The Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity, 2020.

Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity, 2020

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

https://video.ibm.com/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10 AM Central Time

The Hymn #578     Before the Lord We Bow - Francis S. Key
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

Lord, we beseech Thee to keep Thy household, the Church, in continual godliness, that through Thy protection it may be free from all adversities and devoutly given to serve Thee in good works, to the glory of Thy name; 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
The Sermon Hymn #447                Fight the Good Fight

Spiritual Weapons, Ephesians 6

The Communion Hymn #321         O Faithful God  - by the Concordist Selnecker 

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 #209           Who Is This That Comes from Edom?

In Our Prayers

• Blessings on newborn Helen Jane Fagan, daughter of Abby and Corey Fagan, Brett and Amy Meyer - grandparents, Alicia Meyer - great-grandmother.
• Randy Anderson's surgery was successful.
• Christina Jackson's radiation is finished - it went well.

Ephesians 6

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

KJV John 4:46 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47 When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. 48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. 49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. 50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. 52 Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. 54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

Twenty-First Sunday After Trinity

Almighty and everlasting God, who by Thy Son hast promised us the forgiveness of sins, righteousness, and everlasting life: We beseech Thee, do Thou by Thy Holy Spirit so quicken our hearts that we in daily prayer may seek our help in Christ against all temptations, and, constantly believing His promise, obtain that for which we pray, and at last be saved, through Thy Son Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Background for the Epistle Sermon, Ephesians 6:10-16

This famous passage often includes a drawing of the Roman soldier, who was far more powerful than the soldiers of other armies. Like American warriors of today, in special operations, he was equipped both offensively and defensively. Enemy weapons did not harm him easily, but his weapons were useful in defense and in attacking the foe. The Roman soldiers worked best when united and were only defeated when Herman the German tricked them into moving along a narrow pass where their normal advantages did not help them. 

Paul took the equipment of the Roman soldier and made it parallel to the weapons and defenses needed against the spiritual powers arrayed against them. Some were the product of paganism, which had no use for the Christian Faith. Others were necessary for dealing with those within the church who taught falsehoods. As George Washington practiced during our fight for freedom, the spiritual weapons were the most important ones. 

Spiritual Weapons, Ephesians 6

Ephesians 6: 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

The Holy Spirit is always concise, even stingy with words, and in Paul's letters, even more so. Each phrase has a lot of meaning because he is not setting up a narrative, as the Gospels do in their discussions of travels, crowds, seasons, and so forth. 

Finally means - wrapping up the Epistle, which is a powerful statement of the Gospel itself. This is the conclusion, so pay attention. Most students today mark their last paragraph with this sub-heading - Conclusion. I no longer mention that is obvious since it is the last paragraph. Some students help me even more after the conclusion sub-heading with a sentence starting - "In conclusion..." 

Paul uses one word - finally. That means everything before leads to the following words, which are the application of those lessons - not only to the Ephesians but also to those congregations receiving the formal letter (epistle). And also to us.

My brothers 

Paul was far ahead of our time. Brothers includes all those in the same family with Christ, all ages, both genders - because we have been adopted through faith. We always have access to Jesus through faith because that is part of God's Creation. The Spirit in the Gospel brings us together with our Savior, whether in reading, remembering, or hearing the Gospel.

The word brothers conveys the unity of a true family, united in the faith, but having different roles. And he wrote - "my brothers." This is a family effort, and we must pull together as a unit and not be divided. So this included not just a congregation or one era, but all faithful congregations in all eras.

be strong in the Lord

This not only deals with the present but also with the future. Strength is needed in the battles to come, and the greatest ones are spiritual and emotional rather than physical. This is just as true in the battle against evil and the battle against a life-threatening disease. 

"It is not the devil's aim to plague us physically; he is a spirit who is always thirsting for the tears and the drops of blood that come from our hearts. He wants us to despair and to perish from sadness. This would be his joy and delight. But he will not succeed."
What Luther Says, An Anthology, 3 vols., ed., Ewald Plass, St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1959, III, p. 1244. John 15:19.

