August 14, 2011: Jeremiah 23:16-29, Psalm 26, Romans 8:12-17. Matthew 7:15-27
“Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
What is it about words, that our Lord Christ Jesus is so emphatic about today? What is it that makes His words, He says, is like a consuming fire; like a hammer that breaks rock at their sounding? What is it that only the one who hears the words coming from His lips and does them that will be able to enter eternal rest and freedom? What makes Him say that only those who are holding firmly to the truth given in Him-the truth of who He is, what He has done and what He desires-will be assured that on the final day that they are a good tree, producing good fruit?
And we ask this because we live in a world where many words come our way each day. That we have words from the TV, from the radio, from our homes and work and all the other people that fill our lives every day. In fact, it seems like words are so common that we now must reduce them to mere letters-we text our days away L-O-Ling and T-N-Xing one another. (That means, laugh out loud and thanks, btw).
But for Jesus, He says that His words, as He illustrates in Jeremiah, are as different as wheat is from straw. His Words actually have power to effect a change in your world; His Words actually fills the soul with sustenance and strength instead of filler and fodder. That when God speaks, it’s like when you say to someone that you love them-God’s Word comes a power in and behind them; they are genuinely doing and giving what they are saying. Thus God said, “let those who dream speak of their dream, but the one who has My Word, speak it faithfully.”
So why is is so critical for the right word be said and heard and believed? That is what God warned the people of Judah, the southern kingdom of the Israelites, today. For even though there were “prophets” announcing that everything was fine and dandy; just because someone comes speaking a words that sounds religious, to be right and true and pious in this world-doesn’t mean it is what God Himself is declaring. Judah found this out when they were sent into exile because of their sin of idolatry and faithlessness.
Hence, only the Word which comes from God and speaks of His will and ways, is profitably unto salvation. For what does it matter-and this is what is was being preached by the false prophets in Jeremiah today-if one follows a word that says that you are okay, that you are good and fit and righteous in following your own heart and desires, if that is not what God actually says over you? What does it matter how much one might LIKE to think they are holy and righteous in who they are, that if God says something different, then what He says is true and you are not?
So one can see why having the right and true of Word is so important, not only for Israel, but also for you as well. For what good does talking and knowing about God, when your problem, isn’t that you’re not well informed, but like Judah, you have built upon the wrong foundation. This is what Saint Paul does today in Romans-that you, being a debtor to your flesh means that you are held in a bondage to your own sinful self and so shackled to suffer death and damnation in yourself. That you are doomed to live by the flesh and are so cursed to suffer the wrath of God over your sin in and by yourself. And not even your good works, thoughts or intentions will free you from this fate-for a bad tree cannot produce good fruit in itself, but will always and forever yield fruit fit for destruction.
Yet, Paul also continues, and gives the Word that Christ Jesus was given, not to help one sell their rotten fruit at the county fair (and we all produce rotten fruit because we are rotten trees fit for damnation), but to come and create you anew as a good tree, able to produce blue ribbon produce. That He was given so to be wasted and cursed by the Father by being hung on a tree so to take onto Himself the wrath and curse that hangs on you. That He was crucified and destroyed unto death and the tomb in order to take the sufferings and condemnation of your own physical and eternal death.
Thus, only where the right and true Word of God fills your ears and lives, are you able to build a house of salvation upon the rock that will not crumble and fall when the wind and waves of death and hell come beating upon you. That only when the Word of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins is preached for you, are you be saved and delivered from the condemnation that your flesh has earned and deserves-because no longer is it you that strives for salvation, but is one found by faith in His victory for you. That only when Christ Jesus, killed and raised for the redemption of your life and soul from sin, death and the devil, is proclaimed in your ears as your only means and hope for life and salvation-then you can truly and forever believe that your God is close at hand and fills your entire life.
So now, close your ears to all the words of this old world, and place them solely upon the solid Rock of ages, the level ground David sang today, of the One who overcame sin, death and the grave in order to forgive, save and redeem you from them. For here is where the Word come from the outstretched arms of your Savior is found; and here is where your forgiveness, life and salvation is given as well-for this is the Word which gives the very heart of the Father in the baptism and holy Supper you rest in. And as you bend and so tune your ear to your One Savior and this one Word of justification and so seek no other way of truth and salvation than of your Lord Jesus Christ-so here alone, are you being saved, redeemed and resurrected to a life of salvation as the very child and heir of God. Amen.
