Breaking News - Mark and Avoid Jeske Leaving Time of Grace. Mike Novotny at The CORE Will Take Over.

Leave the Thrivent Board? Are you kidding me?

"Our wistful little star was far too high..."

This ELCA pastor led Jeske's Change or Die! re-education camp. Bring on Nadia - at least she works out.

MidWeek Lenten Service - Mark 1:19-22

Midweek Lenten Service

7 PM Central Daylight Time

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Worship, 7PM Central Daylight Time

The Hymn #479          Zion Rise                                 
The Order of Vespers                                             p. 41

The Psalmody                 
The Lection                            The Passion History

The Sermon Hymn # 657      Beautiful Savior                      

The Son of God Created Faith in Them - They Followed Him

 
The Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for Grace                                            p. 45

The Hymn #558            All Praise To Thee

Mark 1

16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

19 And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.

20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

The Son of God Created Faith in Them - They Followed Him

Mark 1:16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

As Jesus walked along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew, and He had divine knowledge about them. The narration is very simple and therefore more powerful in its effect. The men could hardly miss the extraordinary effect Jesus had on them. 

17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

This is a familiar theme that children learn in Sunday School. We got the impression the disciples had rod and reel fishing poles, because we reeled them in with the song, "fishers of men, fishers of men."

That is a great jump in ideas, from casting nets to catching men in nets.

Matthew 1347 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

Lenski assumes they were first taught by Jesus and then He called them to be apostles. However, we can certainly assume that He read their character and budding faith in Him, simply commanding them to follow Him in faith.

Jesus gave the gracious invitation, and they responded in faith. We should always remember their stages or growth in faith. As time went on, they received more instruction and saw more miracles. The initial success met with opposition and they felt that death threat. Their greatest growth came as a result of the arrest, torture, and death of their Master. They saw the depths of woe He endured - that they endured with Him - and were guided by the purest faith afterwards, most of them dying young and violently while teach the Gospel of Peace.

At this stage they gave up their living - and food - and followed Him who showed them how to trust in Him.

19 And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.

Here is a second pair of brothers, doing work necessary for their food, repairing the nets. Simple statements of fact are mixed with the call of Jesus to become apostles and their immediate acceptance.

20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

Jesus was assembling a group of disciples, soon to be called "apostles" after the name for "sent." As Jesus was sent by the Father, so He would send them. And they heard Him teach the Word of God as the divine Son of God.

22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

This marked the beginning of people believing in Him and also - opposition growing. When someone teaches with the authority of the Word, then those who rely on other authorities become jealous. They want the digested view of the past, not hard but fulfilling work of studying the Word itself. The result is a lot of hemming and hawing. "Scholars are divided on this." And - "This is a graaaay area of Scripture." 

Because Jesus taught the pure Word, people responded with joy about the Promises of God. Ordinary people felt blessed and believed in Him.

Fourth Greek Lesson - Mark 1:16-22

Helps 

Parser - tells us the I.D. of the word

Lenski's Mark Commentary - download as a PDF

Copy and paste a Greek word into Google, add "Strong" and "Thayer" - you will get an instant word study about that Greek word. This is modestly called "The Ichabod Greek Treasure Hunt."

English derivatives of Greek words

Mark 1:16-22

16 περιπατων δε παρα την θαλασσαν της γαλιλαιας ειδεν σιμωνα και ανδρεαν τον αδελφον αυτου βαλλοντας αμφιβληστρον εν τη θαλασση, ησαν γαρ αλιεις

Post-positives - gar - our comma goes before the post-positive.

