Lent 3: Audio Sermon (27-Mar-11)

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Lent 3 [Luke 11:14-28] (27-Mar-11)

This sermon was preached at St Paul's Lutheran Church, Darnum (9am, lay reading), Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Traralgon (11am), Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Yarram (2pm) and St John's Lutheran Church, Sale (4pm).

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Text (Luke 11:14-28):

As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Mëë ci Yecu nɔmɔ lar, cu ciek mi te rɛy bunä jɔwdɛ kap nhial. Cuɛ jɛ jiök i̱, "Ca muɔɔr ëë daap ji̱, kä ci luɛth poth!" Kä cuɛ wee i̱, "Puɔ̱th akɛ nɛy tin liɛŋkɛ ruac Kuɔth kä ka̱pkɛ kɛ."

Prayer: Lord God, our heavenly Father, enlighten our darkness with the light of your Holy Spirit, so that I may preach well and we all may hear well, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I’d like you to think about these words very carefully from Romans 7, where St Paul writes:

I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

Think about these words. Meditate on them, ponder them, consider them. Think about the first words from this quote which St Paul says, “I do not understand.” What an amazing thing that even someone as blessed and as wise as the apostle Paul, still, after all his searching, his persecutions, his experience, he says, “I do not understand my own actions.” Someone like this who was one of the first to preach the gospel, who understands many mysteries of the faith, still doesn’t understand his own actions.

To be without understanding is a dangerous thing. There are many times in the New Testament where people who are unbelievers are called people “without understanding.”

Where there is no understanding, there is darkness, uncertainty, fear. Where there is no understanding, there is the devil. But when the Lord Jesus Christ comes, he turns on the light, he enlightens our understanding. St John calls Jesus the “one who enlightens all people.”

When St Paul says, “I do not understand my own actions”, he acknowledges a deep truth: He knows that he is a sinner, and that all his thoughts, words and actions are corrupted by sin. And because of this, he is actually unable to know and comprehend his actions fully. He can’t understand his actions. He doesn’t understand his own actions.

Nevertheless, he is still in the hands of Jesus. He understands this. He says, “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” He understands Jesus’ actions, he understands his miracles, his suffering, his death and his resurrection from the dead. But when he says, “I do not understand my own actions”, he says, I am dangerous, I can’t be trusted, but I am safe with Jesus.

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Our reading today is a strange reading. It is about things that many people don’t understand. Jesus tells his listeners about demons.

And today there are many people who are fascinated with demons. There are plenty of TV shows and movies and books about supernatural topics: vampires, mediums, and all that sort of thing. People are fascinated by demons.

Why do you think that is? Why are people fascinated by evil things? Why does it seem for a lot of people that evil things are more fascinating than good things?

I would suggest that people simply “don’t understand their own actions.” But unlike St Paul, they don’t understand the actions of Jesus.

And for us as Christians, we also don’t understand our own actions. Why is it that we get angry with those people that we love? You love them, don’t you? You know that it’s in your best interests to treat them well, don’t you? Then why do you pour out all your fire on them?

I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

What about all the times when you wanted to do something good but you decided to sit around and do nothing instead? What about the times when someone did something wrong to you, and you really wanted to see them suffer? Or what about the times when you said something about someone behind their back that you know you would never say to their face? You know it’s wrong, don’t you? So why do you do it?

I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

Listen and understand these words, and consider them. Psalm 51 says, “I was brought forth in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

Many people think they are sinners just because they sin. If you ask a person, “are you a sinner?”, they might say, “Well, not for a while – not really…” But the true teaching of Jesus is that we are sinners, not because we sin, but we sin because we are sinners. If we don’t understand this, we probably have never understood the entire gospel.

The poison stream comes from the poison river. The corrupt words come from a corrupt heart.

If we don’t understand this, we don’t know what Christ came to die for. If you think the forgiveness of sins only has to do with forgiving a few slip-ups and all those times you had an extra biscuit or ice-cream when no one was looking, think again. Jesus died for you as a whole person, because your whole body, your whole soul, your whole nature is corrupted with sin.

I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. I do not understand my own actions.

