The Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2020
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
https://video.ibm.com/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship
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 Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Keep, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy Church with Thy
perpetual mercy; and because the frailty of man without Thee cannot but fall,
keep us ever by Thy help from all things hurtful and lead us to all things
profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who
liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Source for Evil vs. the Source for Good
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 #660 I'm But a Stranger Here
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 #660 I'm But a Stranger Here
In Our Prayers
- In treatment - Mary Howell, Rush Limbaugh, Randy Anderson, Chris Jackson.
- Diagnostics - Pastor Shrader, Kermit Way.
- Recovering from a heart attack, Diane Popp's daughter, Joan Scott.
- Our Philippine Mission - Pastor and Mrs. Jordan Palangyos.
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| Norma A. Boeckler |
KJV Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
KJV Luke 17:11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
Fourteenth Sunday After Trinity
Lord God, heavenly Father, who by Thy blessed word and Thy holy baptism hast mercifully cleansed all who believe from the fearful leprosy of sin, and daily dost grant us Thy gracious help in all our need: We beseech Thee so to enlighten our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may never forget these Thy blessings, but ever live in Thy fear, and, trusting fully in Thy grace, with thankful hearts continually praise and glorify Thee; through Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Background for the Epistle Lesson - Galatians 5:16-24, Fruits of the Spirit
The nine-fold fruits of the Spirit, by their title, suggest two categories at the same time. The Spirit means - these come from the Spirit in the Word and in us. In other words, these fruits come from God, His power and grace. So many churches think they need more money, more smiles, more programs, more everything except the one thing needful - more Gospel. The other category is fruits. These qualities grow from the power of Gospel, so the hearing of the Gospel moves us to be fruitful. The four stages in plants are - seed, plant, flower, and fruit. More fruit comes from the living seed of the Gospel. For someone who does not believe, the broadcast of the Gospel is the start of that seed of faith. The plant grows, flowers, and produces the fruit of Christian life. The qualities listed are the beginnings of the blessings that come from the Gospel.
The Source for Evil vs. the Source for Good
KJV Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
This short letter by Paul, written in his own hand (no secretary), had one purpose - to remove any excuse for returning to righteousness through the Law. That righteousness through the Law included customs, traditions, and outside sources of religion. This inspired letter was so successful that the issue was solved there. Galatians is recognized as the revelation of the Spirit through the hand of Paul.
"Because I exhort you to mutual love you are not to think that I have gone back on my teaching of justification by faith alone."
Yesterday my wife and I were joking about people claiming a higher station in life. "You are not a true member of that synod unless born in it." Counter - "No, you are not a true member unless born in a certain state." Counter-counter - "No, you are not a true member unless born in a parsonage in that most blessed state of the Union." Then we laughed, because people think it is true. It is the righteousness of custom and it is used today in various ways.
This lesson teaches the relationship between faith and good works. Faith is trust in God. Paul explained that in Romans 5:2 - as faith being access to grace through Christ. "Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
Paul contrasts walking in the Spirit with following the lusts of the flesh. Walking in the Spirit means to live according to the Scriptures, to consider everything from God's point of view. That means beginning with forgiveness and understanding, since that is the example of Christ. The lusts of the flesh include all the ways in which we serve ourselves first, what we most want to do, such as getting even, shunning, using the stink-eye, everything noted so concisely in the Ten Commandments. What the unbelieving world urges as happiness is seldom anything but that in the long run.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
This is a life-long battle. Each individual thinks of himself first. That is why children jostle each other to be first in line, to get the biggest dessert, to get all the attention and rewards. The Spirit at work in us resists that, and with patient training we learn to consider others and to let others have what is best. Marriage teaches us much more about about sharing and concern for another. Children are another step in tutoring us about being selfless instead of selfish.
The Spirit resists our temptations to put ourselves first, but our human nature resists what the Spirit teaches us through the Word. One promises happiness but does not deliver in the long run. The other advocates for the needs and the happiness of others, but delivers more to us than what we give.
Do not despair if you feel the flesh battling against the Spirit or if you cannot make it behave. For you to follow the guidance of the Spirit in all things without interference on the part of the flesh is impossible. You are doing all you can if you resist the flesh and do not fulfill its demands.
When I was a monk I thought I was lost forever whenever I felt an evil emotion, carnal lust, wrath, hatred, or envy. I tried to quiet my conscience in many ways, but it did not work, because lust would always come back and give me no rest. I told myself: "You have permitted this and that sin, envy, impatience, and the like. Your joining this holy order has been in vain, and all your good works are good for nothing." If at that time I had understood this passage, "The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh," I could have spared myself many a day of self-torment. I would have said to myself: "Martin, you will never be without sin, for you have flesh. Despair not, but resist the flesh."
