ICHABOD, THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED - explores the Age of Apostasy, predicted in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, to attack Objective Faithless Justification, Church Growth Clowns, and their ringmasters. The antidote is trusting the efficacious Word in the Means of Grace. John 16:8. Isaiah 55:8ff. Romans 10. Most readers are WELS, LCMS, ELS, or ELCA. This blog also covers the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, and the National Council of Churches.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
The greatest work of Psalm 91 comes from God's advice, which is greatly ignored, rejecting the overflowing grace of His work. We fall into the trap of worrying and assuming the worst. That only builds in its negativism. Falsehood deflects away from the Faith of Jesus, who is always with us, to build upon His patience and forgiveness. What a difference it makes to concentrate on what God delights! The Bible is full of His will and forgiveness.
Jesus is His lifelong example, from the moment we are born to our pass into eternal life through the Savior.
91 1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Judge me, O God: and plead my cause against an ungodly nation.
Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man: for Thou art the God of my strength.
Psalm. Oh, send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill.
The Gloria Patri The Kyrie p. 17 The Gloria in Excelsis The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
We beseech Thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon Thy people, that by
Thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore both
in body and soul; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Gradual
Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies; teach me to do Thy will.
He delivereth me from mine enemies: yes. Thou liftest me up above those that rise against me; Thou hast delivered me: Thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
Tract. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth.
May Israel now say: many a time have they afflicted me from my youth.
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 #410Jesus Lead Thou On
Prayers and Announcements
In our prayers - Pastor Jim Shrader, Dr. Lito Cruz and his family, Sarah Buck.
Matt Howell had a birthday recently.
KJV Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
KJV John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. 48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? 49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? 54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
Not of God
KJV John 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
The Fourth Gospel has so much to teach us - and with such clarity. Matthew-Mark-Luke give us a lifetime of study and John gathers it all together in one phrase - Faith in Jesus.
Faith in Jesus is not just a theme but the bedrock of everything He says and does. This Faith in Jesus is both the foundation and the ultimate truth. The miraculous change of water into wine showed that little wedding party in Cana His ability to accomplish anything we can imagine - and far beyond that miracle. He enraged the officials in Jerusalem, John 2 after the wedding, because the Temple was distorted into a multi-national Walmart.
This comes down to believing rather than doing. The truly hip churches now feature their personal garments to wear as their "merch" to buy - and many more travesties, which are always promoted with great excitement and errors. That began with a "new" Bible in 1881 - exciting new wording! And everything unraveled from there, so the basis was the latest and not the best.
The miracles of Jesus were displayed so all the people would believe rather than try topurchase. After carrying the burden of works so long - with little relief - they longed to have healing, peace, and forgiveness - Faith in Jesus.
48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
Faith in Jesus enrages unbelievers. Some are filled with anger. Others sneer about faith. Still others find ways to compromise - the elixir of modernism, which lets people pick here and there to approve the message. Two great insults are thrown at Jesus - one is that He belongs to the hated Samaritans (in Luke Jesus is the Samaritan, the Good Samaritan, a mystery to many do-gooders). The other is that He belongs to Satan. One Church Growther denied that he was a Church Growther even though he "earned" a D.Min. in Church Growth. A pastor from the ELS was outraged that I criticized CG! Hatred is the response that comes from unbelievers pretending to have something better, more successful, more winsome.
49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
Isn't it strange - or natural - that our technology consists of yes and no, one and zero? One of my early computer courses had all of us using binary (the old fashioned version) and most students fell into despair using 0 and 1 instead of base 10. The basis of the universe is Yes or No, Light or Darkness, Truth or Falsehood.
Jesus made this clear - there is life and death, only.
52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
Abraham is the Faith of Faith in the New Testament. The Genesis 15:6 passage is clear. Abraham's faith concerns his impossible age with a first-born son but also the continuous Promise that would lead to King David and then the King of Kings, Jesus.
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
This is the clearest possible message about Jesus the Son and His Father. That is why so many academics (hipsters, philosophers, modernists etc) scorn the Fourth Gospel, the miracles of Jesus and the Holy Trinity. One does not simply scoff at the Chief Article of the Bible - Justification by Faith in Jesus Christ. This builds up so that no one is confused unless that person cannot grasp the words clearly.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was,I AM.
The Son is from everlasting. When God spoke and said "Let there be Light," He was ordering the Son to execute the command. John's Gospel revealed this clearly.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
This shows how Jesus' His divine nature was not limited by His human nature, because an ordinary man would have been killed in short order.
This passage in John is a bundle of divine knowledge, which moves us to rely on that power freely given to us, according to God's wisdom, power, and sense of timing.