Now God didn’t create your sin. When he created everything we read, “God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” But sin corrupts everything. The devil corrupts everything. And the devil sticks and clings to everything that is bad.

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When there’s something around that’s going rotten, the worms and the bugs settle in. The flies start to hover around. This is what demons and the devil have to do with sin.

We read in our reading:

Jesus was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marvelled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven.

What’s going on here? Jesus casts out a demon from a man, and some people see that he is healed and praise Jesus for it. Some people think that even though he speaking, he must be sicker than he was before. This must be another stage of his sickness! They think that Jesus is casting out demons not by the power of God, but by the power of the prince of demons, by the power of Beelzebul.

The name “Beelzebul” or “Beelzebub” literally means the “Lord of the flies”. And this is exactly how demons are: they are like flies that hover around something rotten, something dead, something corrupt.

Some people in the crowd think that Jesus must be a like a giant fly who has come to scare off all the other flies.

But we read:

But [Jesus] knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Jesus says here to the people: “demons stick together”. Flies don’t chase away flies. They all join forces.

But Jesus is not just another fly. He casts out demons by the finger of God, by the Holy Spirit.

So one thing we know so far about demons is that they stick together. And when demons are cast out by Jesus, they are cast out by the finger of God.

We read on:

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armour in which he trusted and divides the spoil. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Jesus speaks here about a strong man, a soldier who guards his palace. This strong man is the devil. And the devil appears like a very strong man. Sin and corruption and suffering in the world also appear to be a stronger force than good, sometimes. In the same way, the devil can appear like a very strong man. But when Jesus comes along, he attacks the devil’s house and destroys it. Jesus is a stronger man than the devil.

There is a temptation for some people to think that the devil and Jesus are equally powerful. But that’s simply not true.

Remember Jesus on the cross. This was the time when everything looked as though the devil had won the day. But in actual fact, it was the time when the devil was defeated, because sin was paid for with Jesus blood, and so the devil has no more power.

So two things we know now about Jesus and demons: Demons stick together, but Jesus casts them out by the finger of God. And also, Jesus is stronger than the devil – he has won the victory over the devil and the devil can’t hurt us.

And now Jesus says in our reading:

When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, “I will return to the house from which I came.” And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

Have you ever had a situation like this? Have you ever had a situation where you recovered from something, or you got to a stage in life where you were happy, and then you fell more deeply than you had ever fallen before? Perhaps you were aware of a fault, and you tried really hard to do better, and then you fell again and again, and messed up even worse than you ever had before?

In this little passage, Jesus describes how the devil leads people into despair. And it is an easy thing to despair. It’s easy to think that there’s no point in moving forward, because no matter what we do we think there’s nothing we can do that can make things better. It’s easy thing to think that bad things are going to happen to us anyway, so there’s no point in trying.

It’s a scary thing that Jesus describes when he speaks about these seven demons returning to a person who has been cleaned and swept out.

And so like St Paul, many of us will throw up our hands and say, “I don’t understand my own actions. I do not do the good I want to do, but I do the very thing I hate.” I don’t understand how to keep these demons out. I don’t know how to improve things in my life. I don’t know how to keep myself afloat.

And we know how much depression there is in our communities, how much darkness there is, how much uncertainty, how much suffering. And not just in our own communities, but in our own homes, and in our own hearts.

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But then at the end of our gospel there’s a little glimmer of light. There’s one last twist in our reading, where a woman in the crowd yells out, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that gave you suck!”

You beautiful boy! You lovely young man! Thank you for revealing to me this teaching! Your mother must be proud! I have a son, she says, and I wish he was like you. How I wish that you were in my womb and how I wish that my breasts gave you milk!

(It all gets a bit earthy!!)

And Jesus doesn’t say, “No my mother is not blessed.” He says, “Yes, but rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”

Here is the powerful word which we need to keep close.

We don’t understand our actions, we don’t understand how the devil uses us to do damage here and there and all over the place.

But one thing we do know: We have heard the word of God. And when the word of God goes into our ears, we know the house that has been swept out and cleaned is not empty. There is no room for seven demons. There is only room for the strong words that belong to the strong man, Jesus, who has destroyed the power of the devil.

Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.