I remember how Doctor Staupitz used to say to me: "I have promised God a thousand times that I would become a better man, but I never kept my promise. From now on I am not going to make any more vows. Experience has taught me that I cannot keep them. Unless God is merciful to me for Christ's sake and grants unto me a blessed departure, I shall not be able to stand before Him." His was a God-pleasing despair. No true believer trusts in his own righteousness, but says with David, "Enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified." (Psalm 143:2) Again, "If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?" (Psalm 130:3.)
When I was a monk I thought I was lost forever whenever I felt an evil emotion, carnal lust, wrath, hatred, or envy. I tried to quiet my conscience in many ways, but it did not work, because lust would always come back and give me no rest. I told myself: "You have permitted this and that sin, envy, impatience, and the like. Your joining this holy order has been in vain, and all your good works are good for nothing." If at that time I had understood this passage, "The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh," I could have spared myself many a day of self-torment. I would have said to myself: "Martin, you will never be without sin, for you have flesh. Despair not, but resist the flesh."
I remember how Doctor Staupitz used to say to me: "I have promised God a thousand times that I would become a better man, but I never kept my promise. From now on I am not going to make any more vows. Experience has taught me that I cannot keep them. Unless God is merciful to me for Christ's sake and grants unto me a blessed departure, I shall not be able to stand before Him." His was a God-pleasing despair. No true believer trusts in his own righteousness, but says with David, "Enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified." (Psalm 143:2) Again, "If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?" (Psalm 130:3.)
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
This is the life-long struggle of living in a world of unbelievers, the majority, and yet submitting to the teaching of Christian Faith. The power of the Law and flesh will always be foremost in what we hear and see, but the most important is what the Scriptures teach us. To be under the Law means always measuring by the Law, which is why so many strive to be equal or better than others. "Your car is pathetic." Answer - "I am not my car. It is only transportation." One friend of my mother said, "Your son should join the ____ movement. That's the going thing right now." She replied, "He is doing OK without it."
One way to interpret this verse is to say, "Turn have-to into want-to." The action may be the same but the motivation is quite different. People will say, "You don't have to do this." One answer is, "I don't have to, I want to." Most of the day can be filled with want-to, and that turns the burden of the Law into the driving force of the Gospel.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance [fighting], emulations [jealousies], wrath, strife, seditions [dissensions], heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
This is life, reality, the world today. We can see it with special clarity since there is a great struggle going on for this country and for the West - the civilization that began in ancient Greece and became the nursery for Christianity and democratic republics. The works of the flesh can be called the works of unbelief, and they make the list the glamour and excitement of criminal enterprises on a global scale. The preaching of Paul and the Apostles pulled people out of this environment, and the world of paganism and witchcraft responded with violence.
Although the Roman Empire had the power, authority, armies, ships, and traditions, the Christian Faith grew, became the new capital - Byzantium, Constantinople - and preserved what was best. Christianity was given a new tongue (Greek) because the Greek scholars escaped to Europe, starting the Renaissance. Erasmus and Luther learned Greek and turned that knowledge into direct translation of the New Testament into modern languages. Luther established the German language with his German Bible, just one benefit.
Just to show how powerful God is, all forces were against Him, even the death of His Son, but God used that to convert an entire civilization, turning the greatest evil into the greatest good for all mankind. Who can deny that Christian scholars preserved civilization (Irish monks included)? That missionaries brought food, education, and freedom to the rest of the world. I know the bad things that have happened because I enjoy reading histories of empires - Roman, British, Islamic, American. However, the Faith has always been the leaven which kept us from collapsing back into the old paganism and witchcraft of the past.
Let's not be naive. Witchcraft is around us today. Entertainment thrives on it. The richest and most powerful participate and brag about it, even at the family store's museum around the corner. Their symbolism is everywhere, but they are being found out.
Every period of life has its own peculiar temptations. Not one true believer whom the flesh does not again and again incite to impatience, anger, pride. But it is one thing to be tempted by the flesh, and another thing to yield to the flesh, to do its bidding without fear or remorse, and to continue in sin.
Christians also fall and perform the lusts of the flesh. David fell horribly into adultery. Peter also fell grievously when he denied Christ. However great these sins were, they were not committed to spite God, but from weakness. When their sins were brought to their attention these men did not obstinately continue in their sin, but repented. Those who sin through weakness are not denied pardon as long as they rise again and cease to sin. There is nothing worse than to continue in sin. If they do not repent, but obstinately continue to fulfill the desires of the flesh, it is a sure sign that they are not sincere.
No person is free from temptations. Some are tempted in one way, others in another way. One person is more easily tempted to bitterness and sorrow of spirit, blasphemy, distrust, and despair. Another is more easily tempted to carnal lust, anger, envy, covetousness. But no matter to which sins we are disposed, we are to walk in the Spirit and resist the flesh. Those who are Christ's own crucify their flesh.