17 και ειπεν αυτοις ο ιησους δευτε οπισω μου και ποιησω υμας γενεσθαι αλιεις ανθρωπων

σ - future,

18 και ευθεως αφεντες τα δικτυα αυτων ηκολουθησαν αυτω

19 και προβας εκειθεν ολιγον ειδεν ιακωβον τον του ζεβεδαιου και ιωαννην τον αδελφον αυτου και αυτους εν τω πλοιω καταρτιζοντας τα δικτυα

20 και ευθεως εκαλεσεν αυτους και αφεντες τον πατερα αυτων ζεβεδαιον εν τω πλοιω μετα των μισθωτων απηλθον οπισω αυτου

21 και εισπορευονται εις καπερναουμ και ευθεως τοις σαββασιν εισελθων εις την συναγωγην εδιδασκεν

22 και εξεπλησσοντο επι τη διδαχη αυτου ην γαρ διδασκων αυτους ως εξουσιαν εχων και ουχ ως οι γραμματεις

Calvinists Wobble But They Do Not Convert

From the beginning, with Zwingli and Calvin, a group of non-Catholics has pretended to be almost Lutheran. We would be succumbing to their chameleon-like poses if we called them Protestants, because the Lutherans were first called that at the Speier Conference, 1529.

From this protest and appeal the Lutherans were called Protestants; with good reason, if we look at their attitude to Rome, which remains the same to this day.

Luther preferred to call his group the Evangelicals, but that name was also nicked by the Calvinists.

They would like us to believe that the Lutherans are too Roman to be called Protestant or Evangelical, because - like mercury adhering to gold and silver - they want to be associated with the Reformation. Their earnest desire is to sell their books and programs to the Lutherans without being "infected" (they would say) by the efficacy of the Word, the Means of Grace, and Justification by Faith. If that resistance to Biblical basics reminds you of Lutheran leadership today, you are catching on.

Do Calvinists teach the Sacraments?
No, they do not. The Sacraments are merely ordinances, symbols that do not work God's will, since the Holy Spirit is independent of the Word.

Do Calvinists agree with the Bible and Luther on predestination?
No, they teach people as being born elect or born to the covenant, since their salvation was determined at the beginning of time.

Do Calvinists teach Justification by Faith?
No, their peculiar anti-Biblical separation of the Word from the Spirit fills the void, they think, with double predestination. Robert Preus went to the Calvinists to prop us his Objective Justification arguments, according to David Scaer.

How does one cooperate with Calvinists?
Lutherans are free to deny the efficacy of the Word, the Means of Grace, infant faith, the Real Presence, and Justification by Faith, because these doctrinal points annoy Calvinists and prevent what they consider true fellowship with Lutherans. Calvinists will cease being scandalized by Biblical, Lutheran doctrine when their demands are met. And they are largely met today.

Do Calvinists eventually become Lutherans?
No, they turn into Unitarians, because rationalism supplants Biblical faith.

Is there anything we admire about the Calvinists?
We admire everything about the Calvinists - except their doctrine. (Krauth)

Bishop Heiser - What Did He Know and When Did He Know It? The Internet Is Brutally Honest

 Bishop and Seminary President James Rodham Heiser, STM, posed in the library of St. Ignatius School of Theology, Malone. No students.

 For more, see ELDONA - Home of the Whopper

In a video series on YouTube, Heiser claimed that he "was not cognizant" of Objective Justification until Paul Rydecki was given the Left Foot of Fellowship by WELS in 2012, for the crime of teaching the Chief Article, Justification by Faith.

Heiser complained about Balmer "denying Objective Justification" at the Norfolk conference, long before 2012, and Heiser said he saw the light when he read Thy Strong Word in 2000, liking it enough to sell it with the books he offered.

But here is an interesting highlight, established in the precious WELS Essay File, the Holy of Holies for that sect, in an essay written by a seminary professor - Cherney.

In 2008 there also was published a doctrinal statement of the Association of Confessional Lutheran Churches (ACLC). This group, led by Rev. Rolf Preus, consists of six pastors and eight congregations that left the ELS in one way or another in the past two years over the doctrine of the ministry. (Cherney, p. 1)

But the ACLC and Rolf Preus divorced, as recorded here:

Let me clue you in, Mr. Ames. The ACLC did not break off fellowship talks with ELDoNA. ELDoNA broke off fellowship talks with us. Why? Because of my paper, “Making a Clear Confession in Muddy Waters,” that I gave in January of 2009. ELDoNA took strong exception to my insistence that there are indeed orthodox pastors and congregations in the LCMS with whom we may express altar and pulpit fellowship without insisting that they first either condemn or leave the LCMS. I was the impediment to the ACLC and ELDoNA establishing fellowship with each other.
I resigned from the ACLC in March. The ACLC declared fellowship with ELDoNA at their meeting in April. Once I was gone, the impediment was removed. (Rolf Preus on LutherQuest sic)

 As I mentioned, more than once, Heiser told me they would "get rid of Rolf," as if he were the Oracle of Malone - and they did.

