01112015 Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ

Sermon Audio

January 11, 2015

Perfect Submission: How to…

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord our Rock and our Redeemer.  AMEN.

If you have ever filled out a form, whether at the Doctor’s Office, for a driver’s license or even the FSA office you have a good understanding of submission.  Unlike what kids are used to doing in our current computer age with iPads, where there is a button that says, “Submit”, in the old days it was a very unique process.  You actually had to use a pencil and hand the form to the person who was sitting right in front of you.  And while they looked over your form, you waited.  Depending upon the length of the form it could take a few minutes.  But the reality was you had to wait, not go anywhere and wait for instructions of the next step and how to proceed.  You had to fully submit to someone else having the power and authority over your current and future actions.  This morning in our celebration and from our lessons we hear about submission, not in forms, but of actions and their impact upon the plan of salvation.

Today we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord, Jesus Christ by John the Baptist.  In perfect submission, Jesus Christ had to submit Himself to Holy Baptism by John the Baptist.  John Jesus cousin, who had leapt in his mother’s womb when he heard Mary’s voice upon her entrance into her cousins home now stood at a cross roads in his life.  Either demand Jesus baptize him that is John, or John would fully submit himself to be used by God to baptize the promised Messiah.  For John it would have been interesting to hear what was going through his mind and heart at this particular moment and the either the struggles or the pure joy of completing God’s plan of salvation.

For those of us gathered here when we encounter decisions to be made in our daily lives, all of us think about the opportunities, outcomes and weigh the options.  But our decisions we make today about the farm, our family or our future here on earth might seem more important or have greater meaning for us today than John’s choice 2000 years ago.  However, John the Baptist was at a clear cross roads in his relationship with God.  If he chose to demand to be baptized by the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ, John would have chosen the self-centered selfish route and not shown clear submission to God’s divine will and perfect plan.  If John refused to baptize Jesus, scripture prophecies from the Old Testament would not have been fulfilled.  Like dominoes that are lined up and prepared to topple, one choice by John would not only have an effect in the then and there, but would clearly have a domino effect upon we who gather here today at Emmanuel to celebrate the Baptism of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Some people look at these celebrations of the church that we honor and remember both as being more “Catholic”, even as ancient history and unimportant or having no affect or effect upon our lives today.  Whether the celebration be Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and even Jesus Baptism, there are some, even who call themselves Christian, who say, I only need Jesus, not these festival days.  Yet there is a fact that is unmistakable and shows their self-centeredness when they question these celebrations.  The celebration of each of these milestones is not about us who gather, but about the God that we honor and worship.  These milestones are a clear and concise reminder of what God has done, is doing and will continue to do for all of mankind in the future.  When we celebrate these events we enter into the greatest opportunity to be submissive to God’s divine plan and it’s completion.

God’s plan is perfect and has a single simple goal in mind.  God’s goal is for us to be in the kingdom of God for all eternity.  There are some who want clear reassurance, in essence to hear people confess and say they have faith in Jesus Christ in order to be assured of the fulfillment of the promise of eternal life and that they will be in the kingdom, but the fact remains, words can be used to deceive, what matters is what is in our heart.  We have only one thing we as Christians can do, rely upon the grace of God and declare the grace of God that is for all of mankind that Jesus Christ offers.  When we declare this grace we are then submissive to God and His perfect plan.

When we rely upon God’s grace and submit ourselves to God’s perfect will and way and offer the gift of grace, we change the landscape and offer ourselves in perfect submission to God.  Just as John submitted himself to God’s plan by baptizing Jesus Christ and the heavens were opened and those who witnessed heard God’s voice from heaven and saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove.  When we submit ourselves to God’s perfect plan and willfully submit our lives to God, God will use us in kingdom work.  The kingdom work will bring glory, not to ourselves, but point to God’s full and complete action of salvation found on the cross of Calvary for all mankind.

So, the question for each of us today is clear, will you be submissive to God’s plan, work and action and the fulfillment of God’s perfect plan, or will you be self-centered, selfish and not submit yourself to God’s will and way?  Your decision will impact not only your life today, but will have a lifelong impact as to God’s continuous action in your life from this day forward.

The plan of salvation God offered to each of us does not change with our answer of being submissive or not, but by our decisions, we can and do change our potential impact upon our world, our community, our church and especially our family.  For God’s plan is very clear of Jesus Christ willingness to submit Himself to being baptized by John.  And John’s willingness to not be selfish, and baptize Jesus in order that mankind would be in God’s kingdom for all eternity.  For this is the gift of grace God offers all of mankind, but especially including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this morning.  AMEN.

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03122014 Wednesday of Lent 1

Sermon Audio

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.  AMEN.

When this country was settled, there was not an excess of paper, nor computers or as many law offices as we have today.  There was only one thing that had any validity, it was man’s word.  It didn’t matter if it was for water rights, cattle sale or even how families would divide the land homesteaded by their parents, a man’s word was his bond.  It would stand up in court and nobody doubted or denied the validity of a man’s word.

This history not only is important, but clearly connects to us how God’s Word has impact and importance for us here today.  The Word of God that we have had passed down from generation to generation as contained in the Holy Bible is true.  Unlike society which has changed, God’s Word and the intent we find has not changed from the Garden of Eden, to the desert where God’s people toiled for 40 years to Jerusalem where Jesus was killed to us today that sit here in Goodland, KS.  God’s word is the bed rock which we can know God and believe that God has not changed.