And so may we who have heard the word of God, may we also keep it, cherish it, keep it close with us, keep it churning over with us. May we not only hear the word of God, but also keep thinking over it. May we not only put the word of God in our mouth, but also chew on it. May the word of God not only wash over us, but also settle in and marinade us.

Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.

And so remember the words that Jesus has spoken to you particularly.

Baptism now saves you.

I forgive you all your sins.

Take, eat, this is my body. Take and drink, this is my blood.

I have written you in the palms of my hand.

We don’t understand our actions. But this we do know: the devil is filth, and he loves our filth. But when Jesus speaks his words of forgiveness to us, which he won on the cross for us, there is no room for the devil. When the word of God fills the house, then there is no room for the devil. We don’t understand our own actions, but there is something that is clearer than our own understanding, that is more powerful than our own understanding, and that is the word of God, the gospel which is the power to salvation.

Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.

And the peace of God which passes all understanding keep our hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Lord God heavenly Father, we have heard your words with our own ears. Sow it deep into our hearts, bury it deep within us, so that we may also keep it, and keep it close with us all the time. You have put away the devil from us and defeated him. Fill us with your Word, and with your Holy Spirit, that everything which wants to harm us may be crushed by the finger of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lent 2: Audio Sermon (20-Mar-11)

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Lent 2 [Matthew 15:21-28] (20-Mar-11)

This sermon was preached at St Paul's Lutheran Church, Darnum (9am), Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Traralgon (11am), and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Bairnsdale (3pm).

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Text (Matthew 15:21-28):

Then Jesus answered her, “ O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Kä cu Yecu jɛ loc i̱, "Ɛ ji̱n ciek mi di̱t ŋa̱thdɛ! A jɛ la̱tkɛ kä ji̱ ce̱tkɛ mi go̱o̱ri." Kä cu nyaadɛ gɔaa ni kä kɛɛl.

Prayer: May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

Jesus says: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

Are you hungry? Are you thirsty? What do you desire the most? What do you want?

Ask Jesus for it. And if he doesn’t give it to you, ask him again. And if he still doesn’t give it to you, ask him again. Keep on asking him until he blesses you. Wrestle with him, like Jacob. Fight with him – argue with him – pester him. Keep on asking until he blesses you.

Our faith is always a wrestling match. It’s always a kind of fight. And Jesus doesn’t want to wrestle us because he wants to defeat us. He wants to show you that you can win. Jesus wants to be pinned to the ground, and he wants his own words to be put in front of his nose, so that he has no choice but to listen to our prayers.

Ask, and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you.

Whatever you ask the Father in my name, I will give to you.

These words are no joke.

It’s not for us to sit around and say, “Yes, but we should only ask Jesus those things which are his will.”

Your right! But you don’t know what the will of Jesus is, except for the fact that he has said, “Ask, and it will be given to you.”

That’s Jesus will. It’s Jesus will that you ask him for everything. It’s not something for you to sit around and decide about, it’s your Christian duty to pray for everything and nothing less. Jesus commands you to pray. When you have asked Jesus for what you want, you have done his will. When you haven’t asked Jesus for what you want, you have sinned and become a worshipper of idols who wants to solve your own problems.

Pray without ceasing. Pray always. Ask Jesus for everything.

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So in our reading today, Jesus and a Gentile woman have a fight. They are both in the boxing ring. And each one gives the other one a punch.

This is what we read in our reading:

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.”

The woman throws the first punch. She’s a Gentile, and she wants everything that this Jewish man, Jesus, has got to offer. She wants all the prize money for herself. She wants to win against Jesus, and she’s not going to let him off easy.

Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.

Give it to me, Jesus. Have mercy on me, Son of David. Fix up my daughter.

And here’s comes Jesus’ comeback.

We read: But he did not answer her a word.

It’s as if he says: Not interested. Don’t call us, we’ll call you. Get out of my face.

No comfort for you. Go comfort yourself.

Well, most of us would have lost the fight right then and there. Most of us by this stage would have thrown down the towel, and marched off in a huff. Most people at this stage would have gone and asked the devil for help instead.

“What sort of a Saviour are you? What sort of a comforter are you?

I asked for a Saviour and I got Satan instead.”

