Ash Wednesday: Mt. 6,16-21.

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

Here you can read this Ash Wednesday’s confessional address on the gospel of St. Matthew in the sixth chapter verses sixteen to twenty-one: Mt 6,16-21 Confession 2016.2.10 and listen here too: 

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Morning prayer on Tuesdays: Luke 9,18-22

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

Here’s this mornings sermon preached in St.Timothy’s chapel of the Lutheran Theological Seminary by Rev Dr. K. Boehmer on Luke 9,18-22:  Now it happened that as [Jesus] was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Grace and peace be yours in abundance!

My bank account is with Nedbank. Every time I have a problem with my account, or when I have a question, I call the Nedbank contact center. Every time, we follow the same routine, the same rigmarole. I have to provide my identity number, my name, my account number, and answer some security questions – and then comes the question. They ask it every time. I think it is part of their training. They say: So how can I make things happen for you? How can I make things happen for you – how wonderful it would be if they really meant that. Imagine – just imagine you could tell someone on the telephone with your problems are, your needs, your wants, your desires; all you needed to do was to tell them, and then they would make things happen for you. I can think of many things that I would ask them to make happen for me. Good day, you’re speaking with Nedbank, how can I make things happen for you? – But that’s not really what they want to know, is it. What they really want to know is: What is your problem with your bank account, and how can I help you solve it, because that’s what I get paid to do?

Some people think that’s what prayer is. It is a telephone call to God, if you will, and it follows the same routine. Imagine God sits there and says: So, how can I make things happen for you? If you had that chance, if you could tell God whatever was on your heart or on your mind or weighing you down, and what you wanted done, and he would make it happen – what would it be? Well… there’s this problem with my visa. Could you make that go away? Well… there’s this problem with my money. I don’t have any. Can you help? Well… there’s this problem with my studies. The lecturers give too much homework. Could you help me out?

For some time now, Jesus had been at work among the people of God. A preacher like none before him, a healer with miraculous capabilities, a teacher like no other, he raises the dead, he wows the crowds, he casts out demons, he feeds 5,000 and more in one sitting – who is this man? Well, what’s the vibe, what’s the scoop, who do the people think he is? Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, others that he is one of the profits back from the dead. But they’re all wrong. They all pick a supporting actor instead of the lead role, a flunky instead of the star. But then comes Peter’s big moment. “You are… the Christ of God.” At that moment, heaven probably reverberated with the praise and worship of choirs of angels and heavenly beings praising God with delight and wonder and veneration and awe.

Now imagine – just imagine – Jesus responding to Peter and saying: You’re right, I am the Christ, how can I make things happen for you? Imagine Jesus turning to the people of Israel and saying: All right, the secret’s out, I am the Christ, the promised Anointed One, how can I make things happen for you? You could safely bet that people would ask for all kinds of things. Health, wealth, happiness, fame and joy and fortune. National self-determination, military successes, the scrapping of the Pax Romana for the Pax Iudaica, scratch the Roman Empire and make way for the Jewish Empire and the eternal Golden Age. People would want all kinds of things to happen.

The irony is that Jesus says something similar; in effect, he says: You’re right, I am the Christ, and I’ve come to make things happen for you. And here’s what that means: “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Instead of taking away their suffering, and their national suffering, the Christ comes to add suffering of his own. Instead of compensating for their rejection by the world, the Christ comes to be rejected himself. Instead of preventing their death, the Christ comes to be killed himself. The coming of Jesus as the Christ is God answer to the world’s problems, to Israel’s problems, to Peter’s problems, and to yours. It is God saying: I see your need, I am moved by it, let me make things happen for you, and here’s how I’m going to do it… And – worst of all – this isn’t optional. It’s not as if they have a choice. They don’t have a say, you don’t have a say. It’s right there in the Greek, that little word, just three letters, δεῖ – the Son of Man must suffer and be rejected and killed and raised. This is divine necessity, it is God saying: This must be so, there is no other way. It is as Scripture explains in Acts 4: The rejection and the suffering and the killing and the dying Jesus experienced came about because God’s hand and his plan had predestined it to take place (Acts 4:28). The prophets foretold it, this is how it would be. This is God looking at your life, and mine, and saying: I see your need and here’s how I will meet it.

