Sexagesima
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Isaiah 55:10-13
Isaiah 55:10-13
My Brothers and SIsters in Christ, we are in the season that looks ahead to the coming of Lent. When watch our Lord and Savior draw closer unto the City of Jerusalem the place where prophets go to die, but He has not abandoned or forsaken us. Rather we have something quite precious that has been given to us from our Father above, and from Christ himself. As Christ’s ministry is accomplished by the Word.
The Word of God
The Bible is unique.
It is different than any other book that you will find in Holy Scripture and it brings to us the gift and the words of eternal life. There is no other book on earth that gives to us, the very Words of our Creator, and that has been passed down to us to explain why the World is like it is and why it is broken, and it is by these Words that we are saved.
The Bible is inspired.
That word has particular meaning. The Scriptures are referred to as God-breathed, or God-spirited, and that the Holy Spirit gave to the writers the Words that were to be put down upon the page. They each wrote with their own particular style, and had a different audience, but all of the Bible
It is empowered by the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is active in the Word, and that is why the Word of God is a living active thing, sharper than any 2-edged sword. For they are not just the words of men that we find in this book, but they are the words of the living and Holy God who watches over all of creation.
Forsaking the Word
Since the garden, man has struggled.
We were given a simple command that we would abide by God’s Word and trust that even though the fruit was pleasing to the eye that it was not for us, and that God knew best. It was a simple command, but we did not obey. Since that time we have struggled with the Word.
Truth isn’t by majority.
We see this standard applied particularly in our culture that people believe that by general consensus we can figure out what is true. But the truth isn’t determined by how many people believe it. For in the days of Noah, there were only 8 souls left on earth that reminded in the faith, and though they were outnumbered, God’s Word remained true.
It doesn’t change for culture.
The Word doesn’t shift from generation to generation or to suit our desire or our wants for the Scriptures were given to us by the Holy Spirit, who is eternal, and the Word that He has given is thus not for only one age, but for all.
Churches that forsake the Word forsake God.
If the Scriptures are God-spirited, and we abandon or forsake the Word, then we forsake God himself. They are that important to us, and this is why people find Lutherans to be particularly stubborn, because we will not let go of God’s Holy Word.
Why Should We Cherish the Word?
Like water upon the earth, it brings life.
These are the Israelites who know the precious blessing that rains bring to a dry land. So the Word is compared with an immeasurable blessing. Last summer, and as much as we don’t want to admit it, this winter we are feeling the lack of precipitation.
The Word is living and active.
It brings life and hope and comfort to those whatever their trials might be, for the Word speaks not only of God’s judgment, and his wrath against sin. It also brings to us the promises of God that raise us from death to life.
The Lord promises His Word does not return empty.
His Word actually does what it says. In the Beginning when God said let there be light, light came into existence. When God says you are my child, that makes it so. When He says you are forgiven, that you are at peace with him, these things are true. God’s Word is His bond, and we ought to cherish it.
So Why don’t all believe?
Jesus explains that in his parable.
The same seed, the Word is shared with all, and yet it falls amongst different fields. In some it sprouts for a time, but then different things come and destroy the faith. It shows us something important
Faith can be attacked.
We should remember that even the disciples were subject to these temptations, we of course know Judas, who was one of the 12 apostles sent forth to cast out demons and perform healing as Jesus’ apostle, and yet fell, or Peter whom the devil sifted and thus Peter denied Christ 3 times after boldly confessing that he would never fail, even if everyone else fell away. Peter found himself in the rocky soil, and withered under trial.
God grants people the freedom to fall.
It is what happened in the Garden, it’s what happened to the Israelites, but He has given us His sure and certain Word, but He has given His sure and certain Word to sustain and strengthen us. So let us not make the mistake of setting it aside, nor think we are so strong a christian that no longer need to hear the voice of our Father.
The Joy of God’s Salvation
When the Word bears fruit, there is joy.
Great joy, for the Bible is not just some instruction book for us here on earth, that would be the Law, it is also meant to comfort us and give to us hope, and joy that God has not abandoned his people, but overcome the powers of darkness.
That’s why God wants us to share the Word.
Look at the news, and look at the world, the Word is described as that which brings life to the world. Isaiah compares it with water in a desert, Jesus speaks of it as a bountiful harvest, the world is largely lost and wandering around trying to figure out what to do. You dear Christian know what God has done we can offer them hope.
To do so, we proclaim Jesus and His victory.
Now the world will fixate on material things, but those are things that fade, they focus on the symptom, when Christ has offered to them life.
We Don’t Have to Be Scared
The Word is efficacious.
It means the Word does that which it says. We witness that in the beginning when God said let there be light, and light came into existence. Trust the Word to bear fruit and to accomplish the purpose for which it was sent.
Evangelism is not about your story, or faith, or persuasiveness.
When you focus on that, it can be countered by the fact that others have not had that experience, or they didn’t make it through. It also makes folks think that they could never be an evangelist because they don’t have a great or powerful story.
The Gospel is about Jesus who is the word.
The Holy Spirit was sent by Christ to convict the world regarding, sin, the righteousness found in Jesus, and the judgment of the devil. Share with them all that Christ has accomplished for them. The Word Evangelism comes from a Greek word, euangelion which speaks about a victory. Jesus won against sin, death, and the power of devil. By doing so
Jesus secured for us peace with God.
That we no longer have to fear the wrath of our Father against sin, for Christ bore that punishment for all who rely on him. This is what we are overjoyed to share with each and every soul. For if the war was done, and the Victor had promised peace even to those who had fought against him. Share with them that Good news that they too might be saved.
So my brothers and sisters in Christ, The word of God is a powerful living and active thing, that we ought to share with everyone. Not all will believe, but we will keep on sharing the Word with them, trusting that the Holy Spirit will work through it to create faith, when and where He will, that they might too receive the bountiful gifts of Christ’s resurrection and His victory over the powers of sin. I would urge you my dear Christians to share this news with others. For it does not depend upon the strength of your faith, or a powerful emotional story, it has always been by the Word of God that people are brought to faith. In Jesus name. Amen.