In 2 Corinthians, we read that even the devil manifests himself as “an angel of light”. Here we have Jesus manifesting himself as an angel of darkness, an angel of silence, an angel of anger, an angel of wrath.

We might think, Is this the Jesus we know and love? Well, who else so we think it is then?

Truly you are God who hides yourself, says Isaiah.

So far, the score of our match is one all.

The woman threw her punch: She wants mercy, she wants her daughter to be healed.

Jesus threw his punch: A cold shoulder. He brushed her off, aloof, unconcerned, uninterested.

What do you think? Is Jesus uninterested in your prayers? Is he unconcerned with your prayers? Is he aloof?

Well, who do you think he is then? The devil?

Remember:

Jesus says: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

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Time now for round two.

We read:

And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.”

She goes around the back – she wants to catch him off guard. She wants Jesus friends to help her out. “Maybe we can all gang up on him together”, she might think.

So she catches him out, almost a bit below the belt.

Jesus answers: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Two all, the score is now.

She gives him an underhanded punch. He throws it back.

I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

It’s as if he says: I am not your God. I am these people’s God, but not your God. I am not for you. You go and call on your own God.

If you want a god, go to the bank – they’ll give you everything you need. IF you want a god, go worship a cat. Go worship your TV screen, go worship your bargain catalogues, go worship your family, go worship your nice cozy bed, go worship your credit card – they’ll give you everything you need, won’t they? You don’t need me – I am not your God.

 Whack! The score now is two all.

The Gentile woman threw her punch: she went around Jesus’ back and tried to ask for help his disciples.

Jesus throws his punch: He rejects her. He is not responsible for her.

What do you think? Has Jesus rejected you? Is he everyone else’s God except yours?

Well, what’s your problem? Do you think that Jesus didn’t die for Christians as well?

Remember:

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that whoever believes in him will not die but have eternal life.

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Time for round three.

We read: But she came knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

Straight in the face. Is there a more direct prayer in the whole of Scripture? Lord, help me. Straight in the face!

And Jesus answers: It is not right to take the children’s bread and throws it to the dogs.

Three all – the score stands!

It’s as if he says: Who do you think you are? You’re not worthy to call on me!

Jesus pulls out the heavy stuff now – he pulls out the insults: It’s not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.

Remember, that in the Hebrew language and in most of the Middle-East, dogs are dirty, filthy things. When we say “dog” here, don’t think of Lassie, Napolean, Beethoven, the 101 Dalmatians, and all the other “man’s best friends” from Hollywood. Think of the mangiest, scavenging, vicious excuse for a dog you can think of. In the last chapter of the bible it says, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerors and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”

Outside are the dogs.

So three all it is.

Help me, Lord, she says.

It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs, says Jesus.

Well, most people would have definitely given up the fight by now. “If Jesus is going to resort to insults, it’s time to call it a draw.”

What do you think? Are you offended by Jesus? Is he too forthright for you? Is he too cutting for you? Is he too offensive, too sharp, too much?

Well, who do you think he is? Father Christmas? Grandpa Joe? Mickey Mouse?

Jesus didn’t brush our sins under the carpet, but he dealt with them, by dying on the cross and rising from the dead.

And where did he die? Outside the city of Jerusalem, where the dogs are.

Hebrews says: Jesus also suffered outside the gate [with the dogs, if you like] in order to make the people holy [in order to sanctify them] through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the one that is to come.

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Round four, folks! The final round.

There’s one more thing that needs to be settled.

This Gentile woman won’t be swayed. She won’t be swayed by the fact that

Jesus doesn’t listen, she’s not swayed by the fact that Jesus came for the Jews, she’s not swayed by the fact that Jesus insulted her.

But there’s one more thing she needs to sort out. When Jesus says to her, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs”, he says to her, “You are unworthy to pray”. Will she be swayed, ladies and gentlemen? Will she let down? Will she say, “No, I’m not unworthy” and go home?

She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

 No, friends! She has one last punch still in her. She won’t be beaten.

And Jesus says: “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire!” And her daughter was healed instantly.

You win! says Jesus. You win! You’re too good! I can’t fight with you anymore.

