Sermon Archive - December 17th, 2008

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=3 height=130 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="12ba6e903.jpg"> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="11fcbc320.jpg" border=0 width="700" height="50" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>OFC:  713-526-5731      5315 MAIN STREET, HOUSTON TEXAS 77004      FAX: 713-524-1709</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="St. Matthew Lutheran Church Houston, Te"><U><B>HOME</B></U></A><B>  ~   </B><A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Worship Schedule"><U><B>WORSHIP</B></U></A><B>  ~  </B><A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Map Directions"><U><B>LOCATION</B></U></A><B>  ~  </B><A HREF="id362.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="URL Calendar Home Link"><U><B>CALENDAR</B></U></A><B>  ~  </B><A HREF="mailto:info@stmatthewhouston.org?subject=Website Inquiry" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:info@stmatthewhouston.org?subject"><U><B>EMAIL US</B></U></A><B>  ~  </B><A HREF="id452.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Site Map"><U><B>SITE MAP</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=155 BGCOLOR="#660000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="123030970.jpg" border=0 width="48" height="151" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <A HREF="id464.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Welcome"><U>Welcome</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id465.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lutheran Beliefs"><U>Lutheran Beliefs</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id466.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to Join"><U>How to Join</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id467.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Local Missions"><U>Local Missions</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id468.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Global Missions"><U>Global Missions</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id508.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Parish Education"><U>Parish Education</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=280 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> Sermon Archive - December 17th, 2008</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="568" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#990000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FFCC99" FRAME="VOID" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#FFCC99 HEIGHT= 18 WIDTH="134"><div> <A HREF="id563.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="St. Matthew Sermon Archives"><U><IMG SRC="157a270e0.png" border=0 width="39" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#990000 WIDTH="421"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="18" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="421" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>“An Occasion for Jubilation”</B></div> <div> Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11</div> <div> Third Week in Advent: December 17, 2008</div> <div> Pastor Mark Wiesenborn</div> <div> St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Houston, Texas</div> <div>       </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#800000" FACE="Franklin Gothic Book" >     </FONT><I>Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.</I>  Dear friends in Christ, <U>today we light the third candle on the Advent wreath</U> which you see displayed here in the chancel.  It is more than just another beautiful “decoration”; Advent wreaths are used in churches and also in many homes all over the world <B>to represent God's endless mercy and undying love</B>.  The blue (or violet) candles symbolize <U>faithful expectation</U>, and the pink candle used on some wreaths is a sign of <U>joy and hope as we wait</U>. From its beginnings in the early Christian Church, Advent has been a time of renewal - watching for Christ's return, and preparing our hearts through repentance and prayer. A “relaxation” of these spiritual disciplines was offered on the third Sunday of Advent, which is also called <I><B>Gaudete Sunday</B></I>, from the Latin word for <B>rejoice</B>!</div> <bR> <div>      This past Sunday many of you had the opportunity to enjoy watching our Sunday School children share the story of Christmas in a wonderful musical program.  That was certainly a day for <B>rejoicing</B>!  So in looking at the Scripture readings for the third week of Advent, I decided to replace the Gospel reading in today's worship folder with Sunday's Epistle.  These words seem very appropriate for us today:</div> <div> “<I><B>Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you</B></I>.” [<I>1</I><I>st</I><I> Thessalonians 5:16-18</I>]</div> <bR> <div>      When we think of <B>rejoicing</B>, it tends to focus on <U>the past and the present</U>.  We <I><B>celebrate</B></I> birthdays and anniversaries with parties and cakes and balloons; sharing goodwill with greeting cards and gifts.  When we think of <B>rejoicing</B>, we also sometimes tend to equate it with “<I>being happy</I>”; “<I>feeling good</I>”; and “<I>having fun</I>”.  Yet even the most upbeat and resilient people among us still have days when it can be difficult to greet the rising sun with a smile, or to begin the day with a glad heart.</div> <bR> <div>      In fact, for some people being bombarded for six weeks with the Holiday sights, sounds, and sensations sometimes has the opposite effect.  It becomes a reminder of the <B>things that they do not have</B> - <U>not enough money</U> to buy gifts; <U>not enough time</U> to do everything they would love to do, or need to accomplish; <U>not physically able</U> to go places and do the things that they once enjoyed; and perhaps <U>no longer able to spend this time in the company</U> of <I><B>people whom they have dearly and deeply loved</B></I>.</div> <bR> <div>      This is why the messages that God has sent to us through the prophets are so precious and so powerful.  When they speak to us of <B>rejoicing</B>, we <I><B>remember</B></I> what God has done for us <U>in the past</U> and we <I><B>give thanks</B></I> for what He is doing for us <U>at the present time</U>.  But <B>the focus of our rejoicing is on the future</B> - those things that are still to be accomplished in God's plan for our salvation!  And we should be mindful that His compassion is greatest for those who find it most difficult to rejoice:</div> <bR> <div> “<I><B>The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to </B></I><I><B><U>the poor</U></B></I><I><B>; he has sent me to bind up </B></I><I><B><U>the brokenhearted</U></B></I><I><B>, to proclaim liberty to </B></I><I><B><U>the captives</U></B></I><I><B>, and the opening of the prison to </B></I><I><B><U>those who are bound</U></B></I>;<I><B> to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God.