Jesus challenges Peter’s expectations and he challenges yours and mine as he clarifies what God needs to do to make things happen for you. This is what you need: A messiah who will suffer for you, who will be rejected for you, who will die for you, who will be raised for you. It is painful to admit that this is what we need. A Messiah who will suffer and die for us, to make up for our failures and rebellions. To address our sin of idolatry and insurrection, and to free us from the curse of sin. To provide forgiveness and reconciliation with our Creator. This is how it is: Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (Heb. 9:22). For you to live, Christ must die. To make things happen for you.

That Jesus was willing to do this – this is pure Gospel. That he was willing to be born under the Law, to fulfil all righteousness, and to pay the full price of our redemption on Calvary’s cross – this is pure gift. Just like Peter’s confession was. All gift. And the angels in heaven rejoice and break out in praise to the Almighty whenever sinners receive this gift today, when they make this confession and are saved from their sins.

One thing’s needful; Lord this treasure
Teach me highly to regard;
All else, though it first give pleasure,
Is a yoke that presses hard.
Beneath it the heart is still fretting and striving,
No true, lasting happiness ever deriving.
The gain of this one thing all loss can requite
And teach me in all things to find true delight.

 Soli Deo Gloria – Pastor Dr. Karl Böhmer

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Herrenhuter readings for Tuesday, the 9th February 2016

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

 

The Psalmist sings: “The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” (Psa 145:15-16 NIV)

Our Lord Jesus Christ preaches: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Mat 6:26 NIV)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always +

Dear friends of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ: In this mornings reading we read a portion of the Old Testament prayer, which even today is used by many to address the triune God before they enjoy the gifts which he has granted them to eat this day. This psalm acknowledges that all good and perfect gifts come from God our heavenly Father. It is he who lets it rain over good and evil and let’s grass grow for the beast of the fields and seeds for the birds of the skies. God himself grants seasons and times for things to be planted, grow and bring forth fruit plentifully. It is he, who opens his hands feeding countless across the globe day in, day out. It is he, who satisfies the desires of all the living. Without him we creatures remain restless, empty and hungry, but in him we find peace, rest and the fulfilment of all of our desires and deepest needs. If we have him, we don’t ask for heaven or earth, because man does not live from bread alone, but rather from every Word spoken by our heavenly Father, the one God, who together with the Son and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns now and forever.

We sinful human beings often crave the creation more than the creator. It’s like forgetting the daily light of the sun and worshipping the reflections of the moon at night. We forget the real thing and search and follow instead the images and copies instead. That’s a calamity and most dreadful malady. That’s the source of all our worries and misguided concerns and wrong priorities. God himself wants to overcome this our lack of trust and deep seated disbelief. So he sent us his only begotten Son Jesus Christ, who became one of us, our very own brother, living without a home to call his own and without even a place to put down his head. Still he overcame the hunger and thirst of 40 days and 40 nights by relying entirely on the goodness of his loving & caring Father in heaven. Not resorting to shortcuts or own ways out, but rather waiting for God’s good time and due season. He was obedient to the very end. Doing the will of the Father to the last iota. Missing out nothing. Fulfilling each and every requirement. And still he found enough to feed thousands in the desert. He shared divine abundance, delving into God’s richness fishing countless fish out of the deep seas, turning water into wine and granting living water to those, who would listen and hear him. His invitation stands: “Come to me all of you, who are wearisome and heavily burdened. I’ll give you rest! Come to me all you who are thirsty and hungry. I’ll quench your thirst. I’ll satisfy your hunger and desire – and give you peace!”

So: “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Mat 6:26 NIV) Of course you are – you and your children. Did he not feed the Egyptians & Joseph’s people in the time of terrible drought and famine in those ancient days? Did he not feed Elijah with those ravens in the wilderness and the widow and her frail son with oil in the jar and flour in the pot, which never ceased to yield? Isn’t that all written to strengthen your faith and encourage you in dire straits?

So we pray confidently to our heavenly Father for daily bread with the assurance of being heard by him  because his dear son, our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ himself taught us to pray: Give us our daily bread! And Martin Luther explains what this means, namely: “God gives daily bread, even without our prayer, to all wicked men; but we pray in this petition that He would lead us to know it, and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.” He goes on to explain what is meant by daily bread: “Everything that belongs to the support and wants of the body, such as meat, drink, clothing, shoes, house, homestead, field, cattle, money, goods, a pious spouse, pious children, pious servants, pious and faithful magistrates, good government, good weather, peace, health, discipline, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.” Therefore don’t worry and be happy. Your Lord, your God cares for you better than any father on earth could ever do. Amen.