Gentile woman wins the match with 4 points!

She wins the prize! She takes home a healed daughter! She takes home everything she always wanted! She takes home the trophy, the prize money, the gold medal! Everything that Jesus has belongs to her!

Jesus is stripped of everything! Everything is given to her! He is left for dead, naked, bleeding and dying on the cross! He empties himself – and gives her everything she ever wanted! She won’t let Jesus go until he blesses her! She wins! She wins!

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Now -- never before, probably, have you thought that Christianity is about beating Jesus in a fight.

But Satan pretends to be Jesus when he gives us false comfort, false worship, false gods, false worth, false self-esteem.

And so Jesus sometimes makes himself appear like Satan so that we will pin him into a corner with his own words, with his own promises, so that he will give us real comfort, he will show himself to us as the true God, he will give us the true worth and true esteem that comes from the forgiveness of sins. The name Jesus means “Saviour”: Satan means “accuser”. Pin him into a corner and say to him: Be a Jesus to me, Jesus! Be a Saviour to me, Jesus, not a Satan, not an accuser!

The Holy Spirit even makes himself like a demon, he makes himself like a curse, he convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment, so that he will be our true Comforter.

This is what it means to live under the cross, my friends. This is what it means to be a Christian. If you want to fight the devil, you need to fight Jesus with his own words. You need to hold Jesus to his own words, and not let him go until he blesses you. You need to stare Jesus in the face, and to hear the words: “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

Baptism is solid! The word of God is true! The forgiveness of sins is powerful! The Lord’s Supper is here, and it is for you!

It’s not a whole bunch of talk. It’s real things, it’s facts. Empty talk will die, truth will remain. The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the Word of the Lord remains forever.

Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be open to you. And don’t let him go until he blesses you.

Amen.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, you suffered for us, you died for us, and you rose again from the dead for us. You are seated at the right hand of God for us, praying for us even in the midst of us. You promise to hear our prayers, you promise to listen to us, you promise to come and be with us. We place ourselves and all our needs into your hands, trusting what you have said to be true and certain. Amen.

Lent 1: Audio Sermon (13-Mar-11)

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Lent 1 [Matthew 4:1-11] (13-Mar-11)

This sermon was preached at St Paul's Lutheran Church, Darnum (9am), Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Traralgon (10am, lay reading), Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Yarram (2pm) and St John's Lutheran Church, Sale (4pm).

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Text (Matthew 4:1-11):

Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Prayer: Sanctify us in the truth, Lord. Your word is truth. Amen.

So – what’s your temptation?

One of the great Christian men of the early church once said, “Take away temptations and no-one will be saved.”

This means that the church of all times is a fighting church. Christians are people who pick up weapons – the weapons of truth, of love, joy and peace, of hope, of encouragement, of courage.

St Paul in Ephesians writes about what it means to fight as a Christian. He says: “Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.”

Now if there’s a war or a battle, you have to know who the enemy is. It’s no use fighting if you don’t know who’s side your on. Also, you have to know what your weapons are and how they work.

So who is the enemy? The enemy is the devil. And what does he target? He targets you. “Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

And what is the weapon? St Paul talks about the sword of the Spirit, which is the “Word of God.”

Now what did this old man in Christian history mean though when he said, “Take away temptations and no one will be saved”? What did he mean by that?

The devil only attacks those who are a threat to him. Every false religion promises a peaceful life, an easy life, a life where everything is sunshine and lollipops and rainbows. Even many Christians have promised that to people, and said, “Convert to Christianity, and you life will be easy.” But then what happens, Jesus lays upon them the cross, just like he lays it upon every Christian, and then the devil comes, and says “If you are a child of God, this shouldn’t be happening. You’ve got the wrong religion. You’re on the wrong bus – atheism will make you a lot happier, Buddhism will make you a lot happier, in fact, anything will make you happier except Jesus Christ.” Put simply the devil doesn’t bother with people who are already his.

Don’t forget though, that St Paul does say, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” It’s not like Christianity is a morbid dreary religion with no happiness. But he also says, “We rejoice in our sufferings.” In Acts 5, we read that the disciples rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the same of Jesus.

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In our reading today, we read Jesus was being tempted by the devil.

