1 Year Lectionary – Ash Wednesday – Wednesday, March 2, 2022 | 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 |
| 0:27 | The holy gospel according |
| 0:29 | to saint matthew the sixth chapter |
| 0:32 | and when you fast Jesus said do not look |
| 0:35 | gloomy like the hypocrites for they |
| 0:37 | disfigure their faces so that their |
| 0:39 | fasting may be seen by others truly i |
| 0:41 | say to you they have received their |
| 0:43 | reward but when you fast anoint your |
| 0:45 | head and wash your face that your |
| 0:47 | fasting may not be seen by others but |
| 0:50 | your father who is in secret and your |
| 0:52 | father who sees in secret he will reward |
| 0:54 | you |
| 0:55 | do not lay up for yourselves treasures |
| 0:57 | on earth where moth and rust destroy and |
| 0:59 | where thieves break in and steal but lay |
| 1:02 | up for yourselves treasures in heaven |
| 1:04 | where neither moth nor rust destroys and |
| 1:07 | where thieves do not break in and steal |
| 1:10 | for where your treasure is there your |
| 1:12 | heart will be also oh lord have mercy on |
| 1:15 | us in the name of Jesus |
| 1:18 | rescue me from my enemies protect me |
| 1:21 | from those who rise against me what an |
| 1:25 | interesting theme that’s one of the |
| 1:26 | recurring |
| 1:27 | refrains that we hear during the lenten |
| 1:30 | season rescue me from my enemies and |
| 1:32 | here’s the thing there’s a big theme in |
| 1:34 | scripture about people who are besieged |
| 1:38 | people who are under attack from an |
| 1:39 | enemy who has risen up against them in |
| 1:42 | fact in psalm 31 it says this starting |
| 1:46 | at verse 21 blessed be the lord for he |
| 1:48 | has wonderfully wondrously shown his |
| 1:51 | steadfast love to me when i was in a |
| 1:53 | besieged city i had said in my alarm i |
| 1:56 | am cut off from your sight but you heard |
| 1:59 | the voice of my pleas for mercy when i |
| 2:01 | cried to you for help |
| 2:03 | interesting right |
| 2:05 | in this lenten tide i think it’s kind of |
| 2:07 | interesting you know we’re now a week |
| 2:09 | into mr putin’s war in the ukraine and |
| 2:12 | politically that’s not kind of the point |
| 2:13 | of the sermon think of it this way we |
| 2:16 | all now are well we have a reference if |
| 2:18 | you would of what it’s like to |
| 2:20 | experience and witness people who are in |
| 2:22 | a besieged city you think what’s going |
| 2:25 | on in kiev and well all the things going |
| 2:27 | on and along those lines the the video |
| 2:30 | the photographs the stories that are |
| 2:32 | coming out of the ukraine are horrific |
| 2:34 | they’re horrendous and of course we’re |
| 2:36 | all looking at this wondering will peace |
| 2:38 | be restored or will this spill over into |
| 2:41 | other parts of europe and result in |
| 2:43 | maybe like world war iii or something |
| 2:45 | like that but in my lifetime i’ve never |
| 2:47 | seen war in europe never seen anything |
| 2:51 | like this quite like this and as a |
| 2:53 | result of it think of it this way we |
| 2:55 | have a good touch point because here we |
| 2:57 | have prayed in our responsory rescue me |
| 3:01 | from my enemies protect me from those |
| 3:03 | who rise against me brothers and sisters |
| 3:06 | do not be deceived we all have a |
| 3:08 | horrifying enemy the devil scripture is |
| 3:11 | very clear that the devil prowls around |
| 3:14 | like a roaring lion seeking those whom |
| 3:16 | he may devour think of it this way the |
| 3:19 | devil is not satisfied satan is not |
| 3:22 | going to just sit there and go well i |
| 3:24 | guess they believe in Jesus i better |
| 3:26 | leave him alone |
| 3:27 | it’s not how that |
| 3:29 | works in fact let’s be blunt the devil |
| 3:33 | is a far more fearsome and terrifying |
| 3:35 | and tenacious enemy |
| 3:37 | than putin is to the ukrainians you know |
| 3:39 | think about his kind of |
| 3:40 | single-mindedness at at the moment and |
| 3:43 | then basically think about the devil |
| 3:46 | and go you know the devil is a lot worse |
| 3:50 | than mr putin is and that’s kind of the |
| 3:53 | point in fact during our penitential |
| 3:56 | season we are now entering into this is |
