Minnesota Governor's Resting Face - Uncommonly Down

I bought a book on photographic analysis, long ago. The author pointed out the meaning of some photographs, often overlooked. Some people always look sour or angry. Others are prone to smile and laugh. Governor Walz can smile, but he seems to be unusually sad. I wonder why.

Time of Grace - Mark Jeske's gift to ELCA's gay ministries, via Pastor Mike.

Countdown for the Remodeled Bathroom - Tuesday Likely

 

The remodeling started a week ago. Today, the tiling crew came and did a great job. The tiles finish tomorrow. Perhaps the final steps will also be completed tomorrow. 

A Message for The Faithless Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - Try To Get the Good Samaritan Right!

 

The Faithless Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - cannot comprehend the Parable of the Good Samaritan because they are functional illiterates. They may plead to others that their Luther Sermons are worn out from constant study, but all they do is circle the drain of their fetid Objective Justification.

The Waltherian Four - LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - boast and bray about their inerrancy of the Bible. Nota bene - the word inerrancy is not in the Bible. Their inerrancy claim is nothing more than a smokescreen. "We hold to the infallible inerrancy of the Scriptures!" they say, laughing up their sleeves. How can anyone deny their purity when they show so much authority? They promote safe sects, which allow them to do whatever they want.

The gaseous Waltherian Four love the worst Bible paraphrase, the fruit of Eugene Nida's Dynamic Equivalence - The NIV. The man and the plan made it possible to invent a New Testament that never existed, always changing, erasing the original text and adding obvious errors.

Has anyone told the Waltherian Four that the traditional Hebrew text of the Old Testament is welded into place by the strictest rules of text scholarship? No? - of course not, because the Jewish scholars maintained that text, which Christians (excluding the Church of Rome) kept pure.

Matt the Fatt and Mirthless Mark Schroeder will soon be gone from their synods, a chance to see how much worse their sects are becoming under the tender, loving care of ELCA. 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - The Good Samaritan - "However, in spirit, many prophets and kings saw Christ, as Christ himself says to the Jews concerning Abraham in John 8:56: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad.” Then the Jews thought he spoke of natural seeing, but Christ spoke of spiritual seeing, as all pious Christian hearts saw him before he was born, and still daily see him. For if Abraham saw him, without doubt many more prophets in whom the Holy Spirit dwelt saw him."

 

KJV Luke 10:23-37.
Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity.
The Good Samaritan

Text: KJV Luke 10:23-27 

    And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: 24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 

    25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

    30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

    31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 

    36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

I. A SERMON ON THE LAW.

1. I hope you thoroughly understand this Gospel lesson, inasmuch as it recurs every year. And since it annually returns in the Pericopes we are required to consider it; and this we will now gladly and briefly do. In the first place, the Evangelist relates how Christ our Lord led his disciples aside, and being alone with them rejoiced in his spirit, and earnestly and directly said to them: “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see; for I say unto you, that many prophets and kings desired to see the things that ye see, and saw them not: and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not.”

2. This hearing and seeing must be understood simply and plainly as external seeing and hearing, namely, that they saw Christ and his office, heard his preaching, and witnessed the miracles he performed among the Jews. The Jews also beheld these things with their natural eyes and some of them indeed experienced them in part in their hearts. But in fact they did not recognize him as the Christ, like the Apostles did, and like Peter, who representing all the others, confessed and said in Matthew 16:16: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” We indeed admit, that even some of the Jews like the Apostles recognized him as the Christ; but since they were but few who did, Christ therefore takes his Apostles here to himself apart.

3. However, in spirit, many prophets and kings saw Christ, as Christ himself says to the Jews concerning Abraham in John 8:56: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad.” Then the Jews thought he spoke of natural seeing, but Christ spoke of spiritual seeing, as all pious Christian hearts saw him before he was born, and still daily see him. For if Abraham saw him, without doubt many more prophets in whom the Holy Spirit dwelt saw him. And although this seeing made the holy fathers and prophets blessed, yet they had a real heartfelt longing and desire to behold Christ the Lord in the flesh, as is intimated time and again in the prophets.