The Right Reverend would have us believe that he went through Ft. Wayne's seminary program (OJ and Church Growth), some graduate school there, partnered with notorious OJ salesman Rolf Preus, contining with the rest of the ACLC pastors. The remnants of the Rolf Synod could not believe that ELDONA was suddenly in favor of Justification by Faith.

As told to me, Heiser promoted fellowship with Rolf and his come-outters from the Little Sect on the Prairie, even though he knew Rolf was 100% OJ, except for fleeting moments of JBFA. The rest of them were OJ too, and they were shocked at the arrival of Rydecki and JBFA. The pivoting was quick and unexpected, so they went back to Pope John the Malefactor, who knows little more that OJ.

I can only conclude that Rolf and his ACLC (aka Rolf Synod) were not very astute about Heiser's doctrine, if they failed to detect glimmerings of JBFA. Also, Heiser was not even conscious if the went through Ft. Wayne with no knowledge of OJ from Scaer and Robert Preus, Rolf Preus, and the ELS.

 "Oh, what a tangled web we weave,
when first we practice to deceive."
Sir Walter Scott

Scaer - Refuted. Hale - Refuted. Walther - Refuted. Stephan - Refuted. Calvin - Refuted. Adventists - Refuted.

 Romans 4 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Chapter 5 - I John

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Ichabod Reader Amused by Philip Hale's Book on Objective Justification. Does Heiser Know Hale? Did This Ever Come Up at The Fort?

According to Bishop James Rodham Heiser, he was not "cognizant" of Objective Justification until Paul Rydecki was kicked out of WELS in 2012. However, Heiser's favorite professor at Fort Wayne, David Scaer, is and was obsessed with OJ and settling that issue once and for all - Surviving the Storms.

Philip Hale graduated from "The Fort," where all the professors (except Walter A. Maier II) taught Objective Justification, following Pieper, Walther, Calvin, and the Jehovah's Witnesses. 

I have read with amusement the book by Philip Hale Aspects of Forgiveness: The Basis for Justification and its Modern Denial.

Chapter 18, "Justified for the sake of Faith, not Christ" is one of my favorites, full of fallacies and straw man arguments and Walther quotes! A brief sampling of excepts:

"Though, if justification is only tied to faith, there is no other aspect, rendering it incomplete without man’s involvement." p. 137 (Except no one that believes the Bible teaches that faith is in any way a work of man or that faith completes salvation - which are both false OJ claims.)

"But today, faith is what makes forgiveness real for many Protestants, so that ‘‘ faith itself becomes with them a meritorious human work.’’ p. 137

(UOJists to the crowd at Pentecost and the jailer at Philippi - don’t you know, you are already saved (and forgiven and justified and a saint)?!? Just believe it! The Bible to the same audience - "repent, be baptized, believe and you will be saved." The irony is that the faith that God creates in us IS what leads to our forgiveness, “repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” Acts 2:38)

"Justification by faith is a simplistic slogan. 'The expression, ‘we become righteous through faith,’ is a metonymy; that is, the container is here named in place of the content.'" (Hale quoting Walther)

"The traditional Lutheran phrasing is shorthand, but what was formerly assumed no longer can be, due to new errors." p. 137 

(Instead of correcting the errors by teaching what the Bible actually says, the UOJ gang feels that they need to protect the Bible and the Gospel by claiming that all are already justified - that will show them!)

"The phrase 'justified by faith alone’ is, at best, incomplete. It can be defined to not require the death of Christ, let alone His resurrection." 