This is what we read:

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Notice that it was the Spirit who led Jesus into the wilderness. When we are tempted by the devil, we are put there by the Holy Spirit, so that we may share in the holiness of God. The devil didn’t lead Jesus there, but it was the Holy Spirit. This is a great comfort, because we know right from the start, in the time of temptation that the Holy Spirit is there leading us. And where is Jesus? He’s in the wilderness. He’s in the desert – a desolate place, a deserted place, a lonely place.

We read on:

And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

It’s hard to know here whether or not Jesus drank any water at all, or whether or nor it humanly possible to fast for this long without a special support of God. Never mind, what is the important thing here is that he fasted and he was hungry. The number forty is also significant: Moses was on Mt Sinai for forty days and forty nights. The people of Israel were wandering around in the wilderness for forty years. And there’s all sorts of other occurrences of the number forty in the bible. We are now in the season of Lent, which is forty days long, and there are also forty days from the time when Jesus rose from the dead and when he ascended into heaven.

Now when it comes to fasting for yourself, you might have thought about giving something up for Lent, or something like that.

The Augsburg Confession, which is one of the founding confessions of the Lutherans Church, says: “Our adversaries object by accusing our teachers of being against discipline and the subduing of the flesh. [In other words, at the time of the reformation, the Catholic accused the Lutherans of being lazy and accused Lutheran pastors of encouraging their congregations to be lazy. It goes on to say:] Just the opposite is true, as can be learned from our teachers’ writings. They have always taught that Christians are to bear the cross by enduring afflictions. This is genuine and sincere subduing of the flesh, to be crucified with Christ through various afflictions. Furthermore, they teach that every Christian ought to train and subdue himself with bodily restraints, or bodily exercises and labours. Then neither over-indulgence nor laziness may tempt him to sin. But [we] do not teach that we may merit grace or make satisfaction for sins by such exercises. [In other words: we do not discipline ourselves to earn something from God by it.] Such outward discipline ought to be taught at all times, not only on a few days.”

Also St Paul says to Timothy: “Train yourself in godliness, for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

Now, back to our gospel reading… we read:

And the tempter came and said to [Jesus], “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Now as we read before, the devil comes and speaks three temptations to Jesus. And today, we are not going to focus so much on what these temptations actually are. Instead, I want us to look at how the devil tempts him, and how Jesus counterattacks him.

Each of these temptations that the devil speaks to Jesus begin with these words: “If you are the Son of God…”

And each time Jesus responds with the words: “It is written…”

Each time the devil calls Jesus identity into question. He wants Jesus to doubt that he is truly the Son of God. He wants Jesus to prove that he is the Son of God.

And each time, Jesus refuses to prove anything, but he quotes the Scripture. “It is written…”

And for us, all of our temptations begin with, “If you were a true Christian, you would…” “If you were a real church, you would…” “If you were a real pastor, you would…”

And each of us have to deflect all of these attacks of the devil with the words, “It is written…”

As Christians in the 21st century, we are constantly under attack because we are seen as a thing of the past. We are seen as a boring, irrelevant thing from yesterday.

We are always being asked to drag ourselves out from the past and be modern, be relevant. And it’s amazing how often Christians, pastors, bishops are told how relevant, how modern, how refreshing they are when they deny that Jesus was born of a virgin, when they deny that he rose from the dead, and when they deny that there is any need for the forgiveness of sins.

But we are suffering from one thing: many Christians today don’t know what’s written. One of the first things I remember being told at the seminary was, “Read the bible as much as possible. You have to be as much of an expert on the bible as can possibly be. You’re people will expect it of you even if they don’t say it of you.”

And the same goes for you. Read the bible and learn it. Learn every page, every word. Nit-pick and be pernickety. Ask every question there can possibly be asked. Nothing is insignificant – nothing is irrelevant. There is no easy road to the growth and the strength of Christianity.

There is a temptation as well to educate young people and children in just the bare basics of Christianity. People say, “They don’t need to know that, all they need to know is x, y and z.” Many children throughout the country are being taught close to nothing of what the bible says, but instead are being taught “how to pray.” It simply isn’t good enough – it’s not a solid foundation. Jesus said, “Teaching them everything I have commanded you.” There is only one response to the devil, and that is: “it is written.”