4. Therefore the Lord here says to his disciples who saw both with their natural and their spiritual eyes: “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see.” As though he would say: This is a blessed time, an acceptable year, a special season of grace. That which is now at hand is so precious that the eyes which see it are truly called blessed. For in the past ages the Gospel was never preached so publicly and clearly unto all men as at present; the Holy Spirit was not yet publicly poured out: but was still concealed, and had as yet accomplished little. But Christ began the office of the Holy Spirit, and afterwards the Apostles continued it in full earnest.

Therefore he calls all those blessed, who see and hear such grace. Now when the Lord said this and was rejoicing in spirit, one presents himself, a lawyer, who acting as though he also amounted to something, tempted the Lord and said: “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

5. This lawyer was perhaps a wise man and well acquainted with the Scriptures, as his answer also suggests; yet here he becomes a fool, and must first begin to learn from the Lord, when he is put to shame and disgrace. For Christ teaches him a good lesson, and with one word takes out of him all his self-conceit. For he was in the delusion that he had kept the law wholly and perfectly, and was therefore something extra, above others, which undoubtedly he was, and imagined, because he was so pious and learned, that he was of course worthy to talk with the Lord. But now what does the Lord do to ensnare him in a masterly manner? He does this: he permits him to judge himself. For the Evangelist proceeds thus: “And he said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.”

6. I think the Lord gave this pious man a good lecture. Alas, it was not right, he should have spared him a little, he puts him to shame before all the world. For what good does it do him? Christ shows him that he has as yet done nothing, when he allowed himself to think he had done everything.

He asks what he should do. I contend that he has enough to do now, if he is only able to do great things.

7. Now much might be said on these two commandments, and it is also really needed, had we the time, for these are the highest and greatest themes on which Moses wrote; yea, on these hang all the law and the prophets, as Christ himself says in Matthew 22:40. Nevertheless, we will briefly consider some phases of them.

8. When we examine the laws of Moses, we find they all treat of love. For the commandment: “Thou shalt have no other Gods before me,” I cannot explain or interpret otherwise than: Thou shalt love God alone. Thus Moses himself interprets it in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, where he says: “Hear, O Israel; Jehovah our God is one Jehovah; and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” From this passage the lawyer has taken his answer. But the Jews understand this law to mean no more than that they should not set up idols and images to worship, and when they could say and confess with their lips that they have only one God and honor no other gods, they think they have kept this commandment. Thus this lawyer also understood it, but it was a false, erroneous knowledge of the law.

9. Now we must have high regard for the law. It says: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Thou, thou, it says, thou, and everything thou art; and especially does it mean the heart, the soul and all thy powers. It does not speak of the tongue, or the hands, or the knees; but it speaks of the whole body, and of all thou hast and art. If I am to have no other God, then I must surely possess the only true God with my heart, that is, I must in my heart be affectionate to him, evermore cleave to him, depend upon him, trust him, have my desire, love and joy in him, and always think of him. Just as we say at other times when we delight in something, that it tastes good in our very heart. And when one speaks or laughs and is not in earnest, and does not mean it from his heart, we say: You laugh, and your heart is not in it. The heart is quite a different thing than the lips. Therefore in the Scriptures the heart signifies the great and ardent love we should have for God. Those who serve God only with their lips, with their hands or with their knees, are hypocrites, and God cares nothing for them. For God does not want only a part, on the contrary he wants the whole man.

10. The Jews abstained outwardly from idolatry, and served God only with their lips; but their hearts were far from him, full of mistrust and unbelief.