Now man’s interpretation has changed, whether from the understanding of words to the application here in the world, but God’s Word has not changed.  For God’s Word has one intent in mind and that is the salvation of all of mankind.  God’s Word from Genesis pointed to the coming of a figure that would redeem mankind.  The prophets continuously looked for the coming Messiah and celebrated yearly this remembrance in the Seder and Passover feast.  And when Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, changed water to wine, calmed the storm and raised Lazarus from the dead, Jesus was the manifestation of the greatest love from God for us, His children.  And in Holy Scripture we have this unchanging Word of God that is True even for us today.

Yet, daily God’s Word is under attack.  Whether in society, schools or even and especially by Satan himself.  God’s Word is under attack and we, the children of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit are the ones who can walk the line and keep God’s Word pure.  For God’s Word being true connects with us tonight as we continue our series about baptism.  For without God’s Word connected to Water Holy Baptism would not have the meaning, validity nor value that is clearly offered unto us today.

In Holy Baptism when God’s Word connected to Water washes us clean it connects us directly to the promises of God.  We should not doubt, but daily Satan tries to get us to doubt God and His Word.  This has been the tactic used by Satan from the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve and even continues with each of us today.  When we doubt God and His Word we jeopardize our salvation.  God’s Word does not change and if we doubt it then we are in folly and Satan the father of lies has won the victory.  But God does not give up that easily on us nor His Word.  God clearly calls us to believe in His Word as truth, because in it we find the greatest gift from Him.

The greatest gift in His Word is the promises found in our Baptism into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection.  We receive in this Sacrament the truth of generations that clearly sets us free from the bonds of death and frees us to eternal life.  These are the promises that are fulfilled when we are washed with the Blood of the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.  These are the promises that God offers to us when we believe His Word as truth and trust fully in the divine gifts offered for us at the font.  For when we are brought to the font and washed clean, we no longer are bound but shielded by God’s Armor of the Word of God.  In the Word of God we find the truth of the grace God offers us and sets us free to embrace.  For this freedom is for all of mankind, but especially all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel who believe that God’s Word is true and that in our baptism God offers us the truth of the forgiveness of sins for each and every one of us.  AMEN.

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03052014 Ash Wednesday Sermon

Sermon Audio

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.  AMEN.

We begin this series of Mid-Week Lenten messages at the one place we are at times brought to and for others come to on their own.  It is not like school, nor Grandma’s and Grandpa’s house, nor is it where we buy something like Wal-Mart.  The place we begin our Lenten journey is simply the Baptismal Font.

When I was ordained here at Emmanuel, the Baptismal Font was one of the focal points that was extremely important in the service and that I took my responsibility within the congregation for the means of Grace found in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.  I received at the font a shell, signifying the pouring of water over the head of the individual.  Yet it was not just water, it was Water connected with Word in the invocation of the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit that makes us co-heirs with all of mankind in the gift of Grace and Eternal Life.

At the beginning of the Rite of Holy Baptism, there is a set of instructions which not only tells what the Pastor and Congregation are to do, but also includes something more precious for all of us.  It is the story of salvation that is shared.  The story connects the person being baptized with all who have had the Water and Word poured over them for all eternity.  For some the importance may be mundane, unimportant or just ancient history, but clearly the importance is that this even occurred with Jesus Christ when He was baptized by John in the river Jordan.  When the story begins the connection of the Water and the nourishment we receive is tangible and clear.  As the water is poured into the font the story unfolds how we and all things are sustained by Water.  Here in Western Kansas this is especially true where water is such a precious commodity and its use either spells a crop or a lack there of.

Following the story we hear the connection with the flood that decimated the entire world and spared only Noah and his family.  The clear grace that was given to Noah, because of his faithfulness to listen to God in calling for him to build an ark connects with us even today.  Then the reminder of Israel being led by the pillar of cloud and fire to the Promised Land from slavery to freedom.  And finally the connection we have with Jesus Christ in His baptism and anointing with the Holy Spirit in the river Jordan.  This symbol of Water connected with Word is clear and tangible and enables us to understand our connection not only with each other in our Baptism, but with Jesus Christ and His Gospel of salvation found in His life, death and resurrection for all mankind.

But why the story, why the drama, why the reminder of history?  We hear and heed this, because within the story and the rite is the clear and manifest gift of grace offered for each and every one of us by Jesus Christ.  We need to be reminded of the gifts of grace offered to and for us through Jesus Christ.  These gifts we remember in the story and the water, because water is something we need not only on a daily basis, but need reminded of and pointed to of our salvation every single day.  For without Water connected with Word, in Jesus Christ, we would be lost for all eternity.  When we connect with that the ashes we place on our forehead tonight, this is our reminder that from dust we are made and to dust we shall return, but through our baptism into Jesus Christ life, death and resurrection, we have the promises of eternal life.  This is the promise that God made to us on Calvary with Jesus death, and which we are baptized into for all eternity. 

May we when we hear the story, remember the promise of grace and salvation and may we clearly be reminded that we are not only marked with the Cross of Christ in our baptism, but promised in our baptism that we are His.  And this promise is made for all of mankind, but especially including all of us saints gathered here at Emmanuel this Ash Wednesday evening as we receive the ashes in the sign of the cross on our forehead.  AMEN.