Some of the old saints labored so hard to attain perfection that they lost the capacity to feel anything. When I was a monk I often wished I could see a saint. I pictured him as living in the wilderness, abstaining from meat and drink and living on roots and herbs and cold water. This weird conception of those awesome saints I had gained out of the books of the scholastics and church fathers. But we know now from the Scriptures who the true saints are. Not those who live a single life, or make a fetish of days, meats, clothes, and such things. The true saints are those who believe that they are justified by the death of Christ. Whenever Paul writes to the Christians here and there he calls them the holy children and heirs of God. All who believe in Christ, whether male or female, bond or free, are saints; not in view of their own works, but in view of the merits of God which they appropriate by faith. Their holiness is a gift and not their own personal achievement.
Ministers of the Gospel, public officials, parents, children, masters, servants, etc., are true saints when they take Christ for their wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, and when they fulfill the duties of their several vocations according to the standard of God's Word and repress the lust and desires of the flesh by the Spirit. Not everybody can resist temptations with equal facility. Imperfections are bound to show up. But this does not prevent them from being holy. Their unintentional lapses are forgiven if they pull themselves together by faith in Christ. God forbid that we should sit in hasty judgment on those who are weak in faith and life, as long as they love the Word of God and make use of the supper of the Lord.
Christians also fall and perform the lusts of the flesh. David fell horribly into adultery. Peter also fell grievously when he denied Christ. However great these sins were, they were not committed to spite God, but from weakness. When their sins were brought to their attention these men did not obstinately continue in their sin, but repented. Those who sin through weakness are not denied pardon as long as they rise again and cease to sin. There is nothing worse than to continue in sin. If they do not repent, but obstinately continue to fulfill the desires of the flesh, it is a sure sign that they are not sincere.
No person is free from temptations. Some are tempted in one way, others in another way. One person is more easily tempted to bitterness and sorrow of spirit, blasphemy, distrust, and despair. Another is more easily tempted to carnal lust, anger, envy, covetousness. But no matter to which sins we are disposed, we are to walk in the Spirit and resist the flesh. Those who are Christ's own crucify their flesh.
Some of the old saints labored so hard to attain perfection that they lost the capacity to feel anything. When I was a monk I often wished I could see a saint. I pictured him as living in the wilderness, abstaining from meat and drink and living on roots and herbs and cold water. This weird conception of those awesome saints I had gained out of the books of the scholastics and church fathers. But we know now from the Scriptures who the true saints are. Not those who live a single life, or make a fetish of days, meats, clothes, and such things. The true saints are those who believe that they are justified by the death of Christ. Whenever Paul writes to the Christians here and there he calls them the holy children and heirs of God. All who believe in Christ, whether male or female, bond or free, are saints; not in view of their own works, but in view of the merits of God which they appropriate by faith. Their holiness is a gift and not their own personal achievement.
Ministers of the Gospel, public officials, parents, children, masters, servants, etc., are true saints when they take Christ for their wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, and when they fulfill the duties of their several vocations according to the standard of God's Word and repress the lust and desires of the flesh by the Spirit. Not everybody can resist temptations with equal facility. Imperfections are bound to show up. But this does not prevent them from being holy. Their unintentional lapses are forgiven if they pull themselves together by faith in Christ. God forbid that we should sit in hasty judgment on those who are weak in faith and life, as long as they love the Word of God and make use of the supper of the Lord.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
This is definitely one of the great passages of the Bible and yet it consists of two verses and a closing. There is a gigantic gulf between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. The first comes from us; the second comes from the Gospel bearing fruit in our lives. It is no surprise that those who teach forgiveness without faith (Objective Justification) are entirely lacking in love and the entire list of the fruit of the Spirit. Moreover, they brag about their political maneuvers, pranks, and sophomoric behavior.
Love
Love is the most discussed and least practiced quality today. This love is selfless love, not the same as romantic love, though the two go well together. Animals show us how the parents work hard to keep their delicate newborns fed and sheltered. I used to feed the Blue Jays near our house so the parents would have food for themselves when feeding their young. We actually watched them hatch, flutter their tiny wings, and take off.
It would have been enough to mention only the single fruit of love, for love embraces all the fruits of the Spirit. In I Corinthians 13, Paul attributes to love all the fruits of the Spirit: "Charity suffereth long, and is kind," etc. Here he lets love stand by itself among other fruits of the Spirit to remind the Christians to love one another, "in honor preferring one another," to esteem others more than themselves because they have Christ and the Holy Ghost within them.
Joy
Joy is almost as favored as love in this world. We respond when we see scenes of joy in paintings, in movies, in real life. Anyone with pets can see that God has instilled a sense of humor and joy in them. Joy does not come from material things, but from those intangible moments that happen before our eyes. Ranger Bob said, "You have a perfect rose. Did you know that?" I gave him the gimlet eye. Don't I dote on them daily. He led me to the one blooming near the mailbox. "There." He wanted to take it to someone and grinned when I cut it for him and put it in a McDonalds cup with water. That has been repeated many times over, and the more I cut, the more I have to share.