Outwardly they appeared beautiful, as though they meant it in all sincerity, but within they were full of idolatry. Therefore the Lord said unto them in Matthew 23:27-28: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, mercy, and faith. For ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones and of all uncleanness. Even as ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

11. They are really wicked people who become proud in external things, who desire to justify and make themselves pious by their works, as this lawyer here does. Behold, what a proud character he is, he presents himself in his own name, and thinks Christ will not rebuke him; yea, he allows himself to think that the Lord will extol and praise his life in the presence of all the people, and does not think of learning anything from the Lord, but only seeks his own praise. The ignorant pretender would have gladly heard a psalm of praise from the man whom the people esteemed, and at whom all men wondered. Thus all hypocrites do, who outwardly parade their excellent, great and noble works. They well say that they do not seek honor and praise, but inwardly in their hearts they are frill of ambition, and desire all the world to know of their holiness, and smile very nicely when they hear men speak of it.

12. Yet the Lord does not serve this lawyer thus, but puts him to shame.

The Twelfth Sunday after Trinity - 2024.

YouTube

The Hymn #343           How Lovely Shines the Morning Star

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Make haste, O God, to deliver me: 

make haste to help me, O Lord.

Let them be ashamed and confounded: 

that seek after my soul.

Psalm. Let them be turned backward and put to confusion: 

that desire my hurt.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Almighty and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that Thy faithful people do unto Thee true and laudable service, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may so faithfully serve Thee in this life that we fail not finally to attain Thy heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual

Gradual

I will bless the Lord at all times: 

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

V. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: 

the humble shall hear thereof and be glad. 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Sing aloud unto God, our Strength: 

make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Hallelujah!

       

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn #8     Father Who the Light This Day 

         Miracles Happen - All the Time

The Communion Hymn #297    The Gospel Shows the Father's Grace - Loy          

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
Closing Hymn #283       God's Word Is Our Great Heritage

  

 Norma A. Boeckler

In Our Prayers and Announcements

• Medical Treatment - Maria Way - stents, Alicia Meyer, Norma Boeckler, Dr. Lito Cruz' family, Sarah Buck, Lori Howell,  Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris Shrader.  
•  August 22 is the third anniversary of Christina Jackson's transition to Heaven.
• Bathroom renovation will continue on Monday.

                        

KJV 2 Corinthians 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

Covenant or Testament 

Lenski 2 Corinthians 3:3

p. 921

The Revised Versions’s translation “3. new covenant” (“testament” in the margin) is not an advance on the A. V.’s “a new testament.” Commentators also waver. See the author’s exposition of I Cor. 11:25, from which we repeat only the main point: the Hebrew berith is “covenant,” which is rendered diatheke, “testament,” by the LXX which thus conserves the main idea of one-sidedness: this covenant is like every testament that is made by God to Israel and is not a mutual agreement between equals. Its substance was promise, Christ fulfilled the promise, and this fulfillment is now laid down in a testament. All believers are named as the heirs who're to be paid out with all the gospel blessings. We may call the ministers of God the administrators (I Cor. 4:1), yet they themselves are heirs. So in the New Testament diatheke = “testament.” And we should render, not “ministers of a new testament,” but as one concept: “new testament ministers.” The newness lies in the fulfillment of the former covenant promises by Christ.

KJV Mark 7:31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. 36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; 37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

Twelfth Sunday After Trinity

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast created all things: We thank Thee that Thou hast given us sound bodies, and hast graciously preserved our tongues and other members from the power of the adversary: We beseech Thee, grant us Thy grace, that we may rightly use our ears and tongues; help us to hear Thy word diligently and devoutly, and with our tongues so to praise and magnify Thy grace, that no one shall be offended by our words, but that all may be edified thereby, through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Miracles Happen - All the Time

KJV Mark 7:31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 

We know from the second verse that this is a miracle, and Mark's Gospel is packed with miracles from the Savior. People may wonder why so many miracles are revealed in a relatively short Gospel, one after another, bunches of them. Already in Mark 1, Jesus is described as wanting to be alone to pray and His hurried disciples said, "Come on, we have work to do!"

KJV Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. 37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

There are two basic responses to miracles from our skeptical generation of Bible scholars. 

1) Doubt that this ever happened. 

