Series B – Last Sunday of the Church Year – Sunday, November 21, 2021 | 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 mark the 13th chapter |
| 0:32 | [Music] |
| 0:34 | [Applause] |
| 0:35 | [Music] |
| 0:39 | Jesus said in those days after that |
| 0:41 | tribulation the sun will be darkened the |
| 0:43 | moon will not give its light the stars |
| 0:45 | will be falling from heaven and the |
| 0:48 | powers in the heavens will be shaken |
| 0:50 | and then they will see the son of man |
| 0:52 | coming in clouds with great power and |
| 0:54 | glory |
| 0:56 | and then he will send out the angels and |
| 0:58 | gather his elect from the four winds |
| 1:00 | from the ends of the earth to the ends |
| 1:02 | of heaven |
| 1:03 | from the fig tree learn its lesson as |
| 1:05 | soon as its branch becomes tender and |
| 1:07 | puts out its leaves you know that summer |
| 1:08 | is near so also when you see these |
| 1:11 | things taking place you know that he is |
| 1:13 | near at the very gates truly i say to |
| 1:15 | you this generation will not pass away |
| 1:17 | until all these things take place |
| 1:19 | heaven and earth will pass away but my |
| 1:21 | words will not pass away but concerning |
| 1:23 | that day or that hour no one knows not |
| 1:25 | even the angels in heaven nor the son |
| 1:27 | but only the father so be on your guard |
| 1:30 | keep awake for you do not know when the |
| 1:33 | time will come it is like a man going on |
| 1:36 | a journey when he leaves home and puts |
| 1:38 | his servants in charge each with his |
| 1:39 | work and commands the doorkeeper to stay |
| 1:42 | awake therefore stay awake you don’t |
| 1:44 | know when the master of the house will |
| 1:46 | come in the evening or at midnight or |
| 1:48 | when the rose or in the morning |
| 1:51 | lest he come suddenly and find you |
| 1:52 | asleep and what i say to i say to all |
| 1:55 | stay awake this is the gospel of the |
| 1:58 | lord in the name of Jesus |
| 2:01 | here again the words of our lord from |
| 2:03 | our gospel text from this morning be on |
| 2:06 | guard |
| 2:07 | keep awake |
| 2:08 | you don’t know when the time will come |
| 2:11 | we confess in the creed that Christ will |
| 2:13 | return in glory to judge both the living |
| 2:15 | and the dead and as Christians we are |
| 2:17 | wise to remember that for those who |
| 2:20 | persist |
| 2:21 | in faith |
| 2:22 | who continue to believe who stay awake |
| 2:25 | and trust Christ for the forgiveness of |
| 2:27 | their sins waiting patiently and |
| 2:30 | enduring suffering that when he returns |
| 2:33 | he returns a savior |
| 2:35 | but for those who persist in sin and |
| 2:37 | unbelief he returns as judge |
| 2:40 | it’s important for us to remember that |
| 2:42 | and so here again our the admonishment |
| 2:44 | of our lord we don’t know when this is |
| 2:46 | going to take place |
| 2:48 | it’s going to happen on a thursday |
| 2:49 | that’s my best guess i always say that |
| 2:51 | because no one expects Jesus on a |
| 2:52 | thursday it’s worst day of the week |
| 2:54 | right you know |
| 2:55 | you’re not in the middle of the week |
| 2:56 | you’re not up to friday thursday’s i |
| 2:58 | don’t know why they’re there okay |
| 3:01 | nothing and nothing happens on a tuesday |
| 3:02 | either so there’s so marilyn’s putting |
| 3:04 | in her bet right now it’s going to be on |
| 3:06 | a tuesday |
| 3:07 | do i hear a saturday you know |
| 3:10 | see if we can |
| 3:12 | you think it’s a that’s too predictable |
| 3:14 | [Laughter] |
| 3:17 | right so so the idea is we don’t know |
| 3:19 | when it’s going to take place and and i |
| 3:21 | don’t know if you’ve noticed the world |
| 3:22 | seems to be ramping up and crazy but i |
| 3:25 | don’t know when it’s going to happen it |
| 3:27 | could be |
| 3:28 | next year or next week five years from |
