love and truly as we consider these events in the life of Jesus we know that and we understand that when God gave his only begotten Son who was a true man and true God who lived a perfect life here upon this earth who fulfilled that law of God who lived his life and performed and fulfilled everything that was spoken of by the prophets of old, that we know that God truly loved us and he showed this love through that sacrificial way by sending his dear Son into this world.

And so it is that on this Shrove Sunday that we often speak of love and of charity. Thinking back to our services of last week here in Phoenix, those winter services and how we spoke and we experienced the unity of God's children, we can truly say that that love of God was present here at these services. I remember back to that one brother who spoke from the book of Psalms, that 133rd Psalm, and it speaks in that very first verse, "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Truly we felt that unity of the spirit. There was no division. We have that unity, dear brothers and sisters, because of this gift of charity.

We can say that when there is division, that there is also broken love. Here the apostle Paul writes of that charity which is the greatest gift of all. It is a fruit of living faith. It is in fact the most important fruit of faith. The apostle writes that though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. Without that sacrificial love of God, all of these other gifts of the spirit mean nothing. That charity must be present there in our lives.

This is a love that the world does not understand. It is a very precious love that we have one towards another here in God's kingdom. It is a love that is truly from above. When we are united together in the bonds of Christian love, then we can say that there is peace and harmony and joy in God's holy and precious kingdom within our own lives. And isn't this a good way to travel, dear brothers and sisters in faith, with that joy and that freedom of a child of God?

Paul goes on to write that though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Here the apostle makes it very clear that charity, this love of the Heavenly Father, the sacrificial love, is a very important fruit of faith. And we do not always see this fruit in our own selves. Oftentimes we feel and experience that inherited sin that is in our flesh. We perhaps are envious one towards another, perhaps we become offended. But when we look around us and we see the many different things that the brothers and sisters do on behalf of the kingdom of God and how our brothers and sisters have even intervened in our own lives to help us travel successfully on the way and the journey, we know that it is impossible to travel on this journey successfully by our own works and our own deeds, but rather we need the care that comes forth from the congregation of God. We need that care that we receive one from another.

This is that, or Jesus is an example unto us of even the care that he gave to his own and not only his own but also the compassion and the care that he offered to those who were traveling in unbelief. He spoke of the hope of everlasting life in heaven.

We remember how even Peter in those last times before Jesus' death, how Jesus in the gospels spoke unto Peter in this way. He will read from John chapter 21 starting with verse 15:

"So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He said to him again the second time, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he saith unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus said unto him, Feed my sheep."

These were actually events that occurred after the resurrection of Jesus and when he had revealed himself unto his own, explained unto Simon Peter that the greatest way to express your love and to show this love of God is by feeding the flock of God's children. And each and every one of us are able to do this through the gift that we have received from God even in our own homes, in our own families. We are able to show this love of God by even feeding those members of your own family with that word of truth, that word of grace and mercy.

And it's when we are able to offer that precious gift of the gospel, when we are not only able to preach that word from our hearts where we truly offer that forgiveness of sins in Jesus' precious name and atonement blood, and when one is able to even receive in their hearts that word of truth and they are able to believe that all of their sins are forgiven in Jesus' precious name and atonement blood, here we even see the perfection of that charity in our lives when we are able to show that love of God in this way.

And there are many other ways that the child of God is able to show this love. We have all experienced the love of the believers when we have difficulties and trials in our lives. We have all traveled to other congregations and have experienced the hospitality and love that is shown unto us.

And this charity, as the apostle says, that charity suffereth long and is kind, charity envieth not, charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoices not in iniquity but rejoices in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth.

But whether there be prophecies, they shall fail. Whether there be tongues, they shall cease. Whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

We know that in this life that we struggle with our carnal portion. We struggle with the threefold enemy: the world, and Satan, and our own sinful flesh. Yet the next portion of this chapter speaks of that coming perfection. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Here we know and we understand that in this life we experience the love of God's children. We experience this charity in the house of God. Yet we also struggle with that old portion and it is sometimes difficult even to, as the apostle writes, for now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known.

As sinful human beings, we remember how Moses was able to speak with God, but we know that he was unable to look God directly in the face. There was always a cloud or a mist around God. We know that Moses was able to look at the back parts of God as it is written, but he was not able to see and look upon the brightness of God. He was not able to look with his own carnal eyes upon the brightness and upon the great love of God.

