Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity, 2021
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
https://video.ibm.com/channel/bethany-lutheran-worship
The Hymn #578 Before the Lord We Bow - Francis S. Key
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The whole world is in Thy power, O Lord, King Almighty:
there is no man that can gainsay Thee.
For Thou hast made heaven and earth and all the wondrous things under the heaven:
Thou art Lord of all.
Psalm. Blessed are the undefiled in the way:
who walk in the Law of the Lord.
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
Lord, Thou hast been our Dwelling Place: in all generations.
V. Before the mountains were brought forth or ever T
hou hadst formed the earth and the world: even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion: which cannot be removed, but abideth forever. Hallelujah!
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
Christian Soldiers - Don the Armor
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?
Prayers and Announcements
- One year ago - Blessings on newborn Helen Jane Fagan, daughter of Abby and Corey Fagan, Brett and Amy Meyer - grandparents, Alicia Meyer - great-grandmother.
- Last Saturday, Pastor Jackson performed the wedding of Michael Oak, a baptized member of our church, and Amanda Meyer, daughter of Brett and Amy, granddaughter of Alicia Meyer and the late Gary Meyer. Alice Fagan was the flower girl.
- Last week was the seventh wedding anniversary of Travis and Lauren Cartee.
- Prayers answered - Evie, the granddaughter of Pastor Jim Shrader and his wife Chris, faced a sudden downturn in health and is now home and recovering.
- We no longer use the software from the early days of Ustream, but we continue to use IBM to distribute the signal. That web address is the same.
- The email software tanked, so another program is being used - with the same email addresses - greg.jackson.edlp@gmail.com, bethanylutheranworship@gmail.com. However our members' and friends' addresses have to be reorganized.
KJV 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 demonic powers were the product of paganism, which had no use for the Christian Faith. Others were necessary for dealing with those within the visible church who taught falsehoods. As George Washington practiced during our fight for freedom, the spiritual weapons were the most important ones.
Christian Soldiers - Don the Armor
KJV Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Each phrase has meaning in Paul's letters. Writing and copying were quite a bit more expensive in time, labor, and distribution than copy and paste today. When the words are so condensed, they are that much more valuable.
I was reading in Pickering (about the Greek text) that the standard copies (expensive parchment/skin) were the source at the mother churches for the papyrus (paper) copies needed for the newer local churches.
Finally is the summary transition word, and it implies - Listen up, for all the Spirit-breathed truths are going to be pictured for you, so clearly that no one forget them when they see a Roman soldier, or even an army, marching by.
My brethren - the Apostle Paul is expressing the closeness they all have as believers, belonging to Christ as brothers, a great truth and an inspiring, encouraging word.
Be strong (dynamite) in the Lord - is an exhortation, a command to be brave in the face of all kinds of threats. That included torture, exile, prison, and death. The command to be strong is not lacking in support, because the source is named next, the reason why we can be strong even if we feel weak and helpless. That applies in our national situation, which is so much like pagan Rome, and also in individuals who are beaten down by medical disorders, losses, and apparent defeats.
and in the power of his might.
10 το λοιπον αδελφοι μου ενδυναμουσθε εν κυριω και εν τω κρατει της ισχυος αυτου
The word power, dynamis, is associated with the Holy Spirit, and Nobel turned the Greek word into dynamite. This is very important because the divine power of the Spirit is expressed throughout the Bible, Old and New Testaments. In phrase, which Paul often reveals, the strength he urges is trusting in the power of the Spirit, the power of His might, that -
- Created the universe and all elements and living creatures within.
- Parted the Red Sea, opened the rock for water, and brought down manna from heaven.
- Leveled the enemies of Israel.
- Imbued Jesus with that power since He was and is the Word.
- Raised the Lord Jesus Christ from dead.
- Enthroned Him on the right hand of God the Father.
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| Duerer |
Pentecostals will talk about power as if they have that power, and that power will do things for them. That is often expressed as the power separate from the Word, so it is Enthusiasm.
Paul is saying, "You have the power to be strong in the Lord through the Word He has entrusted to you."
Pilgrim's Progress - Christian was locked in Castle of Doom, hearing the giant Despair talk to his wife about the upcoming torture and death of his prisoner. Christian was told, "You have the answer in your pocket." And there they were - the Promises of God, all of them having power. So Christian escaped by unlocking the doors with the Promises.
We should all be glad that the power is in the Word, not directly in us. Having the power through the Word of God, we are encouraged and exhorted to use that power.
The aging apostates on ALPB Online Forum remind me regularly that they cannot even speak in the words of the Scriptures, a common problem today. The famous or infamous DP Benke (Yankee Stadium pan-religion prayer) writes about exciting new ministries that solve problems. What happened to preaching the Gospel of Faith in Jesus Christ and letting the fruits of the Spirit from God rather than Fuller and Willow Creek.
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| "Synod will pay for our studies at Fuller Seminary. Yay!" |
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| "Ladies. Willow Creek will only use feminist Bibles, like the NIV. They have so much to teach us." |
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.
Paul gets to the armor of God by introducing it first as the "whole armor of God," meaning nothing should be omitted, as in a well armed lacking one item, like his battlefield shoes. Did you ever go out for the mail barefooted, in a rush, only to walk on sharp gravel or something thorny - like a dried up rose clipping? Nothing above the feet matters when an item is embedded in tender flesh.
All of the armor needs to be worn because we are not dealing merely with ordinary humans but with people filled with malice and the power of their Father Below. This demonic power goes all the way to governing powers and corrupts, spoils, and taxes whatever we have.
The fact that we have Bibles that mock the Word of God by changing meanings, adding falsehoods, and erasing verse after verse - that should be proof enough. But the leadership is no better, insisting on bad Bibles as a business and doctrine deal, mocking faithful teachers of past.
No one has worked harder for the title Antichrist than Pope Francis, SJ, who is attacking his own people, as Bishop Jefferts-Schori did in The Episcopal Church.
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.
Repetition emphasizes that the whole armor is essential and not to be neglected. It is required when standing up to Satanic forces. Thus Christian is shown completely beaten by Apollyon the Destroyer, until he raises the shield of The Faith and the Sword of the Spirit.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
The truth is clearly the Scriptures, because the Bible is judge by no book, and the Bible judges all books. All the modernists and Growthers want to demote the Bible so they can insert their own ideas. But God has revealed Himself in only one Book and only one religion Christianity.
The breastplate of righteousness is the righteousness of faith, which was clearly established with Abraham as the example, Genesis 15:6. He believed the Promises of the Messianic Kingdom and that he would start that line. People overlook the greater Promise because Abraham was promised a son at an almost impossible age and his wife a son at a truly impossible age. Concentrating on that, faith is ignored, faith in the designs and plans of God.
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Tenderfeet do not appreciate the roughness of the Way, so we must be prepared for difficulties all the time. If we are prepared for the Gospel of peace, and practice forgiveness through faith in Christ, the journey is still difficult but filled with many blessings.
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
I agree with this being the shield of The Faith. The noun is used in various ways. This shield is created by the Gospel, but we must continuously go back to what the will of God is in our lives. We must read the Bible with humility, which strengthens our faith in God, His loving-kindness, and His grace.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Salvation through Christ protects and defends the brain against mortal wounds. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God, so brilliantly revealed in Hebrews 4.