(I don’t even know how to respond to this, complete nonsense.)

"In fact, the word ‘‘ justify’’ need not always be articulated, any more than the word ‘‘faith’’ is needed to actually bestow justification and faith in Christ. ‘‘ We do not say that one by necessity always has to use the expression: ‘the world is justified in Christ’ . . . for we know very well that this article of faith can be explained and represented completely and correctly by other words.’’ 

(This may be my favorite quote and it is Walther and ingenious! Since the UOJ camp cannot find one single verse in the entire Bible that says “the world is justified in Christ” or “God justifies the world” or “God forgave the world”, just use a quote from Walther that says no problem, you can use other phrases and words because that is all there is....pure gold)

---

Does this read like a correction against those influenced by Calvin? Judge for yourself - do not rely on Hale to think for you.

 Does this read like a correction against those influenced by Calvin? Judge for yourself - do not rely on Walther to think for you.

 Imputation (counting) is the Greek word used for Abraham in Genesis 15:6 (LXX) and again in Romans 4. When are we counted forgiven? Before birth (Edward Preuss)? At the resurrection of Christ? (Halle's Rambach, Stephan, and Walther) 

Squirrels and Birds for the Creation Garden

Mama kicks the squirrel babies out when they need to forage on their own. They usually head for the bird-feeders, the Harvard and Yale of squirrel educations.

Squirrels made the all-time views list.

We are ready to declare an armistice. We have city-supplied garbage cans on wheels, so I decided to use those tops for extra food, whether eaten by squirrels or birds.

They were making a racket and destroying the hanging bird feeders, so I stopped filling them. Naturally, the squirrels concentrated their attention on the "squirrel-proof" feeders - quotation marks used to designate the irony.

The squirrels, whose IQ is easily thwarted by new plans, were delighted and spent plenty of time on the lids. Birds took their turns and they devoured all our old, extra food.

The pileated woodpecker gained about 7,000 views (not my photo). They are hard to find, but they were visible in Bella Vista, eating the bugs finishing off the oaks after a drought.

String the Birds Along

I found some loose twine, so I cut it into pieces and placed the remnants on the garbage cans. Part of the fun is seeing how quickly the string or twine disappears.

Birds love twine and other building materials for their nests. I have seen robins hopping on the ground, determined to keep their mouthful of leaves from me. One got the orange twine I put on the Crepe Myrtle tree, but dropped it on the flight up to the next. The robin dived down to get the fancy piece from the garden, flying high up in the front yard maple to add it.

Dryer lint is another favorite of birds, soft material to line their nests. Wire cages for suet work well to store lint. When we were poor, we borrowed lint from our neighbors. Now we have our own.

Birds need food least of all in the warm weather. They loves nesting materials and clean water for baths. Flight depends on cleaned, preened feathers, so they wash and perch on higher objects to finish their flight prep.

 Norma Boeckler's yard is an ideal place for birds - water, woods, gardens, and wild flowers.

The Third Sunday in Lent, Oculi. Luke 11:14. Jesus versus His Opponents

 Norma A. Boeckler

Oculi Sunday, The Third Sunday in Lent, 2019

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Daylight

The Hymn #175      When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
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             Ephesians 5:1-9
The Gospel                                 Luke 11:14-28
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #172:1-5   O Sacred Head

Jesus versus His Opponents

The Hymn #172:6-10         O Sacred Head

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 #151               Christ the Life                   

KJV Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

KJV Luke 11:14 And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. 15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. 16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a houseagainst a house falleth. 18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

  Norma A. Boeckler

Third Sunday in Lent

Lord God, heavenly Father, who hast sent Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh, that He might overcome the devil, and defend us poor sinners against the adversary: We give thanks unto Thee for Thy merciful help, and we beseech Thee to attend us with Thy grace in all temptations, to preserve us from carnal security, and by Thy Holy Spirit to keep us in Thy word and Thy fear, that unto the end we may be delivered from the enemy, and obtain eternal salvation, through the same, Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Background for the Sermon
Most modern commentaries start with imbalance and wobbly into Never-never-land. The reason is the great divide in the 19th century, marked by F. Schleiermacher's faith without belief. The Halle University Biblical scholars began treating the Bible as just another book about religion, refusing to accept anything in the Scriptures that spoke of the divine or miraculous. 

