1When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians-we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." "Filled with the Spirit." That summarizes what happened on Pentecost. Yes, the disciples had tongues as of fire upon their head, they heard the sound as of a mighty rushing wind, they even spoke in other languages, but the main thing they did was proclaim the Word of God. Because these disciples, who were Galileans, spoke in the various languages of the people, these very people were confused. We read in our text, "we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." 12And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" 13But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine." But Peter comes to their defense. What was happening on this day was already prophesized by the Prophet Joel and Peter was proclaiming that this prophecy was being fulfilled right before their very eyes. We read in our text, "14But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'" They were filled with the Holy Spirit and so are we. Just as the Spirit worked through preaching of the Word of God through Peter and the disciples, so the Spirit works through the Word of God and the Sacraments today. This Word of God is intended for all people, not just a selected or gifted few. We are told in our text that every person in the house was filled with the Holy Spirit. Verse four tells us, "4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." The list of the various languages that were spoken on Pentecost indicates that the Word of God goes to all nations. The message was clear and understood. The message as verse 11 tells us was about "the mighty works of God." God worked through His Law that day to convict and convince people of their sins. Some of those present accused the disciples of being intoxicated. Peter used the Word of God to remind them that the prophet Joel prophesied that such a thing would happen. His Word convicts those who look for extraordinary works of God today rather than the ordinary ways He works through Word and the Sacraments. He also works through the Gospel to save those who as verse 21 states, "And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved" God works mightily through the preaching of the cross. If you look at the rest of Act 2 you will see that 3,000 people came to faith on that day. God also works through the Word as it is pronounced in the Sacrament of Baptism. Remember, the people at Pentecost asked what they must do to be saved. Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (NIV) Baptism is still a marvelous means of grace that saves people today. God's also works through the Word that proclaims mere bread and wine to be the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Yes, God's mighty work also comes to us above all through His simple Word. It is the Spirit working through the Word who through the Law reminds us that we are sinners through and through. It reminds us that so often we close our ears to Law, not want to be shown how miserable a sinner each one of us is. We don't want to be reminded that we sin each day in what we think, say or do. Then when we are confronted with our sin, we quickly make excuses for it by saying, "Well everyone else does it," or we blame someone else for making us do it. Yes, we sin over and over again and because we do we deserve to be eternally separated from God and have no chance for eternal life. But then God comes to us in the Gospel through the ordinary Words of the Scripture or as it is proclaimed to us by individuals. It is in that Gospel that we hear as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, "3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." (NIV) The Word of God reminds us that Christ became sin in our place, that He absorbed all of our sin upon Himself, that He bore everyone of our sins in His own being so that by His very death our sins are totally removed. He died for us and rose again to assure that our Father in heaven has accepted His sacrifice for our sins. It is the Holy Spirit that works through that ordinary Word of God to work faith in our hearts to believe that Jesus is our personal Savior. It is the Holy Spirit that also empowers ordinary believers, even believers like you and me to speak God's saving Word in ordinary ways that people understand. Who of us today does not remember our Christian mother who was that believer that spoke that word of God to us in very simple ways through the use of songs, of a children's Bible, a devotional booklet or taught us prayers? How thankful we should be that we had such Christian parents who wanted us to know about our Savior Jesus. We are also told in our Epistle lesson today that each one heard the message in his or her own language. Then it is the Holy Spirit who causes that Word of salvation to be understood when it is shared with them. It is in this way that the Holy Spirit enables people to call on the name of the Lord and be saved. It is ordinary human nature to be attracted to the extraordinary things of the world. We are amazed at the advancement of technology of the computer, robots in our manufacturing plants, the B-2 stealth bomber, the many systems that come in some of our automobiles. However, the very God who gives us His Holy Spirit directs our hearts to only one place. It is the Word of Christ, who came to save those of every tribe, nation, people and language through the forgiveness of sins won by His suffering, death and resurrection. May we be empowered by the Holy Spirit through the Word and Sacrament to be strong in the faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and share that faith to the various people of different tribes, nations and people around us. AmenSermons
May 11, 2008
"Filled with the Spirit" - Acts 2:1-21
12And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" 13But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine. 14But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'"
12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" 19Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
5:6Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
I don't know of anyone who actually enjoys suffering. But there is suffering that results for one's good. There's the suffering of the Olympic Athlete who trains hard for the games. There's the marathon runner who exercises daily just to compete. There's the Northwest University football player who has to get in shape this summer in order to get ready for practice in the fall. There is the person who is recovering from knee or shoulder surgery that goes through physical therapy and the result in getting better is some pain and suffering. Or sometimes circumstances totally out of our control bring suffering. We can be driving carefully and within the speed limit down a familiar street when suddenly, out of nowhere a car comes crashing into us. Bones are broken and lives may be lost even though we had done nothing wrong. But then too, sometimes we bring suffering upon ourselves when we do things directly opposite God's will for us that is revealed in the Bible. The Bible warns us against hatred, the love of money, lusting, selfishness and going along with the crowd even if it means some form of persecution and yet we can easily sin in this way.