| 3:30 | now 100 years from now it’s beyond my |
| 3:33 | pay grade but i can say this that our |
| 3:36 | lord his words are ones that we should |
| 3:38 | he |
| 3:39 | stay awake |
| 3:40 | in years past when i’ve preached this |
| 3:42 | text i’ve talked about the movie hook |
| 3:44 | you know that wonderful line that is in |
| 3:47 | that movie neverland makes you forget |
| 3:50 | have you noticed that everything in this |
| 3:52 | world all the temptations they come at |
| 3:54 | us kind of from three different major |
| 3:56 | directions the devil |
| 3:58 | the world oh and by the way |
| 4:00 | your own sinful flesh right that all of |
| 4:03 | those things are conspiring working |
| 4:06 | together to knock faith out of you to |
| 4:10 | get you to stop looking to Jesus to |
| 4:12 | basically say this Christianity stuff is |
| 4:14 | for the birds |
| 4:16 | and to wander off and do your own thing |
| 4:19 | that’s what it means to fall asleep |
| 4:22 | and so with that in mind Jesus’s words |
| 4:25 | stay awake you don’t know when the |
| 4:27 | master of the house will come |
| 4:29 | it’s whether it’s in the evening or at |
| 4:31 | midnight |
| 4:32 | or lest he come suddenly and find you |
| 4:34 | asleep or in the morning you’ll note |
| 4:36 | that Jesus knows that the world is a |
| 4:38 | globe because when he shows up for some |
| 4:39 | it’s going to be midnight for some it’s |
| 4:41 | going to be morning for some it’s going |
| 4:42 | to be afternoon you get the idea even |
| 4:44 | Jesus knows that so what he says i say |
| 4:47 | to all of you |
| 4:49 | stay |
| 4:50 | awake |
| 4:52 | now you think of peter and |
| 4:54 | john and |
| 4:55 | you know Jesus’s disciples there in the |
| 4:56 | garden of gethsemane and the night that |
| 4:58 | Jesus is betrayed Jesus has admonished |
| 5:00 | them stay awake pray and what does he do |
| 5:03 | he finds them |
| 5:04 | sleeping |
| 5:05 | right sleeping is a fun thing to do by |
| 5:07 | the way i’m beginning to enjoy it more |
| 5:09 | and more the older i get especially |
| 5:10 | those afternoon naps they’re the best |
| 5:12 | thing ever |
| 5:13 | but if we’re gonna ask ourselves the |
| 5:16 | question what does it mean to stay awake |
| 5:18 | i think it’s important that we take a |
| 5:19 | closer look |
| 5:21 | at the epistle of jude a little fun fact |
| 5:24 | jude only shows up in the three-year |
| 5:26 | lectionary doesn’t show up in the one |
| 5:28 | year doesn’t show up in series a or |
| 5:31 | series c he only shows up in series b of |
| 5:34 | the three years we only only hear from |
| 5:36 | jude once every three years but with |
| 5:38 | that i would like to consider what jude |
| 5:40 | writes here if you consider the bigger |
| 5:42 | context of what’s going on in this |
| 5:44 | epistle |
| 5:45 | jude is writing in the late 60s of the |
| 5:49 | first century that’s the time when they |
| 5:51 | had those really weird fashions back in |
| 5:53 | the roman empire but you know |
| 5:54 | bell-bottoms and stuff never mind that |
| 5:56 | was a joke you get the idea |
| 5:58 | but here’s what’s going on |
| 6:01 | peter |
| 6:02 | is dead he’s been crucified upside down |
| 6:04 | paul dead he’s had his head taken off |
| 6:08 | his shoulders by a roman centurion most |
| 6:11 | of the apostles they’re long gone at |
| 6:13 | this point |
| 6:14 | maybe one or two |
| 6:16 | persist and live the apostle john for |
| 6:19 | sure but you’re going to note that jude |
| 6:22 | here the half-brother of Jesus with the |
| 6:24 | departure of most of the apostles |
| 6:27 | is alarmed why |
| 6:29 | well because |
| 6:31 | just a few years after the death of the |
| 6:34 | major prominent apostles |
| 6:36 | already the Christian church is slipping |
| 6:38 | into apostasy |
| 6:40 | Christians who have been awakened by god |
| 6:42 | the holy spirit who had been vivified |