The only way to save the narrative is to make the Bible about that culture or to make it completely subjective - what does this mean to you?

This text deals with the divinity of Jesus, the opponents, and Satan. One ancient professor was asked if he believed that Satan exists. He said, "Giving the evil in this world, how can you deny it?"

When people realize how the elite of the world - these scandals are American, European, royal, super-rich, governmental, Roman Catholic - they will be sick with grief and revulsion. Much of it is based on actual Satanic worship, obsession with the occult, and a return to ancient, disgusting, pagan practices. 

Perhaps the Christians in America will realize they are being seduced into paving the way to total destruction of Christianity, because so many "leaders" have been turned out by apostate schools that hate the Bible as revealed truth. Over 30 years ago, I was almost alone in leaving before ELCA was formed. The vast majority of captive ELCA clerg and laity shuffled toward soul-slaughter until 2009, when large numbers - even bishops - finally said "No" to the radicals. Yet 3.5 million remain, and their media darling is Nadia.

Jesus versus His Opponents

KJV Luke 11:14 And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered [GJ - marveled]. 

As we can see in the Gospel of John, so the Gospel of Luke shows the rapid increase of opposition as Jesus performed the miracles and spoke with divine certainty and power - not like the Scribes and Pharisees. Today that would be answering a question with "Scholars are divided." Or - "That is a graaaaaaay area of Scripture."

The people marveled at this miracle because Jesus took impossible cases and cured them. The opposition of unbelief is so great that the more God does, the more they deny it. For example, we know well how carefully preserved the text of the Bible is, Old Testament and New Testament. But the training in seminary is weak, and the vast majority of clergy have no trouble with the radicals gradually dropping verses out of the New Testament and using footnotes as subtle, little attacks. The Virgin Birth of Isaiah 7 is footnoted "or young woman." There it is, the greatest possible miracle in heaven or earth is a young woman will have a baby. The rationalists are happy and the rest do not care.

We had heating pipes in the new concrete floor of the new addition. However, the tipsy plumber drew them in such a way that they would never work. When that was pointed out, he said, "Satan did this."

Luther:

1. This is a beautiful Gospel from which we learn many different things, and in which nearly everything is set forth as to what Christ, his kingdom and his Gospel are: what they accomplish and how they fare in the world.

In the first place, like all the Gospels this one teaches us faith and love; for it presents Christ to us as a most loving Savior and Helper in every need and tells us that he who believes this is saved. For we see here that Christ had nothing to do with people who were healthy, but with a poor man who was greatly afflicted with many ills. He was blind, as Matthew says; also dumb and possessed with a demon, as Luke tells us here. Now all mutes are also deaf, so that in the Greek language deaf and dumb are one word.

By this act Christ draws us to himself, leads us to look to him for every blessing, and to go to him in every time of need. He does this that we also, according to the nature of love, should do unto others as he does unto us.

15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.

People have to realize that unfaith answers divine work and faith with hatred, slander, and all kinds of personal attacks. Not only do those unbelievers attack, but they enjoy their work and are not satisfied until they have done everything possible to inflict pain. 

Margaret Thatcher said, far more eloquently than my paraphrase, "When my opponents have attacked me and my family in the most personal way, I am happy, because then I know they have no legitimate arguments left."

In David Scaer's new book, Surviving the Storms, he attacks the living and the dead for teaching Justification by Faith, although he cannot form a sensible argument in favor of Objective Justification (without faith). He seems to pit the health of Holy Mother Missouri against the toxins of Dr. Walter A. Maier I, II, and III.

The opponents here were saying, Jesus is able to cast out devils because He is in league with the Chief of Devils. The Lord of Flies (Beelzebub) refers to dung since the two go together, dung and flies.

