LutheranLectionary.org

Series C – Twenty-Sixth Sunday After Pentecost – Sunday, November 13, 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
0:31	chapter 21 verses 5-28
0:35	while some were speaking of the temple
0:37	how it was adorned with Noble stones and
0:40	offerings Jesus said as for these things
0:42	that you see the days will come when
0:46	there will not be left here one stone
0:48	upon another that will not be thrown
0:50	down
0:51	and they asked him teach her when will
0:53	these things be and what will be the
0:55	sign when these things are about to take
0:58	place and he said see that you are not
1:00	LED astray many will come in my name
1:03	saying I am he the time is at hand do
1:06	not go after them and when you hear of
1:09	wars and tumults do not be terrified for
1:12	these things must first take place but
1:15	the end will not be at once
1:17	and then he said to them Nation will
1:18	rise against Nation Kingdom against
1:20	Kingdom there will be great earthquakes
1:22	and in various places famines and
1:24	pestilences and there will be Terrors
1:27	and great signs from heaven but before
1:29	all of this they will lay their hands on
1:32	you and persecute you delivering you up
1:34	to the synagogues and prisons and you
1:37	will be brought before Kings and
1:39	governors for my name’s sake this will
1:42	be your opportunity to Bear witness
1:44	settle it therefore in your minds not to
1:47	meditate beforehand how to answer for I
1:49	will give you a mouth and wisdom which
1:52	none of your adversaries will be able to
1:54	withstand or contradict you will be
1:57	delivered up even by parents and
1:59	brothers and relatives and friends and
2:00	some of you they will put to death
2:03	you will be hated by all for my name’s
2:05	sake but not a hair of your head will
2:08	perish by your endurance you will gain
2:10	your lives
2:11	but when you see Jerusalem surrounded by
2:14	armies and know that its desolation has
2:16	come near then let those who are in
2:18	Judea flee to the mountains and let
2:20	those who are in this inside the city
2:22	depart and let not those who are out in
2:25	the country enter it for these are the
2:28	days of Vengeance to fulfill all that is
2:30	written alas for women who are pregnant
2:32	and for those who are nursing infants in
2:34	those days for there will be great
2:36	distress upon the Earth wrath against
2:38	this people they will fall by the edge
2:40	of the sword and be led captive among
2:42	all nations in Jerusalem will be
2:44	trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until
2:46	the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled
2:49	and there will be signs in the sun and
2:51	the moon and the stars and on the earth
2:53	the stress of nations in perplexity
2:56	because of the Roaring of the Sea and
2:57	the waves people fainting with fear and
3:00	with foreboding of what is coming on the
3:02	world for the powers of the heavens will
3:04	be shaken and then they will see the son
3:07	of man coming in a cloud with power and
3:09	great Glory now when these things begin
3:11	to take place straighten up raise your
3:14	heads because your Redemption is drawing
3:17	nigh
3:18	in the name of Jesus
3:21	have you seen the news
3:24	Great Britain has left the European
3:26	Union Donald Trump won the Press
3:32	the press the world is in total turmoil
3:34	and the Chicago Cubs won the World
3:37	Series what does this all mean
3:43	it’s the end of the world as we know it
3:48	and quite frankly I feel fine foreign
3:52	now our text today deals with a very
3:56	dark topic it deals with the topic of
3:58	well the end of the world and well
4:02	you’re gonna note that there’s a lot of
4:03	anxiety in this text
4:06	but this text is not designed to create
4:08	anxiety for us Christians in fact the
4:12	whole subtext of all of this is don’t
4:14	worry about it Christ has got it all
4:16	figured out you’re going to be just fine
4:18	you see remember in The Sermon on the
4:21	Mount where Jesus says don’t be anxious
4:23	about your clothing about your food what
4:25	you’re going to eat and all that kind of
4:26	stuff don’t worry about that seek first
4:29	the kingdom of God and his righteousness
4:31	and all these things will be added unto
4:33	you this is a call to faith and our text
4:35	today is a call to Faith so let’s return
4:37	to Our Gospel text as we look at the
4:41	very serious topic of the end of the
4:44	world and how we as Christians are not
4:46	to be anxious
4:47	here’s what it says while some were
4:49	speaking of the temple how it was
4:51	adorned with Noble stones and offerings
4:54	you have a cross-reference to this by
4:56	the way is Matthew 24 if you want to see
4:58	another version of this all of it