Exodus 3:2And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AMhath sent me unto you.
Genesis 15:6And he [Abraham] believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Prayer
O Lord Jesus Christ, we thank Thee, that of Thine infinite mercy Thou hast instituted this Thy sacrament, in which we eat Thy body and drink Thy blood: Grant us, we beseech Thee, by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not receive this gift unworthily, but that we may confess our sins, remember Thine agony and death, believe the forgiveness of sin, and day by day grow in faith and love, until we obtain eternal salvation through Thee, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.
O what a beautiful morning! O what a beautiful day! The sun is shining! The birds are singing cheerfully in the trees! The grass is growing! My sheep and cows are playfully bucking and kicking! The 3 days of brutal winter weather is over!
As I pondered the apostles creed the word "almighty" stood out for me with greater meaning and emphasis.
I believe in God the Father ALMIGHTY.
Yes, God our Heavenly Father is ALMIGHTY, mercifully putting our salvation under His own Almighty Will instead of our own will and invented works.
"My Father which gave them me is greater than all. And no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." John 10
Yes, God our Heavenly Father is ALMIGHTY, mercifully begetting us with the word of truth by His own will instead of our will and invented works.
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures." James 1:17,18
Yes, God our Heavenly Father is ALMIGHTY, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." I Peter 1:2-5
Yes, God our Heavenly Father is ALMIGHTY, blessing us with all spiritual blessings, and has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world and has predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of His will instead of according to our own will and invented works. We have not chosen God or Christ by the powers of our own will and invented works. God has chosen us to be in Christ according to His own will!
" Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ." Ephesians 1:3-12
Yes, God our Heavenly Father is ALMIGHTY, giving us His only begotten Son to bear our sins, death, and hell so we may have faith in Jesus and be given eternal life according to His abundant mercy and grace instead of according to our own will and invented works.
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:13-19
Yes, God our Heavenly Father is ALMIGHTY, giving us food, clothing, and all our goods, daily protecting us from all evil to our body and soul, and causing wars to cease unto the end of the earth, especially the wars in Ukraine and Iran.
Psalm 136
King James Version
136 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2 O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4 To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5 To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
6 To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
7 To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
8 The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
So let us DESPAIR and DESPISE our own will, reasoning, and devotional endeavors to get closer to God. Learn Christ! Learn to trust in Him instead of your own invented endeavors!! So now Dr. Martin Luther asks you a very important question:
"I wish to know the condition of your heart, whether you have at last come to loathe your own righteousness and desire to rejoice in the righteousness of Christ and to be of good cheer because of it. For in these days the temptation to presumptuousness is very strong, particularly in those who strive with might and main to be righteous and godly and do not know of the altogether immaculate righteousness of God which is freely given us in Christ. As a result of this they are searching for something good in themselves until they become confident that they can pass muster before God as a people who are properly adorned with virtuous and meritorious deeds, - all of which is impossible. While you were with us, you held this opinion, or rather error, just as I did. For my part, I am still wrestling with this error and am not quite rid of it yet. Therefore, my dear brother, learn Christ - Christ crucified. Learn to sing praises to Him and to despair utterly of your own works...Ponder this love of His, and you will realize His sweetest consolation. For if we must achieve rest of conscience by our own toil and worry, for what purpose did He die? Therefore you are to find peace in Him by a hearty despair of yourself and your own works. And now that He has received you, made your sins His and His righteousness yours, learn also from Him firmly to believe this, as behooves you; for cursed is everyone who does not believe it." (Dr. Martin Luther, St. L. Ed., XXIa, 20f or Law and Gospel, CPH, pg. 109-110
I became Augustana when I left the Disciples of Christ and joined Salem Lutheran Church across the street (at age 16). My mother encouraged me to attend Augustana College, which is where she graduated. Christina and her sister also joined.
Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois
Salem's parish members were part of the Moline High School graduates of 1966.
My parents became Lutheran - on the conservative side - (LCMS-WELS) over a period of time.
First Lutheran Church of Sioux Falls, S.D., constructed this building between 1925-1930.
The Augustana Synod was absorbed by the Lutheran Church in America, which merged with The ALC and smaller groups, leading to to ELCA, now numbering only 2.7 million members after starting out with 5.5 million total.
We can increase our spiritual energy (aka efficacy) by reading and repeating Biblical passages. I tell people about Psalm 91, reading it out loud to myself every day. It is not for sissies - many soldiers have been enormously motivated by this one psalm.
And - this is a surprising and overlooked - Psalm 2.
Psalm 2Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Repetition is the key to remembering. We all know that is also a way to help memory as we become older. (I have felt those memories fade; it is not a good feeling.)
Bibles and Luther's books are filled with treasures.
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