Offended by God?

Men who were with Mr. Hearst in San Francisco remember the night he came into The Examiner office and heard of a man that had been seen on a half-submerged rock in the bay, with the tide rising and certain to overwhelm him. In the office they were wondering how he got there.

“What difference does it make how he got there?” Mr. Hearst cut in. “Get him off first and find out afterward. Charter tugs, call for volunteers, and save his life—that’s the main thing.” They went out with the tugs (it was a wild night), and rescued the man just before the sea rose over the rock.

Lord God, bless Your Word wherever it is proclaimed. Make it a Word of power and peace to convert those not yet Your own and to confirm those who have come to saving faith. May Your Word pass from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the lip, and from the lip to the life that, as You have promised, Your Word may achieve the purpose for which You send it, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Talking Yourself Out of a Blessing

Mark 6:1–6 ESV

He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.

We know that faith is important in understanding how God works with, in, and for us. Knowing that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17), we should therefore avail ourselves to both hearing and “inwardly digesting” God’s Word and with building one another up through “the mutual conversation and consolation of brothers and sisters” (SA III:IV). Unfortunately, sometimes people’s faith is damaged when they are taught that faith controls what God will do, to the point that they view their “unanswered” prayers as an indictment against their “insufficient” faith. Others will, on equally unbiblical grounds, condemn those who are currently suffering on the grounds that, if they had a better quality of faith, they would not be in their current circumstances.

Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth after a series of powerful events that should have electrified the hearts of all who heard about them. This seems to be the second time that He has come home, according to Luke 4:16-30. In Luke 4:23, of that passage, it is written,

Luke 4:23 ESV

23 And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘ “Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ ”

In our Gospel text, a significant time has passed since that visit.

Once again, their reaction to Jesus, while admitting that they know of what He is doing, nevertheless still fixates on who they think they know him to be. Regardless of what they have heard, most of them know that Jesus does not deserve the honor that they know that He has received from others.

As a result, Mark records, “And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief” (Mk 6:5–6). The people that should have been the first in line to benefit from knowing Jesus experienced almost nothing from His presence. Only “a few sick people” were blessed with healings.

Are you hearing me?

Hebrews 2:1–4 ESV

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

It would be laughable if, when asked later why Jesus’ presence in Nazareth didn’t produce the results that it produced in other towns, the residents said that it was His fault for not forcing them to be healed or otherwise delivered. Jesus rejected their rejection of Him, saying, “a prophet is not without honor, except in His hometown, and among His relatives and in His own household.” With those words, He and the disciples take the Word and depart for other villages.

In those villages, Jesus gives the 12 authority over unclean spirits and directs them concerning their work. Following His instructions,

Mark 6:12–13 ESV

12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

Let me say it again, Following His instructions, “they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.”

How are You Building?

Hebrews 11:1–3 ESV

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Faith supplies the assurance that God will empower this ministry, as we pray for His will, seek His Word, treasure His commandments, and stand upon His promises.

What have we, the Confessional and Evangelical Church of Jesus Christ, been instructed to do in Gary, IN? Have we been instructed to "hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, to consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, but encouraging one another” (Heb 10:23-25)?

Yes

Have we been instructed to “not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Heb 13:2)?

Yes

Are we following those instructions? Are we taking the resources that God has placed in our hands as stewards and enabling growth to take place, or are we burying them for fear that we might only lose them? Are we more like the the servant who was given two or five talents, or the one who was given one?

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Christ did leave us an example, that we should walk in His steps

1 Peter 2:21 ESV

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

The Sign of the Cross is the Sign of the Kingdom

The Cross of Jesus Christ purchased our redemption, it justified the ungodly who hoped in God’s mercy, it set free those who are bound by sin to love and serve the Lord, thanks be to God. Because of Jesus’ authority, purchased in His Blood, the Kingdom of God is present wherever the Church of Jesus Christ is in operation.

Where is that, preacher? Where the pure Gospel is proclaimed in Word and Sacrament, where faith is being birthed and nurtured by the faithful preaching of the Word, where the proper distinction between Law and Gospel is maintained, the Kingdom of God is present, for where the King is, there is the Kingdom.

Where the King is, there is the Kingdom!

Today, God is not asking each of you to go around laying hands on the sick, or speak in languages that you do not know, although He might be doing just that with some of you. What I know is, He has not given us a spirit of fear, that we should skulk around in the shadows, huddling together in our sanctuaries in an attempt to avoid the trouble in the world. You can’t, unless God the Father takes you out of the world, which Jesus specifically refused to ask Him to do.

John 17:15 ESV

I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

You want to know why you are here? There is your answer. God has blessed you to be here, equipped you to be here. The next time you say in your heart, “there is nothing here -” you need to repent and ask God’s forgiveness, because He is here, “where two or three are gathered...” when “the mutual conversation and consolation of brothers and sisters” takes place. Instead of saying things that discourage and dismiss the Mission of God, find a way to put God’s Word on your lips, a Word that is “living and powerful,” a Word that is “the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes. A Word that comes to you through preaching and study and that God says, “shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Is 55:11).

Ezekiel 2:1–5 ESV

And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them.

Because of that Word, your past failures have no bearing on what God will do through you. Because of God’s eternal Yes and Amen through Jesus Christ, there is no weapon formed against you that shall prosper. When everyone tells you that there is no hope for us, remember the Promise of Christ, paid for in His precious blood, sealed by His resurrection. Then know that the Kingdom is present, because the King is present. He is the King who knows what you’re going through, the King who knows the enemies that you’re fighting against, the King who knows how much you can bear.

He is the King, and the Church is His bride. The Devil is defeated, and we are blessed!

He’s defeated in your home! He’s defeated on your job!

He’s defeated on your block! He’s defeated in your city!

He’s defeated at this church! Most of all, he’s defeated in your life!

I know, because I know that the promise is for me!

I know that the promise is for you!

I know that the promise is for your children! The promise is for us all!

So let the peace of God, that passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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