That is one of the most important sayings from Luther, because he fought those battles and had to overcome them, twice being alone (under guard) in castles to preserve his life. The attacks never stopped, whether human or demonic, and he had to lean on the Gospel Word rather than his own strength.

Likewise, Lenski was an established Biblical scholar, leader, and pastor. However, the end of his life was filled personal battles where his own former students and his colleagues worked to get rid of inerrancy so they could have their 1930 merger.

and in the power of His might.

Our strength does not come from us, but from the Son of God, whose strength and foreknowledge are boundless.

Jesus is the Word, and especially to those who believe - the Creating Word. We can see His power all around us, both in Nature (as people like to say) and in generating faith through the Gospel. 

I used a special non-secret to get two or more roses blooming for today. I hauled rainwater like a French peasant, lugging it in big plastic cans to help the roses finish the flower forming as a bud. And it was effective, as God has promised in the rain and snow - always effective. 

I often quote this to students - The Holy Spirit is so powerful that He can turn the greatest evil into the greatest good, as He did on Good Friday. (Luther) What others saw as the defeat of Jesus was really the defeat of Satan. No longer would the power of Satan rule the world. Faith would spread in the Gospel and include all nations in the Gospel.

It is possible that everything that looks bad will be just the opposite in two months. Bad is when we cannot even imagine anything turning out well. But there is always that glimmer in the darkness. Bad things that happened to us, out of pure malice, became the bridge to an ideal life.

Note the Ephesians equipment, the ultimate one used being the Sword of the Spirit - the Word.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles (Greek - methods, literally) of the devil.

How do we arm ourselves against the devil? Christian is rested and nurtured along his way to the Celestial City. Before the next stage of his journey, he is taken to the room where the great battle equipment is stored - spiritual battle equipment. 

Then I saw in my dream, that on the morrow he got up to go forward; but they desired him to stay till the next day also; and then, said they, we will, if the day be clear, show you the Delectable Mountains, which, they said, would yet further add to his comfort, because they were nearer the desired haven than the place where at present he was; so he consented and stayed. When the morning was up, they had him to the top of the house, and bid him look south; so he did: and behold, at a great distance, he saw a most pleasant mountainous country, beautified with woods, vineyards, fruits of all sorts, flowers also, with springs and fountains, very delectable to behold. [Isa. 33:16,17] Then he asked the name of the country. They said it was Immanuel’s Land; and it is as common, said they, as this hill is, to and for all the pilgrims. And when thou comest there from thence, said they, thou mayest see to the gate of the Celestial City, as the shepherds that live there will make appear. Now he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were willing he should. But first, said they, let us go again into the armory. So they did; and when they came there, they harnessed him from head to foot with what was of proof, lest, perhaps, he should meet with assaults in the way. The Pilgrim's Progress, Lutheran Library PDF and book, p. 116.

Bunyan's battle was one of the most difficult, because he was tempted to give in to the English king and leave his prison. The spiritual battles in his book are the result of 12 years in prison, plus another six months not long after. 

Do we see a pattern? 

1. Paul was imprisoned for teaching the Gospel. 
2. Martin Luther was guarded in remote castles twice, because the Pope wanted him killed. 
3. Bunyan was in prison for not surrendering to the King of England, who demanded all pastors be certified by the Church of England. 

They did not have a handy, divinely called Estate Planner to leave monetary treasures to an institution, but all three left great spiritual treasures behind. 

Put on the whole armor

The whole armor (panoply - πανοπλιαν) means everything is needed to battle Satan, because the Savior is the hero in this battle and the ruling enemy, the Prince of this Age, is Satan, the opposer. This refers to the hoplite, the heavily armored soldier.

The energy or effectiveness is from God, but we are to put on this armor, to protect ourselves against the emotional attacks. 

• Cannot win.
• Nobody cares.
• Never get a break.
• Cannot stand the stress.
• Evil always wins.

