LutheranLectionary.org

Series B – Ash Wednesday – Wednesday, February 18, 2015 | 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
0:28	the holy Gospel According to Saint
0:30	Matthew chapter 6 verses 1 through 6 and
0:33	16-21
0:36	be careful not to do your acts of
0:40	righteousness before men to be seen by
0:42	them
0:43	if you do you will have no reward from
0:47	your father in Heaven
0:48	so when you give to the needy Do not
0:50	announce it with trumpets as the
0:52	Hypocrites do in the synagogues and on
0:54	the streets to be honored by men I tell
0:57	you the truth they have received their
0:59	reward in full
1:01	but when you give to the needy do not
1:03	let your left hand know what your right
1:05	hand is doing
1:06	so that you’re giving may be in secret
1:08	then your father who sees what is done
1:11	in secret will reward you and when you
1:14	pray do not be like the Hypocrites for
1:16	they love to pray standing in the
1:18	synagogues and on the street corners to
1:20	be seen by men I tell you the truth they
1:22	have received their reward in full
1:25	but when you pray go into your room
1:28	close the door
1:30	and pray to your father who is unseen
1:32	then your father who sees what is done
1:35	in secret secret will reward you
1:38	when you fast do not look somber as the
1:41	Hypocrites do for they disfigure their
1:43	faces to show men that they are fasting
1:45	I tell you the truth they have received
1:47	their reward in full
1:50	but when you fast
1:53	put oil on your head wash your face so
1:56	that will not be obvious to men that you
1:58	are fasting
1:59	but only to your father who is unseen
2:01	and your father who sees what is done in
2:03	secret will reward you
2:06	do not store up for yourselves Treasures
2:08	on Earth for moth and rust destroy and
2:13	where thieves break in and steal but
2:16	store up for yourselves Treasures in
2:18	Heaven where moth and rust do not
2:19	destroy where thieves do not break in
2:22	and steal for where your treasure is
2:24	there your heart will be also
2:28	in the name of Jesus
2:31	giving to the poor
2:33	praying
2:35	sting
2:37	these are all good things to do
2:39	and hear what our lord said
2:42	he literally said
2:44	be careful not to do your acts of
2:46	righteousness before men to be seen by
2:49	them if you do you will have no reward
2:52	from your father in Heaven
2:57	I wish I can say I’m not guilty of
3:00	praying
3:01	in a way that I hoped people would be
3:04	impressed by my prayers
3:07	now clearly by my girth you can tell I
3:09	don’t do a lot of fasting
3:12	as far as giving to the poor
3:15	I must confess
3:16	I don’t do nearly enough of that
3:20	the reality of the situation is is that
3:23	many people want to do all kinds of good
3:26	works and they want to do them for the
3:28	wrong reasons
3:30	for example
3:32	have you ever talked to that person who
3:34	said did you see how much I gave to the
3:36	poor I want my Hefty donation publicized
3:40	in the Grand Forks Herald
3:45	ouch I know a pastor who makes a point
3:48	of letting everybody know that he
3:51	reversed tithes
3:52	every time he goes on National
3:54	Television he lets the whole world know
3:55	oh why give 90 of what I have back to
3:58	the church and everybody knows how
4:00	generous he is
4:03	foreign
4:04	yeah the issue is is that
4:06	when somebody does that does their good
4:09	works and these are good works
4:11	for everybody to be seen so that they
4:13	can say oh how holy you are oh you’re so
4:17	much farther along than I am
4:20	well they’ve received their reward
4:25	it’s as if Jesus is saying
4:28	I’m not impressed
4:30	I’m not impressed with your good works
4:32	they’re a stenched
4:34	in my nostrils
4:37	because you’re not doing them for your
4:39	neighbor
4:40	you’re doing your good works for you
4:46	there isn’t one thing that you’ve done
4:49	that’s motivated in true love towards
4:52	God and true love towards your neighbor
4:55	everything you do is designed to give
4:58	you a edge a leg up or designed to make
5:02	people think oh if only I can be like
5:05	that person
5:08	and that’s when you realize
5:12	that it’s possible
5:15	in fact probable
5:18	that Christ not only died for our sins
5:20	but died for our good works because our
5:23	good works are just drenched with sin
