Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship
Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time
The Hymn #199 Jesus Christ Is Risen Today 1.83
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Epistle and Gradual
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #237 All Glory Be 1:12
We Will Make Our Abode
The Communion Hymn # 236 Creator Spirit 1:9
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #197 Where Wilt Thou Go? 1.2
KJV Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
KJV John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
Pentecost
O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou almighty Son of God: We beseech Thee, send Thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, through Thy word, that He may rule and govern us according to Thy will, comfort us in every temptation and misfortune, and defend us by Thy truth against every error, so that we may continue steadfast in the faith, increase in love and all good works, and firmly trusting in Thy grace, which through death Thou hast purchased for us, obtain eternal salvation, Thou who reignest, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.
We Will Make Our Abode
KJV John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
This verse distinguishes the Gospel from the followers of the Law. Apparently most would rather teach and follow the Law. They condemn with the Law and offer the Law as their answer to sin, which only throws people into despair. However, some do want the Law solution and really hate the Gospel.
This means literally - If a man loves Me, he will guard my Words.
The Law interpretation is that man must first do something to guarantee God's favor. If he shows he can be obedient, God will reward him as a consequence of obedience. A surprising number of Christians teach this reversal and they are attractive to various kinds of cults, which promise even harsher Law for even better rewards.
The love comes first, which is the result or, the fruit of faith. Complete trust in Christ also causes love, because forgiveness comes by grace through faith in His sacrifice for us. Forgiveness means peace, the peace no one can take away, so we love the Savior for giving us peace.
This is Gospel is precious, so the treasure is guarded, not taken for granted. The Gospel includes all of the Bible, not just sentimental favorite passages in the Bible. The favorite or classic verses are bars of gold outside the goldmine, but the Gospel is the entire Bible constantly producing gold and never running out.
The Book of Concord constantly refers to the Gospel as the treasure. Everyone treasures something. If it is not kept safe, we say, "He was careless." Lacking care. Those who do not care about the truth of the Gospel let it go. They allow it to be converted into Law, perverted into entertainment by third rate clowns.
The part shows clearly the Gospel Promise - and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
This is a a love/love relationship. God creates the faith, and the first fruit of the Spirit is love. To keep this Promise secure, God the Father and God the Son make their home in the heart of the Christian believer.
Is the Spirit omitted? No - the Spirit always travels with the Word and never without the Word, so the Spirit also dwells in the heart of the believer. This testimony - given and believed - is the result of the Holy Spirit's work.
No one has even an ounce of faith without the Holy Spirit. To claim belief and then a later "baptism in the Holy Spirit" is a denial of the Spirit at work in planting faith through the Word.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit dwell in us. How can that be without profound effects? The Holy Trinity prompts us to serve man by helping our neighbor with his material needs and by sharing the Gospel for his spiritual needs.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
Here is the solution to all synodical questions. If someone does not love Christ, he will not honor and guard His Words. They are not His Words alone because they come from the Father.
The Bible only teaches faith. I hope those who use this lesson today will note that the Gospel of John is especially clear about his work. He wrote this final Gospel so that people would believe in Him, and in believing have salvation.
John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Perhaps ministers should not take Doubting Thomas Sunday off for their vacations. Some must have forgotten this passage.
One friend noted that a given passage or doctrine utterly refuted Forgiveness without Faith (UOJ). I said, "That is true of any given passage or doctrine."
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The Holy Spirit wrote the Bible through various people, which is why we have an enormous stretch of history, literature, and authors without contradictions or errors.
This is also true of us, if the Means of Grace have not been neglected. We are trained by the Holy Spirit through the Word, so we acquire a mature understanding of the Word while retaining a child-like faith.
The Holy Spirit guides, corrects, encourages, and absolves us. One couple was offended by the absolution. How can a man offer forgiveness? They did not know - He who hears you hears Me.
Since we are fallible and easily led astray, the Word serves to guide us in the true path. We do not need a script to speak to others, which certain programs offer. We only need knowledge of the Word.
We always know where to go for instruction and renewal in the Gospel.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
From faith in God's love and compassion comes Peace.
Peace is directly related to justification by faith. This peace is not the temporary and conditional peace of the world, but the eternal peace of salvation.There is one condition (Romans 4:24) - that we believe.
Anxiety and stress come from doubting God's goodness. We are constantly tested this way or that. Sometimes it is through the scorn and shunning of former friends. Or it can come from the threats to our material needs. God can and does change matters in the blink of an eye. Often bad news is the prelude to good news.
I had two surefire job possibilities in Phoenix that would have kept us there forever, so the lack of secure work make it easy to move near our grandchildren. The BBQ yesterday, followed by group rose pruning showed which route was better. At the time it does not appear to be true.
God even lets us take a few hits for being faithful to Him. Why not let us prosper riotously, as the apostates do? They have but a short time before their eternity of regret. Which seems better?
God allowed Gehardt the worst experiences of the cross so he could write the greatest hymns of comfort in the hymnal. All hymns since Gerhardt have been heavily influenced by him, because he offered such a pure Gospel witness in the midst of suffering.