5:01	discourse here’s what Jesus said well as
5:03	for these things that you see the days
5:05	will come when there will not be left
5:08	here one stone upon another that will
5:11	not be thrown down
5:13	and they asked him teacher when will
5:15	these things be what would be the signs
5:17	when these things are about to take
5:19	place you see with the temple destroyed
5:21	it sounds like God is about ready to
5:23	unleash the end of the world utter
5:25	destruction talked about there by the
5:28	prophet Malachi
5:29	and the reason for this is quite simple
5:32	where in this time is the only place you
5:35	can go
5:36	to hear of the Forgiveness of your sins
5:39	answer the temple in Jerusalem
5:42	if there is no forgiveness of sins then
5:45	God intends to judge everybody and send
5:47	them to hell it’s the end of the world
5:51	and so what follows next Jesus does
5:53	something that is quite typical
5:56	with the Old Testament prophets of
5:58	course it makes perfect sense he being
6:00	God in human flesh he does something
6:01	crazy he takes well the destruction of
6:05	the temple and the end of the world and
6:07	he squishes them together and Tangles it
6:10	all up into a big knot and I defy you to
6:13	untangle it you can’t
6:15	because the two well they kind of work
6:17	together are we talking about the end of
6:19	the world of the destruction of the
6:21	Temple
6:22	yes we’re talking about that
6:25	that’s what Jesus is doing
6:27	so here’s what he says talking about the
6:29	end of the world see that you’re not LED
6:31	astray
6:32	there will be many who will come in my
6:35	name saying I am he and the time is at
6:38	hand
6:40	first thing you need to know about the
6:41	end of the world there’s going to be all
6:42	kinds of false Doctrine false Christ
6:44	false teachers false prophets they’re
6:47	going to be all over the place running
6:49	rampant throughout the church and
6:51	nobody’s going to do anything about it
6:52	you know what Jesus says
6:54	don’t go after him
6:57	just don’t go after him
7:00	go find the people who are preaching the
7:02	word just don’t go after those guys
7:05	well that seems kind of like a simple
7:07	answer and then when you hear of wars
7:11	and tumults
7:13	Wars and tumults now I don’t know if you
7:15	all remember these things they used to
7:17	make these things called newspapers and
7:19	they used to have headlines the front
7:21	page of the newspaper and have you ever
7:22	seen like photographs of the newspaper
7:25	headlines like when World War II broke
7:27	out War it says in big black letters so
7:31	when you hear of wars and tumults what
7:33	are we as Christians supposed to do
7:36	ah don’t be terrified
7:39	what
7:40	what
7:42	War it’s War Jesus
7:45	it’s as if Jesus is going yeah
7:47	I know
7:49	it’s like he’s sitting on a Shay’s
7:51	Lounge you know with the remote control
7:53	in his hand you know keeping an eye on
7:55	the news while reading a book yeah oh a
7:57	terrible War yeah that’s awful
7:59	it’s Jesus thinking
8:01	he says Ah these things must take place
8:04	but the end is not we might be at once
8:06	and then he said oh get this watch this
8:09	nation will rise against Nation Kingdom
8:12	against Kingdom there’ll be earthquakes
8:14	various places famines pestilences
8:17	there’s gonna be Terrors and great signs
8:20	from Heaven I’ve seen this movie before
8:22	isn’t that the one with the meteor never
8:24	mind okay and before all of this oh you
8:27	think that’s bad well pay attention to
8:29	what’s coming next
8:31	before all of this they’re going to lay
8:33	their hands on you you Christians and
8:36	they’re going to persecute you oh oh
8:38	well there goes Joel Osteen’s book your
8:41	best life now
8:43	all right they’re gonna persecute you
8:45	they’re gonna deliver you up to the
8:47	synagogues and prisons you’re gonna be
8:49	brought before Kings and governors for
8:52	my name’s sake and this will be your
8:55	opportunity
8:59	is that a typo I’ve heard of
9:01	opportunities have you ever had like one
9:03	of those opportunities where come to
9:06	well this Ballroom over here at this
9:07	hotel and you’re going to learn about an
9:09	opportunity well that just doesn’t come
9:10	around very often we’re going to give
9:13	you the opportunity to buy a Timeshare
9:15	in Tahiti
9:17	the best days of your life are when you
9:19	buy into that time share and when you’re
9:21	finally able to sell it we know all
9:23	about opportunities and always the
9:25	pressure on the opportunities you got
9:27	this opportunity won’t last long make
9:30	the decision now or you’re oh forever
9:32	gone and Jesus here is talking about an
9:35	opportunity all right so let’s see if I
9:37	got this right people are persecuting us
9:39	delivering us to prisons because of him