The peace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you always + Amen.

  1. Sing to the Lord of harvest,
    Sing songs of love and praise;
    With joyful hearts and voices
    Your alleluias raise.
    By him the rolling seasons
    In fruitful order move;
    Sing to the Lord of harvest
    A joyous song of love.
  2. God makes the clouds rain goodness,
    The deserts bloom and spring,
    The hills leap up in gladness,
    The valleys laugh and sing.
    God fills them with his fullness,
    All thing with large increase;
    He crowns the year with blessing,
    With plenty and with peace.
  3. Bring to this sacred altar
    The gifts his goodness gave,
    The golden sheaves of harvest,
    The souls Christ died to save.
    Your hearts lay down before him
    When at his feet you fall,
    And with your lives adore him
    Who gave his life for all.

Hymn # 493  Lutheran Worship Author: Johann Steurlein
Tune: Wie lieblich ist der Maien 1st Published in: 1581

 

 

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Herrenhuter readings for Monday, the 8th February 2016

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

The people went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people. (1Ki 8:66 KJV)

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. (2Co 4:15 ESV)

Dear friends of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always +

In this mornings reading we read of how the holy arc of God was brought into the temple of Jerusalem after king Solomon had completed its construction and dedication. It must have been a wonderful celebration. Something to behold and tell your children and grandchildren about. The main reason for rejoicing and the peoples gladness was that God was so good to them. This was their comfort and strength, their life’s foundation, rock solid and battlement and fortress. It gave their lives meaning and substance, purpose and calling. It was the fulfilment of their being and sojourn on earth.

God had created them beautifully and most wonderfully. He had taken care of them in the most difficult and trying of situations, kept them safe and sound, preserved them and their children through good and bad spells. He had saved them countless times too. He was there for them always and his goodness spilt over for his people that the cup overflowed. God’s goodness and mercy followed them all the days of their lives. He had granted them good governance, peace and goodwill, abundance of fruits of the earth – even in the desert. He himself had been with them always – day and night. Listening to their calls, heeding their pleas and answering their prayers even before they pronounced them. It was true. Their hearts had come to rest in the goodness and peace of the Lord. With him they had come to the very essence and being of life, goodness and light. That’s why they were joyful and glad at heart.

As we start the new week, we remember God’s goodness and mercy, which he lets us taste daily and without fail. His goodness and mercy is new every morning and his grace never departs from us, but shines over us like the moon at night and the sun during daytime. Even if the clouds hide this from our eyes, we know it is there – invisible – but as sure and true and good as ever. That is why we sing his praises even as we go about the work of the new week and get started to go about the chores of our daily life. God is with us, what shall we fear? He has promised to take good care of us no matter what happens. Therefore we are confident and glad, full of trust and happiness. Remembering how God did great things for his people throughout the ages and never let them out of his sight or care. So he will continue to rule and reign for our sakes and benefit, that we continue to prosper and flourish as his people – now and always.

Was it not just yesterday that we tasted how good God is to us? We heard of his unfailing love for us and all his people; how he gave his only begotten Son Jesus Christ for us while we were still enemies and sinners and hopeless cases. Still God so loved the world – and us too! – that he gave this his very own and most dearly beloved Son for us into death, so that all who trust in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Yes, the triune God again confirmed his forgiving actions of ages long gone by again forgiving us all our sins and healing our diseases. He does so unfailingly – using his gracious means and in his very good and best timing for us and our salvation. He leads us to green pastures and lets us rest at the quite waters too. Even if we go through the valley of death, we fear no ill, for he is with us. His rod and staff comfort us. So we go home and to work encouraged by his goodness and favour. He will fail us never. He anoints us with precious oil. He sets our table even in the sight of our enemies and crafty foes. Still goodness and mercy will follow us all our lives. For he is with us and if he is there and for us, what could harm us? He is our living God and to him be all glory now and always. Thank the Lord for he is good and his mercy endures forever. That’s for sure. Amen.

The peace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you always + Amen.

  1. Now thank we all our God,
    with heart and hands and voices,
    who wondrous things hath done,
    in whom his world rejoices;
    who from our mother’s arms
    hath blessed us on our way
    with countless gifts of love,
    and still is ours today.

    2. O may this bounteous God
    through all our life be near us,
    with ever-joyful hearts
    and blessèd peace to cheer us;
    and keep us in his grace,
    and guide us when perplexed,
    and free us from all ills
    in this world and the next.