Christian suffering, like the suffering of an athlete, a person recovering from surgery, a person suffering from being in an automobile accident, or a person suffering from being persecuted because of being a Christian also results in good, only more so. For a Christian never suffers alone. For Christ promises to be there with us. As we look at our Epistle lesson today, it reminds us that we do share in the sufferings of Christ.
Verse 14 reminds us that suffering will come. It reads, "14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you." We suffer when we are insulted because we confess our Christian faith either by what we do or say. It comes as verses 12 and 13 remind us, so that we might share in Christ's suffering. It reads, "12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed." These fiery trials test the sincerity of the confession of our faith that we profess as a believer.
Christians know they must expect some form of suffering. It goes with the territory. They believe the teaching of Jesus that the world hates those who boldly confess Him as their Savior and follow His directions for their lives. Jesus says in John 15:18, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it has hated you." They are not willing to give in to the crowd nor compromise any teaching of the Bible for the sake of earthly unity and peace. For this insistence they are persecuted and despised.
Christian suffering has to do with Christ and our faith relationship with Him. You and I as Christians are blessed if we are insulted for the name of Christ, for as verse 14 tells us, "14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you." We indeed are blessed if we suffer because we are Christians. Verse 16 reminds us not to be ashamed when it says, "16Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name."Christian suffering has to do with Christ and our faith relationship with Him. You and I as Christians are blessed if we are insulted for the name of Christ, for as verse 14 tells us, "14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you." We indeed are blessed if we suffer because we are Christians. Verse 16 reminds us not to be ashamed when it says, "16Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name."Christian suffering has to do with Christ and our faith relationship with Him. You and I as Christians are blessed if we are insulted for the name of Christ, for as verse 14 tells us, "14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you." We indeed are blessed if we suffer because we are Christians. Verse 16 reminds us not to be ashamed when it says, "16Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
Christians who suffer will be blessed on Judgment Day. Verses 17-18 tells us, "17For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"Christians who suffer will be blessed on Judgment Day. Verses 17-19 tells us, "17For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
The Christians will rejoice and be glad when Christ's glory is revealed on Judgment Day and in comparison the ungodly will suffer greatly. We as Christians may endure the persecution and wrath of the ungodly now, but they will endure the wrath of God on Judgment Day. The world may rejoice now as they persecute the followers of Jesus, but in the end they will suffer eternal separation from God.
In the end, Christians receive the gift of eternal life. In order to remain faithful, we as Christians need to follow what the last few verses of our Epistle lesson tell us. First of all, we are told in verse 6 of chapter 5, "5:6Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you." We humble ourselves by confessing our many and frequent sins, even the times when we were persecuted and have given in and denied our relationship with Christ by our words and deeds. We then put our faith and trust in this Jesus who fulfilled the law perfectly for us and suffered, died and rose again in order to save us from all of our sins.
