LutheranLectionary.org

Series C – Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost – Sunday, August 7, 2016 | Pr. Chris Rosebrough

Welcome to the Teaching Ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church. Kongsvinger is a beacon for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is located on the plains of Northwestern Minnesota. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for our sins and salvation by grace through faith alone, and now, here’s a message from Pastor Chris Rosebrough:

Time Stamp	Transcript
0:29	the holy Gospel According to Saint Luke
0:30	chapter 12 verses 22-34
0:34	and he said to his disciples therefore I
0:36	tell you
0:37	do not be anxious about your life what
0:40	you will eat nor about your body what
0:43	you will put on for life is more than
0:45	food and the body is more than clothing
0:47	consider the Ravens they neither sow nor
0:51	reap they have neither Storehouse nor
0:53	barn and yet God feeds them
0:56	how much more valuable are you than
0:59	birds and which of you by being anxious
1:02	could add a single hour to his lifespan
1:05	if then you are not able to do this as
1:07	small as small a thing as that why are
1:10	you anxious about the rest consider the
1:13	lilies how they grow they neither toil
1:15	nor spin yet I tell you even Solomon in
1:18	all of his glory was not arrayed like
1:20	one of these
1:21	but if God so closed the grass which is
1:24	alive in the field today and tomorrow is
1:27	thrown into the oven
1:28	how much more will he clothe you o you
1:31	of little faith
1:32	and do not seek what you were to eat and
1:35	what you were to drink nor be worried
1:38	for all the nations of the world seek
1:40	after these things and your father knows
1:42	that you need them instead seek his
1:44	kingdom and these things will be added
1:46	to you
1:47	in the name of Jesus
1:50	seek his kingdom
1:55	What on earth does that mean
1:57	how do you seek something
1:59	if you can’t see
2:03	hmm
2:04	well let’s see if we can unpack this one
2:06	this is a interesting text or should I
2:09	say text that we have in front of us
2:11	let’s try to figure out let’s seek an
2:13	answer for this seeking the kingdom
2:15	stuff maybe if we seek the answer we can
2:17	find the kingdom along the way right
2:20	Hebrews 11 1. faith is the Assurance of
2:24	things hoped for
2:26	faith is the conviction of things not
2:30	seen
2:32	hmm
2:34	by the way Greek word
2:36	for
2:38	conviction
2:40	in the ESV better translation certainty
2:44	it is the certainty of things that are
2:47	not seen
2:49	how on Earth are you supposed to be
2:50	certain about things you can’t see
2:53	right now if you think about it for a
2:57	second we’re certain about a lot of
2:58	things we can’t see for instance I’ve
3:01	never seen an H2O molecule
3:04	never I’ve I my eyesight is getting
3:07	worse not better and things that small
3:10	well even in my best days I wasn’t able
3:13	to see them yet I know H2O molecules
3:16	exist
3:18	but then of course I know that because
3:21	well I read it somewhere in a science
3:23	book my teachers told me these things
3:26	are all over the place those of you who
3:29	are farmers think we’ve probably had far
3:30	too many H2O molecules
3:34	over the past couple of months right
3:37	but right now we’re talking about in
3:39	this text
3:40	things related to the kingdom of God
3:42	we’re seeking the kingdom of God so
3:44	faith is the Assurance of things hoped
3:46	for
3:47	the certainty the conviction of things
3:49	that are not seen
3:51	and that’s the thing the kingdom of God
3:53	is something that we confess as an
3:56	article of faith
3:57	it is not something that we see right
3:59	now you get glimpses of it
4:03	but they’re ever so fleeting
4:06	for by faith the people of old received
4:10	their Commendation Commendation from
4:12	whom well by God by faith we understand
4:15	that the Universe was created by the
4:17	word of God so that what is seen was not
4:19	made out of things that are visible
4:23	a good way to think about faith I’ve
4:24	said this before and I’ll say it again a
4:26	good way to think about faith it’s a lot
4:27	like eyesight
4:29	right we all have eyesight we are able
4:31	to see things some better than others
4:33	some with the assistance of well devices
4:35	like this right
4:37	but eyesight is always looking at
4:40	something
4:41	and the thing that it’s looking at is
4:44	the object