9:41	we’re going to stand before political
9:43	leaders and this is going to be an
9:46	opportunity an opportunity to do what
9:49	ready
9:50	bear Witness
9:52	let me give you the Greek word for Bear
9:55	witness you will have the opportunity to
9:58	to Martyr oh
10:03	martirao
10:05	to Bear witness is to be a martyr
10:10	you might have that opportunity so with
10:14	this opportunity affords itself for you
10:16	settle it therefore in your minds not to
10:20	meditate beforehand on how to answer for
10:23	I will give you a mouth and wisdom which
10:26	none of your adversaries will be able to
10:28	withstand or contradict so if you have
10:31	this opportunity there you are in prison
10:33	your hearing is tomorrow your defensive
10:35	attorney is saying aren’t we going to
10:38	sit down and map out what we’re going to
10:40	say you say no I’m I’m busy I’m watching
10:43	television I’m reading a book
10:45	relax
10:47	all of this is to be expected and see
10:50	when you stand up then Jesus promises
10:53	under these circumstances with this
10:55	opportunity when you speak
10:58	he’s going to speak through you
11:00	they’re not going to be talking to you
11:02	they’re going to be talking to him and
11:04	here’s what he says
11:06	so settle it therefore in your minds not
11:08	to meditate beforehand how to answer I
11:10	will give you a mouth and wisdom which
11:13	none of your adversaries will be able to
11:15	withstand or contradict you’ll be
11:17	delivered up even by parents and
11:19	brothers and relatives and friends oh
11:23	and some of you that are even going to
11:25	put to death
11:26	you’re going to be hated for my name’s
11:29	sake
11:30	but here’s what he says yeah no big deal
11:33	not a hair of your head will perish
11:37	what you just said some of them are
11:40	going to be put to death how can you say
11:42	not a hair of their head will perish
11:46	you see because Jesus isn’t all that
11:47	concerned about this first death thing
11:49	it’s that second death that we need to
11:51	worry about and when you read in the
11:53	Book of Revelation the second death is
11:55	the Lake of Fire it’s eternal hell
11:58	we don’t have to worry about any of that
12:00	so when people arrest you hate you
12:03	persecute you put you in prison and all
12:05	of that stuff and even kill you for the
12:07	name of Jesus which is an opportunity
12:09	for you to Bear Witness
12:12	don’t worry Jesus has got you covered
12:15	not a hair of your head will perish and
12:17	the reason for this is quite simple
12:19	remember what Romans 6 says when you
12:22	were baptized you were buried with
12:24	Christ and you were raised with Christ
12:26	you’re already dead
12:29	they can’t kill you you’re dead already
12:31	you’re in Jesus in fact think of it this
12:33	way Jesus’s body that you know they took
12:36	the spear and thrusted into his side
12:38	think of that as like the door to the
12:40	ark and you’ve been walked into and
12:41	tucked nicely into Jesus’s death and
12:44	Resurrection he’s got you covered relax
12:48	whole world’s going crazy
12:51	sit there and go yeah I know
12:53	to be expected and please pass me a
12:56	little bit of chamomile tea I I’d like
12:58	to relax a little bit more right now
13:01	so when you see and now Jesus does
13:03	something very interesting here when you
13:05	see Jerusalem surrounded by armies a
13:07	little bit of a note here liberals hate
13:10	and I mean this hate this prophecy you
13:13	want to know why
13:15	because if Jesus actually gave this
13:17	Prophecy Before Jerusalem fell well that
13:20	means he could see the future that means
13:22	he’s dividing it means he’s God that
13:24	means Miracles are possible so you ask
13:26	the liberal theologians when was the
13:28	Gospel of Luke written
13:30	110 A.D
13:32	110 A.D
13:35	how is that possible Luke traveled with
13:37	Paul
13:38	well he it couldn’t have been written
13:40	earlier
13:42	why well because then Jesus could have
13:45	predicted the future
13:46	in the fall of Jerusalem
13:49	I see
13:51	yeah I don’t think Jesus is the problem
13:52	here
13:54	It Was Written long long long before 110
13:58	80. long before 70 A.D a little bit of a
14:01	note here the talking about this
14:03	persecution and the suffering and these
14:04	apostates and false teachers false
14:06	prophets let me tell you a little story
14:08	a very close friend of mine a father in
14:11	the faith within the Lutheran Church
14:12	years and years and years ago three
14:14	decades ago he was a pastor in the ELCA
14:18	and he had a thriving congregation and
14:21	he had a bishop his Bishop well was one
14:24	of these guys that didn’t believe in
14:26	miracles and things like that and this
14:27	bishop made it a point to go and visit