2) This came from other sources, such as the claims of that pagan era, filled with improbable stories. One of the great Halle University professors published a book where he called them "Fish stories." He did not put his name on the book. Pietism shifts into rationalism quickly, just as Calvinism does. But the real message is faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus made this clear in John's Gospel, 10:38 - "If you do not believe in My Word, at least pay attention to My miracles."

John 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.

When we put these two passages together, as edited and established by the Holy Spirit, it is clear that the Fourth Gospel makes the Gospel of Mark clear. And the Second Gospel lists one miracle after another to remind us of the Savior's compassion and our trust in Him. Almost every "scholar" in the last 200 years has mocked the Gospels, and many of the books have become best-sellers. Those efforts have established skepticism and Anything Goes interpretations, leading to lack of faith in the general population. 

32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 

This double problem left the man helpless in his society, so his friends/relatives brought him to Jesus to take him out of his health straight-jacket, where he could not talk and could not hear. Luther's point in his sermon on this text is the faith of those who brought him. They knew enough about Jesus to bring the man to Christ. They trusted in His saving Word. They could not make their friend believe because, as Luther says, the Christian Church is a mouth and an ear church. The Word is spoken and it is heard, the work of the Holy Spirit. People understand it because the Bible is so clear and forceful in its effect. Romans 10 explains what the Fourth Waltherian sects deny - 

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? [Isaiah 53 - the Report is the sacrifice of Jesus, crucified for the sins of the world.] 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 

Starting with the thesis that the Son of God can do anything, why these strange things laid upon the deaf-mute person?

1. Took him aside from the multitude - The press of the crowd was likely a roar because they could see Jesus beginning a miracle. That was like trying to speak to a friend at an Alabama football championship (whether for or against). This let the man become calm and also provided his own spoken witness when Jesus cured him.
2. Fingers in his ears - Jesus did not try yelling at him, but began with compassion, revealing the healing of the man's hearing.
3. Spit and touched the man's tongue - Jesus indicated for the man and the crowd, that He was going to heal that hopeless tongue.
4. Looked to heaven and said Be Opened - Jesus indicated His Father above, which showed the man and the crowd the miracle from above. 

These actions benefited the man, his friends, and the crowd. We have watered down "a sign" so much that people say a color, a number, or anything hopeful is "a sign." A better translation, that is derived from the text is - a miracle, something only God can do. That does not apply to someone passing a calculus exam or a driving test.

35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

Three miraculous events came together, the ultimate gain being his ability to speak plainly when it was impossible before. This brought great joy to the man, his friends, and the crowd. One can only imagine how quickly each event took place. Why not today? The issues today are:

1. Faulty fake "Bibles" as money machines for denominations.

2. Inventing and preserving false doctrine, leading people - even ordained pastors - astray.

3. Ignoring the effectiveness of the Gospel Word and the Instruments (Means) of Grace.

36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; 37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

The effect - from hoping to healing - was so great that Jesus could not keep them all from sharing this miracle to more and more people. Jesus knew that faith was spreading but also that people would turn away and mock Him when He was in the grips of soldiers and priests.

Let the Miracles Continue

The spiritual blessings come directly from the Bible, from the beginning until end of time. Our biggest weakness is worrying about the present, and worrying affects everyone. That is our normal attitude, and it should be suppressed, but it is difficult. One can be flattened by all kinds of trouble, small and large. Luther's formula is very clear in one sermon.

1. Our job is not to worry but to do God's work in whatever we do - jobs, parenting, helping others. 

2. God's job is to take away our fears, anxieties, and burdens. Faith in the Savior means erasing the past. I have a number of students who write about how they have messed up their lives and deeply regret those things, but they are establishing lives of faith in the Good Shepherd. I encourage them to remember that faith in Jesus Christ means God's grace - drowning our sins in the ocean of God's love (ending of Micah) - not flagellating themselves.