4:46	of its sight faith is like that faith is
4:49	like eyesight you’re looking to someone
4:52	or something and so because of that you
4:56	can actually
4:57	substitute the word faith with a thing
5:00	that is the object of your faith
5:04	and who is the object of our Christian
5:06	faith it is Christ himself and so as we
5:09	read through Hebrews 11
5:11	you know in the verses that follow we
5:13	will read by faith Abel offered to God a
5:16	more acceptable sacrifice substitute the
5:19	word faith with the word Jesus and it
5:21	still works right by Jesus Abel offered
5:24	to God a more acceptable sacrifice
5:27	by his Jesus though he died he still
5:30	speaks you see the sentence makes
5:32	perfect sense because
5:34	faith is always looking at something
5:37	what is your faith looking at well Jesus
5:40	In Our Gospel text Luke chapter 12
5:43	talks about if you would the opposite of
5:46	Faith what is the opposite of faith
5:49	well it’s doubt unbelief
5:53	fear anxiety
5:55	these are all the Opposites of Faith so
5:57	Jesus says in Our Gospel text he said to
5:59	his disciples I tell you do not be
6:02	anxious about your life
6:04	and just see them all going Jesus
6:07	come on
6:09	right
6:11	don’t worry about what you’re going to
6:12	eat
6:13	I don’t even know where my next meal is
6:15	coming from
6:16	I taught you to pray give us this day
6:18	our daily bread do you believe me or not
6:22	don’t think about your body don’t worry
6:23	about that don’t worry about what you’re
6:25	going to put on
6:26	for life is more than food the body is
6:30	more than clothing
6:31	consider the Ravens
6:34	we’ve seen those right
6:36	crows or any bird think of the barn
6:38	swallows here right
6:40	they neither sow nor reap they have
6:44	neither Storehouse nor barn and yet
6:48	who is it that feeds them
6:51	God does God feeds them
6:53	of how much more value are you than the
6:57	birds may I
6:59	propose an answer to the question
7:01	that Jesus asked of how much more value
7:04	are you than the birds
7:06	for which of the birds did Christ bleed
7:08	and die for
7:11	which are the birds
7:13	have their names written in the Lamb’s
7:16	Book of Life
7:19	if there was ever a candidate for well a
7:21	bird having his name written in the big
7:22	in the you know Lamb’s Book of Life it
7:25	would probably be Big Bird
7:27	but big bird of course we know is
7:30	a puppet animated by a human and that’s
7:33	why I say that
7:35	of how much more value are you than
7:37	birds and which of you by being anxious
7:40	can add a single hour to his life span
7:45	Jesus in the days before Pepcid
7:48	the days before Tums and antacids
7:52	already understands the debilitating
7:54	effects of anxiety
7:57	anxiety causes people to have ulcers
8:00	causes people to lose sleep
8:03	and it doesn’t add a single day to a
8:05	person’s lifespan we know because of
8:07	Medical Science today that quite the
8:09	opposite happens the person who is
8:12	perpetually anxious totally in anxiety
8:17	that person
8:19	well their health falls apart they
8:22	deteriorate
8:23	and what’s the root problem of that well
8:26	see anxiety is the opposite of faith
8:29	if you have certainty that God loves you
8:32	that God cares for you that you are more
8:34	valuable than the birds
8:37	you don’t have to worry about a thing do
8:39	you
8:40	not one thing
8:44	so he says if then you are not able to
8:45	do this small thing as that why are you
8:48	anxious about the rest and then he gives
8:51	another example all object lessons we
8:53	can just look around us consider the
8:56	lilies how they grow
8:58	they neither toil nor spin yet I tell
9:01	you even Solomon and all of his glory
9:03	was not arrayed like one of these
9:06	but if God so closed the grass which is
9:08	alive in the field today and tomorrow is
9:10	thrown into the oven how much more will
9:13	he clothe you
9:14	owe you of little
9:17	faith
9:20	hmm
9:21	so seeking the kingdom of God has
9:24	something to do with
9:26	faith
9:28	all of that anxiety all of that worry
9:30	all of that inability to sleep all of
9:32	that ah
9:37	that’s all signs of little or no faith
9:44	says do not seek what you were to eat
9:47	what you are to drink
9:50	don’t be worried
9:53	for all the nations of the world seek
9:54	after these things and that’s what the
9:56	world’s all about is it not
10:00	just pick up a magazine at the grocery
10:03	store at Walmart
10:05	Vogue GQ whatever it is you know 17.