Luther - Three Kinds of Hearers:

2. Secondly, it is here demonstrated how Christ and his Gospel fare in the world, namely, that there are three kinds of hearers. Some marvel at him; these are pious and true Christians, who consider this deed so great that they are amazed at it. Some blaspheme the Gospel; these are the Pharisees and scribes, who were vexed because they could not do the like, and were worried lest the people should hold Christ in higher esteem than themselves. Some tempt him, like Herod desired a sign after his own heart, that they may make sport of it. But he answers both parties; at first, the blasphemers in this Gospel, and later on the tempters, saying that no sign shall be given this wicked generation except the sign of the prophet Jonah, of which we read in the verses following. He answers the blasphemers in a friendly way and argues five points with them.

This accusation of being in league with Satan should remind us that Satan is derived from "the opposer." The big shock for seminary graduates comes from being congratulated and blessed for years, only to find out what opposition is in the first parish. 

The Word of God provokes two kinds of reactions in the pew. Believers love to hear the Gospel and the wonders of God's work. Disguised unbelievers blaze up, their eyes aglow, filled with hatred for what they have heard, but converting it to something the pastor is wearing, something about his family, the flowers, anything that works to punish and subdue the Word.

16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.

Demanding a miracle can be idle curiosity, but it is certainly not faith. Many have been trained - through Cho and other fakes - that they have a right to claim a long list of things from God, even though that comes from the occult. Cho's book, The Fifth Dimension, shouts this message - not being servants of the Word but God's individual bosses.

This can be be a subtle temptation for anyone, whether we say trial or temptation. We can imagine, "God will prove His power to me if He does this one, simple thing." The opposite is true - we should pray for all our needs and trust that God will provide in the way that will serve His will, something so complicated that no one can imagine it or give Him advice about it.

Flash Mobs

Flash Mobs prove God's work among us. As some realize, a flash mob is an event videotaped where one person begins to dance or sing a few notes in a public place. Sometimes one instrument will play. Little by little, others join in the activity. The crowd grows and so do the numbers of participant. At some point the crowd realizes this is a carefully rehearsed group of skilled people. I was bamboozled by some dancing to "Do Re Mi" in a train station. Finally I saw dozens of kids running down the stairs and stopping to dance a little. "This was planned!" With musical instruments, every single person has to play the right notes in the right way for the composition to be better than the boys band in The Music Man. So we can look back at events in our lives and see that everything led up to this place where we can use God's gifts for His Kingdom, especially when we have faced many reverses, opposition, and open hatred.

As Jesus showed in His temptations, demanding from God is tempting Him.

17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. 18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 

If Jesus is driving out demons through the power of Beelzebub, then Satan's kingdom is divided and must collapse. The oncologist asked about ancient history at our last visit, especially concerning the Ides of March, which we were approaching. I pointed out how Julius Caesar took on the role of Emperor. After that time, when one emperor was deposed or assassinated, his family was also wiped out. The same was done in advance with Ottoman Muslims. A reign began with death, to prevent division.

Luther did not satisfy his opponents. They grew in number as the Reformation progressed. The Zwingli and Calvin followers first acted as if they were in harmony with Luther, but they worked against the Reformation and Biblical understanding - chiefly the Spirit at work in the Word, with its implications. The followers of Zwingli and Calvin featured their rationalistic approach - the Word had to be reasonable, appealing, and germane. 

The blessings of the Reformation have continued, but so has the opposition. Now the "conservative" Lutheran leaders have the same attitude as Zwingli and Calvin, as shown by their contempt for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Naturally, the Lutheran kingdoms are collapsing from the division.

19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

The Jewish religious leaders healed people, so they say, so if they did so, did the Lord of the Flies work with them, too? People without faith will attack and keep that attack going, without regard to the truth. Many times they will open up an avenue for a quick rebuttal.

A lot can be said for anger. An angry opponent is thinking, and that thinking should revolve around what the Word says. If we can keep on that topic, the Word will do its work, either in hardening and blinding, or in converting and enlightening.

Some may be convinced by the Word because they hear the fight, first-hand or second-hand. Man's own logic is not strong enough or in harmony with the Word. 

