John 17:11-19
Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. Amen
Pastor Smith awoke one Sunday morning. The weather report promised a warm, sunny day. He thought: “I don’t really feel like spending this morning in church.” (Sound somehow familiar?) He called the head elder. “Bill,” he said, “I’m just not feeling well today. Can you and the other elders lead the worship this morning?” “Don’t worry,” said the elder, “take care of yourself. We’ll see you next Sunday.” Pastor Smith hung up the phone, grabbed his fishing pole and headed for the lake. He got into his boat and set out for the middle of the lake. The devil was watching all this and said to God: “Isn’t that one of your boys.” “It sure is,” said God. “What are you going to do about it?” asked the devil. “I’ll fix him,” said God. Pastor Smith cast out his line and immediately hooked a huge, trophy sized fish. Finally, after 30 minutes of fight he landed the fish into the boat. The devil observed this and said to God: “I thought you were going to take care of this fellow.” “I did,” said God. “What do you mean,” said the devil. “That’s the biggest fish that’s ever been caught in that lake.” God smiled: “And who is he going to tell?”
How often have we acted like Pastor Smith and put off something we knew should be done. We are all geniuses at coming up with excuses. But this story got me to thinking. Have you ever played a game called “s’pposin’?” Let me illustrate for you.
Jesus told Peter he would die by crucifixion because of his faith in the Christ. (John 21:18) Now, s’pposin’ Peter had decided to avoid such an excruciating way of dying by continuing to deny Jesus?
Jesus told James and John, the sons of Zebedee, they would be martyred for following Him. (Mark 10:35) Well, s’pposin’ they had left following Jesus to save themselves from such a fate?
Stephen knew full well the hostility of the Jewish leaders toward those who were proclaiming Jesus to be the Messiah. (Acts 6:8ff) So, s’pposin’ Stephen had kept silent (or had renounced his loyalty to Jesus) and avoided being stoned to death?
Paul was aware he would face eventual execution by the Roman authorities for his faith in Jesus Christ and for his labors for Gospel. But s’pposin’ Paul had decided to save his own neck by abandoning his work of carrying the Gospel to the world?
Think about this: S’pposin’ these people had all acted to save themselves. What would have come of Christ’s Great Commission to His church to “preach the Gospel” and to “make disciples”?
In the Gospel Lesson this morning we hear Jesus praying for His disciples. But this prayer is not alone for those who are seated with him in that Upper Room before His betrayal and arrest. This prayer is for all of His followers down through the years to come, and that includes you and me today (this morning) in Bangor, Maine.
Larry is a faithful member of his church. He’s been a dedicated worker and a generous supporter. But his fortunes have turned. He’s lost his job; the bank is threatening to foreclose on his mortgage; he’s at a loss to know how he will pay for his son’s college tuition next year. He asked his pastor: “Why does God allow these ‘bad things’ to happen?” (That’s is a topic for another sermon.) But as we examine Jesus’ prayer it is clearly evident He does not promise or intimate (suggest) that our lives as his followers will be free of trouble or difficult times. Contrary to the Staples ads, there is no “Easy” button for life’s problems. But Jesus does promise we do not have to face life’s difficulties on our own. We have His promise of help, and we have the support of fellow members of his body - the church. The lesson we need to learn from hardships is that God is not the cause. Rather, He uses hardships to help us grow in our faith and trust in Him.
Jane has a good job with a large corporation. Recently, she was moved to a new position and entrusted with greater responsibilities. But she’s become aware that many of the actions of the executive leaders of the corporation are unethical and worse, most likely illegal. If she continues in this job she will be forced to compromise her religious values. What is she to do? As we listen to Jesus praying He acknowledges that we live in a world fraught with sin, with crime and corruption. That has certainly been brought home to us all in these past months. But in His prayer Jesus says we are “not of this world”. As followers of Jesus Christ we do not conform our lives to the world’s values and patterns of behavior. To be perfectly blunt, when I see the attitudes and behaviors demonstrated in so much of the public media it strikes me how shallow and totally bankrupt they are. What’s more disturbing is the implicit message that “this is how to enjoy the good life”.