10:09	I haven’t seen that number in a long
10:11	time right
10:13	pick these things up and what are these
10:15	magazines filled with
10:20	clothes food
10:23	seeking after the things of the world
10:25	your heavenly father knows you need all
10:27	of these things
10:29	every last bit of them so if your
10:33	heavenly father knows that you need him
10:35	them seek his kingdom
10:38	and there it is again
10:39	these things will be added to you now by
10:42	the way Jesus helps us out a little bit
10:44	here if this sounds familiar to you
10:47	you’re thinking you know I’ve heard this
10:48	before in another gospel think
10:51	well Matthew
10:54	The Sermon on the Mount and Jesus there
10:56	in chapter 6 verse 33 says seek first
11:00	the kingdom of God and his righteousness
11:03	and these things all of these things
11:05	they’re going to be added to you
11:08	as a bonus
11:10	if you would right
11:12	seek his kingdom and his righteousness
11:15	not your own his so how do you do this
11:20	oh you of little faith
11:22	will consider by faith Abel offered to
11:25	God a more acceptable sacrifice than
11:28	Cain to which he was commended
11:30	as being righteousness God commending
11:33	him by accepting his gifts and through
11:35	his faith though he died he still speaks
11:38	by faith or you can say by Jesus Enoch
11:42	was taken up so that he should not see
11:44	death and he was not found because God
11:46	had taken him now before he was taken he
11:49	was commended as having pleased God
11:53	how do you do that
11:55	I’d like to know oh what the text says
11:58	without faith
12:00	it’s impossible to please God
12:02	let me read it again without Jesus
12:05	it’s impossible to please God you see
12:08	your faith looks to Christ so whoever
12:11	withdraw near to God must believe that
12:12	he exists and that he rewards those who
12:15	seek him
12:17	by faith Noah being mourned by God
12:19	concerning events as yet unseen so
12:23	you’ll notice here
12:25	that in this Great Hall of Faith passage
12:27	that all of the Patriarchs are commended
12:30	for their faith
12:32	you know you’re hearing bad preaching
12:34	when the emphasis is put on the wrong
12:36	syllable and what I mean by that is oh
12:39	Noah he obeyed no no Noah did what he
12:42	did by faith and because he believed and
12:45	trusted in the word of God
12:47	the thing that was unseen yet that’s the
12:50	flood coming who told him it was coming
12:52	God did he believed God then he built
12:56	the ark the thing that was not seen was
12:59	the flood
13:00	eventually it was seen and Noah was well
13:04	prepared because he had faith by faith
13:07	Noah being warned by God concerning
13:09	event as yet unseen in reverent fear
13:13	constructed an ark for the saving of his
13:15	household by this by this Faith by Jesus
13:18	he condemned the world and became the
13:21	heir of the righteousness that comes by
13:23	Faith by faith you can say by Jesus
13:27	Abraham obeyed when he was called to go
13:30	out to a place that he was to receive as
13:33	an inheritance he went out not knowing
13:35	where he was going that’s generally how
13:37	it goes with me anytime I go out but for
13:40	Abraham it was a special kind of not
13:41	knowing right by faith he went to live
13:44	in the land of promise as a foreigner in
13:46	the land living in tents with Isaac and
13:48	Jacob heirs with him of the same promise
13:50	for he was looking forward to the city
13:53	that has foundations
13:55	whose designer and Builder is God
13:59	did he find that in this life
14:03	no he didn’t
14:05	but oddly enough we’re all looking for
14:07	that same city
14:10	by faith Sarah herself received power to
14:13	conceive when she was past the age since
14:15	she considered him faithful who had
14:17	promised therefore from one man and him
14:20	as good as dad were born descendants as
14:23	many as the stars of heaven and as many