People experience joy when they see the hummingbirds and bees at work in the garden.
We can see why Luther wrote, "You have as much laughter as you have faith."
Joy means sweet thoughts of Christ, melodious hymns and psalms, praises and thanksgiving, with which Christians instruct, inspire, and refresh themselves. God does not like doubt and dejection. He hates dreary doctrine, gloomy and melancholy thought. God likes cheerful hearts. He did not send His Son to fill us with sadness, but to gladden our hearts. For this reason the prophets, apostles, and Christ Himself urge, yes, command us to rejoice and be glad. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy king cometh unto thee." (Zechariah 9:9.) In the Psalms we are repeatedly told to be "joyful in the Lord." Paul says: "Rejoice in the Lord always." Christ says: "Rejoice, for your names are written in heaven."
Peace
Peace always accompanies Justification by Faith. As one person wrote, "I finally saw the cross as a reminder that He died for my sins, that I have forgiveness of sin." There is greater awareness of sin and forgiveness with age, and many episodes of long-suffering (patient endurance). Older people have more peace than younger people because of those experiences.
Peace towards God and men. Christians are to be peaceful and quiet. Not argumentative, not hateful, but thoughtful and patient. There can be no peace without longsuffering, and therefore Paul lists this virtue next.
Longsuffering
Most people can endure short periods of emotional and physical pain. If Satan cannot break us with direct assaults, he uses long, drawn-out periods of suffering, as if they will be never ending. The hymns of Gerhardt discuss this experience often - waiting for those times of joy and peace. I need to write some thankyou letters to those who got me to Springdale and made an independent church necessary. They could have imprisoned me as an editor or worse, but they gave me freedom and an endless supply of material to expose and explain. Everything is a lesson, even if the experience is cold and bitter at the time. If it forces us to study the Scriptures more closely, the great theologians (Luther, Chemnitz, Melanchthon, Krauth, Schmauk) more carefully, is that a loss?
Longsuffering is that quality which enables a person to bear adversity, injury, reproach, and makes them patient to wait for the improvement of those who have done him wrong. When the devil finds that he cannot overcome certain persons by force he tries to overcome them in the long run. He knows that we are weak and cannot stand anything long. Therefore he repeats his temptation time and again until he succeeds. To withstand his continued assaults we must be longsuffering and patiently wait for the devil to get tired of his game.
Gentleness
I have known people who are always angry and anxious to start a fight at meetings. They look like junkyard dogs hoping to devour someone.
Gentleness in conduct and life. True followers of the Gospel must not be sharp and bitter, but gentle, mild, courteous, and soft-spoken, which should encourage others to seek their company. Gentleness can overlook other people's faults and cover them up. Gentleness is always glad to give in to others. Gentleness can get along with forward and difficult persons, according to the old pagan saying: "You must know the manners of your friends, but you must not hate them." Such a gentle person was our Savior Jesus Christ, as the Gospel portrays Him. Of Peter it is recorded that he wept whenever he remembered the sweet gentleness of Christ in His daily contact with people. Gentleness is an excellent virtue and very useful in every walk of life.
Goodness
A person is good when he is willing to help others in their need.
Faith
This is not faith in Christ but faithfulness. We appreciate people who are always friends, not just in the good times. Moving day is a good test. So is the hospital bed or the shut-in. Faithfulness means sticking to the task, to the person, to the truth.
In listing faith among the fruits of the Spirit, Paul obviously does not mean faith in Christ, but faith in men. Such faith is not suspicious of people but believes the best. Naturally the possessor of such faith will be deceived, but he lets it pass. He is ready to believe all men, but he will not trust all men. Where this virtue is lacking men are suspicious, forward, and wayward and will believe nothing nor yield to anybody. No matter how well a person says or does anything, they will find fault with it, and if you do not humor them you can never please them. It is quite impossible to get along with them. Such faith in people therefore, is quite necessary. What kind of life would this be if one person could not believe another person?
Meekness
A person is meek when he is not quick to get angry. Many things occur in daily life to provoke a person's anger, but the Christian gets over his anger by meekness.
Temperance
Christians are to lead sober and chaste lives. They should not be adulterers, fornicators, or sensualists. They should not be quarrelers or drunkards. In the first and second chapters of the Epistle to Titus, the Apostle admonishes bishops, young women, and married folks to be chaste and pure.
against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
I have told young pastors who feel trapped, and older pastors who think they are owned by their synod - "Enjoy life. You are not a slave to people. Make up your own mind instead of being chained to a set of circumstances. In fact, you can enjoy the servitude if you change your mind."