14:30	this pastor’s congregation
14:32	and upon the visitation he literally did
14:36	this with our pastor friend and said I
14:40	want to meet you in your office and have
14:42	a talk with you
14:44	so he went into his office and there was
14:46	the bishop his boss if you would in the
14:48	church and he said the Bible is full of
14:52	myths and legends and contradictions
14:55	it’s not to be trusted do not preach it
14:58	as if it’s the truth do you understand
15:00	what I’m saying
15:04	and this Pastor said yes I understand
15:06	perfectly well what you’re saying he
15:08	understood him
15:10	but he didn’t agree with him
15:12	two years went by and well our pastor
15:15	friend
15:16	who many of you actually might know
15:18	he went
15:20	on preaching as if the Bible is the word
15:22	of God well two years later the bishop
15:25	showed up again and this time he made a
15:26	point to going to every one of the
15:28	services on a Sunday morning
15:30	and afterwards he said I want to see you
15:32	in your office again
15:33	so he showed up and the bishop said I
15:36	want your resignation on my desk first
15:38	thing in the morning
15:40	and he was kicked out of the ELCA for
15:43	preaching the Bible as if it were true
15:49	to be expected
15:51	this is exactly what Jesus said would
15:52	happen so now Jesus says when you see
15:55	Jerusalem surrounded by armies
15:58	then know that its desolation has come
16:00	near
16:01	then let those who are in Judea flee to
16:04	the mountains and let those who are
16:06	inside the city depart let not those who
16:09	are out in the country enter it for
16:11	these are the days of Vengeance to
16:13	fulfill all that is written
16:15	alas for women who are pregnant
16:17	for those who are nursing infants in
16:19	those days there will be great distress
16:20	upon the Earth and wrath against this
16:22	people they will fall by the edge of the
16:24	sword and led captive among all the
16:26	nations in Jerusalem will be trampled
16:28	underfoot by the Gentiles until the
16:30	times of the Gentiles are fulfilled and
16:32	this is exactly what happened in 70 A.D
16:36	the armies of the Roman general Titus
16:38	surrounded Jerusalem
16:41	and took a captive and you know what
16:43	they did to the temple
16:45	after they their Siege worked they took
16:48	the temple and they it’s like it’s like
16:50	they took a squeegee and just squeegeed
16:53	the whole thing off the top of the
16:54	Temple mount it now sits in a Big Rubble
16:57	Heap off to the one side just like Jesus
17:00	said
17:00	because Jesus knew what was coming
17:03	very interesting indeed he predicted the
17:06	future
17:07	and by the way the Christians who were
17:10	living in Jerusalem
17:11	when they saw and heard that Rome had
17:15	landed with their expeditionary force
17:18	and that they were going to be coming
17:20	through Judea you know what they did
17:22	they skedaddled they got out of
17:23	Jerusalem the Christians survived just
17:25	fine because Jesus let them know ahead
17:27	of time
17:29	and in the same way
17:31	in the same way
17:32	when the end comes and the whole world
17:35	unwinds
17:38	don’t worry Jesus has got you covered
17:40	you’re going to get through it just fine
17:41	you may not live that you won’t die
17:45	you see what I’m saying
17:47	then Jesus says this there’s going to be
17:49	signs in the Sun the moon the stars and
17:53	on the earth the stresses of nations in
17:56	perplexity because of the Roaring of the
17:58	Sea and the waves people fainting with
18:01	fear with foreboding of what is coming
18:04	on the world
18:06	the world starts to come unraveled Fox
18:09	News
18:10	MSNBC every news channel is playing
18:13	constantly you’re not going to believe
18:15	what’s happened look at the sky see the
18:18	signs oh my goodness the oceans are out
18:20	of control the world is coming apart and
18:23	people are going to go oh
18:27	and what do you do grab some popcorn
18:32	let’s grab some popcorn
18:34	it’s gonna be fascinating to watch
18:36	people are like what what are we gonna
18:37	do quick grab your bug out bags get get
18:42	get your family photo albums the world
18:45	is coming apart Run for the Hills
18:48	no no no grab a lounge chair
18:51	get one of those drinks and get a little
18:53	pineapple Spear and an umbrella
18:55	yeah I know it’s all terrible isn’t it
18:57	it’s just awful
19:00	this is what Jesus is saying
19:03	and the reason for this is simple
19:05	he’s told you ahead of time what’s
19:07	coming
19:08	you are in Christ you are bled for you
19:11	are died for you’re forgiven
19:13	you have faith today you are here
19:16	feasting on the word of God
19:19	he said all this is coming this is to be
19:21	expected don’t worry about it
19:23	right