So the apostle writes in this way: for now we see through a glass darkly, but one day we'll be able to put this carnal portion behind us. One day we will be able to see our Lord and Savior face to face. We will be able to experience and see the brightness of God. We will be able to see that love in all of its glory and in all of its perfection.

When we even consider this matter, it is impossible for man to be able to even begin to comprehend the many different things that we will experience in heaven. But the Heavenly Father has given us this new Jerusalem here upon this earth. And even as there will be that perfect love in heaven, a love so immeasurable that we cannot even begin to comprehend, we can certainly say, dear brothers and sisters in faith, that we have tasted in part of that love here in God's kingdom.

We know and we understand the sacrificial love that God has shown unto us by sending His Son into this world. We have oftentimes desired and needed that love of the children of God, that love mends many trespasses and many sins.

Recently I was speaking to a brother of a situation that had happened in a small congregation where there were differences of opinion concerning a temporal matter and it reached a point where there was so much division that a brother was called from the LLC to come to care for those matters with those believers. And the first thing that he said at that caretaking meeting was this: before we go any further, I hope you have come here with that love of God in your hearts. And I would hope that we could begin this meeting by preaching the gospel one to another, for by doing this, by showing that great sacrificial love one to another, we would be able to then take care of these temporal differences which are really very minor in nature. The most important matter is that the love is restored and then all of these other things will be taken care of.

I was thinking also of those words that are written in the first epistle of John, and we know that John is often referred to as the apostle of love. And John writes in this way in chapter two in verses eight through 11:

"Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you, because the darkness is past and the true light now shineth. He that sayeth he is in the light and hateth his brother is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whether he goeth, because that darkness has blinded his eyes."

Here again in God's word it speaks of that love of God, of that charity, and it speaks of how when we walk in that light as He is in that light, that we're able to have that fellowship one with another. But if we walk in this way and we say that we are in the light yet we harbor ill feelings towards a brother or a sister in faith, the Bible uses the term hateth his brother, that that one is in darkness. But he that loveth his brother abideth in the light and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

So, dear brothers and sisters in faith, here again it is shown unto us how important that fruit of charity is, that regardless of what the offense may have been, regardless of why we may harbor ill feelings one towards another, this is a dangerous situation to find ourselves in.

John is known as the apostle of love and he oftentimes speaks of having that fellowship, of how he speaks of maintaining that love of God in our lives. And he speaks here in that chapter 1 verse 7:

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

Here again we are reminded of how important that message of the gospel is, appreciation, love of the See through that darkened glass. But rather if we are able to endeavor successfully on this journey, not of our own works or our own deeds, but rather if we are able to travel successfully, putting sins away as they come upon us, taking care of matters amongst one another, allowing that fruit of God's love to be apparent in our lives, then we can truly believe all sins and doubts forgiven in Jesus' precious name and atonement blood.

And we can travel in the footsteps of our Lord and Savior Jesus, allowing that blood to flow freely and to cleanse and to wash all of our sins away. And then that charity, that love of God will be preserved in our lives. And it will be a fruit that is seen by our brothers and sisters in faith. It is that same love that comes from above, from our Heavenly Father.

And certainly, dear brothers and sisters in faith, as the Apostle writes even in this way, "And now abideth faith and hope and charity."

Dear child of God, even this morning hour, you can lift up your hearts and believe all sins, doubts, and temptations forgiven and washed away in Jesus' precious name and atonement blood.

We have been granted the grace of God to travel as a child of God in this precious kingdom here upon this earth. This is a kingdom of unity. This is a kingdom of love. And it is through this love of God that we are able to even have this unity of the Spirit.

And even for my own many sins and doubts and temptations, and even in coming here before You this morning, I would ask that, can I even yet believe? I promise to believe with You, dear brothers and sisters in faith.

Let us continue to travel here on this journey. Let us continue to pray for that unity of God's kingdom. And one day we will be able to look upon our Creator and Redeemer. We will be able to see that light and that perfect love face to face in heaven.

With that joy in our hearts, we can even continue to travel here in this life. In Jesus' precious name, Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Let us unite our hearts this morning in closing 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 of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.