    3. All praise and thanks to God
    the Father now be given,
    the Son, and Holy Ghost,
    supreme in highest heaven,
    the one eternal God,
    whom earth and heaven adore;
    for thus it was, is now,
    and shall be evermore. 

Martin Rinkart (1586-1649), 1636 translated by  Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878), 1858

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Herrenhuter readings for Saturday, the 6th February 2106

Posted on February 6, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

King David said to Solomon his son: „Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.“ (1 Chronicles 28:20 KJV)

The holy apostel St. Paul writes to his student and bishop St.Timothy: „Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.“ (2.Timothy 2:7) 

Dear friends of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ + The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always + Amen. 

In this mornings reading from the first book of Chronicles we hear King David talking with his son the crown prince Solomon. These were Israel’s finest and men according to the heart of God. Chosen, called and installed by the holy Trinity to rule and reign his people once Saul had failed in this very same calling. David himself had favoured Solomon before others, older than him, but not god-fearing and wise as Solomon himself – or was it just because he was the son of his dearly beloved and most highly esteemed Bathsheba? Although David did many great and wonderful things during his reign, it was left to this his special son and successor on the throne of Israel & Judah that the task and mission fell to build the Lord’s temple. What a wonderful task! What a beautiful mission! What a grand undertaking! God wanted to live amongst his people and after the years of sojourning in a tent throughout the desert stretches he had chosen to take abode in the very city of David, in the delightful Jerusalem, God’s very own and special mercy seat on earth – and king Solomon was to build it. That much was given! For God himself was behind this work. It was his plan and decree. So it was just a matter of time and these promises would be seen fulfilled. Yes it was as king David said: „The Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.“ Therefore Solomon can be strong and of good courage. He can just do it without fear or dismay.

Yesterday we watched another part of the film „Luther“ and we saw Pope Leo X standing before a replica of St.Peter’s papal basilica in Rome even if for us who don’t recognise the Pope as the true vicar of Christ and only a bishop amongst others and thus this is for us but the cathedral of the bishop of Rome. Well, be that as it may, Pope Leo X wanted to build the church. Expand, grow and glorify it and make it stand out way beyond all others in this world. So he construed a number of monetary schemes and fundraising fancies to get this spectacular work done. We know, what a thorn in the flesh Luther’s protests and attacks against the financial shenanigans of the likes of Tetzel, Albrecht von Mainz and the rest of this mercenary priests must have been in his side. Still, how misguided were these endeavours. The Church is not in bricks and mortar. The Church is God’s people called, gathered, preserved by the very treasure of the Church, his most efficacious gospel – the divine means of working, sharing, effecting and putting into life his godly grace through his holy Word preached, taught, learnt and heard and most precious Testaments in the most holy Baptism & His very Body and Blood, tasted, eaten and digested for the forgiveness of sins and the preservation to the new and blessed life everlasting. 

The temple in Jerusalem lies in ruins. There are but foundation stones left. It’s the wailing wall, were pious, orthodox, hard-core and other Jews continue to mourn the destruction of this Solomonic temple and pray for the return of the Messiah, whom they are waiting for and who has already be born amongst them in the very town of David, in Bethlehem – the house of the living bread called Jesus Christ – the very Son of David, who grew up in Nazareth and who tore apart the curtain in the temple separating God from mankind and gave free access to the very holy of holies through his very own suffering, death and dying there in Jerusalem and then outside the city on the mount of Calvary – together with sinners, robbers and other godless folk. He who said, tear down this very own temple and in just three (3) days I will build a new temple. He was talking about the temple of his very own body, which was buried in the grave of Joseph of Arimathea to rise again on that glorious Easter – the very third day – and to build his one, holy and Christian Church starting in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the very ends of the earth. Oh, what wisdom and richness of the glory of the living God. How wonderful are his ways and merciful his devices and schemes! This Church and body of Christ is no longer just here and there on this or that mountain or reserve, but rather wherever the gifts of his Holy Spirit reign through his true word of Law and Gospel, there the triune God himself works faith in those, who hear it – as through means and instruments – where and when he wills and decrees. His word doesn’t come back empty. He does, what he desires and what he has promised.

