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| Matthew 8:23-27 |
Bethany Lutheran Church
Springdale, Arkansas
Pastor Gregory L. Jackson
Hymn #648 I Am Jesus Little Lamb
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 Epistle and Gradual Romans 13:8-10
The Gospel Matthew 8:23-27
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Sermon Hymn #649 Jesus Savior Pilot Me
Hymn #307 Draw Nigh
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
Hymn #341 Crown Him With Many Crowns
- Zoom tests will start this week, via emails which are the link. Let me know if you do not get them.
- Medical care - Pastor Jim Shrader, Lori Howell, Randy Anderson, Kermit Way, Sarah Buck.
- Alicia Meyer thanks Bethany Lutheran Church for the flowers. She is getting better.
- Avelin Anderson, 8 pounds, 1 ounce, was born January 24th one year ago.
KJV Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
KJV Matthew 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
Lord God, heavenly Father, who in Thy divine wisdom and fatherly goodness makest Thy children to bear the cross, and sendest divers afflictions upon us to subdue the flesh, and quicken our hearts unto faith, hope and unceasing prayer: We beseech Thee to have mercy upon us, and graciously deliver us out of our trials and afflictions, so that we may perceive Thy grace and fatherly help, and with all saints forever praise and worship Thee; through Thy dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
Asleep in the Boat
KJV Matthew 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
This Gospel, as a narrative, gives us an example of faith and unbelief, in order that we may learn how mighty the power of faith is, and that it of necessity has to do with great and terrible things and that it accomplishes nothing but wonders; and that on the other hand unbelief is so fainthearted, shamefaced and trembling with fear that it can do nothing whatever.
KJV John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
Epiphany - Jesus Seen by the Wise Men
Epiphany 1- Jesus Talking with the Elders
Epiphany 2 - Jesus Turned Water into Wine
Epiphany 3 - Jesus Cured the Centurion's Servant
Epiphany 4 - Jesus Is Asleep in the Storm.
The word epiphany is used for the divine power of the Son of God revealed to others, and miracles are the visible sign of Jesus' work. People fall prey to doubts and fears, even when their knowledge includes a lot of Biblical evidence. This season leads to Lent, where faith was tested and the faith of Jesus strengthened the disciples in their fears and doubts.
This miracle is especially memorable because the disciples left with Jesus after the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5 - 7, and were in the boat with Him when a fierce storm struck. They were in a state of terror, yet Jesus was asleep.
KJV Mark 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
This is the great battle, between faith and fear, one working wonders of the highest rank, fear doing the opposite - making us weak, shameful, quivering in fear, crying that there is no hope.
How many students have stormed out of the classroom because the test was too great? Or quit because everything seemed overwhelming? Previous difficulties can foster fear and create an almost instant response to the problem because it is happening again. The ship was swamped with the waves crashing over the hull. We often say we are swamped at work, but this was life-threatening.
We are very courageous when nothing is happening, but even the fear of something can make reason and faith fly out the window.
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
The disciples were especially upset because of Jesus! They were alive, but wet, and cold, and they fear the next blast from the storm. "Lord, save us. We are perishing!" As Luther observed, fear makes faith fly out the window.
For it is the great characteristic and power of faith to see what is not visible, and not to see what is visible, yea, that which at the time drives and oppresses us; just as unbelief can see only what is visible and can not in the least cleave to what is invisible.
26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
The great pity is we have overwhelming numbers of clergy, professors, and synodical managers - who are followers of the fads, not leaders of faith. Two recent fads are Refuge and Unstuck. Both are contrary to the Scriptures, which is their desire.
Faith begins with Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the One who explains God the Father to us, and the Holy Spirit is source of that spiritual knowledge. Where would we be without the comfort and inspiration of the Savior. The managers, professors, and clergy are too overwhelmed with doubt to teach the truth about Jesus Christ. In the echo chamber of the Now, these sayings build up in their minds and the congregations are deprived of the Gospel.
Seminary students are not taught the Truth, but the status quo of loving and obeying Holy Mother Synod. Try to prove Walther was less than divine - the hatred and scorn will be the waves crashing on your little boat. Fellow students will laugh at someone who takes the Scriptures seriously, especially in Hebrew and Greek. The Greek New Testament they are given (Unfaith Bible Society and/or Apostate Bible Society) is a joke borrowed from Tischendorf (Codex Sinaiticus hoax) and Westcott/Hort (the secret Greek New Testament behind the Revised KJV that flopped). The CPH Gospel of Mark two-volume set uses the Vatican Codex as its model, as if Rome protected it from error. It is very common today to have these great scholars - ahem - say Mark ends with Mark 16:8, so there is no empty tomb, no risen Christ.
We should follow Luther's example in faithfulness and note that the unseen things are the most powerful, coming from God, and following their own schedule, not ours. The things we see or anticipate seeing are fearful to us. That is why we should end the day with prayer to God through Jesus Christ. The first part should be thankfulness to God for family, friends, fellow believers, blessings from God, etc. Asking forgiveness is another part. Addressing needs and fears are also an important part of prayers. Even Jesus said, "If it is Your will, take this cup from Me."
Fears come upon us but they are vanquished by faith in the Savior. The false teachers are victims of their own fears. They do not want to be scolded by their peers or lose choice benefits, so they take the easy way which leads the fear-mongers to say, "Atta-boy, atta-girl." That is how the radical unbelievers took over the denominations.
But no matter how bad things are - that which we see - the blessings and eternal life are invisible and yet the surest thing in life itself, through Christ.
The end.
