Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: 1. Timothy 2,1-6. Rotate

✠ One Message: Christ crucified and risen for you ✠

The Word of the Lord Endures Forever

se cwide þæs béaggiefan ábireþ ferhþ

1. Timothy 2,1-6 2816

Rogate 040

Philip and James, Apostles, Martyrs in Hierapolis, Turkey 80 and in Jerusalem 66
Walburgis, Virgin, Abbess, ✠ 779

1. May 2016

1. O Lord God, Heavenly Father, who through Your Son did promise us so that whatsoever we ask in His Name You will give us: We beseech You, keep us in Your Word, and grant us Your Holy Spirit, so that He may govern us according to Your will; protect us from the power of the devil, from false doctrine and worship; also defend our lives against all danger; grant us Your blessing and peace, so that we may in all things perceive Your merciful help, and both now and forever praise and glorify You as our Gracious Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One True God, world without end. Amen. (Veit Dietrich for the Rogate)

2. First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to arrive at the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the manChrist Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

3. Jesus told the apostles on Maundy Thursday: »In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world« (John 16,33). Jesus was not speaking about overthrowing the civil governments of the world in an enormous coup. Emperor Tiberius still sat comfortably on his throne in Rome and the next day his prefect, Pontius Pilate, would order Jesus executed as a seditionist against Roman rule.

4. We need to back up a few chapters in the Gospel according to John to understand what Jesus was teaching His apostles. Jesus said: »Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? „Father, save Me from this hour“? But for this purpose I have arrived at this hour. Father, glorify Your Name. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the prince of this world be cast out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to Myself« (John 12,27-28.31-32). »I will no longer talk much with you, for the prince of this world is arriving. He has no claim on Me« (John 14,30). »But when the Paraclete arrives, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning judgment, because the prince of this world is judged« (John 16,8.11). The Devil is the prince of this world (2. Corinthians 4,4), and he is a murderer and a liar who destroys and deceives mankind (John 8,44). Jesus has overcome the world and the prince of the world. Jesus won this victory through His death and resurrection. St. Paul tells us: »God desires all people to be saved and to arrive at the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the manChrist Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.« Thus Luther penned in his famous hymn: This world’s prince may still Scowl fierce as he will, He can harm us none, He’s judged; the deed is done; One little word can fell him.

5. The good news is that the Devil has been dethroned and our sin has been covered. But what about the civil princes of this world? In our American Republic we don't call our leaders princes, although they tend to act as monarchs in our lives. We have given our princes more democratic names, like congressman, president and judge. The Apostle Paul tells us to respect them and pray for them: »I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, Godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior«. Such exhortation is needed as we are in the midst of tense political primaries, and even more as our national elections in November promise to be even more hotly debated in some time.

6. But our politicians can only demand our respect and allegiance in the civil realm. The First Amendment in our Constitution grants us protection from the federal government in regards to religion and speech. No prince or politician may coerce us in what we believe, think or say. This Amendment can trace its pedigree back to the New Testament. St. Luke writes in Acts: »And when the temple guards had brought the apostles, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying: „We strictly charged you not to teach in the name of Jesus, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.“ But Peter and the apostles answered: „We must obey God rather than men, for God exalted Jesus at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.“« (Acts 5,27-29.31).

7. This gospel is offensive; it violates people’s safe space. The Scriptures clearly mark out boundaries, call sin a sin and promise forgiveness to anyone who believes on Jesus, and only Jesus. The world does not tolerate the exclusive claims of the Christian faith. Our nation is becoming more and more intolerant of Christianity and the gospel. Americans want a safe, sanitized, politically correct Jesus that they can mold into supporting whatever the popular activist cause is at the moment. Bernie Sanders wants a Socialist Jesus. Hilary Clinton wants a Pro-Choice Jesus. Ted Cruz wants a Dominionist Jesus. Donald Trump wants a Prosperity Jesus. But Jesus is not bound to the political whims of our political leaders. Jesus is not a tame God (Lewis lww 182). He will not be made the spokesman for every movement social justice warriors think is important.

8. Many politicians co-opt Jesus to their political causes. This is why we need to pray for our leaders: so that they would not try to force Jesus into the agenda but that they would be good and wise leaders who do what is helpful for people even if that means supporting or not supporting what conventional wisdom says are important issues of the day. We pray that they would not demonize those who have a different opinion than theirs. We pray that God the Father gives them wisdom and guidance as they perform the duties they have been elected to carry out. We pray that we may live a peaceful, quiet life that is Godly and dignified in every way. We pray that God the Father bless our nation, our leaders and that we would protect the innocent, those without a voice and those who are in need of food, clothing and shelter. Jesus reminds us that God the Father makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. (Matthew 5,45).

9. Our Lord does not tolerate earthly princes who seek to impose themselves as saviors of the world in place of the true Savior. Jesus dethroned the very Devil who proclaimed himself the prince of this world, and Jesus will humble all earthly princes who attempt to usurp lordship in people’s lives. Jesus will also strengthen those who seek after Him and desire to help others out of love for Him. May Jesus bless us with faithful leaders who have the Christian faith, but remember that their they are civil servants and not ecclesiastical ministers. May Jesus bless us with faithful bishops and ministers who preach the Gospel purely and administer His Sacraments rightly so that people may be blessed spiritually. Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, who does not reject our prayers or remove His steadfast love from, teach us to remember that You have risen indeed, and have appeared to Simon so that our faith in Your resurrection is strengthened. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

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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.

Grace Evangelical-Lutheran

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Monday, May 2, 2016

1. Timothy 2,1-6. Rotate

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