So today St.Peter’s papal basilica or better cathedral of the bishop in Rome stands high and mighty and glorious for all to see. Thousands assemble there weekly from across the globe and yet, and yet I fear that they are but mislead by pomp and finery and spectacular procedures, traditions and ritual. I fear that it is just too impressive to disregard and not attach the hearts unto. I fear that it but blocks out the true treasures of the Church in the forgiveness of sins and the pronunciation of peace to those, who trust solely in the Lord and not also in their own holiness, works or achievements. See, it is harder that a rich man is saved than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. The gospel is for those poor and feeble in spirit – not the rich and mighty, who go empty away! The tax collector, who prays: Kyrie eleison + Christ have mercy upon us + Kyrie eleison + Just as those in that distant Zulu kraal in Umsinga or the bushman sunshade in the outposts of the Kalahari at the very end of the world, where the pastor, missionary or evangelist visits the blind, hurting, poor and miserable shut-ins, who are just too old and weak  and far-off to come to church, but receive the very gifts of God in the laying on of hands, the small piece of bread, the little sip of wine, the few words of the readings and sermon for which we pray in the prayers of our Lord and the church in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. The Lord of the Church promises: „Where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of you!“

It is this very Lord Jesus Christ, who promised his disciples: „Behold – all power in heaven and on earth has been given to me! Therefore go and make disciples of all nations. Teaching them all that I have entrusted you with. Baptise them in the holy Trinity. And behold – I am with you – until the very ends of the world!“  See – it is still true as King David said to Solomon – so it is with you today too for the Lord God, even my own living, allmighty, gracious and good God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work in his service that he wants you to do. Therefore be strong and of good courage dear friend and brother of Christ. You can do it without fear or dismay.

In this sense remember that the holy apostel St. Paul writes to his own student and bishop of Christ’s church St.Timothy: „Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.“ (2.Timothy 2:7)  Amen. The peace of the Lord be with you always + Amen.

  1. Preserve your Word, O Savior,
    To us this latter day,
    And let your kingdom flourish;
    Enlarge your Church, we pray.
    Oh, keep our faith from failing;
    Keep hope’s bright star aglow.
    Let nothing from truth turn us
    While living here below.
  2. Preserve, O Lord, your honor,
    The bold blasphemer smite;
    Convince, convert, enlighten
    The souls in error’s night.
    Reveal your will, dear Savior,
    To all who dwell below,
    Great light of all the living,
    That all your name may know.
  3. Preserve, O Lord, your Zion,
    Bought dearly with your blood;
    Protect what you have chosen
    Against the hellish flood.
    Be always our defender
    When dangers gather round;
    When all the earth is crumbling,
    Safe may your Church be found.
  4. Preserve your Word and preaching.
    The truth that makes us whole,
    The mirror of your glory,
    The power that saves the soul.
    Oh, may this living water,
    This dew of heavenly grace,
    Sustain us while here living
    Until we see your face.
  5. Preserve in wave and tempest
    Your storm-tossed little flock;
    Assailed by wind and weather,
    May it endure each shock.
    Stand at the helm, our pilot,
    And set the course aright;
    Then we will reach the harbor
    In your eternal light.

Hymn # 337 from Lutheran Worship authored by Andreas Gryphius 1616-1664 and translated by William J. Schaefer and melody composed by Felix Mendelsohn.

 

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Sunday Estomihi (Last Sunday before Lent)

Posted on February 5, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

Then our Lord Jesus Christ took unto him the twelve, and said unto them: „Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.“ (Luke 18:31)

„Be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. I trust in the Lord. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.“ (Ps.31:2.3a.6.8-9)

The readings for the last Sunday before Lent (Estomihi) are:

  • Old Testament: Amos 5:21-24
  • The Epistle: 1.Corinthians 13:1-13
  • The Gospel: St. Mark 8:31-38

The liturgical colour is green.