5:29	the prophets describe our good works in
5:32	one passage is saying that their filthy
5:37	menstrual garments
5:40	used maxi pads
5:43	that’s our good works
5:46	in other words think of it this way
5:51	this Lenten season
5:53	as you reflect on
5:56	how you have not measured up
5:58	don’t only do that
6:01	look hard and ask yourself have I done
6:03	my good works in order to impress people
6:08	have my good works
6:11	have they been soiled
6:13	are they filthy and wretched like filthy
6:16	menstrual garments
6:19	see
6:21	that’s if that’s really the case
6:24	that because we do our good works for
6:26	ourselves and not truly for our neighbor
6:29	then Christ died on the cross for even
6:32	your good works
6:35	that’s how much
6:37	I don’t measure up
6:39	how much you don’t measure up
6:42	Jesus has to save us not only from our
6:44	blatant sins from but even from our acts
6:48	of piety
6:51	When you pray in such a way that you
6:53	just want to impress people with how
6:55	well you pray and maybe even want to
6:57	give a seminar next week on how you can
6:58	pray like me
7:02	you’ve taken a good work and you’ve
7:03	turned it into a wretched wretched deed
7:07	one for which Christ had to bleed and
7:09	die you see
7:11	Heaven is a gift
7:14	Christ won it for you
7:16	we read in Romans on Sunday school that
7:19	if Christ died for our sins and it’s all
7:21	a gift then where is boasting
7:24	there’s no need for boasting Christ has
7:26	done it all
7:29	it’s self-righteousness pietism not true
7:33	Christian piety
7:35	that takes your good works and makes it
7:37	so that you can somehow stand on a
7:39	pedestal in front of everybody and
7:41	everybody goes oh I want to so be like
7:43	you
7:44	and he says what you think
7:46	and Jesus says I’m not impressed in fact
7:50	I’m so not impressed that because you
7:53	think that somehow you’re earning their
7:55	salvation by how Pious You Are by how
7:57	much you pray by how much you give to
7:58	the poor by how often you fast and you
8:01	tell everybody all about it
8:03	I’m going to throw you and your good
8:05	works into the Lake of Fire and give you
8:08	an eternity to think about it
8:12	that’s what he’s saying
8:16	so should we give to the poor yes
8:19	we should
8:21	but when you give to the poor
8:24	go out of your way to make sure that
8:26	nobody knows what you’re doing
8:28	I know it’s difficult to give to the
8:30	poor in a way that they don’t know that
8:32	they’ve received a gift
8:34	and that’s not what this the point of
8:35	this is
8:37	the point is don’t give to the poor in
8:40	order to let everybody know how wealthy
8:42	you are and how generous you are
8:45	given such a way that it’s between you
8:48	and the person that you’re helping and
8:50	you and God
8:51	and when you pray
8:55	in such a way that you want everybody to
8:58	see that you’re doing it
8:59	in fact
9:01	it’s probably a good idea to pray the
9:03	way Jesus said go into an inner room
9:06	shut the door and pray
9:08	well what good is that no one’s going to
9:10	see me your heavenly father will see you
9:13	you’re the one you’re talking to him
9:15	anyway you’re not trying to impress
9:17	people by your prayers that’s not the
9:19	point of Prayer
9:21	and when you fast
9:24	don’t look God
9:26	don’t go oh I’m so weak
9:29	I’m fasting you really need to feel bad
9:32	for me oh but I this is the most
9:35	spiritual thing I can do and I it’s just
9:37	really helping me be transformed to be
9:40	like Jesus well if you were being
9:42	transformed to be like Jesus you
9:44	wouldn’t be acting that way and putting
9:46	on a front like that so that everybody
9:47	would know you’re fasting
9:50	right right
9:54	Jesus wants us to fast Jesus wants us to
9:57	pray
9:58	Jesus wants us to care for the needy
10:03	but because we are in Christ and because
10:07	he has bled and died for us and
10:09	salvation is a gift
10:11	all of your good works and all of your
10:14	piety none of it is done to earn brownie
10:16	points with God
10:18	or to earn piety points with the
10:21	neighbors of the church ladies nope
10:24	all of it is done for your neighbor
10:28	all of it’s done out of true love for
10:30	God it’s not done for you
10:32	because you got to remember this
10:35	when it comes to Christ’s Kingdom