| 6:45 | who have been regenerated by the power |
| 6:48 | of the holy spirit they’re getting |
| 6:50 | sleepy and dozing off and no longer |
| 6:54 | eating the words |
| 6:57 | [Music] |
| 6:58 | right |
| 6:59 | that’s what’s happening here |
| 7:01 | yeah sorry i don’t need my cpap machine |
| 7:03 | actually i don’t have one of those but |
| 7:04 | you get the idea here and how is that so |
| 7:07 | and he’s alarmed at this well the |
| 7:10 | apostle paul if you remember in acts |
| 7:11 | chapter 20 when the apostle paul is on a |
| 7:14 | ship heading towards rome they you know |
| 7:17 | they make a stop over in ephesus and |
| 7:21 | paul has his farewell address to the |
| 7:23 | churches to the pastors at the churches |
| 7:25 | in ephesus and he says to them very |
| 7:28 | specifically |
| 7:29 | after my departure fierce wolves will |
| 7:33 | arise among you |
| 7:35 | talking about the pastors not sparing |
| 7:38 | the flock |
| 7:42 | and well as he prophesied |
| 7:45 | that’s exactly what’s taking place |
| 7:47 | so if you want to understand what it |
| 7:49 | means to stay awake |
| 7:51 | think of it this way all right |
| 7:53 | is that |
| 7:55 | god has given us all life |
| 7:58 | we have been born we’ve gone through our |
| 8:00 | childhood and now we are responsible for |
| 8:04 | stewarding this gift of life that god |
| 8:06 | has given us |
| 8:07 | if we spend our days eating twinkies |
| 8:12 | and nothing else |
| 8:13 | how long are we going to live |
| 8:16 | not very long but we will be happy |
| 8:19 | okay |
| 8:20 | okay we will not live long but we will |
| 8:22 | be happy the idea here is is that we are |
| 8:26 | to steward this life that god has given |
| 8:28 | us similarly |
| 8:30 | jude is writing and he’s writing to |
| 8:32 | Christians |
| 8:33 | concerned that they’re going to fall |
| 8:35 | asleep knowing full well |
| 8:37 | the onslaught of the devil and the |
| 8:39 | agents of the devil who have already |
| 8:41 | crept into the church and he’s noting |
| 8:43 | that the food that they’re feeding these |
| 8:45 | sheep is garbage |
| 8:48 | this is the kind of stuff that kills |
| 8:51 | faith and people are falling asleep |
| 8:54 | that’s his concern his warning so it |
| 8:57 | says here in jude verse 3 i’m going to |
| 8:59 | back up into the context a lot in a |
| 9:01 | minute first word in verse 3 |
| 9:04 | beloved |
| 9:05 | what a great word by the way beloved |
| 9:08 | who who beloved when i think of beloved |
| 9:10 | you know you think of like those |
| 9:11 | hallmark greeting cards valentine’s to |
| 9:14 | my beloved wife right you say things |
| 9:16 | like this to those who are dear to you |
| 9:18 | but no this is a word from the holy |
| 9:20 | spirit to each and every one of us each |
| 9:22 | and every one of us in Christ we are |
| 9:24 | beloved and he sit there and go yeah but |
| 9:26 | i’m not all that great i know i heard |
| 9:28 | your confession right but you’ll note |
| 9:30 | that because Christ has bled and died |
| 9:32 | for all of our sins it is important for |
| 9:35 | us to remember that in god’s eyes we are |
| 9:38 | truly |
| 9:39 | beloved |
| 9:40 | Christ has bled and died forgiven us |
| 9:42 | pardon us and you’ll see as we get to |
| 9:44 | the end of our text today that this |
| 9:46 | beloved thing is not a throwaway line |
| 9:48 | it’s practically everything beloved |
| 9:50 | although i was eager to write to you |
| 9:51 | about our common salvation |
| 9:53 | i found it necessary to write appealing |
| 9:56 | to you to contend for the faith that was |
| 9:59 | once for all delivered to the saints for |
| 10:01 | certain people have crept in unnoticed |
| 10:04 | who long ago were designated for |
| 10:07 | condemnation they are ungodly people who |
| 10:10 | pervert the grace of our god into |
| 10:13 | sensuality and deny |