| 3:58 | a time for us to reflect on the fact |
| 4:01 | that get this |
| 4:02 | we were all born children of the devil |
| 4:05 | we were all born at war with god we were |
| 4:08 | the enemies of god |
| 4:09 | you and i were and each and every one of |
| 4:12 | us has earned from god his wrath his |
| 4:14 | displeasure in fact the next breath that |
| 4:17 | you’re breathing you haven’t even earned |
| 4:18 | that in fact you don’t deserve it at all |
| 4:20 | neither do i |
| 4:22 | and when we look at calamity in this |
| 4:24 | earth calamity that comes on people as a |
| 4:27 | result of well war calamity that comes |
| 4:30 | on people as a result of failed |
| 4:31 | economies calamity that comes on people |
| 4:33 | because of natural disaster or calamity |
| 4:36 | that comes on a single person or people |
| 4:38 | because of an illness or things like |
| 4:40 | this |
| 4:41 | you know it’s really easy for us to sit |
| 4:43 | there and go well you know |
| 4:44 | i’m living the good life because you |
| 4:46 | know me and god we’re tight |
| 4:48 | you know in fact those people who are |
| 4:51 | suffering all these things well clearly |
| 4:53 | they weren’t engaging in clean living |
| 4:55 | like i am that’s why i’m doing so good |
| 4:57 | and they’re not boy if you’re tempted |
| 4:59 | along those lines we need to have a chat |
| 5:02 | in fact in that chat i’ll basically not |
| 5:05 | give you the gospel we’re going to walk |
| 5:06 | back through those 10 commandments and |
| 5:09 | question your presuppositions because i |
| 5:11 | would point this out |
| 5:13 | how many sins that Jesus commit in his |
| 5:16 | lifetime |
| 5:18 | zero absolutely not one right and yet he |
| 5:22 | died one of the most horrifyingly |
| 5:24 | painful and ignominious types of death |
| 5:27 | that you could die crucifixion on a |
| 5:29 | cross did he deserve that was there any |
| 5:32 | evil in Jesus that he would die like |
| 5:35 | that well not in and of himself you know |
| 5:37 | why he died because here’s the best bit |
| 5:40 | Jesus loves his enemies |
| 5:43 | you and i |
| 5:44 | he bled and died so that we can be |
| 5:46 | forgiven and pardon and rather than |
| 5:48 | receive the wrath of god for what we |
| 5:51 | have done in our rebellion against god |
| 5:53 | and our ongoing ways in which we collude |
| 5:56 | with the devil side with him with our |
| 5:58 | own sin and do things and think things |
| 6:02 | and not do things well that the devil |
| 6:04 | and our own sinful flesh have tempted us |
| 6:06 | along those lines |
| 6:08 | but when we think of calamity i think |
| 6:10 | about Jesus at one point in Jesus’s |
| 6:13 | ministry Jesus was confronted with a |
| 6:17 | horrific crime against humanity |
| 6:20 | performed by none other than pontius |
| 6:22 | pilate if you know the history of |
| 6:24 | pontius pilate he was a fellow who was |
| 6:26 | known for his |
| 6:28 | bloody enforcement of imperial law so |
| 6:32 | much so it was a little too much even |
| 6:34 | for the emperor he got recalled later |
| 6:36 | okay so here’s listen to this all right |
| 6:39 | some who were present at that very time |
| 6:41 | they came to Jesus and they told him |
| 6:44 | about the galileans whose blood pilate |
| 6:47 | had mingled with their sacrifices i want |
| 6:49 | you to think about this all right |
| 6:51 | pilate had heard about some little |
| 6:53 | insurrection some some grumbling |
| 6:55 | malcontents from galilee who weren’t |
| 6:57 | keen on the roman emperor you know what |
| 6:59 | he did he slaughtered him and then what |
| 7:02 | he did is he collected up some of their |
| 7:04 | blood and just to make a point you |
| 7:06 | oppose the emperor here’s what we’re |
| 7:08 | gonna do he took their blood and mixed |
| 7:10 | it with the sacrifices in the temple |
| 7:13 | i mean this is a religious hate crime |
| 7:15 | this is murder i mean it’s all the stuff |
| 7:18 | that we would hear on the news right and |
| 7:20 | when Jesus is confronted with how wicked |
| 7:23 | an evil pilate is |
| 7:25 | listen to his answer |
| 7:27 | do you think |
| 7:28 | that these galileans were worse sinners |
| 7:31 | than all the other galileans because |
| 7:33 | they suffered in this way |