10:38	you are not number one
10:41	God is
10:42	and then your neighbors second
10:45	you come in third
10:47	and you are servant
10:49	to both
10:52	it’s a completely radical way of
10:54	thinking and every time when you try to
10:57	make yourself number one
11:01	you missed the whole point of the cross
11:03	Christ made himself nothing taking on
11:06	the form of a servant being found in
11:08	human likeness and was obedient to death
11:10	even death on a cross
11:14	the God who is king of kings Lord of
11:17	lords whose Throne is above every throne
11:21	in the universe who made all the Thrones
11:24	that exist nothing passes in this earth
11:27	that doesn’t first go through his throne
11:30	yes he does micromanage because he can
11:33	he’s the one who came off the throne and
11:37	was born of the Virgin Mary born in a
11:39	barn
11:40	for you
11:41	the highest to the lowest he humbled
11:44	himself and then God the Father exalted
11:47	him and this is what we’re called to do
11:50	and every time we don’t do it we don’t
11:52	understand who God is or what he’s about
11:55	if Christ if the people are going to
11:57	know that we’re Christians by our love
12:00	well then it’d be good for us to figure
12:03	out what love is all about
12:06	because looking out for number one
12:08	trying to impress the neighbors trying
12:10	to earn brownie points With God all of
12:13	that stuff means you still think that
12:15	you’re number one
12:17	and that’s the reason why Christ had to
12:19	die
12:21	and that’s something to think about
12:23	in fact a good story to end on
12:26	is a story that Jesus told in Luke
12:28	chapter 18.
12:30	to some who were confident of their own
12:32	righteousness
12:34	and they look down on everybody else
12:38	see that’s the thing when you’re doing
12:40	your good work so that everybody can see
12:42	them and everyone’s saying oh how
12:43	wonderful you are how generous you are
12:45	how holy you are you know what happens
12:47	you end up believing it and when you end
12:50	up believing it you know what you end up
12:51	doing you look down at all the little
12:53	people I’d like to thank all the little
12:55	people who made it possible for me to be
12:56	as great as I am
12:59	right
13:01	but now you’re starting to look down on
13:04	other people so Jesus said to some who
13:06	were confident of their own
13:07	righteousness and look down on everybody
13:09	else
13:10	Jesus told this parable two men
13:13	went up into the temple to pray
13:16	when a Pharisee
13:18	the other a tax collector
13:20	sounds like a setup for a joke right you
13:23	know
13:24	there was a rabbi Roman Catholic and a
13:26	Pentecostal all who went to the Pearly
13:28	Gates that’s what it sounds like right
13:29	it kind of sounds like a perfect setup
13:31	but everybody knows how this is supposed
13:33	to end the Pharisee is the religious
13:36	dude
13:37	this is the guy who’s got prayer down
13:41	he knows what he’s doing tax collector
13:44	miserable worthless there is nothing
13:46	holy about this guy he’s a complete
13:48	traitor against the people of God he’s
13:51	working for the Romans and he’s making a
13:53	ton of money basically keeping everybody
13:55	else in poverty while he’s getting rich
14:00	we all know this is how how the story is
14:02	supposed to end right
14:04	so the Pharisees stood up and he prayed
14:06	about himself
14:09	unfortunately I’ve prayed similar
14:11	prayers in my life to listen to it
14:14	God
14:15	I thank you
14:17	that I am not like other men
14:19	robbers evildoers adulterers
14:23	or even like this tax collector I fast
14:26	twice a week look I’m even skinny I’m
14:29	gone I give a tenth of all that I get
14:35	this guy’s a Tyler he’s generous he
14:38	prays he fast what a great prayer
14:43	right
14:45	wrong
14:47	this is exactly what Jesus was preaching
14:49	against in our Biblical text Our Gospel
14:51	text
14:53	but the tax collector
14:55	he stood at a distance so keep in mind
14:58	this is the temple court right and you
15:01	know what they’re there for if you don’t
15:03	know your Jewish history you don’t know
15:04	your Old Testament you’re not exactly
15:06	sure why they’re even there in the first
15:07	place right some people it’s two men
15:09	went up to the temple to pray what hour