| 10:15 | our only master and lord Jesus Christ |
| 10:19 | where are these ungodly people operating |
| 10:21 | these people who are |
| 10:23 | designated for condemnation who pervert |
| 10:26 | the grace of god into sensuality and |
| 10:28 | deny Jesus |
| 10:30 | were they operating from pulpits |
| 10:36 | does anyone else think that’s just weird |
| 10:39 | all right that’s just weird but you’ll |
| 10:42 | note that the roots of the nar the roots |
| 10:45 | of today’s liberalism you know where it |
| 10:47 | all started all the way back there |
| 10:50 | all right it was weird as soon as the |
| 10:52 | apostles leave up comes the nar and the |
| 10:54 | liberals and the people who are denying |
| 10:56 | Christ and who are twisting and mangling |
| 10:58 | scripture and here’s the thing remember |
| 11:00 | what Jesus says in matthew 7 on the day |
| 11:03 | of judgment many will come to me saying |
| 11:06 | lord lord did we not prophesy in your |
| 11:08 | name lord lord did we not do mighty |
| 11:10 | works |
| 11:11 | in your name and cast out demons in your |
| 11:13 | name and je what is Jesus said to them |
| 11:15 | depart from me i never knew you |
| 11:18 | you workers of what |
| 11:20 | lawlessness |
| 11:23 | lawlessness |
| 11:26 | huh |
| 11:27 | so here we have it |
| 11:29 | and always that’s kind of the move i |
| 11:30 | don’t care what brand of false teaching |
| 11:33 | it is |
| 11:34 | it doesn’t matter if it’s |
| 11:36 | crazy bizarre false prophecy nar |
| 11:38 | charismatic |
| 11:40 | mainline liberal or just the guy who |
| 11:42 | wants to get along with the world and |
| 11:45 | grow his church and be more relevant at |
| 11:47 | the end of the day you know what they’re |
| 11:49 | doing they’re watering down the |
| 11:51 | scriptures |
| 11:53 | so that people don’t have to hear that |
| 11:55 | they’re sinners |
| 11:57 | and then they kind of twist things up a |
| 11:59 | little bit and say you know it’s really |
| 12:00 | not all that bad you know Jesus isn’t |
| 12:02 | going to condemn people for that sin or |
| 12:04 | that sin and you’ll note always and |
| 12:06 | again |
| 12:07 | when people pervert the scriptures |
| 12:09 | lawlessness comes in and then they kind |
| 12:11 | of wink at evil it’s no big deal |
| 12:14 | right |
| 12:15 | so the half brother of Jesus says listen |
| 12:18 | i want to remind you although you once |
| 12:20 | fully knew it apparently you’re falling |
| 12:22 | asleep things have kind of gotten |
| 12:23 | squishy in your head that Jesus who |
| 12:26 | saved the people out of the land of |
| 12:27 | egypt yeah that’s right it was Jesus who |
| 12:30 | saved the people out of the land of |
| 12:31 | egypt |
| 12:33 | afterward he destroyed those who what |
| 12:36 | did not believe |
| 12:39 | to stay awake is to keep on believing |
| 12:42 | the angels who did not stay within |
| 12:45 | within their own position of authority |
| 12:47 | but left their proper dwelling he’s kept |
| 12:49 | an eternal chains under gloomy darkness |
| 12:52 | until the judgment of the great day |
| 12:54 | just as sodom and gomorrah and the |
| 12:56 | surrounding cities which likewise |
| 12:58 | indulged in sexual immorality and |
| 13:00 | pursued |
| 13:01 | unnatural desire they serve as an |
| 13:03 | example by undergoing a punishment of |
| 13:05 | eternal fire yet in like manner |
| 13:08 | these people also relying on their |
| 13:11 | dreams they defile the flesh they reject |
| 13:14 | authority they blaspheme the glorious |
| 13:16 | ones |
| 13:18 | you’re going to note here that jude kind |
| 13:20 | of expects |
| 13:21 | hey guys haven’t you been reading your |
| 13:23 | bible |
| 13:24 | don’t you see the similarities here |
| 13:26 | between these guys who are preaching |
| 13:29 | nonsense and the people who Christ |
| 13:31 | condemned and killed |