3. We have a treasure chest that has great potential for the future - honoring parents and grandparents, laying it on thick, as they deserve. We have their DNA and the enormous memory of all they learned and taught and accomplished. We do not appreciate them fully until they are gone to their reward - and then they inhabit our minds. I went over the favorite teacher list of my grade school, Garfield in Moline, now a condo (really!). At least 100 Garfielders listed favorite teachers from 70 years ago. We remembered those teachers more vividly than all the teachers afterwards. 

4. The mundane things in life are greater treasures than we imagine. God is behind all of it and gives us a path to follow.

KJV Psalm 119:105 - 105 Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton Says - If Hell Exists, ‘I Think It’s Empty’

 

“I think that doubt is just an intensifying of one’s relationship with God” — Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in “Face to Faith” podcast. | Tim Boyle / Sun-Times

Top Lutheran bishop: If Hell exists, ‘I think it’s empty’

On the first day of 1988, ELCA officially consummated the merger of the Lutheran Church in America, the American Lutheran Church, and Seminex (AELC). Time flies but apostasy moves slowly, like a slug, munching on what is alive, chewing holes wherever possible, leaving a slime trail.

One must have served time before the merger - to realize the depravity of ELCA, each part welded into place before people could grasp the great swindle. We were gone from ELCA before it happened, but discovered that WELS, Missouri, and the ELS were kissing the cloven feet of ELCA. 

And why not? They got to share in the goodness of Thrivent Insurance (another merger - LB and AAL), the National Council of Gay Churches, Fuller Seminary, and Marvin Schwan's wife problems.

Each ELCA executive was worse than the previous one, each year dragging down the numbers (it's all about the numbers) and losing money.

Former Presiding Bishops

The Rev. Mark Hanson served as presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America from November 2001 to October 2013. 

Brief Biography






The Rev. H. George Anderson served as presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America from November 1995 to October 2001.

Brief Biography




The Rev. Herbert W. Chilstrom served as presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America from its inception in 1987 to October 1995. 

Brief Biography 

+++

These three are out-going, or rather going out, each one worse than the previous one. Are millions of Lutherans not able to support the efficacy of the Word in the Means of Grace?

Isn't it appropriate - with squeals, giggles, and belches - to blend openly with ELCA? As Chemnitz wrote in his Examination of the Council of Trent, "The devil always leaves a foul stench behind when he leaves the room."

 

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 12 - "For by those who here bring the deafmute to the Lord, the office of the ministry is meant. Ministers and the Apostles lead the poor consciences of men to God. This is done in three ways, by preaching, by a godly life, and by intercession. With the Word and preaching, they are brought to God; a godly life serves to show the Word so much the mightier in its power. But the Word itself leads to Christ, though it be preached by a sinner."

 

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, Mark 7:31-37. 

Concerning Faith and Love

PART 2. THE SPIRITUAL MEANING.

20. The people bring the poor man to the Lord, the Lord takes him to a special place, lays his fingers into the man’s ears, spits, and touches his tongue with the spittle, looks up toward heaven, and sighing, says, Ephphata, that is, Be opened! This is a lovely picture, and its meaning is good. For by those who here bring the deafmute to the Lord, the office of the ministry is meant. Ministers and the Apostles lead the poor consciences of men to God. This is done in three ways, by preaching, by a godly life, and by intercession. With the Word and preaching, they are brought to God; a godly life serves to show the Word so much the mightier in its power. But the Word itself leads to Christ, though it be preached by a sinner. Yet, a good life serves as an emphasis and a furtherance of the Gospel; while a wicked life dulls its edge. Their third duty, to pray for the people, likewise leads them on the road both to faith and to works.

21. Now if the Word go on its way in this threefold manner, it cannot fail to bring forth fruit, as God says, Isaiah 55:11: “My Word, that goeth forth out of my mouth, shall not return to me void.” This is indicated by the action of the pious persons who carry the mute into Christ’s presence; this signifies the ministers, who bring forward the sinner; then God appears, giving growth and increase, as Paul says, 1 Corinthians 3:7, He opens the sinner’s eyes, ears, and mouth. This happens in a wink of the eye, for God’s Word is like lightning, which in a moment passes from sunrise to the ends of the earth. Thus when such persons are brought to God, he gives them grace to believe.