14:25	as the innumerable grains of sand by the
14:29	seashore
14:30	you see all of this was accomplished by
14:34	faith
14:35	and when you truly believe and trust
14:38	God’s words and his promises
14:40	well it results in action
14:43	and that’s what Romans 1 of chapter 4
14:45	says what shall we say was gained by
14:48	Abraham our forefather recording the
14:50	flesh for If Abraham was justified that
14:52	means to be declared righteous by works
14:55	well then he had something to boast
14:56	about but not before God but what does
14:59	the scripture say Abraham believed God
15:04	and it was counted to him or credited to
15:07	him as righteousness do you think it’s
15:10	any different for you
15:12	any different for me
15:15	and if you think about it we’re all kind
15:17	of working with the same promises
15:19	what are the promises that are promised
15:21	to you and to me
15:24	Promises of the Forgiveness of our sins
15:27	Promises of eternal life Promises of an
15:30	inheritance with God and the Saints
15:32	forever new Heavens new Earth
15:36	when you hear me say I forgive you all
15:39	of your sins in the name of the father
15:40	Son and the Holy Spirit do you see your
15:43	sins forgiven
15:45	or do you hear
15:47	that your sins are forgiven
15:49	you can’t see it can you I promise you
15:52	none of you look any cleaner
15:55	after the Absolution now after baptism
15:58	some of you may look cleaner depends on
16:00	what you were looking like before we
16:02	brought you to those Waters right
16:04	today when you receive the Lord’s Supper
16:07	and you hear me say take eat this is the
16:11	body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
16:13	broken for you for the Forgiveness of
16:16	your sins
16:18	do you see Jesus’s body
16:21	what do you taste in your mouth
16:24	bread
16:25	a little chewy thank God all right have
16:29	you ever had those communion Wafers
16:30	where it’s a little bit easier to
16:32	believe that that’s the body of Christ
16:33	and it is to believe that it’s actually
16:35	bread right
16:37	okay
16:41	so you receive this in your mouth
16:43	and what are you believing that it is
16:48	it is what Christ says it is is it not
16:51	right
16:55	see faith is the certainty it’s the
16:58	Assurance of things hoped for certainly
17:00	conviction of things not seen this is
17:03	what God says it is I am
17:07	who God says I am
17:11	I have received what Christ says he’s
17:15	given me
17:17	seek the kingdom of God and his
17:19	righteousness o you of little faith
17:22	trust these words of Jesus and all of
17:25	this other stuff that you are anxious
17:27	about God knows that you need them
17:30	he will give them to you freely for
17:33	Christ’s sake
17:36	he present continues all of these all of
17:38	these Saints all of these Old Testament
17:40	Patriarchs they all died in faith ah
17:44	they all died in Jesus you see how that
17:46	works faith in Jesus totally
17:48	interchangeable they died in faith not
17:51	having received the things promised
17:53	does that mean God’s a liar
17:55	no
17:57	but having seen them and greeted them
17:58	from afar having acknowledged that they
18:01	were strangers and Exiles on the earth
18:03	and so are you
18:05	for people who speak thus make it clear
18:07	that they are seeking a Homeland and
18:09	it’s not in Norway
18:11	okay
18:13	if they had been thinking of that land
18:14	from which they had gone out they would
18:16	have had opportunity to return but as it
18:20	is they desire
18:22	a better country
18:24	that is a Heavenly one
18:27	therefore God is not ashamed to be
18:29	called their God for he has prepared for
18:31	them a city
18:34	indeed he has and listen to the last
18:36	words of Jesus in Our Gospel fear not
18:39	little flock
18:41	for is your father’s good pleasure to
18:43	give you the kingdom
18:45	sell your possessions
18:48	sell them give to the needy provide