| 7:35 | you know Jesus i think you’re kind of |
| 7:37 | missing the point here this is an |
| 7:38 | opportunity for you to tell us how evil |
| 7:41 | this particular political ruler is why |
| 7:43 | are you talking about us Jesus then says |
| 7:45 | no i tell you unless you repent you’ll |
| 7:48 | all likewise perish |
| 7:52 | how do they say it around here ufta |
| 7:55 | right |
| 7:56 | that wasn’t the answer they were looking |
| 7:58 | for they were looking for Jesus to kind |
| 7:59 | of punch the pilot in the nose right to |
| 8:02 | take a side here is it is it the emperor |
| 8:05 | or is it the oppressed |
| 8:06 | Jesus said you better repent or you’re |
| 8:08 | going to perish just like them and then |
| 8:10 | Jesus kind of doubles down and says oh |
| 8:12 | remember that construction accident that |
| 8:14 | happened a few weeks back where they |
| 8:16 | were building that tower of siloam and |
| 8:18 | that thing fell over because it wasn’t |
| 8:20 | to code and 18 men died when it fell on |
| 8:24 | them and killed them do you think that |
| 8:26 | they were worse offenders than all the |
| 8:28 | others who lived in jerusalem |
| 8:31 | and you just see them going but we |
| 8:32 | didn’t ask about that he said no |
| 8:34 | unless you repent |
| 8:37 | you’ll all likewise |
| 8:39 | perish |
| 8:41 | and so in this world that we live in |
| 8:44 | death comes to us all |
| 8:46 | there’s just no way around it it comes |
| 8:48 | to us either rapidly and bloody or it |
| 8:50 | comes to us slow and sad |
| 8:53 | but it comes to us all there’s a day |
| 8:55 | coming of calamity but death isn’t the |
| 8:58 | worst thing that can happen to you |
| 9:01 | like not even close |
| 9:03 | the worst thing that can happen to you |
| 9:05 | is the disaster that god has prepared |
| 9:08 | for all those who persist in sin and |
| 9:10 | unbelief and it’s in that regard then we |
| 9:13 | consider the words of the prophet joel |
| 9:16 | for today here’s what it says yet even |
| 9:19 | now declares the lord return to me with |
| 9:22 | all of your heart with fasting with |
| 9:24 | weeping with mourning rend your hearts |
| 9:27 | and not your garments kind of a nice way |
| 9:30 | of putting it like people like to |
| 9:32 | publicly go out and let everybody know |
| 9:35 | that they were mourning that they were |
| 9:37 | repenting so what i’m going to do i you |
| 9:38 | know for this season i’m going to tear |
| 9:40 | my clothes and show everybody how holy i |
| 9:42 | am and Jesus says |
| 9:44 | he did none of that |
| 9:45 | the lord says rend your heart |
| 9:48 | and return to the lord your god |
| 9:50 | and then listen to these amazing words |
| 9:53 | for he is gracious |
| 9:55 | he’s merciful |
| 9:57 | he is slow to anger and abounding and |
| 10:00 | steadfast love |
| 10:02 | and even god relents over disaster |
| 10:05 | you’ll note this |
| 10:07 | that god |
| 10:09 | is nothing like the devil the devil |
| 10:11 | doesn’t relent the devil doesn’t repent |
| 10:13 | the devil when he plans disaster for you |
| 10:16 | he will carry it out unless god stays |
| 10:18 | his hand but god isn’t the same way he |
| 10:22 | has prepared for those who continue in |
| 10:25 | sin and unbelief he has prepared a lake |
| 10:28 | of fire this is the disaster that each |
| 10:30 | and every one of us have earned but note |
| 10:32 | because god is gracious merciful slow to |
| 10:36 | anger abounding and steadfast love that |
| 10:39 | he relents over disaster |
| 10:41 | when we |
| 10:43 | trust in Christ for the forgiveness of |
| 10:45 | our sins |
| 10:50 | so as we’re watching right now the |
| 10:52 | showdown in the ukraine |
| 10:54 | will the sanctions work |
| 10:57 | will putin turn around will he change |
| 10:59 | his mind will he stay his hand and say |
| 11:01 | uncle i don’t know i have no idea you |
| 11:04 | know see what tomorrow brings right |
| 11:07 | but i can tell you this |
| 11:09 | god although he has planned disaster for |
| 11:11 | us a well-earned one |
| 11:13 | he has chosen instead to |
| 11:16 | let that disaster fall on his beloved |
| 11:19 | son |
| 11:20 | you see god so loved the world you and i |
| 11:22 | he gave his only begotten son that |