It is not good enough to say, “I have Jesus in my heart.” You need to say, “It is written that Jesus promises to live there.”

It is not good enough to say, “God is love.” You need to say, “It is written, “God is love.””

You can’t fight the devil with your own opinions. You can only fight him with the word of God.

+++

There’s a movie that I always used to like called “Fiddler on the roof.” In the movie, there is an old Jewish man, who often says to people, “as the good book says.” At the same time, he goes outside and often has a talk to God. At one time he says to God, “As the good book says… Hang on a minute, Why should I be telling you what the good book says!”

Now, Jesus is the Word of God. Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is actually truly God. And nevertheless, isn’t it strange that in our reading even he doesn’t fight the devil with this power that belongs to him – even he doesn’t fight the devil with his own authority. He fights the devil with the words of Scripture. And if it’s good enough for Jesus, it should be good enough for us.

So remember these words, “It is written…”

It is written, The words of the Lord are Spirit and life, and I have heard it for myself.

It is written, I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

It is written, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

It is written, Take and eat, this is my body given for you. Take and drink, this is my blood shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.

It is written, I give to my sheep eternal life, they shall never perish neither shall anyone pluck them out of my hand.

It is written, The very hairs of your head are numbered.

It is written, I have written you on the palms of my hands.

It is written, your life is hidden with Christ in God.

It is written, The Lord bless you and keep you.

And he will bless you and keep you, he will make his face shine on you and be gracious to you, he will look with favour upon you and give you peace, because, after all… it is written!

Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for your temptation in the wilderness. Have mercy on us, and strengthen us. There is no one else who fights for us except you O Lord. Give us courage in our lives, and fill our minds and hearts with your holy precious words. One little word can knock the devil over, one little word can send him running. Amen.

Wedding of Terry Martin and Lauren Ruwoldt (12-Mar-11)

This sermon was preached at Toorongo River Sanctuary, Noojee, 3pm.

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Text (Proverbs 18:22):

He who finds a wife finds what is good and obtains favour from the LORD.

Prayer: May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

Terry: today, you’ve found a wife.

Lauren: today, you’ve found a husband.

Yesterday and even this morning, when you found yourselves, you didn’t find there a husband or a wife. And now, you do: tomorrow you will and the next day and the next day after.

So what? Now what are we supposed to do?

Well, enjoy it – enjoy what is good and enjoy the favour of the Lord. As Proverbs says:

He who finds a wife finds what is good and obtains favour from the Lord. And likewise, she who finds a husband finds what is good and obtains favour from the Lord.

At the time of Jesus, there was a man who found a wife, and a woman who found a husband, and this discovery, this finding, this marriage was so good, that Jesus turned up, and when the wine was running out, he turned 6 stone jars of water into wine. What they found was so good, that he blessed them with too much wine, too much that they couldn’t even drink, heaping and showering on them almost too much blessing.

Because weddings are a blessing – they are a gift to everyone. They are a wonderful occasion for you, the couple. But they are also a blessing to everyone who is here. They are gift to everyone, a gift of a chance to celebrate, a gift of a chance to pull ourselves from our day to day lives, and to wish you happiness, and every joy, and every blessing. And every blessing from every person to you, the married couple, is doubled and tripled by God, in fact, it is added to ten times, twenty times, a hundred times.

Everyone who has ever travelled to a different country with a different culture and has the chance to go to a wedding always says what a great occasion it was, how wonderful it was, and all that sort of thing. A culture with weddings is a happy culture. A culture without weddings is a sad culture. That’s why every wedding is such a wonderful occasion because it is the building of a new culture, a new family, a new future, a new hope, and a new joy, a new happiness.

He who finds a wife finds what is good and obtains favour from the Lord.

Every wedding is a testimony that love is stronger than everything bad, and wrong, and corrupt in the world. Every wedding and every marriage is a testimony to the fact that “love never ends” as the reading today says. Because civilisations will rise and fall, but there will still be weddings and there will still be marriages, that’s because “love never ends.”