| 13:34 | don’t you see the connection yeah yeah i |
| 13:36 | just think you’re just a little too |
| 13:38 | uptight you’re being a little extreme |
| 13:40 | don’t you think jude you better just |
| 13:42 | cool your jets a little bit |
| 13:44 | no he’s absolutely right so he notes |
| 13:48 | then |
| 13:49 | that these people that god punished in |
| 13:52 | the old testament they serve as an |
| 13:54 | example |
| 13:55 | to us |
| 13:56 | pay attention always and again it always |
| 13:59 | you know it’s a big red flag like |
| 14:02 | you know practically the size of like a |
| 14:03 | bull fighting you know red cape right |
| 14:06 | when somebody says you know that old |
| 14:08 | testament |
| 14:09 | so irrelevant so difficult to understand |
| 14:12 | we don’t really need that today yeah we |
| 14:14 | do yeah we do |
| 14:16 | they serve as an example to us but yet |
| 14:19 | in like manner these people they rely on |
| 14:21 | their dreams |
| 14:23 | they play they end up giving prophecies |
| 14:25 | on youtube that mean nothing right they |
| 14:27 | defile the flesh they reject authority |
| 14:29 | they blaspheme the glorious ones and |
| 14:32 | haven’t you have you ever seen somebody |
| 14:33 | do something like this |
| 14:35 | satan i rebuke you right and they’re |
| 14:38 | they’re actually talking to satan you |
| 14:40 | know oh you devils you come down from |
| 14:43 | your high place and i know this kind of |
| 14:45 | stuff all right when somebody does that |
| 14:47 | they’re doing exactly what this text |
| 14:49 | says nobody should be doing all right |
| 14:52 | you don’t have to have any conversations |
| 14:55 | with the devil or with demons nor do you |
| 14:57 | get to cast them out and rebuke them and |
| 14:59 | stuff like that if you run into a demon |
| 15:01 | pray |
| 15:02 | pray |
| 15:03 | but these people |
| 15:05 | all right they blaspheme the glorious |
| 15:07 | ones but michael the archangel when he |
| 15:09 | was contending with the devil and |
| 15:10 | disputing about the body of moses he |
| 15:13 | didn’t presume to pronounce a |
| 15:14 | blasphemous judgment instead he said |
| 15:17 | the lord rebuke you |
| 15:19 | but these people |
| 15:20 | they blaspheme all that they do not |
| 15:23 | understand |
| 15:24 | they are destroyed by all that they like |
| 15:26 | unreasoning animals |
| 15:29 | understand |
| 15:30 | instinctively |
| 15:33 | did you just say here that false |
| 15:36 | teachers are like unreasoning animals |
| 15:39 | yep |
| 15:40 | right |
| 15:42 | is it any wonder that in some of these |
| 15:43 | movements they they tell people that the |
| 15:45 | holy spirit wants them to bark like a |
| 15:47 | dog |
| 15:48 | right |
| 15:49 | it’s really sick but here’s what jude |
| 15:52 | says woe to them |
| 15:53 | whoa |
| 15:54 | they walk in the way of cain cain is |
| 15:56 | that fellow who had religious activity |
| 15:58 | but no faith they abandoned themselves |
| 16:00 | for the sake of gain to balaam’s error |
| 16:03 | balaam was the prophet for prophet if |
| 16:05 | you remember oh yeah he’s he balaam’s |
| 16:08 | heir runs rampant today when somebody |
| 16:09 | says send me a thousand dollar seed |
| 16:11 | offering and the lord will make you a |
| 16:13 | millionaire uh-huh yeah right |
| 16:16 | right and they perished in korah’s |
| 16:18 | rebellion korra was the fellow who |
| 16:20 | refused to recognize the proper offices |
| 16:23 | that god had established within his |
| 16:25 | church you can see this when people sit |
| 16:27 | there and go we don’t need no pastors we |
| 16:30 | everybody everybody has the right to be |
| 16:32 | a you know a pastor or a teacher in |
| 16:35 | Christ church now that’s not how Christ |
| 16:36 | established things |
| 16:38 | talking about these folks they are |
| 16:39 | hidden reefs at your love feasts that’s |
