The Hymn #175 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
Introit
Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord:
for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.
Turn Thee unto me and have mercy upon me:
for I am desolate and afflicted.
Psalm. Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul:
O my God, I trust in Thee; let me not be ashamed.
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
We beseech Thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of Thy humble servants and stretch forth the right hand of Thy majesty to be our defense against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
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 #524 In Thee Lord Have I Put My Trust (alt tune #177)
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 #524 In Thee Lord Have I Put My Trust (alt tune #177)
Opposing the Gospel
The Hymn #315:1-5 I Come O Savior To Thy Table
The Hymn #315:1-5 I Come O Savior To Thy Table
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 #568 We Praise Thee O God
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 #568 We Praise Thee O God
Prayers and Announcements
- Treatment and recovery - Kermit Way, Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Peggy and her daughter Callie.
- Pray for our country and DEP Trump.
- Wednesdays - Vespers at 7 PM.
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| Norma A. Boeckler |
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 house 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. 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.
Opposing the Gospel
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.
The greatest folly today is rejecting the concept of the Underworld - not just organized crime, but Satan and his underlings, servants, managers, and stormtroopers. The occult is just part of it, and so are the pagan religions, including those followed by middle-class, supposedly normal people. I had two of those in a religion class. Once they identified each other in introductions, they were glued together. Satan's name is literally "the Opposer" and we should not take that lightly. One online student said she was an ordained priestess of a forgotten, ancient Egyptian religion. She began attacking everyone who expressed faith in Christ, but alas - that was not allowed. The venom was real.
When we belong to Jesus Christ, He protects us as a shepherd protects the flock. When people spend time with the occult, they fall into its grip and are terribly weakened. Luther concluded that this man was terribly weakened and came to Jesus, helped by friends. The Savior took away his spiritual disease and made him whole again, so he became coherent and began to speak. The audience marveled at this, because the man went from total captivity to health.
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 [GJ- miracle] from heaven.
Two kinds of unbelief followed. Attacking Jesus, they accused Him of serving Satan (Beelzebub), so they accused Jesus not only of being demonic but being subordinate to the Devil. They remind me of the person who acted super-spiritual, as if she had swallowed the Holy Spirit, feathers and all (as Luther once said). She was always attacking and undermining, at work and at church, and she drew people into her circle. The others attacking Jesus demanded a miracle from heaven, even though one took place in front of them. Those are good examples of people so hardened that they reject the Gospel or they demand a miracle just for them.
17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house against a house falleth.
This is an important lesson by itself. Jesus knows our thoughts. That is why we can pray silently to Him. Those who reject His divinity also reject praying to Him, except perhaps in well crafted general prayers. A survey of LCA pastors showed that most did not pray much at all. Faith moves us to offer Him requests and praise, but the hardened see no use for it. Faith and unfaith are opposed and will bring themselves into ruin, because faith tolerates unfaith and becomes no faith at all.
People should ask why the whale-sized churches and colleges turn into shells where no Christians worship and the buildings serve as movie theaters, banks, or Islamic colleges. Yale began as a college in 1701 to train ministers and a bit later -leading citizens serving the public. In spite of merging four seminaries together at Yale Divinity School, the "divinity" faculty is comprised of anti-Christian "scholars" and advocates of the worst sort. The math is simple: 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 1/2, because a four-way seminary merger turned into one, which was cut in half due to lack of interest and high costs. (YDS = the original Yale college, plus Berkeley Episcopal, plus Andover Congregationalist Seminary which merged some time ago with Newton Seminary.)
18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
3. In the first place, with honest and reasonable arguments he concludes from two comparisons that one devil cannot cast out another; for if that were so, the devils would be divided among themselves and Satan’s kingdom would indeed not stand. For nature teaches that if a kingdom is divided against itself and its citizens drive out each other, it is not necessary to go to war against it, for it will come to ruin soon enough of itself. Likewise a house divided against itself needs no other destruction.
Even the heathen author Sallust, teaching only from the light of nature and experience, says: “Great wealth passes away through discord, but through concord small means become large.” If now the devils were divided among themselves to such a degree that one should drive out the other, Satan’s dominion would be at an end, and we would have rest from his attacks.
Even the heathen author Sallust, teaching only from the light of nature and experience, says: “Great wealth passes away through discord, but through concord small means become large.” If now the devils were divided among themselves to such a degree that one should drive out the other, Satan’s dominion would be at an end, and we would have rest from his attacks.
We have slid into an era where disbelief is honored and the Christian Faith is considered backwards, prejudiced, evil, and destructive. The root of it goes back to the ministry of Jesus Christ. The number one source of opposition was His teaching about faith in Him, something we find throughout His work but especially in the Gospel of John. The final Gospel of four quotes Jesus preaching faith in Him rather than good works. The ultimate or foundational sin is not believing in Him. He stated clearly that the Holy Spirit (Scriptures, preaching, teaching) was being sent to convict the world of unbelief in Him.
KJV John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
The modernists reject John's Gospel and place it 300 years later - a mockery - and discounts its content altogether. That is the position of all the Left Wing denominations and many of the so-called conservatives. The greatest and most dangerous sin is not believing in Christ, His Virgin Birth, His miracles, His atoning death, His Resurrection and Ascension.
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.
This is the logical conclusion, based on what the opponents are saying in accusing Jesus. The "religious" are often the most antagonistic today because they have been trained in unbelief and social activism. Good works alone cleanse the apostates of their guilt - so they think. I know two highly trained engineers who cannot wait to trade their gas stove (boo hiss) with something else that will not hurt the environment. There are networks of people who feel the same way and act on it, too.
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 predicts the growth of the Christian Faith. Satan owned the whole world except for a little tribe in a little known province, and it was under the military might of Rome. There was no threat from Judaism against Rome, and they feared losing their sponsorship if Jesus became a "real" king, at least in the eyes of the Empire. Everything was relatively peaceful until the Apostles and newly convert believers from Jesus' miracles and sermons. Christ Jesus in the form of faith in Him caused turmoil everywhere.
All over the world are examples of the Gospels reaching unbelievers and influencing government. The power and government of Satan has been thwarted to some degree, and his wealth has been divided among his enemies. Nevertheless, we have to say today, "Wherever a chapel is built, Satan builds a cathedral next door." (Luther said the opposite, but this is true to the Scriptures, because we are in the end times.)
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 is a little parable where someone is cleansed of an evil spirit and becomes a more inviting target. I have seen that in addictions, where everything is really good and going well. Then the individual who was straightened out and baptized gets into a fight and commits a felon, worse off than evrey before.
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.
The final section warns about elevating the Virgin Mary to a status equal to Jesus. He clearly taught against such an equation in the Gospel of John, at the wedding at Cana and during His execution, both times addressing Mary as "mother."
The Word of God is so harmonious that we find the same lesson taught in different ways, so they form a remarkable unity and purpose.