What is it about words, that our Lord Christ Jesus is so emphatic about today? What is it that makes His words, He says, is like a consuming fire; like a hammer that breaks rock at their sounding? What is it that only the one who hears the words coming from His lips and does them that will be able to enter eternal rest and freedom? What makes Him say that only those who are holding firmly to the truth given in Him-the truth of who He is, what He has done and what He desires-will be assured that on the final day that they are a good tree, producing good fruit?
And we ask this because we live in a world where many words come our way each day. That we have words from the TV, from the radio, from our homes and work and all the other people that fill our lives every day. In fact, it seems like words are so common that we now must reduce them to mere letters-we text our days away L-O-Ling and T-N-Xing one another. (That means, laugh out loud and thanks, btw).
But for Jesus, He says that His words, as He illustrates in Jeremiah, are as different as wheat is from straw. His Words actually have power to effect a change in your world; His Words actually fills the soul with sustenance and strength instead of filler and fodder. That when God speaks, it’s like when you say to someone that you love them-God’s Word comes a power in and behind them; they are genuinely doing and giving what they are saying. Thus God said, “let those who dream speak of their dream, but the one who has My Word, speak it faithfully.”
So why is is so critical for the right word be said and heard and believed? That is what God warned the people of Judah, the southern kingdom of the Israelites, today. For even though there were “prophets” announcing that everything was fine and dandy; just because someone comes speaking a words that sounds religious, to be right and true and pious in this world-doesn’t mean it is what God Himself is declaring. Judah found this out when they were sent into exile because of their sin of idolatry and faithlessness.
Hence, only the Word which comes from God and speaks of His will and ways, is profitably unto salvation. For what does it matter-and this is what is was being preached by the false prophets in Jeremiah today-if one follows a word that says that you are okay, that you are good and fit and righteous in following your own heart and desires, if that is not what God actually says over you? What does it matter how much one might LIKE to think they are holy and righteous in who they are, that if God says something different, then what He says is true and you are not?
So one can see why having the right and true of Word is so important, not only for Israel, but also for you as well. For what good does talking and knowing about God, when your problem, isn’t that you’re not well informed, but like Judah, you have built upon the wrong foundation. This is what Saint Paul does today in Romans-that you, being a debtor to your flesh means that you are held in a bondage to your own sinful self and so shackled to suffer death and damnation in yourself. That you are doomed to live by the flesh and are so cursed to suffer the wrath of God over your sin in and by yourself. And not even your good works, thoughts or intentions will free you from this fate-for a bad tree cannot produce good fruit in itself, but will always and forever yield fruit fit for destruction.
Yet, Paul also continues, and gives the Word that Christ Jesus was given, not to help one sell their rotten fruit at the county fair (and we all produce rotten fruit because we are rotten trees fit for damnation), but to come and create you anew as a good tree, able to produce blue ribbon produce. That He was given so to be wasted and cursed by the Father by being hung on a tree so to take onto Himself the wrath and curse that hangs on you. That He was crucified and destroyed unto death and the tomb in order to take the sufferings and condemnation of your own physical and eternal death.
Thus, only where the right and true Word of God fills your ears and lives, are you able to build a house of salvation upon the rock that will not crumble and fall when the wind and waves of death and hell come beating upon you. That only when the Word of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins is preached for you, are you be saved and delivered from the condemnation that your flesh has earned and deserves-because no longer is it you that strives for salvation, but is one found by faith in His victory for you. That only when Christ Jesus, killed and raised for the redemption of your life and soul from sin, death and the devil, is proclaimed in your ears as your only means and hope for life and salvation-then you can truly and forever believe that your God is close at hand and fills your entire life.
So now, close your ears to all the words of this old world, and place them solely upon the solid Rock of ages, the level ground David sang today, of the One who overcame sin, death and the grave in order to forgive, save and redeem you from them. For here is where the Word come from the outstretched arms of your Savior is found; and here is where your forgiveness, life and salvation is given as well-for this is the Word which gives the very heart of the Father in the baptism and holy Supper you rest in. And as you bend and so tune your ear to your One Savior and this one Word of justification and so seek no other way of truth and salvation than of your Lord Jesus Christ-so here alone, are you being saved, redeemed and resurrected to a life of salvation as the very child and heir of God. Amen.
posted by Weekly sermons at 10:42 AM
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