Jesus said, "It is either the devils' kingdom or God's Kingdom." That is actually the Two Kingdom language of Luther. Confused experts call the spiritual regiment and the material regiment the Two Kingdoms. Not so. Both distinctions are important, and the Two Kingdoms are especially so. 

When we are in God's Kingdom through faith and His grace, what we do honors God. The tiniest baby believer, in cooing and smiling, is glorifying God. 

Satan does not rage against his own kingdom but against God's. His time is growing shorter, so he wants to pull in as many Christians as possible. He may have 1,000 arts in doing this, but the Word of God has 100,000 arts.

The Stronger Man

21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

This is one of those parables that makes no sense at first, but is remarkably clear with a little explanation. The strong man is easy to picture, because that is the history of the world. Many strong kingdoms have been overthrown by stronger opponents. The Battle of Hastings in 1066 AD pitted the invaders against the resident King Harold. He is now called Harold the Usurper, who lost to William the Conqueror, my French kin, the stronger man.

The strong man in this parable is Satan, who ruled over earth after the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the garden, endlessly pursuing those two orchard thieves and their descendants until hardly anything was left of Israel. It was just a stump with a green branch growing from it. Satan's kingdom on earth was filled with wealth and power and the most evil activities imagined. 

But a stronger Man came along - Jesus. He defeated Satan with the divine power of Redemption - paying the price for our sins. If you like political intrigue, this is the highest form. Jesus let Himself be captured, tortured, and killed - though He loved life - because He needed to fulfill the Words of Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53.

As I said before, I have challenged my Old Testament students to read those passages and see if they are not exactly what happened in the Passion of Christ. They are startled by the phrase by phrase fulfillment of those two passages. 

Those accounts - plus others - are the Gospel. The Gospel is not about us or me, but about Christ. That is the objective truth, that God accomplished this through His Son. This Gospel message of Christ releasing us from sin is the efficacious power to create faith and to sustain faith in the Savior.

If everyone on earth is forgiven, then everyone is in God's Kingdom. But that is not so. The New Testament teaches us repeatedly that being "in Christ" is the same as believing in Him.

So when tempted, even though we are weak and sinful, we remain in the Kingdom of Jesus, and the stronger One keeps us from being captured by Satan.

This has great rewards, but not the kind Cho, Schuller, and other clowns promise. Christ took away Satan's weapons and wealth, so that heaven and earth belong to believers. 

Some might say, "Does that include a 25 year-old Lincoln that smokes like a diesel bus?" Yes, God gives us the means and the skills to do everything we need to do to expand His Kingdom, which is His work alone. 

For example, we are giving away over 100 Lutheran works that would have been heavenly to own in seminary and graduate school, so many titles that there is something for everyone, including animal books.

God gives us the people, skills, and avenues to accomplish a lot while the apostates sit on endowments of tens of millions of dollars and still fail in the basics. For example, one of the oldest seminaries in America, Episcopalian, has $60 million in endowments and almost no students, a faculty known for strife. 

In Our Lives

The Stronger Man is important to remember and trust in all our struggles. Trust in Him lays hold of the divine power which no one can defeat even when they imagine they have won.

Several of my Biblical students have suffered from horrible health problems, self-caused or developed in life. The most afflicted are the best writers and most faithful in doing their work. Their spiritual insights are striking because they have been through so much. They are testimonies about how God's power is made known, to show His grace is sufficient.

I am pleased to know that many of my students agree about the success salesmen being frauds.

Remaining Faithful

23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

This analogy is very good to remember. The person who has expelled his demons has to expect them to come back with reinforcements. If the abode is unguarded, lacking the Holy Spirit in the Word, it is easily occupied again. Everything is worse than before. This is a good warning for all, because many have told me about years they have gone without the Gospel until they left lukewarmness - or being lost - behind.

27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Luke knew Mary, and this is placed as a warning about the future. Blessed are they - rather - that hear the Word and keep it. Ignoring this warning, the Medieval Church replaced Jesus with Mary to a large extent.

 Norma A. Boeckler