| 16:42 | right and there they are there to |
| 16:44 | shipwreck you while you’re enjoying a |
| 16:46 | meal with them or the lord’s supper as |
| 16:48 | they feast with you without fear |
| 16:50 | they are shepherds who feed only |
| 16:52 | themselves they are waterless rain |
| 16:54 | clouds swept along by winds fruitless |
| 16:56 | trees and laid on them what good is a |
| 16:58 | fruit tree and laid on them it doesn’t |
| 17:00 | have any fruit on it right |
| 17:02 | they are twice dead uprooted wild waves |
| 17:05 | of the sea casting up the foam of their |
| 17:06 | own shame wandering stars for whom the |
| 17:09 | gloom of utter darkness has been |
| 17:11 | reserved forever |
| 17:12 | now it was about these that enoch the |
| 17:14 | seventh from adam prophesied saying oh |
| 17:16 | behold the lord comes with ten thousand |
| 17:19 | of his holy ones to execute judgment on |
| 17:21 | all to convict all the ungodly of all |
| 17:24 | their deeds of ungodliness that they |
| 17:25 | have committed in such an ungodly way |
| 17:28 | and of all the harsh things that ungodly |
| 17:31 | sinners have spoken against him |
| 17:33 | these are grumblers |
| 17:36 | malcontents |
| 17:38 | they following their own sinful desires |
| 17:41 | their loudmouth boasters showing |
| 17:43 | favoritism to gain an advantage |
| 17:47 | yep |
| 17:48 | you let those guys take over the pulpit |
| 17:50 | and the congregation |
| 17:52 | will |
| 17:53 | fall |
| 17:54 | asleep |
| 17:56 | back into the slumber of |
| 17:58 | sin back in the slumber of unbelief |
| 18:03 | made comfortable by the devil |
| 18:04 | entertained laughing every sunday |
| 18:09 | all the while heading to hell |
| 18:11 | but here’s what |
| 18:13 | jude writes |
| 18:15 | you must remember |
| 18:17 | remember |
| 18:19 | remember |
| 18:20 | remember beloved that’s who you are |
| 18:23 | Christ has bled and died for your sins |
| 18:25 | he’s reconciled you for all the times |
| 18:28 | that you have sinned against god and |
| 18:30 | broken that first commandment by |
| 18:32 | listening to people like that |
| 18:34 | who are trying to lull you back into the |
| 18:36 | slumber of unbelief |
| 18:38 | beloved |
| 18:40 | the predictions of the apostles you must |
| 18:42 | remember them the predictions of the |
| 18:44 | apostles of our lord they said to you |
| 18:48 | in the last time there will be scoffers |
| 18:51 | following their own |
| 18:53 | ungodly passions |
| 18:58 | in fact |
| 18:59 | if you think about it everything’s going |
| 19:01 | exactly the way they said |
| 19:04 | that’s right the scoffers are here |
| 19:06 | people within the visible church who are |
| 19:09 | openly defiant |
| 19:11 | and hostile to the word of god who are |
| 19:14 | openly obviously greedy for gain |
| 19:18 | those who without any fear of god |
| 19:21 | whatsoever just |
| 19:23 | make up |
| 19:24 | their own messages |
| 19:26 | to scratch and tickle |
| 19:28 | itching ears |
| 19:30 | and there’s so many people who are |
| 19:32 | asleep in the church today that’s how |
| 19:34 | they prefer it |
| 19:36 | you bring in somebody who preaches law |
| 19:39 | and gospel rightly handles the word |
| 19:40 | convicts people of sin well |
| 19:43 | i don’t know if you’ve ever noticed but |
| 19:45 | have you ever had somebody wake you up |
| 19:47 | from a nap and you were not happy that |
| 19:49 | they did |
| 19:50 | right okay that’s kind of the thing |
| 19:52 | those who are in the slumber of unbelief |
| 19:55 | in the churches they don’t like it when |
| 19:57 | somebody wakes them up |
| 19:59 | tell that guy to be quiet i’m trying to |
| 20:01 | sleep here |
| 20:04 | right |
| 20:07 | but this is exactly what the apostle |
| 20:09 | said would happen because Christ said |
| 20:11 | this is what would happen |
| 20:13 | it is these then |
| 20:15 | they are the ones these false teachers |