Secondly, we hand over our cares and anxieties to the only one who can really help, namely Jesus our Lord and Savior. Verse 7 reads, "7casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." The greatest way Jesus cared for us was sacrificing His entire life to save us from our sins. Now if He could take away our biggest care or anxiety, namely our sin, He can help us with any problem in life no matter how big or small our cares or anxieties are that we may face in life.
Thirdly, through the presence of the Holy Spirit working through the Word and Sacraments, we will be given the power to resist the devil, and the world and our own sinful flesh that he uses in order to lead us astray. We ready in verses 8 and 9, "8Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world." You and I are not alone when it comes to various trials and tribulations that bring us suffering. Fellow Christians are going through similar situations. All we have to do is think about those whom we pray for each Sunday.
Finally, in all of this, we have the wonderful promise of our Lord in verse 10 - "10And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." That is His promise to all of us. Because God so loved us and sent His Son to suffer, die and rise again to bring us the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation, He Himself will do everything to "restore, confirm, strengthen and establish" us so that in the end we have eternal life and will join our fellow believers in heaven.
In summary, Peter tells us in our Epistle lesson today that sometimes Christians are made to suffer for just being Christians. This suffering may not always be easy. Sometimes it may even make us feel tired of being a Christian and even tempted to give up. But the suffering we experience as a believer actually connects us to sufferings of Jesus. His sufferings, which were many and often, led Him to the cross, there He paid for all of our sins. He even paid for the sins of all those people who have made us suffer for being Christians.
Just as exercising, possibly even lifting weights makes one stronger physically, so God has designed our Christian suffering to make us stronger in our faith. That's the very promise we hear today when Peter penned these words in verse 10, "10And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." Now that's a promise we can count on, even when we are made to suffer for being a follower of Jesus.
Our response to all of this is highlighted in the final verse which reads, "11To him be the dominion forever and ever." To that we add "Amen," so Lord, let it be so. Amen.
During summer training camp, the defending Super Bowl champions, the New York Giants, prepare to defend their title. The defense of their championship will require a concentrated effort and hard physical and mental work from all team members. Then, too, some members of the team have left for some reason or another and new members of the team have been added. The same can be said for any other team or individual attempting to retain a title they've been fortunate enough to claim. Every other team or individual want to knock them off the top. They will be challenged in every contest.
In a similar way, the defense attorney has to make preparations to defend his or her client, whether in a criminal or civil case. All of the evidence has to be considered. The responses to the opponent's possible strategies have to prepared. Opening statements and various motions must be handled. Every action in the court will be challenged, and the attorney must be prepared.
As a Christian, St. Peter warns us in our Epistle lesson that challenges will come to our faith, sometimes in the form of suffering for righteousness' sake, but we must always be prepared in any situation to defend our faith in Jesus. Verse 14 reads, "14But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled."
Yes, Peter reminds us we may have to suffer for righteousness sake (vs. 14), but not to fear or be troubled. Because we are Christian, we may, as we heard last Sunday, suffer some forms of persecution. We may be accused of being old fashioned because we stand up for Christian principles and speak against immoral things in this world such as abortion, mercy killing, premarital sex, living together before marriage. Like Peter, when we are in the minority in a crowd, we can deny our Savior by saying nothing when people speak against what the Bible reminds us what to do. But as St. Peter reminds us, that if we stand up for the truth as Christians, we can expect suffering for righteousness sake - for the righteousness we have through faith in Christ Jesus. Vs, 18 tells what Christ has done to save us. It reads, "18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit." "For Christ also suffered once for sins." - for sins - yours and mine which are often and many, the sins of keeping quiet when we should have spoken, when we should have given the reason for the hope that we have in Jesus Christ.