Rob is been a good son and an exemplary student. Several times he has made the honors list for his high academic achievements. He is a leader in his church’s youth group. He has never given his parents concern because of his behavior. But like every young person he faces constant peer pressure to “join the crowd”. Satan’s evil temptation would have him abandon his faith in his Savior and follow Satan’s “easier” way. But do you hear what Jesus is saying in His prayer? Rob has (we all have) God’s Word by which we were brought to saving faith in Jesus Christ. And this same Word empowers Rob (and you and me) to resist and to defeat the evil temptations of Satan. In his Letter to the Ephesians Paul urges his readers to take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17) Recall how Jesus countered Satan’s temptations in the wilderness. Satan employed his only weapon, the lie. Jesus defeated him with the mightier weapon, God’s Truth.
Someone once raised the question to me: “Why doesn’t God remove believers from the world, who have placed their faith and trust in the Savior? It would prevent them suffering at the hands of the enemies of the cross, and it would protect them from the dangers of a world bent on turning believers away from their Lord.” But notice in His prayer, Jesus explicitly says: “I have sent them into the world.”
The heavenly Father sent Jesus into this fallen world. Jesus committed His sinless life to rescuing mankind (that includes you and me) from sin, from death and from hell. By faith in him (the faith we received by the power of His Word) we are kept holy before God. And that same Word is our weapon against Satan and the world.
I would remind you that Hope Lutheran Church was founded so that the Bible would be taught and preached as it truly is, in its entirety the holy, unerring Word of God, that Word that has brought us to faith in the Christ and which directs us in our life of faith; that Hope Lutheran Church was founded so that the Sacraments given to us by our Lord might be correctly administered for our forgiveness and for our spiritual strengthening and refreshing; that Hope Lutheran Church was founded for our continued assurance that in Christ we have life and salvation. And just as the Father sent His Son, Jesus has sent us (you and me) into this world (1) to proclaim God’s saving Gospel for those who are to be saved, and (2) to warn of God’s judgment on those who refuse God’s saving grace in Christ.
Does Jesus anywhere promise that following Him and serving Him will be easy? Paul wrote to the Philippian church: “It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him.” (Philippians 1:29) And Jesus says: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) That certainly runs counter to a social and economic system whose intent is to make our lives easier. From the foods we bring home from the market, to the latest electronics and appliances, to the remote for our TV, everything is designed to take the work out of life. As Jesus looks to us this morning what does He see, a people seeking our own comfort, or a people with faith enough to commit ourselves to serving Him?
Such a commitment to Jesus Christ, to His church, comes from faith in Him. I’m reminded of two examples of this kind of faith.
In 1877 a group of Lutherans in Fort Wayne, Indiana met together and formed Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church. They immediately set about constructing their new church building. These people were so committed to their church that on the day of its dedication its doors were opened completely free of debt. The members had mortgaged their homes to pay for their church.
In Holt, Michigan some members of Messiah Lutheran Church who lived a distance from the church sold their homes and moved into the city so they could be closer to their church.
A. The members had mortgaged their homes to pay for their church.
B. In Holt, Michigan some members of Messiah Lutheran Church who lived a distance from the church sold their homes and moved into the city so they could be closer to their church.
There is no question Hope Lutheran Church faces some difficult challenges. When I began serving you last September I stated my commitment to help the church move forward again. I’ve been with you now for some nine months, and I am even more prepared to commit more time and more effort for you and for your church (I really want to call this “our” church). But I cannot do it all myself. I need the help of all the members. I need your help.
As I shared with you in my letter, at the recent District Spring Pastors’ Conference we were told: “God’s work done God’s way will never lack God’s resources”. We need to be thinking “outside of (our limited) box”. God has declared: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” (Isaiah 55:8) I truly believe He has more planned for Hope than we can perceive. As His people, we can be certain of this, that “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)
The disciples I cited at the beginning of this sermon were willing to suffer even death for Christ, for the Gospel, and for His Church. Christ is asking us this morning: Are you committed enough to endure your struggle? Dottie and I have had some long discussions about Hope Lutheran Church. I will let Dottie speak for herself. But I am committing myself to make this not yours, but together with you, “our” struggle.
You heard Jesus’ prayer in the Gospel Lesson this morning. Be assured, He is praying for Hope Lutheran Church. He is praying for you. Amen
Now may the Lord of the Church who has brought us together as His people in this time and in this place move us and empower us to do always what glorifies Him and serves all who are called by His name, now and to all eternity. Amen
Sin contaminates everything we do. It is behind every broken home, every empty life, every infirmity, every damaged emotion, every sorrow and grief and loneliness–sin affects all of us and is committed by each of us. God’s Word says the end result of sin is death. But there was hope in Jesus; only He could pay the penalty for our sins.