| 20:17 | who cause divisions they’re worldly |
| 20:19 | people for all their talk of the holy |
| 20:21 | spirit they’re completely devoid of the |
| 20:23 | holy spirit |
| 20:25 | but you |
| 20:26 | beloved there he goes again beloved |
| 20:31 | may i remind you |
| 20:32 | that Christ has gone to the cross |
| 20:36 | god laid on him all of your iniquity all |
| 20:38 | of your sin |
| 20:40 | Christ was scourged beaten and had nails |
| 20:43 | driven through his hands and his feet in |
| 20:45 | a crown of thorn press |
| 20:47 | pressed into his head |
| 20:48 | and he |
| 20:49 | truly bled suffered died in your place |
| 20:52 | in mind |
| 20:53 | carrying your sin and mind so that we |
| 20:55 | can be reconciled is it any wonder here |
| 20:58 | that jude keeps calling us beloved you |
| 21:01 | beloved building yourselves up in your |
| 21:04 | most holy faith praying in the holy |
| 21:07 | spirit and praying in the holy spirit |
| 21:08 | here is not this idea of somehow |
| 21:11 | clucking like a duck or somehow speaking |
| 21:14 | in gibberish praying in the holy spirit |
| 21:15 | is to pray according to the way |
| 21:16 | scripture tells us in faith believing |
| 21:19 | that even our own prayers that we do not |
| 21:23 | rightly know what we are to pray for |
| 21:25 | therefore the holy spirit intercedes for |
| 21:27 | us with groanings too deep for words i |
| 21:31 | always kind of like to picture it like |
| 21:32 | there i am praying in the morning or |
| 21:34 | praying in the afternoon and the holy |
| 21:36 | spirit is going |
| 21:38 | what he meant to say was and then you |
| 21:40 | know kind of go along |
| 21:42 | that’s what it means to pray in the holy |
| 21:44 | spirit believing in faith that the holy |
| 21:46 | spirit will even make up for what i |
| 21:47 | should be praying for |
| 21:49 | keep yourselves then and listen to the |
| 21:51 | phrase |
| 21:52 | keep yourselves in what the love of god |
| 21:57 | now one of the worst sermons i ever |
| 21:59 | heard and i mean this the worst sermons |
| 22:01 | i ever heard on text like our gospel |
| 22:03 | text today was when i was a nazarene one |
| 22:06 | of my nazarene pastors the way he |
| 22:08 | preached the text went something like |
| 22:09 | this lord says stay awake |
| 22:12 | now it will be just an absolute tragedy |
| 22:16 | and i mean tragedy eternal tragedy if |
| 22:19 | Jesus shows up at a time when you didn’t |
| 22:21 | expect him when you were sipping on a |
| 22:24 | beer or a long island iced tea after |
| 22:26 | having smoked a cigarette Jesus isn’t |
| 22:29 | going to let you into heaven with beer |
| 22:31 | and alcohol on your breath and nicotine |
| 22:34 | stains on your shirt no you’re not going |
| 22:36 | to heaven if you sho so you stay awake |
| 22:39 | don’t be doing that stuff |
| 22:43 | right |
| 22:45 | there are parts of the world that don’t |
| 22:46 | have these problems we americans seem to |
| 22:49 | still be hung up on the moralism of |
| 22:51 | methodism |
| 22:53 | but you’re going to know that’s not what |
| 22:54 | he’s talking about |
| 22:56 | he says this building yourselves up in |
| 22:59 | your most holy faith keep yourselves in |
| 23:02 | the love of god |
| 23:05 | how is the love of god exemplified how |
| 23:08 | is it held up for us to understand in |
| 23:10 | scripture god so loved the world |
| 23:14 | that he gave his only begotten son that |
| 23:16 | whosoever including you believes in him |
| 23:20 | will not perish but have eternal life to |
| 23:22 | keep yourself in the love of god is to |
| 23:25 | stay hearing the gospel to continue to |
| 23:28 | believe even though your sins be a |
| 23:31 | scarlet Christ makes them white as snow |
| 23:34 | that’s what it means to stay in the love |
| 23:36 | of god waiting then for the mercy of our |