In fact, in the Christian understanding of marriage, love has always been at the centre of marriage. St Paul says in Ephesians: “Husbands love your wives, as Christ loved the church.” Now we might think that it is an obvious thing for husbands to love their wives and for wives to love their husbands. But marriage for some people has been for financial reasons, or cultural reasons, or for convenience reasons. The Christian church says, and God says, not “Husbands, put up with your wives”, or “to the right thing by your wife”, or “merge your bank account with your wife”, but “husbands love your wives”.

Now it could be easy for me in blessing your marriage to say to you, “listen, you fools, love each other, stay together, don’t get divorced, or else!” A wedding sermon could easily deteriotate into a pile of “Thou shall nots…” and whole heap of finger-wagging.

Now, in a few moments, you will make vows to each other ”…so long as you both shall live.”

But how can you promise to love a person in the future when you don’t know what the future holds? Are we really putting too much on your ability to make promises and on the power of your own promises when we begin a marriage like this?

What’s interesting about the vows is that you promise not just to love each other, but also to cherish each other. “Cherish” means that you promise to build love each day, that you continue to lay a foundation of love.

But at the same time, love can’t be forced, love can’t be commanded, love can’t be coerced. It can only be given. And love creates love. The giving of love creates the freedom to love in return.

But our little verse says: “He who finds a wife finds what is good, and obtains favour from the Lord.”

Favour from the Lord. The estate of marriage is one upon which God rests the hand of his blessing. Marriage is something which God shines the light of his face. God is the one who begins marriage, he is the one who loves you, in order that you can love one another.

Marriage is a holy calling. It’s a place where God has put you. It’s a deal that God himself has fixed up and arranged. You are no longer two but one flesh, and what God has joined together, let no one separate. No longer can you look at life anymore thinking only about yourself. Everything in your life will be shared: your home, your bed, your children – even the words of each other’s sentences. There’s no room anymore for independence. You’re not independent, and you never will be. Any-one who thinks they’re independent should look at their belly button and think again. For you, Terry, to think about yourself, means to think about Lauren. And for you, Lauren, to think about yourself, means to think about Terry. Because you are joined together as one flesh, marriage will bring about blessings which have to do with your flesh. Children are a blessing of your flesh, a house and home is a blessing for your flesh, work and money will be a blessing for the needs of your flesh, and the vows of marriage now are your flesh. St Paul says: “He who loves his wife loves himself.” And also, She who loves her husband loves herself.

And marriage calls you: “Husbands loves your wives as Christ loves the church.” Christ loves the church because he forgives it. And when he forgives it, he no longer sees the wrong in it. If there’s ever a day in your married life, where you think that the other one is less than perfect in your eyes, then remember that you have always been perfect in Jesus Christ’s eyes, because he forgives you.

He who finds a wife and she who finds a husband, always finds something which is good. It always finds something which will always be good. He who finds a wife finds what is good, even when for a while there is a struggle, even when there is a heavy cross to bear. Your husband is always good. Your wife is always good.

Whenever something is blessed by the church, it is always blessed with the cross. And it’s kind of ironic, because the cross is the sign of the most profound suffering the world has ever known. That’s because every blessing comes with suffering built into it. Blessing is never without suffering.

Your husband, your wife will always be good. But there will be suffering. But there will be blessing in the suffering. Anyone who wants to be blessed and doesn’t want suffering wants something that isn’t true, that isn’t human, that it’s real.  A marriage without suffering is something that is beneath you, that is not worthy of you. Because love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. And life love has to bear, if love has to believe, if it has to hope, if it has to endure, then it has to be born out of suffering. And love never ends. Christ loved the world in the same way. All it took was to look at us with one glance, and he was captivated, and fixed his eyes to suffer and die for us, and rise from the dead. Christ looks as the world, and loves her, because he forgives her. He found what is good, in fact, something which is perfect – at least, in his eyes, even if we don’t think so or don’t feel it, and in the end, that really all that matters.

And so we say: He who finds a wife finds what is good, and obtains favour from the Lord.

May the Lord God our heavenly Father bless you with every gift, and may he bring all of us to the marriage feast, the marriage banquet in heaven, where we will eat and drink in the kingdom of God, at the wedding that which will never end. Amen.