22. This is signified by the act of laying his fingers into the man’s ears; through the Word he breathes the Holy Spirit into him, making the heart believing, decent, chaste, and holy; for the finger signifies the Holy Spirit.

23. Again, the spittle that is laid on the man’s tongue, typifies the Word of God; this is put into his mouth in order that he may be able to speak it. And this spittle, the Word of God, is a noble thing, but very bitter to the Old Adam.

24. Then they praise God, saying: “He hath done all things well, he has made the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak.” For wherever there is true faith, there the Spirit will not allow you any rest; you will break forth, become a priest, teach other people also, as we read  Psalm 116:10: “I believe, for I will speak.” There the heart is full, and the mouth must run over. Then when they are persecuted, they will not care.

25. But the part of the story, that Christ took the man apart from the others, looks up to heaven, has this meaning: If God does not take me alone to a separate place, and give me the Holy Spirit, so that I cling to the Word which I have heard, then all preaching is in vain. But why does this require so much that he looks up to heaven and makes use of divine power, calling upon God’s grace to come and to act? By this he teaches us that such power must come from heaven, working in the heart of man by divine strength; then help comes to him. Again the spittle which is the Word of God is a noble thing for the Old Adam. Then they go forth to praise and glorify God.

26. Thus have you learned, from the story and from its spiritual or secret meaning, that we must first hear the Word of God and thus, through the intercession of Christ, obtain a faith of our own, and then we come out, confessing this and praising God forever. May this be sufficient on this Gospel lesson. Let us pray to God for grace.

Some Synod Managers May Want To Purchase This

 

Remodeling Continues

 

Tile has been broken away, drywall will be coming today.

Future branch managers.

Odors of the Upcoming Great Collapse - Clowns Already at Work

The Faithless Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - they want everyone's gold, silver, and jewels, but they have no use for the Gospel of our Savior.

Every day, without fail, another large church emerges from its Stygian source to boast the efficacy of its Barnum and Bailey circus splendor. They have 5,000 members plus - and add to their boasting, "Watch us grow!"

KJV Exodus 32:6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

That happened when the people of Israel, after receiving the Ten Commandments, gathered their precious metals and jewels to fashion pagan idols. Aaron joined in the fun, until Moses appeared in his wrath.

The Faithless Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - have gathered around Aaron and his golden calf for many decades. The analogy is clear - God has given us the Traditional Old Testament Hebrew text and the Traditional Greek New Testament text (in short, the KJV). But the Faithless Five worship the atheists at Fuller Seminary, Trinity Divinity, Willow Creek, and more - unified by their hatred of Jesus' Promise - Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words will never pass away.

KJV 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Going back a few decades, the mega-church concept was isolated and rare. Now there is a rush in all denominations: multi-campus, supersized, fun, food-courts, hip Bibles, and adulterous. One "growther" wrecked his LCMS congregation, moved his proclivities to WELS, and nestled into a big, old church, the blind leading the blind.

These Synagogues of Satan drive faithful members away. 

One ELS-LCMS pastor told me I should publish against the Church Growth Movement, but he never did. 

The greatest joke of all from these apostates is being very sensitive about ELCA, not wanting to offend those clowns who own so much real estate. They were sure - one expert told them - that the new ELCA would donate an enormous group of dissenters that would join LCMS (laughing), WELS (gagging), the mini's puking. They Four Waltherian Cults also declined because they drank from the same River Styx. Or perhaps - the real life Cloaca Maxima, the Roman Empire's sewer.

Cloaca Maxima

ELCA Presiding Bishop Liz Eaton canned the first tranny bishop, Megan Rohrer. ELCA seminaries have been producing gay women, men, and undecided since 1987 (and before - let's be honest). The Four Waltherian Cults - LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) only object to Justification by Faith and the Means of Grace.