To illustrate this, have you ever heard that if you put a piece of bread into a container of hardened cookies, the cookies will become soft and chewy once again, while the piece of bread becomes quite hard? Just as the putting of a slice of bread with the hard cookies, so also our Lord Jesus absorbs all of our sins, in fact, you might rightly say that he absorbs the hardness of our sinful hearts. That is what verse 18 tells us, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, that He might bring us to God." Jesus becomes unrighteous for us. In order for this to happen, that sent Jesus to the cross of Calvary where He absorbed the punishment of hell for our sins. He also defeated the very devil on the cross. Because Jesus became sin for us, the followers of Christ "absorb" the righteousness of Jesus purely as a gift of God's undeserved love. That is what St. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."(NIV)
Yes, Christ died for us and rose again to take away every one of our sins. Notice it also says, "once for sins." No more sacrifice needs to be done for our sins. That is why Jesus cried on the cross, "It is finished!" He accomplished all that needed to be done in order to bring us salvation. If we confess our sins, we are forgiven because of what the crucified and risen Christ has done for us. But He also as our Epistle lesson reminds us, descended into hell to proclaim His victory over those who did not believe and obey. Verse 19 and following tells us, 19in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water." Peter refers to the ungodly people that are in hell, some of those people living at the time of Noah who were disobedient and unfaithful and therefore faced that condemnation. Noah and his family were saved by the ark which floated upon the water. Peter then refers to the Sacrament of Baptism in verse 21 where we find these words, 21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
Because Christ rose from the dead, we know that our Father has accepted the sacrifice of His Son for the sins of the world and that forgiveness has been brought to many of us through the Sacrament of Baptism. Through this Sacrament and our being tied up to the Word of God, the Law to show us our sins and the Gospel to show us our Crucified and Risen Lord Jesus and trusting in Him through the faith worked in us in that very Word, we have eternal life. Jesus says in the Gospel lesson in John 14:19, "Because I live, you also will live."
Then as verse 22 reminds us Christ still reigns at the right hand of God and is there to hear our prayers, intercede for us on our behalf and give us the power to resist sin and defend our faith in this present world. Verse 22 reads, "22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to Him."
Therefore, in response to what God has done for us in Christ Jesus we give reason for the hope that we have. We read these words at the beginning of our Epistle lesson, 13Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; 16yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil." Can we do anything less when we realize what great things God has done for us in Christ Jesus, the one who suffered, died, descended into hell, rose on the third day and now sits at the right hand of God? Can we?
As we all leave here today and especially you college students who are done for another school and head home or to other places in your life, challenges will indeed come to you and to all of us in this life. As the baptized children of God, those made to be his disciples through Baptism, through the hearing, learning and believing the very Word of God, and through the strengthening by the Sacrament of the Altar, we are continually being made ready to defend our faith, to give reason for the hope that we have in Christ Jesus and to do it with gentleness and respect.
May you and I be willing to confess what we have sung in the hymn today,
"My hope is built on nothing less,
Than Jesus blood and righteousness;
No merit of my own I claim
But wholly lean on Jesus name,
On Christ, the solid Rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand." (LSB 575)
May the Holy Spirit empower us through the Word and Sacraments to "give reason for the hope that we have in Christ Jesus, our crucified and risen Lord! Amen.
April 20, 200851"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it." 54Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 57But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (ESV)
As we look at the reading from the Book of Acts, we are led to see that even though people were disputing with Stephen, he spoke the truth and it finally ended into his being stoned. We see from the beginning of our reading from Acts, Stephen was chosen as one of the seven after the disciples decided that they needed help in ministering to the needs of people. So we read in verse 4, "4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 5And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them." Then we are told this about Stephen in verse 8-9, "8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 7:2And Stephen said: "Brothers and fathers, hear me. . ." Then we are told what Stephen told them beginning with verse 51 going through 53, "51"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it."