The hymn for this week before Lent is from the Lutheran Hymnal 409

  1. Let us ever walk with Jesus,
    Follow His example pure,
    Flee the world, which would deceive us
    And to sin our souls allure.
    Ever in His footsteps treading,
    Body here, yet soul above,
    Full of faith and hope and love,
    Let us do the Father’s bidding.
    Faithful Lord, abide with me;
    Savior, lead, I follow Thee.
  2. Let us suffer here with Jesus,
    To His image, e’er conform;
    Heaven’s glory soon will please us,
    Sunshine follow on the storm.
    Though we sow in tears of sorrow,
    We shall reap with heavenly joy;
    And the fears that now annoy
    Shall be laughter on the morrow.
    Christ, I suffer here with Thee;
    There, oh, share Thy joy with me!
  3. Let us also die with Jesus.
    His death from the second death,
    From our soul’s destruction, frees us,
    Quickens us with life’s glad breath.
    Let us mortify, while living,
    Flesh and blood and die to sin;
    And the grave that shuts us in
    Shall but prove the gate to heaven.
    Jesus, here I die to Thee
    There to live eternally.
  4. Let us gladly live with Jesus;
    Since He’s risen from the dead,
    Death and grave must soon release us.
    Jesus, Thou art now our Head,
    We are truly Thine own members;
    Where Thou livest, there live we.
    Take and own us constantly,
    Faithful Friend, as Thy dear brethren.
    Jesus, here I live to Thee,
    Also there eternally.

Hymn #409 from The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: John 11:16 Author: Sigismund von Birken, 1653 translated by: J. Adam Rimbach, 1900 Tune of the original titled: “Lasset uns mit Jesu ziehen” composer: Georg G. Boltze, 1788

May you have a very blessed week and time to meditate on the watchword for this second week before Lent: But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:15 KJV)

We pray with this collect: O God, who sees that we put not our trust in anything that we do, mercifully grant that by Thy power we may be defended against all adversity;  through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (LH 61)

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Herrenhuter readings for Friday, the 5th February 2016

Posted on February 5, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

Now let the fear of the LORD be on you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.” (2Ch 19:7 NIV)

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. (Mat 9:10 NIV)

Dear friends of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always +

In this mornings reading we read a very clear admonition from the Lord our God as recorded in the 2nd book of Chronicles. It follows on the personal message God gave through Jehu the seer, the son of Hanani to the king of Judah Jehoshaphat: “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is on you.” God tells the king what is wrong and that this is not just going to pass by. Rather his wrath is going to be over the king and ruler of Judah. It’s not as if God is just there to sign off the will and doing of the high and mighty. Rather they are accountable to him and subject to his laws and rules and commandments. To whom much is given, of him much will be demanded. God will not let the king get away with wrongdoing, but rather he is bound by God’s holy will like everybody else and even more so, because so much more has been entrusted to him. This obviously has repercussions in the life of the king too. The seer points out that the king was helping the wicked and loving those, who hated the Lord. That’s also not going to get by the Lord’s standards and holy benchmarks. Rather the king should be persecuting the wicked, punishing the wrongdoers and not pulling together with them in the wrong direction. The sword of justice has been given to the rulers, judges and enforcers of the law so that they protect the innocent and righteous even if they are weak and helpless especially against lawless tyrants, robbers and thieves big and small, murders, adulterers, liars  and other harmful outlaws. Blessed are those people, who are ruled by law abiding rulers and kings; where these laws are in line with the will of God and not contrary to the 10 commandments. Woe to those, where that is not the case.

Think of the murderer, who kills his wife, but comes of scot-free because he’s friends with the judge. Or think of the architect and builder, who doesn’t deliver safe bridges or malls, but earns exorbitant sums because he has bribed the officials and is not persecuted, because he has friends in high places. It’s bad for those, who are hurt and who suffer damages.  It’s not just another way of doing business. It’s bad and earns the wrath of God. Therefore: “Let the fear of the LORD be on you. Judge carefully, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.” (2Ch 19:7 NIV) Don’t do crime, wrong or evil. It doesn’t pay. In the long run, God is going to sort that out.

On the other side, we hear of Jesus eating with tax-collectors and sinners. They were people, who had transgressed the law. That was common knowledge. Every tax-collector was like that. It was proverbial. They were like the brand name for sinners. Just like prostitutes. Scum of the earth really. Now Jesus of Nazareth eats with them. He draws them back out of the precipice of sinful separation from God and the abyss of lawlessness and opposition to God’s ways. He gives them another chance at a normal life in the communion of God’s people – no longer outcasts and no longer hopeless cases, but rather forgiven and on the way to healing too: He as true God and man forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases! He grants a fresh start, makes things new. The old is forgotten and left behind. See and behold it is better now through God’s doing in Jesus Christ.

That’s how he deals with the high and lowly. Remember how he forgave king David after his snowballing rampage of sinfulness? He does so with the women caught in adultery, with Zacchaeus, with the robber on the cross. It is his mercy and goodness that calls us to repentance and forgiveness. He wants to forgive and heal. So today if you hear his voice, don’t harden your heart, but give ear to his calling and trust his good and faithful promises. Amen.