18:51	yourselves with money bags that do not
18:52	grow old with a treasure that is in
18:54	heaven that does not fail where no Thief
18:57	approaches and no moth destroys for
18:59	where your treasure is
19:01	they’re your heart will be also where is
19:05	your treasure
19:06	is it in your 401k
19:09	is it in the equity in your house
19:11	right is it in your car I hope not I
19:15	hope not
19:15	because cars that have seen them crash
19:18	where’s your treasure is it here
19:21	or is it in heaven
19:24	right
19:27	so with all of that
19:29	how do you then seek the kingdom of God
19:32	you seek it by faith you seek the
19:35	kingdom of God and remember faith in
19:36	Jesus are interchangeable you seek it by
19:39	Jesus and he is the one who has promised
19:42	to give it to you you don’t have to work
19:44	for it there’s no punch card that you
19:47	need to clock in and clock out in order
19:49	to earn it it’s not a wage it’s all
19:52	purely given as gift in much the same
19:55	way the food that is given to the Ravens
19:57	and the birds it’s all gift from your
19:59	heavenly father and you are far more
20:01	precious than they
20:03	because you were bought by the blood of
20:06	Christ Genesis chapter 15 hear again
20:09	what it was said about Abraham after
20:12	these things the word of the Lord came
20:14	to Abraham in the vision fear not Abram
20:16	I am your Shield your reward shall be
20:19	very great
20:21	and Abraham said oh Lord what will you
20:23	give me for I continue childless and the
20:25	heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus
20:28	you see he what he’s hearing
20:31	is different than what he’s seeing
20:34	right
20:35	have you seen the attorneys the probate
20:37	guys are saying that hey it’s Eliezer of
20:39	Damascus right Abraham said behold you
20:43	have given me no Offspring a member of
20:44	my household will be my Heir behold the
20:47	word of the Lord came to him and said
20:48	this man shall not be your heir
20:51	your very own son shall be your Heir and
20:53	he brought him outside and said look
20:55	toward the heaven Number the Stars if
20:57	you are able to number them and then he
21:00	said so shall your Offspring be
21:05	and he believed the Lord and God counted
21:09	it to him as righteousness
21:13	and see that’s how it works for all of
21:15	us
21:16	we believe the Lord that we are forgiven
21:20	that we have a right standing before God
21:22	that we are blood-bought children of God
21:24	and these promises come to us from
21:27	outside of us from God himself from the
21:30	word of God and we believe and God
21:33	credits that to us as righteousness
21:37	clothing us then in the very
21:39	righteousness of Christ
21:41	so let me ask you did God fulfill his
21:44	promise to Abraham
21:46	that his descendants would be as
21:48	numerous as the Stars
21:50	in the heaven
21:52	absolutely but I want you to consider
21:55	this Galatians 3 verse 7 tells us this
21:58	know then that it is those of faith
22:03	who are the sons of Abraham
22:08	brothers and sisters
22:10	you here today
22:12	hearing and believing the word of God
22:15	hearing and believing the Forgiveness of
22:17	sins
22:18	proclaimed to you through Christ
22:22	you who are of the same faith of Abraham
22:25	you are his sons and his daughters you
22:29	are the ones who are counted as those
22:32	who are part of the stars of Heaven that
22:35	cannot be counted the Sands and the
22:37	seashore that cannot be counted you are
22:40	Abraham’s descendant
22:42	and you are his descendant
22:44	by faith
22:46	do you believe this word
22:50	if so
22:51	the Lord counts it to you as
22:53	righteousness the righteousness that
22:56	comes from Christ
22:58	know then that as those of Jesus who are
23:01	the sons of Abraham in the name of Jesus
23:05	amen
23:06	[Music]

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