15:11	of the day is it it doesn’t say well
15:12	actually if you know your Bible you know
15:14	it’s three in the afternoon that’s the
15:17	time of prayer at the temple three in
15:20	the afternoon why well that’s the time
15:23	of the evening sacrifice
15:25	the evening sacrifice is a lamb
15:28	sin offering
15:30	offered at three in the afternoon while
15:31	the priests are performing their duties
15:33	and you can hear the lamb bleeding and
15:36	then the Lamb’s throat is slit and it
15:39	bleeps no longer
15:41	and there’s blood
15:44	right while this is going on the prayers
15:46	are ascending
15:48	why because God is being merciful
15:50	because a sacrifice has been given this
15:54	is why they’re at the temple praying and
15:56	you know what the tax the Pharisees
15:57	doing why his prayer he’s saying I don’t
16:00	need that sacrifice but that sacrifice
16:03	that’s going on is pointing to the one
16:04	true sacrifice Jesus Christ
16:08	but there’s a tax collector in the wrong
16:11	place I mean would we want him here at
16:14	church
16:15	right somebody as nefarious as this he’d
16:18	probably be sitting right in the back
16:20	over there
16:23	and it says he couldn’t even lift his
16:25	eyes to heaven
16:28	shame of his sin
16:30	weighed on him
16:32	God’s law had done its work
16:34	he knew he was guilty
16:40	he would not even look up to heaven
16:42	he beat his breast
16:46	that is a way of dishonoring yourself in
16:48	a male dominated on our culture
16:51	he beat his breast
16:54	and unfortunately the English
16:55	translation doesn’t quite capture it
16:58	God have mercy on me a sinner is what he
17:01	prays
17:02	it’s a little bit stronger than that God
17:04	be propitious towards me
17:07	a sinner
17:10	by saying be propitious towards me it’s
17:12	clear what he’s pointing to
17:15	is the sacrifice because God is only
17:17	propitious God’s Wrath is only
17:19	propitiated
17:22	through a sacrifice
17:23	without the shedding of blood there is
17:25	no forgiveness of sins
17:27	God be propitious
17:30	towards me
17:31	a sinner
17:35	it’s his only prayer
17:38	all he says is I’ve got nothing
17:41	it doesn’t matter what good deeds I
17:43	thought I’ve done
17:45	they’re all garbage
17:49	and guilty have mercy
17:51	and Jesus says of the tax collector that
17:56	that man rather than the Pharisee
17:59	went home
18:01	Justified
18:03	before God
18:05	Justified means to be declared righteous
18:11	so the tax collector is worthless little
18:14	short prayer
18:16	saying that he’s a sinner and ask God
18:18	for mercy
18:19	goes home Justified
18:22	and Jesus ends with this punchline for
18:24	everyone who exalts himself will be
18:25	humbled
18:26	he who humbles himself
18:29	will be exalted
18:31	in other words the Pharisee ends up
18:33	burning in Hell the tax collector has
18:37	eternal life
18:39	why
18:42	would you realize to sin
18:44	and the Pharisee foolishly thought
18:46	because he was so busy doing religious
18:49	things he didn’t need to be forgiven
18:54	that’s deception of the worst kind
18:57	self-deception here again Joel
19:00	even now declares the Lord
19:03	return to me with all your heart
19:05	fasting with weeping and Mourning
19:09	Rend your heart
19:11	not your garments
19:14	return to the Lord your God for he is
19:17	gracious and merciful
19:20	to anger
19:22	and abounding and steadfast love
19:25	and he relents from sending Calamity who
19:28	knows he may turn and have pity and
19:31	leave behind a blessing
19:34	in this Lenten season
19:37	let us Rend our hearts not our garments
19:41	let us think and Ponder and meditate
19:44	anew
19:46	on why Christ had to go to the cross and
19:49	die
19:51	it was for your sins
19:53	and mine
19:56	let us never forget
19:58	the side of Christ’s return
20:00	what those sins are and what they were
20:04	so that we would never exalt ourselves
20:06	but always humbly receive Christ’s
20:09	forgiveness as a gift and then humbly
20:12	love and serve our neighbor pray for
20:14	them
20:15	support them in their needs and fast on
20:18	their behalf
20:20	but never let them know that we’re doing
20:21	it
20:23	doing it for ourselves like Christ
20:26	who served us we now serve them in the
20:30	name of Jesus Amen
20:32	[Music]

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