</B></I>” [<I>Isaiah 61:1-2</I>]</div> <bR> <div>      One of my favorite movies this time of year is “<B>It's a Wonderful Life</B>”. Actor James Stewart plays the role of George Bailey - a man who truly has lived <I><B>a blessed life</B></I>, yet is unable to see it or appreciate it until he is shown a glimpse of <U>what the world might have been like</U> without the kindness and compassion he has shown to others.  For what it's worth, I think most people miss the actual <B>Christmas message</B> in that movie.  <U>What would the world be like</U>, if WE had never received the mercy of God and learned to love others as Jesus has taught us?  I think the answer is clear.  Every one of us would be spiritually <I><B>poor</B></I> and <I><B>brokenhearted</B></I>, living as <I><B>captives</B></I> of our sinful human natures and <I><B>bound</B></I> by the lies and cruelty of our enemy, Satan.</div> <bR> <div>      You will find this theme repeated again and again in the hymns we sing today!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800008000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">From our Opening Hymn, “Dear Christians, One and All Rejoice” [LSB #556]:</div> <div>      “Fast bound in Satan's chains I lay; death brooded darkly o'er me.</div> <div>           Sin was my torment night and day; in sin my mother bore me.” (vs. 2)</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800008000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">In our Hymn of Praise, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” [LSB #357]:</div> <div>      “Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight.”</div> <div>      “Bid Thou our sad divisions cease, And be Thyself our King of Peace.” (vs. 6, 7)</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800008000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">In our Hymn of the Day, “From God Can Nothing Move Me” [LSB #713]:</div> <div>      “The Lord my life arranges; Who can His work destroy?</div> <div>           In His good time He changes All sorrow into joy.” (vs. 3)</div> <bR> <div>      If someone from another Christian denomination were to take these excerpts as being representative of our music, <U>they might mistakenly conclude</U> that Lutherans don't seem to be very JOYFUL people!  <B>But each of these hymns points to Jesus</B>.</div> <bR> <div>      Those of you who have regularly attended the Bible classes I lead on Wednesday and Sunday mornings have heard me say that, even after four years of solid training at Concordia Seminary and diligent study ever since I graduated, <U>I still find that I have much to learn</U>. Within the past few months I learned something that was simply amazing to me, and it is connected with today's passage from Isaiah - in particular, when he declares: “<I><B>God has sent me… to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor</B></I>.”</div> <bR> <div>      Isaiah is referring to an important celebration that the Lord commanded through Moses.  In the same way that every <U>seventh day</U> is to be observed as a Sabbath day of rest, they were also supposed to observe every <U>seventh year</U> as a year of rest for the land - in other words, their food was limited to what they set aside in storage as well as whatever the land produced on its own.  After counting off seven Sabbaths of seven years, the Lord declared what would be a “<B>once-in-a-lifetime</B>” celebration:</div> <bR> <div>      “Consecrate the fiftieth year and <I><B>proclaim liberty throughout the land</B></I> to all its inhabitants. It shall be a <B>jubilee</B> for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan. The fiftieth year shall be a <B>jubilee</B> for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines. For it is a <B>jubilee</B> and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields… If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and <U>sells himself to you</U>, do not make him work as a slave. He is to be treated as a hired worker or a temporary resident among you; he is to work for you until the <B>Year of Jubilee</B>. Then he and his children are to be released, and he will go back to his own clan and to the property of his forefathers. Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves.”</div> <div> [<I>Leviticus 25:10-12, 39-42</I>]</div> <bR> <div>      Not only were <U>all debts to be forgiven</U>, but the poor who had been forced into bound servitude would also be <U>released from captivity</U>.  Guidelines were established for this wonderful process of <B>redemption</B>.  For those who had waited in hope, there was supposed to be a definite point in time when their hopes would be fulfilled.  It required a great sacrifice from the wealthy and powerful in “giving back” to God.</div> <bR> <div>      And that is why I probably should not have been shocked (although I was!) to hear Dr. Tim Saleska, who was one of my favorite Seminary professors, make the remark that: “<I><B>there is no record in Scripture of the actual observance of the Year of Jubilee in the ways God commanded</B></I>.”  Oh sure, they may have decreed a yearlong celebration and blown the ram's horn and thrown a series of big feasts.  <U>But it would appear that the central message of </U><B><U>redemption</U></B><U> was, in fact, mostly disregarded</U>!</div> <bR> <div>      And for those people who had waited, sometimes in patient expectation but more than likely also with tears and groaning, their hopes grew dim.  The words of David in the Sixth Psalm could have been their prayer:</div> <div>      “<I><B>Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint;</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>          O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony.</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>     My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long?</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>          Turn, O LORD, and </B></I><I><B><U>deliver me</U></B></I><I><B>; </B></I><I><B><U>save me because of your unfailing love</U></B></I>.”</div> <div>                [<I>Psalm 6:2-4</I>]</div> <bR> <div>      My friends, <U>our waiting for Christ's final return</U> in judgment and in glory continues - sometimes with tears and groaning, but <B>even then also with rejoicing</B>!  For my family, this will be our “<I><B>First Christmas</B></I>” with our adorable grandson Carson.  In the same way, each of us has celebrated MANY “<I><B>First Christmases</B></I>” over the years with loved ones - the first times we celebrated the birth of our Savior together with new family members, and with those who became longtime friends.