The peace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you always + Amen.

  1. Jesus sinners will receive;
    May they all this saying ponder
    Who in sin’s delusions live
    And from God and heaven wander!
    Here is hope for all who grieve:
    Jesus sinners will receive.
  2. We deserve but grief and shame,
    Yet his words, rich grace revealing,
    Pardon, peace, and life proclaim.
    Here our ills have perfect healing;
    We with humble hearts believe
    Jesus sinners will receive.
  3. When their sheep have lost their way,
    Faithful shepherds go to seek them;
    Jesus watches all who stray,
    Faithfully to find and take them
    In his arms that they may live
    Jesus sinners will receive.
  4. Come, O sinners, one and all,
    Come, accept his invitation;
    Come, obey his gracious call,
    Come and take his free salvation!
    Firmly in these words believe:
    Jesus sinners will receive.
  5. Jesus sinners will receive.
    Even me he has forgiven;
    And when I this earth must leave,
    I shall find an open heaven.
    Dying, still to him I cleave
    Jesus sinners will receive.

Hymn # 229 from Lutheran Worship
Author: Johann Ulrich
Tune: Meinen Jesum Lass Ich Nicht
1st Published in: 1718

 

 

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Sermon during Matins: Joshua 24

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

This morning’s sermon I held at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane in the chapel of St.Timothy on Joshua can be read here: Jos24,1-2a.13-16.22-26 2016.2.4 and heard here: 

 

 

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Herrenhuter readings for Wednesday, the 3rd February 2016

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

The major prophet Isaiah asks: “For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?” (Isa 14:27 KJV)

The holy apostle St. Paul: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31 KJV)

Dear friends of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always +

In this mornings reading we have several rhetorical questions. Both prophet and apostle expect the answer to theirs as nobody and nothing. God is in control and he sees his purpose attained. There is nobody and nothing that can hinder, alter or stop him from achieving his goal. His masterplan is in place and he is going about it most steadily and surely to make it happen. There’s no annihilation or annulment in sight. Rather if he speaks it is there and if he ordains it, it happens. Right now he is in the process of fulfilling all his promises, getting his will done and promoting his mission across the globe. There is no turning back for him. Nobody is going to throw him back either. He is accomplishing his mission in glory. That is firstly his judgement over all the world, but also and predominantly the other and most appropriate work, namely the godly salvation, restoration and preservation of his people, the holy Christians saints all over the world, both high and low, rich and poor, free or slave – of all nations, languages, races and kinds. He has raised his arms in glorious victory, blessing the accursed, lifting up the downcast, promoting the destitute, healing the sick, restoring the homeless, edifying the hopeless and faithless, forgiving sinners, raising the dead and just doing miracles and wonders of salvation and vivification. His arms are already raised in triumph. Heaven and earth are his and he’s got all in his hand, caring for us as a mother for her child, comforting, nurturing and flourishing. His thoughts concerning us are ones of goodwill and peace, mercy and grace, love and caring – and nobody and nothing is going to change, hinder or end this ever. For if God is for us, who can be against us? Nothing and nobody. You can be at rest, at peace and just so content for the living God in heaven is your father, brother and most Holy Spirit too.

This is reason enough for us that we should laud and praise, thank and serve him every single day of our lives with all that we are and have – in faithfulness and joy, with passion and dedication – not as a means to an end, but rather for himself and for what he has done for us. There is nothing and nobody that we ought to love, fear or trust more than him. He is all and everything. To him be honour and glory now and always.

Obviously we are just too poor, weak and dismal to realize that properly. The things of this world blind us. False perceptions put us off. Of course we fail him dismally and fall short of the glory and high calling God has put us into through his creation, salvation and sanctification – and still he invites us to see and taste, hear and grasp, how kind he is, how loving and caring, how great his gracious favour and forgiving magnanimity and fatherly generosity and benevolence. He lets it be preached, taught, handed out, tasted, heard and felt so that we trust and believe his gracious promises. His holy words of forgiveness and redemption overcome our weakness, our lack of faith and dismal failures at loving and caring and flourishing in him.  It is like the warm summer rains on the parched fields – it brings forth fruit galore and all year round. He does it and nobody is going to stop him either. We are his and he is going to finish and complete the good work he has started in us – despite all the devils within and without. Therefore you can rest assured and praise and thank and serve God with joy and confidence wherever he has put you, keeping you as his now and always so that you will one day see clearly, what he has already begun most graciously and will finish most gloriously. To him  be all honour, praise and adoration.  Amen.