Daily Luther Sermon Quote - Trinity 12 - "Therefore it is not within our power to pray in strong confidence; the Holy Spirit does it. Whenever we pray for anyone and are able to add, “It will be done,” then it will certainly be done; but whenever we pray, we must add, “Thy will be done.” If, then, I must let it go according to his will..."

 

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, Mark 7:31-37. 

Concerning Faith and Love

16. But to pray powerfully is not within our strength; for the Spirit does not always vouchsafe to us to pray with power. Paul prayed that all Israel might be saved, Romans 9:1f; why did it not come to pass? The difference lies in the faith, for the Spirit did not give it to him; had he been able to add this faith, it would surely have come to pass. For if Paul had said, “I pray for all Israel,” and had believed and said: “Lord, I am certain that thou wilt do it,” then it would certainly have come to pass. But though he often prayed for them from his heart, the Spirit did not vouchsafe, to him that he should confidently believe it. Therefore it is not within our power to pray in strong confidence; the Holy Spirit does it. Whenever we pray for anyone and are able to add, “It will be done,” then it will certainly be done; but whenever we pray, we must add, “Thy will be done.” If, then, I must let it go according to his will, I cannot suggest to him either the person, or the time, or the manner, but must freely leave it all to him; then, indeed, I am sure of it. In this manner Christ acted also, who himself prayed thus: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me,” but at once added: “Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matthew 26:39.

17. Therefore, when I am to pray for an entire city or community, I ought to say: “O Father, I pray for all of them.” Nevertheless, however, I must give honor to his name or will, and say: “Dear Father, I pray for these; I know it is thy will, that I should pray, that I should not despise prayer; but thy will shall be done always; for I might ask something for some one who is not worthy of it before thee; or again, I might possibly cast aside some one who is worthy; therefore do thou act according to thy divine will, for thou wilt certainly do better than I could ever conceive.” Thus you see that we cannot always add these words: It will be so. But if we are certain in our hearts that we may add: “It will be certainly so,” then it will come to pass.

18. This we see in our text. These people approach the Lord in strong confidence, praying for the poor man, and their prayer is also heard. In the same manner, when baptism is performed we see this take place in the children’s faith. There are the infants, bare and naked in body and soul, having neither faith nor works. Then the Christian Church comes forward and prays, that God would pour faith into the child; not that our faith should help the child, but that it may obtain a faith of its own. If it has faith, then after that whatever it does is well done, whether it suckle its mother’s breast, or whether it soil itself, or whatever it may please to do. But if it does not obtain faith, our faith is of no value to the child.

19. Therefore my faith can help you in no way except that it may assist you to obtain a faith of your own. Hence, to sum up all, everything depends upon personal faith, as strong as it is, so much does it need the faith and prayer of other people in order to increase in strength. Now you can easily judge, that those people were the greatest fools, who held masses and vigils with the brotherhoods; for the wise virgins have sufficient oil only for themselves, and scarcely have enough. This is a simple explanation of the story of the Gospel lesson. Now let us briefly consider the meaning which our Lord puts into it.

PART 2. THE SPIRITUAL MEANING.

Alt-Church Growth in the Missouri Synod - Games! Games! Games!They Sit Down To Eat And Rise Up To Play!

 

Covering topics on creation and stewardship, unity, perseverance, and overcoming obstacles, this series seeks to help congregants discover “how these games offer insights into faith, community, spiritual growth, and redemption.”

Notably, guests can also win one of two Xbox video game systems by entering a draw.

"Exploring Christian principles that can be found in Minecraft, Super Mario Kart, Tetris, and Frogger."

Snippet of Lutheran church (LCMS) pastor preaching during their video-game sermon series 'Game On'. See the story https://protestia.com/2024/08/15/lutheran-church-lcms-puts-on-video-games-themed-service/

Whee! Who needs the NIV when we can play games at church?
The Faithless Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic)

They love being alt-ELCA and stealth Fuller.