Grace,
Mercy, and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ Amen
Therefore do
not be ashamed of the
testimony about our Lord, nor of me
his prisoner, but share
in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us
and called
us to
a
holy calling, not
because of our works but because of his
own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the
ages began,
and
which now has been
manifested through the
appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who
abolished death and brought
life and immortality
to light through the gospel,
for
which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,
which
is why I suffer as I do. But I
am not ashamed, for I
know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to
guard until that
Day what
has been entrusted to me.
In the
Name of Jesus
What a miserable life
Martin Luther lived. I mean, let’s face it, he lived most of his
life in fear. During his childhood he lived in fear of his parents.
He once said of his mother, “for the sake of an insignificant nut
[she] once whipped me till the blood came”. During school he
feared his teachers and his classmates. Coming from a poor
upbringing he was left to beg for food. He relied on relatives for
housing as he traveled to far cities for his education.
Perhaps the biggest
fear that was instilled into young Martin was the fear of God. Not
fear as he would later use in his explanations in the Small
Catechism, but a true frightening fear. Like when he was caught in a
large lightning storm, or like I get when snakes and mice abound in
the house. Martin Luther said that he was “trained to turn pale at
the very mention of Christ’s name, for I was instructed to regard
him as a severe and angry judge. We were all taught that we had to
atone for our own sins, and because we could not do this we were
directed to the saints in heaven and advised to invoke dear Mother
Mark to pacify the wrath of Christ and obtain mercy for us.”
This fear of Christ,
the fear of his creator was relieved only after entering the
monastery and finally reading God’s Word for himself. Being
assured that his sins were atoned for, reading from the book of
Romans, especially 3:28 which says for
we hold that one is justified by faith apart
from works of the law, he
was led to proclaim “It is not enough that you believe God forgives
sins in general, for the devils also believe this. You must believe
that your sins, your sins, your sins are forgiven. For man is
justified by grace through faith.”
This
revelation, this confirmation by Luther led to a whole new type of
fear. A fear for his life as he began to speak out against the Roman
Catholic Church and their teaching which were contrary to the Word of
God. The more public he was, the more resistance he received. From
debates, let’s call them what they were, trials, to finally having
an order put out for his life.
How
could such a thing happen, especially when he was teaching and
sharing such a beautiful, not to mention truthful, message? He
wasn’t doing anything wrong. He wasn’t murdering innocent
people, he wasn’t deceiving anyone, he wasn’t cheating anyone out
of money. Instead he was freeing people. He was sharing the
beautiful message of the Gospel, that Christ has done all the work
for us. How his sacrifice was all that was needed for salvation. We
can’t do anything.
And
yet this beautiful message was met with such ugly opposition, from
inside the church no less! Priests, leaders, the Pope were trying to
silence the true message of the Gospel. To so many it doesn’t make
sense. But to you and me, to those inside the church, we get it. We
get it because we have to live it. We see the forces inside our own
church when we stick to God’s Word. When we do things by the book
all while being called and urged to be a bit more lax in our beliefs.
After all, since the secular world as accepted things like same sex
marriage and abortion to be socially acceptable we should too. How
can you Lutheran’s be so closed minded and think that a book
written 2,000 years ago is the sole authority on these topics. Get
with the times!
I
want you to hear again the Epistle lesson for the feast of St.
Michael and All Angels. Now
war arose in heaven, Michael
and his
angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels
fought back,
but
he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in
heaven.
And the
great dragon was thrown down, that
ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the
deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and
his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in
heaven, saying, “Now the
salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority
of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers
has
been thrown down, who
accuses them day and night before our God.
And they
have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their
testimony, for they
loved not their lives even
unto death. Therefore, rejoice,
O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe
to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great
wrath, because he
knows that his time is short!”
Just
as the Gospel message that we have been called to proclaim is real.
Christ walked this earth. He, in every sense of the word, died, he
gave up his is spirit, his breath, his very essence. But he also
took it back again after three days, walked once again, had to
nourish his, real, living body. So, the persecution we face is real.
The devil is mad, he is full of wrath. He was cast down to earth
from the kingdom of heaven and he has set his sights on vengeance.
And who better to take it out on than the very children of God. We
know that temptation seems to be more fierce for one who is God’s
possession. To those who stick to his word, to those who choose
churches because of the substance of the message and not just to hear
what makes them happy. We too, along with the prophet Habakkuk, find
ourselves calling out during these temptations and struggles how
long shall I cry for help,
and
you will not hear?
Or
cry to you “Violence!”
and
you will not save?
Why
do you make me see iniquity,
and
why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and
violence are before me; strife
and contention arise.
So
the law is paralyzed, and
justice never goes forth.
For
the wicked surround the righteous;
so
justice goes forth perverted.
Though
devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us. God never
promised a smooth ride. He never said accept and tolerate everyone
you meet and things will be perfect. In fact he promised just the
opposite. He says to those who would be his disciples and devote
themselves to the word, pick up your cross. He reminds us that he
came not to bring peace but division. But through those times, he
promises protection. He promises safety. We tremble not we fear no
ill, they shall not over power us. We trust that when we pass
through the shadow of the valley of death, we need not fear for he is
with us. We fully trust that when we pass through the water and the
fire we will not be consumed but saved for he are his. This worlds
prince may still, scowl fierce as he will, he can harm us none, he’s
judged the deed is done.
Even
in the face of persecution the apostle Paul and Martin Luther stood
firm. Even though their lives were threatened, they found joy. Joy
not in earthly things, but joy in God’s Word and promise. Joy in
the forgiveness of sins. Joy in God’s protection of their faith.
This is where out joy lies as well. Through times of persecution God
does not leave. When we feel the desire to speak out, to share of
the love of God with those who are struggling or don’t know him, he
provides the means and words.
Trust
him. Trust him and do not be ashamed of his testimony for he alone
is our protection in these times. He is the one who tells us, the
righteous, those who confess him before men, will live by faith, so
what do we need to fear? Though devils all the world should fill,
all eager to devour us. We tremble not we fear no ill, they shall
not over power us. This worlds prince may still scowl fierce as he
will, he can harm us none, he’s judged the deed is done. One
little word can fell him.
In
Jesus name.
SOLI DEO GLORIA
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