</div> <bR> <div>      So please bear with me, as I leave you with a thought that I know may bring a little sadness.  <U>God's plan for the salvation of His people</U> leads us on a journey throughout our lives, which necessarily and inevitably will take us to a gateway that we know and reluctantly accept as physical death.  Every year there are families who must face next week as their “<I><B>First Christmas</B></I>” <B>without loved ones</B>… people like Mary Kay (<I>Poe</I>); Jack (<I>Bruce</I>); Bob (<I>Frederking</I>); Andy (<I>Komarchuk</I>); Jerry (<I>Wheaton</I>); and Marjorie (<I>Lottman</I>).  But for each of these who departed this life in saving faith, <B>this has also become the year of the Lord's favor</B>.  <U>This will be their “</U><I><B><U>First Christmas</U></B></I><U>” spent in paradise in the presence of their Lord and Savior</U>!</div> <bR> <div>      This is why <U>the greatest gift that comes down to us at Christmas</U> is the message of <B>redemption</B> - that <I><B>by Jesus Christ's death and resurrection</B></I>, we are set free from sin and from death in order to pass through the gates of Heaven and <B>join the eternal celebration of our Savior's glory with all these Saints</B>!  Here is how Isaiah describes <U>the wonderful future that has been established for all who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that His victory is our occasion for JUBILATION</U>:</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>     </B></I>“<I><B>I will </B></I><I><B><U>greatly rejoice in the Lord</U></B></I><I><B>;</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>          my soul shall </B></I><I><B><U>exult in my God</U></B></I><I><B>,</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>               for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>                    he has covered me with the robe of righteousness.</B></I>”</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen!</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>OLD TESTAMENT READING</B> - Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 [ESV]</div> <bR> <div> 1 <I><B>The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>     because the Lord has anointed me</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>          to bring good news to the poor;</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>     he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>          to proclaim liberty to the captives,</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>               and the opening of the prison to those who are bound</B></I>;</div> <div> 2 <I><B>to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>     and the day of vengeance of our God;</B></I></div> <div>           to comfort all who mourn;</div> <div> 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion -</div> <div>      to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,</div> <div>           the oil of gladness instead of mourning,</div> <div>                the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;</div> <div>      that they may be called oaks of righteousness,</div> <div>           the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.</div> <div> 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;</div> <div>      they shall raise up the former devastations;</div> <div>           they shall repair the ruined cities,</div> <div>                the devastations of many generations. </div> <div>     </div> <div> 8 For I the Lord love justice;</div> <div>      I hate robbery and wrong;</div> <div>           I will faithfully give them their recompense,</div> <div>                and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.</div> <div> 9 Their offspring shall be known among the nations,</div> <div>      and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;</div> <div>           all who see them shall acknowledge them,</div> <div>                that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.</div> <div> 10 <I><B>I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>     my soul shall exult in my God,</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>          for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>     he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,</B></I></div> <div>           as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,</div> <div>                and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.</div> <div> 11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,</div> <div>      and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,</div> <div>           so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise</div> <div>                to sprout up before all the nations.</div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=155 BGCOLOR="#660000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="122e30960.jpg" border=0 width="48" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <A HREF="id499.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Meet Our Leaders"><U>Meet Our Leaders</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tour Our Church"><U>Tour Our Church</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id493.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Read Our History"><U>Read Our History</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id626.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Arts and Music"><U>Arts and Music</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id136.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Special Events"><U>Special Events</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id515.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Gallery"><U>Photo Gallery</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=70 BGCOLOR="#660000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="id423.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bible Search"><U><B>BIBLE SEARCH</B></U></A><B>  </B><B>~  </B><A HREF="id99.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LCMS Links"><U><B>LUTHERAN</B></U></A><A HREF="id99.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LCMS Links"><U><B> LINKS</B></U></A><B>  </B><B>~  </B><A HREF="id100.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Online Devotionals"><U><B>DEVOTIONALS</B></U></A><B>  ~  </B><A HREF="id563.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="St. Matthew Sermon Archives"><U><B>SERMON ARCHIVES</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> © 2008  St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Houston, TX - All Rights Reserved</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>