He does not mince any words saying that they along with their ancestors resisted the Holy Spirit and killed both the prophets who foretold about the coming of Jesus, the Righteous One, and killed even Jesus the Righteous One Himself. Of course this was not popular at all. They were enraged and ground their teeth at him. No doubt, He realized what might happen to him, namely that he would be put to death and he was. But that did not stop him. We are told in our text, "57But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him." Yet his focus was not on himself but He was focused on Jesus and what He had in Christ Jesus as His Lord and Savior. We are told in verses 55 and following, "55But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56And he said, 'Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.'" To see and understand that He focused His future on Jesus, we are told in verses 59-60, "59And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep."
What a tremendous example of faith. Stephen focused his life on Jesus, defended his very faith in Jesus and what he said about them and their rejecting of Jesus, but because he did this, it meant his death. But he knew where he was going and it was to be with Jesus in heaven. What about you and what about me? Would we still be living if this happened to us or would be with Jesus, Stephen and all the other believers in heaven because we defended our faith in Jesus? We face in some way other forms of persecution each day as followers of Jesus. A number of our beliefs based on Scripture are not popular today. On the basis of Scripture, we are against abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality, living together before marriage etc. At times we are made fun of because we are too old fashioned. Are we any different than the prophets of old or Stephen? No, not really. But don't we have to admit at times we give into the crowd? We want to fit in with the majority who do at times go against God's Word. Because we may confess faith in Jesus alone and even made the vow at confirmation to remain faithful to God even if it meant our death, yet we give in sometimes and go along with the rest of the world don't we? We in a way resist what the Holy Spirit and what God wants us to do, don't we?
But there is hope. Even though we sin, we have the hope for forgiveness and eternal life in heaven. We can be like Stephen, who in the midst of trials and temptations, facing even his own death, focused his eyes on Jesus and the hope and comfort He brings us about especially about eternal life. Listen to what Jesus tells us in our Gospel lesson from John 14 when He says, 1"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4And you know the way to where I am going." 5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" 6Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus is the only way to heaven. He fulfilled the law perfectly for us and then suffered and died to pay for everyone of our sins. He cried even for us, "Father forgive them." He cried, "It is finished," indicating that all that needs to be done for our salvation has been done. Jesus did that and rose on Easter to underline the effectiveness of all of this.
To make sure this happens in our life so that we are like Stephen, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to work a strong faith in us. He does that in the Word of God. That brings us to the Epistle lesson from 1 Peter 2 where we read, "2Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation- 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Did you hear that? "Long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation." In that Word we hear the Law which shows us our sins, namely, the times we have given into the persecution of the crowd and did not stick up for Christ and for Christian principles. But above all in that word, we hear the good news that Christ as St. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, "died for sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised again according to the Scriptures," and then it goes on to list the many eyewitnesses that saw Jesus alive after His resurrection.
In response to what God in Christ has done for us, we offer up spiritual sacrifices to God. What we do is so beautifully summarized in verses 9-10 of our Epistle lesson which reads, "9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." Did you hear these words - "that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
If for some reason you or I would be put into prison or could have our life taken because like Stephen we believe and confess Jesus, would we still be standing here because we did not make a bold confession of Jesus? Think about that for a moment. By the Holy Spirit's power working through Word and the Sacrament of the Altar we can proclaim the fact that we have been saved by the blood of Christ and trusting in His love and forgiveness, we, too, knowing what may happen to us as Christians, even some persecution, like Stephen can proclaim what glory awaits us in heaven. God help us so that this happens.
A hymn we will sing during our worship service today entitled "Lord Take My Hand and Lead Me is a marvelous prayer asking the Lord to lead us no matter what happens. It goes,
1)Lord, take my hand and lead me Upon life's way;
Direct, protect, and feed me From day to day.
Without your grace and favor I go astray;
So take my hand, O Savior And lead the way.
2)Lord when the tempest rages, I need not fear,
For You, the Rock of Ages, Are always near.
Close by Your side abiding, I fear no foe,
For when Your hand is guiding, In peace I go.
3)Lord when the shadows lengthen And night has come,
I know that You will strengthen My steps toward home.
Then nothing can impede me, O blessed Friend;
So take my hand and lead me Unto the end. Amen (LSB 722)