| 11:24 | whoever believes in him will not perish |
| 11:26 | will not experience the disaster |
| 11:28 | but instead will receive from god |
| 11:31 | eternal life |
| 11:32 | as a gift |
| 11:34 | and so it’s then in this regard consider |
| 11:36 | these words as joel continues who knows |
| 11:39 | whether god will not turn and relent and |
| 11:42 | leave us a blessing behind him a grain |
| 11:45 | offering and a drink offering for the |
| 11:47 | lord your god |
| 11:49 | man that just sounds like the lord’s |
| 11:51 | supper you know |
| 11:53 | so Christ has visited us |
| 11:55 | he’s born our sins on the cross |
| 11:58 | made it so that we can be forgiven and |
| 11:59 | pardoned completely free as a gift from |
| 12:02 | god and then after he’s ascended he’s |
| 12:05 | left us a grain and a drink offering his |
| 12:08 | body and blood given and shed for the |
| 12:10 | forgiveness of our sins tokens of his |
| 12:12 | mercy |
| 12:13 | signs that he intends to continue to |
| 12:16 | forgive us and pardon us and give us |
| 12:18 | that strength that we need to bring us |
| 12:21 | into his new earth |
| 12:23 | all by his grace by his kindness his |
| 12:26 | strength |
| 12:27 | so blow the trumpet in zion consecrate a |
| 12:30 | fast call a solemn assembly gather the |
| 12:32 | people consecrate the congregation |
| 12:34 | assemble the elders gather the children |
| 12:36 | even the nursing infants let the |
| 12:38 | bridegroom leave his chamber the bride |
| 12:40 | her chamber between the vestibule and |
| 12:42 | the altar let the priests the ministers |
| 12:44 | of the lord let them weep |
| 12:47 | and is that not what we do |
| 12:49 | at this time of the year |
| 12:51 | we consider our sin in light of the ten |
| 12:53 | commandments |
| 12:55 | you’ve heard me say it before i’ll keep |
| 12:56 | saying it the only thing that we |
| 12:58 | contributed to our salvation was the sin |
| 13:00 | that was necessary |
| 13:02 | that made it necessary for us to be |
| 13:03 | saved in the first place |
| 13:05 | and so as we wrestle in the here and the |
| 13:08 | not yet the now and the not yet of this |
| 13:11 | world we are new creations in Christ and |
| 13:14 | we still have our sinful natures |
| 13:16 | warring with each other this is a good |
| 13:19 | time as we lead into holy week |
| 13:23 | and remember the crucifixion of our lord |
| 13:25 | for our sins and his victorious |
| 13:28 | resurrection bodily from the grave on |
| 13:31 | the third day this is a good time for us |
| 13:34 | to weep |
| 13:36 | to consider our lives |
| 13:38 | to again repent and cry out to god that |
| 13:42 | he would spare his people |
| 13:44 | and not make us |
| 13:46 | a reproach or a byword among the nations |
| 13:49 | why should people say that their god is |
| 13:51 | not among them |
| 13:53 | so then the lord became jealous the text |
| 13:55 | says for his land the land the new earth |
| 13:58 | that is coming he had pity on his people |
| 14:00 | and the lord answered and says to his |
| 14:02 | people behold i am sending to you grain |
| 14:05 | wine oil rather than calamity i’m going |
| 14:09 | to give you food i’m going to sustain |
| 14:11 | you give you what you need and you will |
| 14:13 | be satisfied and i will no more make you |
| 14:16 | a reproach |
| 14:17 | among the nations |
| 14:19 | so as we embark on this this 40-day |
| 14:23 | journey to the cross and the empty tomb |
| 14:26 | let us again repent of our sins cry out |
| 14:29 | to god for mercy |
| 14:30 | and have that confidence |
| 14:32 | that god who was faithful and just |
| 14:35 | gracious and merciful slow to anger and |
| 14:37 | abounding and steadfast love that he |
| 14:40 | would hear our prayer and for the sake |
| 14:43 | of Jesus Christ |
| 14:45 | give us pardon and peace and comfort us |
| 14:48 | and assure us as we travel now |
| 14:50 | from this world to the next and although |
| 14:53 | we cannot avert in this life the |
| 14:55 | disaster of death we thank Jesus that |
| 14:58 | because of what he has done that god has |
| 15:00 | relented of the disaster of the second |
| 15:02 | death in the name of Jesus amen |
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