19:24	he made a point of saying that your
19:26	endurance will gain your lives and how
19:28	do we endure as Christians
19:30	by believing Jesus trusting him
19:34	salvation is by grace through faith it’s
19:37	not by works
19:39	and if salvation is by grace through
19:41	faith
19:42	just keep believing what those prophets
19:45	and journey said Don’t Stop Believing
19:48	keep trusting in Jesus Keep Your Eyes on
19:51	him and this is Jesus’s point when all
19:54	of these distresses are coming
19:56	there’s going to be fear of people
19:58	fainting with fear with foreboding of
20:00	what’s coming for the powers the heavens
20:01	are going to be shaken and they will see
20:04	the son of man coming in a cloud with
20:06	power and great Glory now if you persist
20:09	in sin and unbelief
20:11	and you see Jesus coming
20:15	and you see in the heavens the sign of
20:18	his coming this is not going to be cause
20:20	for rejoicing
20:22	this is going to be cause for fear and
20:24	this fear is caused by your sin we all
20:27	know
20:28	that when we fall short and we do not
20:30	obey God’s commands
20:32	when we sin against him and persistence
20:35	sin and unbelief and rather than repent
20:37	and be forgiven
20:39	it creates anxiety between us and God
20:43	and it should
20:46	but see in Christ there is forgiveness
20:48	of sins he’s bled and died for all of
20:49	these sins today is the day of salvation
20:55	and it has been since Jesus died and
20:57	rose again and ascended but this day of
21:00	salvation will come to a close in this
21:03	day we preach and Proclaim Christ and
21:06	him crucified for the Forgiveness of
21:07	sins we call people to repent to be
21:10	forgiven trust in him and be saved and
21:13	receive the gift of eternal life but
21:15	this day is quickly coming to a close do
21:18	you not see how far spent this day is
21:21	look at the Horizon and see the sun
21:24	it’s almost ready to go down
21:27	and once this day is over the day of
21:30	salvation ends and with the next day
21:32	comes the day of judgment
21:35	the day of judgment is not the day of
21:36	salvation the day of judgment is the day
21:40	when
21:41	you either receive your eternal life or
21:45	you receive your damnation and receiving
21:48	damnation is so foolish
21:50	it’s so ridiculously foolish and the
21:53	reason for it is simple is because Jesus
21:56	has bled and died for all of your sins
21:59	why would you persist and sin and
22:01	unbelief and end up in hell when as a
22:05	gift Christ is giving you full salvation
22:08	eternal life days without end
22:11	so you’ll notice the big difference
22:14	well there’s those who have no faith and
22:17	they are riddled with anxiety to the
22:19	point where their heart is melting
22:20	within their chest but Jesus says this
22:23	now when you see these things begin to
22:25	take place
22:27	straighten up
22:28	raise your heads because your Redemption
22:31	is drawing nigh
22:35	everyone else is going to be going and
22:39	you’re gonna be going yeah
22:41	because we know that no longer will be
22:44	will we be walking by faith we will be
22:47	walking by sight
22:49	soon very soon we’re going to be United
22:53	and reunited with Christ and we’re going
22:56	to party like you wouldn’t believe
22:58	we’re actually going to see his eyes
23:01	worship at his feet touch the nail
23:04	scarred prince in his hands and his feet
23:06	and his side
23:09	he has a name for you that only you and
23:13	he will know and he knows you by name
23:16	all of this is gift so when all the
23:20	turmoil Breaks Loose everything goes
23:22	crazy the Chicago Cubs win again
23:27	straighten up raise your head your Jesus
23:32	is Drawing Near he’s coming to save you
23:36	to bring you to New Life to the new
23:39	Heavens the new Earth all of this by his
23:42	great mercy and Grace
23:44	so repent repent of your anxiety
23:48	repent of your lack of faith repent of
23:52	why I want the news and going what are
23:54	we going to do what are we going to do
23:57	Repent Jesus has got it all covered none
24:01	of this is catching him by surprise all
24:04	of this is exactly what he would say he
24:07	said was going to happen so trust him
24:09	relax kick up your feet
24:12	you’re in Jesus you’re saved it’s the
24:16	end of the world no it’s not the end of
24:18	the world it’s the beginning of the new
24:20	world
24:22	and we have been told by Jesus exactly
24:25	what’s going on this is not cause for
24:27	anxiety this is cause for rejoicing for
24:30	Faith for trust
24:32	oh what a great powerful merciful great
24:36	Redemptive savior we have in Jesus
24:38	straighten up
24:40	your Redemption is Drawing Near in the
24:43	name of Jesus amen
24:45	[Music]

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