Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: Acts 16,9-15. Sexagesima Sunday

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum

Acts 16,9-15 1414

Sexagesimä 021

Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, and disciple of the Apostle John. Martyr 155

Serenus the Gardener, Martyr at Sirmium, Serbia 307

23. Februar 2014

1. O Most, Loving Father, who wills us to give thanks for all things, to dread nothing except the loss of You, and to cast all our cares on You who cares for us: Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which You have manifested unto us in Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord (The Book of Common Prayer 165).

2. »And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying: „Come over to Macedonia and help us.“ And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying: „If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.“ And she prevailed upon us.«

3. Jesus teaches us in this morning’s Gospel Lection that the gospel proclamation does not yield faith in every location where it is preached. This, however, should not discourage the proclamation of the gospel, for we do not know when and where such preaching will create faith in those who hear it. In Acts 16, the Apostle Paul, along with Silas, Luke and Timothy, travelled to Philippi to preach the gospel. The city had a thriving Greek population and it was popular with Roman legionaries who retired there. The Jewish population was so sparse that there was no synagogue in the city. On the Sabbath they only found a few Jewish women gathered for prayer. St. Paul spoke to them of Jesus, His crucifixion and resurrection. Only Lydia heard the gospel and believed. She and her household were then baptized, and a small church was established. We see in this how grace is passively received.

4. Since grace is passively received, then it can be resisted and rejected. There are three (3) ways the gospel is rejected:

1. The devil arrives and takes away the gospel from people before faith is created.

2. Times of testing prove too great, and the person leaves the faith.

3. The cares, riches and pleasures of life become more important than faith, and in the end a person’s faith is choked out.

These reasons explain why, despite our faithful efforts to preach the gospel, many either do not believe or simply fall away after a time. But where is it with you? The devil has not snatched the gospel from you since you now believe. But what of times of testing? Are you wrestling with some trial that is putting your faith to the test? Are you pondering whether it is worth all the hardship and struggle that attends being a Christian? It reminds me of an old spiritual:

”These clothes may be ragged that I’m wearing,

heavy is the load that I’m bearing,

these burdens that I’m carrying“ (Johnson, Verse 2).

5. Listen to the Apostle James’ exhortation on spiritual tests: »Count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Blessed are you who remain steadfast under trial, for when you have stood the test you will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him« (James 1,2-4.12). God gives you spiritual tests, not to dismantle your faith, but to make your faith stronger and your trust in Him more secure. The end result is the reward of sanctification in this life and eternal life in heaven. Thus the old spiritual reassures us:

„The road is rough,

the going gets tough,

and the hills are hard to climb.

I started out a long time ago,

there’s no doubt in my mind;“ (Johnson, Chorus)

I rejoice in Jesus, God’s choice!

6. Or perhaps the riches and pleasures of this world threaten to become more important to you than God and His Church. How many people do you see on TV who have it all: cars, houses, a lavish bank account and all that without any acknowledgement of Christ? They are living the life of luxury, and that lure of money and ease tempts you to follow likewise. How easy it would be to obtain your own prosperous lifestyle if you did not have your Christian faith and piety holding you back from doing whatever is necessary to reach the good life. The old spiritual sums this attitude up:

„Some folks would rather have houses and land,

some folks choose silver and gold,

these things they treasure and forget about their souls.“ (Johnson, Verse 1).

The Apostle Paul describes true wealth that all Christians should strive for: »Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written:„Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.“ To the contrary, „if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.“ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good« (Romans 12,9-21).

7. The Holy Spirit desires to bring each of you to the fruition of faith which is that the gospel reaches you, it creates faith in you and it grows to a harvest of an hundredfold. You may struggle against this harvest, tempted by harsh testings or worldly wealth to forsake the Spirit and His Word, but the Holy Spirit is determined to bring each of you into a bountiful harvest. Jesus promises: »Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or spouse or siblings or parents or children, for the sake of the reign of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life« (Luke 18,29-30).

8. Such promises comfort us because often it seems as if the gospel is thwarted and hindered at every turn. People reject it, our culture continues to turn its back on the Christian principles that form the foundation of our civilization and we are ridiculed and mocked for our faith in Christ Jesus. After Paul’s first sermon in Philippi, only Lydia and her family were converted by the Holy Spirit. Her family had left their old life and beliefs and had embraced the Christian faith. In doing so, they gained far more than they lost. They received the assurance of forgiveness, the promise of salvation and were brought into the larger Church family that was now leaving the confines of Judea and Jerusalem and was now being planted in Europe. The small church in Philippi was among the first of these European congregations to be established by the apostles and their gospel preaching.

9. In many ways, we are like that newborn Philippian church. The opportunities around us are promising and ripe for planting. Let us throw the gospel seed about us and trust in the Holy Spirit to create and cultivate faith in Christ from our proclamation. Let us support this preaching with our prayers, our talents and our offerings. Let us trust the Holy Spirit to do great works through us in this place so that the Name of Jesus is glorified and people believe in Him. Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Holy Spirit, today we have heard Christ’s voice; help us to have hearts wide open to receive the comfort You bring so that whatever we face in this life we know that we face with Christ beside us who will see us through for His glory.

To God alone be the Glory

Soli Deo Gloria

✠

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 27. Edition © 1993 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

Johnson, Harrison. I’ve Decided to Make Jesus My Choice.

Löhe, Wilhelm. Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians. Wartburg Publishing House, Chicago circa 1912. Concordia Publishing House; Concordia on Demand.

Grace Evangelical-Lutheran

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Monday, February 24, 2014

Acts 16,9-15. Sexagesima Sunday

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