| 23:38 | lord and consider that when Jesus shows |
| 23:41 | up he’s not going to sit there and go |
| 23:42 | boy am i glad to see you because man |
| 23:45 | i’ve been waiting to throw you into hell |
| 23:48 | okay that’s not what’s going to happen |
| 23:51 | instead you’re going to note we are |
| 23:53 | waiting for the mercy of our lord |
| 23:56 | and this is what leads to eternal life |
| 23:59 | that forgiveness and hope and faith that |
| 24:02 | god the holy spirit is giving us so in |
| 24:04 | the meantime what are we to do |
| 24:07 | have mercy on those who doubt |
| 24:09 | somebody among us who says i’m just i’m |
| 24:12 | not sure |
| 24:13 | meet with them |
| 24:14 | comfort them assure them with the words |
| 24:16 | of Christ that they are forgiven save |
| 24:18 | others by snatching them out of the fire |
| 24:20 | you know somebody who’s snoozing and |
| 24:22 | dozing off while listening to these |
| 24:24 | false teachers shake them wake them up |
| 24:27 | snatch them out of the fires of hell and |
| 24:30 | here’s an interesting one to others show |
| 24:33 | mercy |
| 24:37 | with fear |
| 24:39 | hating even the garments staying by the |
| 24:41 | flesh |
| 24:42 | show mercy with fear |
| 24:45 | yeah you’ll note that in the book of |
| 24:47 | galatians chapter 6 it talks about those |
| 24:49 | who wander |
| 24:51 | to restore them |
| 24:53 | restore them by showing them faith but |
| 24:56 | at the same time |
| 24:58 | don’t fall into the temptation that they |
| 25:00 | fell into even hating the garment that |
| 25:02 | is stained by the flesh |
| 25:05 | and then he ends with these words |
| 25:08 | to him who is able to keep you from |
| 25:09 | stumbling it is only Christ who can keep |
| 25:12 | you awake |
| 25:13 | only Jesus and he does it through his |
| 25:15 | word he does it through the lord’s |
| 25:17 | supper he keeps us awake today |
| 25:19 | through his word his warnings and his |
| 25:22 | comfort |
| 25:23 | he is able to keep you from stumbling he |
| 25:26 | will present you blameless before the |
| 25:28 | presence of his glory with great joy |
| 25:32 | oh think about that for a second here |
| 25:36 | it legitimately says |
| 25:38 | that when Jesus finally presents you |
| 25:42 | before the father before the spirit |
| 25:44 | before the angels of heaven before the |
| 25:45 | saints that have preceded us when Jesus |
| 25:48 | presents you in the presence of his |
| 25:50 | glory it is to his great joy that he |
| 25:53 | does so |
| 25:56 | that is |
| 25:58 | amazing |
| 25:59 | but isn’t that what the scripture says |
| 26:01 | that who for the joy set before him |
| 26:05 | he laid down his life despising the |
| 26:07 | shame of the cross who for the joy it is |
| 26:10 | Christ’s joy to save you |
| 26:13 | it is Christ’s joy to forgive you of |
| 26:15 | your sins it is Christ’s joy to wash |
| 26:18 | away the filth and the muck of your |
| 26:20 | unrighteousness and to cover you in the |
| 26:23 | robes of his righteousness and present |
| 26:25 | you in the presence of his glory it is |
| 26:28 | to his joy |
| 26:33 | yeah |
| 26:34 | neverland makes you forget but Christ |
| 26:36 | keeps us awake so that we always |
| 26:38 | remember |
| 26:39 | now to the only god our savior through |
| 26:41 | Jesus Christ our lord be glory |
| 26:44 | majesty dominion and authority before |
| 26:47 | all time and now and forever |
| 26:51 | amen |
| If you would like to support the teaching ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church, you can do so by sending a tax-free donation to: Kongsvinger Lutheran Church 15950 470th Ave NW, Oslo, MN 56744 We thank you for your support. All of our teaching messages may be freely distributed as long as you do not edit or change the content of the message, and, again, thank you for listening. |
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