The peace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you always + Amen.

1 All glory be to God on high,
Who hath our race befriended!
To us no harm shall now come nigh,
The strife at last is ended.
God showeth His good will to men,
And peace shall reign on earth again;
O thank Him for His goodness!

2 We praise, we worship Thee, we trust,
And give Thee thanks forever,
O Father, that Thy rule is just
And wise, and changes never.
Thy boundless pow’r o’er all things reigns,
Done is whate’er Thy will ordains:
Well for us that Thou rulest.

3 O Jesus Christ, Thou only Son
Of God, Thy heav’nly Father,
Who didst for all our sins atone
And Thy lost sheep dost gather.
Thou Lamb of God, to Thee on high
From out our depths we sinners cry,
Have mercy on us, Jesus!

4 O Holy Ghost, Thou precious Gift,
Thou Comforter unfailing,
O’er Satan’s snares our souls uplift
And let thy pow’r availing
Avert our woes and calm our dread.
For us the Saviour’s blood was shed;
We trust in Thee to save us.

Nicolaus Decius 1485-1546 (Allein Gott in der Hoeh’ sei Ehr…)

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Herrenhuter readings for Tuesday, the 2nd February 2016

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

“Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still, When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah. (Psa 76:8-9 KJV)

“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” (1Pe 3:12 KJV)

Dear friends of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always +

In this mornings reading from the Psalms we hear of God’s judgement from the heavens and over all the earth. It is the one sure thing coming and which we are all going to face up to this judgement of the living Lord and supreme judge over all the living and the dead. There have been some impressive judgements before over individuals like when the prophet Nathan pronounced the judgement of the living God over king David centuries ago or when the triune God himself came down on earth to carry out his condemnation of Sodom and Gomorrah. Now these judgements were handed down as examples that nobody get’s away  with evil and in the end God’s righteous judgment will set the record straight, so that even those, who died because they were wronged here will finally receive justification and salvation yonder in the last judgement of the grand judge Jesus Christ. That is why the evil should repent and no longer carry on with their iniquity, but those who have been mistreated, discriminated and wronged should take courage, not give up hope, but rather wait with confidence and joy for the return of Jesus Christ, their Lord and saviour, who will fix all and grant a happy ending to that which we have mismanaged and corrupted all along.

The prophets of old like Isaiah often call upon the heavens and the earth to stand witness over the coming judgement of the Lord. The final judgement will no longer be private and hidden from sight, but will be out in the open and for all to see and witness. Yes, everbody will then be subjected to the righteous judgement of the triune God. All knees will bow before him and every tongue will confess that he is the Lord of lords and King of kings. His verdict is just, final and endures for ever. That is why the evil should tremble and the wronged should take courage and lift up their heads, because their salvation is drawing near.

In our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ this final and last judgment of the one and only God has been foreshadowed and carried out already. No surprises there. He was handed over into the hands of men for us and our salvation, so that everybody who believes in him, shall not perish, but have eternal life. Whoever believes in him has been judged righteous and has passed from this life into the next. The old has passed, see new has become.

As long as it is still day, the message of this coming judgement by the living God is proclaimed and with it the saving truth that Jesus Christ is the only way to survive his righteous condemnation by receiving his forgiveness and assurance of his divine favour. It is the gospel that the Lord Jesus Christ himself mandated and entrusted his Church to proclaim throughout the nations and to the very ends of the world, because he would have everybody be saved and come to the knowledge of truth. Amen.

The peace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you always + Amen.

1 Christ is surely coming bringing his reward,
Alpha and Omega, First and Last and Lord:
Root and stem of David, brilliant Morning Star:
meet your Judge and Saviour, nations near and far;
meet your Judge and Saviour, nations near and far!

2 See the holy city! There they enter in,
All by Christ made holy, washed from every sin:
thirsty ones, desiring all he loves to give,
come for living water, freely drink, and live;
come for living water, freely drink, and live!

3 Grace be with God's people! Praise his holy name!
Father, Son, and Spirit, evermore the same.
Hear the certain promise from the eternal home:
'Surely I come quickly!' Come, Lord Jesus, come;
'Surely I come quickly!' Come, Lord Jesus, come!

Christopher M. Idle, 1938
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