Satan does not attack unbelievers, because they already belong to him. Instead, his attacks are against believers, and on many fronts - 

• Influence of friends.
• Family insistence on returning to the fold, whatever it might be.
• Philosophers who are above the Bible.
• Academics who judge and belittle the Scriptures.
• Pressure to conform at a school or a job.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

One pastor I know warned a false teacher in his synod with this verse, and made it clear the professor was not following the Scriptures. The pastor was kicked out and the professor became the seminary president.

The methods (literal Greek) or wiles of Satan are so seductive that when they are identified, Satanic rage follows. One synodocat raged at me while defending "methods," as he called them. If methods (gimmicks, tricks, hooks) were so wonderful, why was he furious than anyone would quote St. Paul against them?

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

This is language of the battlefield, which means standing in place rather than running away. The effect of standing and withstanding is to discourage the enemy. When Islamic forces could not rattle or scare the forces of Charles the Hammer, they left the next day. Bravery in the face of horses charging them turned the love of battle into "Let's go home" and they did.

Warfare is the reason "stand" is used so often in this brief passage. It is a spiritual war and not a prosperity contest.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

1. Truth
2. Breastplate of righteousness
3. Gospel of Peace
4. Shield of the Faith
5. Helmet of Salvation
6. Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.

This begins with truth and the basic garment of the armored Roman soldier. Our greatest protection is having the unique revelation of truth from God, inspired, infallible, inerrant. When a guide said ocean life was way up in the sandstone of the Grand Canyon, because of of evolution, I said, "Or the Flood." He turned and said, "There are people who say that" (in agreement). People can laugh and jeer - the worst are Biblical "scholars and their disciples. But the truth wins and suggests to the timid opponents that they are wrong.

The breastplate is the Righteousness of Faith. People cannot figure out or heal their own problems. Proof is on the bookshelves of libraries and surviving bookstores. And some just trust their feelings and find themselves lost in a maze of contradictions. But the soldier in this battle has forgiveness through faith in Christ. That must be a powerful concept to many, because they scream and rage against it. One white-haired Lutheran pastor/teacher called Justification by Faith "anti-Gospel." But forgiveness is only through faith in Christ, and three times (at least) "the faith of Christ." Those who denounce faith should pause to consider this weighty phrase - justification comes to us primarily because of the faith of Christ. In His human nature, He trusted the calendar of the Father and the intent of the Father to atone for the sins of the world through His crucifixion. That took faith - as Paul wrote in Romans - from faith to faith.  I take that as from the faith of Jesus to our faith, the Gospel is revealed.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

And it follows that the Gospel of Peace, peace through forgiveness, is a great strength in this life-long battle. Where we walk, how we stand - that is entirely shaped and determined by the peace that comes from forgiveness in Christ, faith in Christ. 

Faith can be seen as The Faith and also as faith in Christ. I believe this passage is using The Faith, all we believe to be true through the Word. Paul could be a great example. He had already been on the other side and He had seen and was tutored by the risen Christ. How could he be daunted by the Roman Empire and the Pharisees. He might even have been told, "The Roman Empire has peaked. Your apostle friends, who were your enemies, will conquer it."

The helmet of salvation reminds us of the foolishness of going to war without a helmet, or even racing a bike without one. The brain is a marvelous computer and nerve center of all bodily operations. Sometimes it even conquers our feelings and impulses, though seldom at Thanksgiving. Salvation from God means He forgave our sins and He gave us eternal life. When we heard this message, the treasure of the Gospel was distributed to us through the Means of Grace. I was just a baby at a Congregational church that would merge and close, so I do not remember. However, I never was without faith in Christ and grew up with that faith. 

The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. When Christian battled the Destroyer, he was all but finished when he pulled out the Sword and defended himself. The story, like Luther's explanation of the first three Commandments (Large Catechism) is a constant reminder of the truth that the Word conquers any product from Satan.