Löhe on 2.Corinthians 3:11

Posted on August 23, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

mission in AfricaAnd if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! (2Co 3:11 NIV)

Just look at those millions of grateful believers, who living and dying have saluted the office of the ministry – this wonderful service of the New Testament – over the past millennia. Can you behold the blessing, trust and recognition this most holy office found with those, who made use of it most and then needed it least? When finally that blessed crowd of uncountable saints is assembled before his heavenly throne will there be something else that they will praise higher and be more thankful for than the means of grace in word and sacraments offered to them by this holy office of the ministry? I don’t believe so. The prophet Daniel proclaims ages ago: “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” (Dan 12:3 NIV) Then it will become manifest for all to see, what was shrouded in invisibility here. St. Paul the apostle writes that the clarity and dignity of the ministry will remain. So this honor must be there already. It is firmly set in the heavens, but the believers also nurture it most devotedly here on earth.

Now that St. Paul has magnified this office of the ministry before your very eyes – much more than I could ever have – I ask you, whether this office of the ministry is with you in clarity and honor and glory too? The lofty praises and glories of political parties and powers is fleeting indeed. While many have written off the office of the ministry before, it still holds its own throughout the world and wherever God doesn’t punish us as we deserve it, but rather is gracious and merciful preserving this wonderful ministry in good stead and health too.

We pray o faithful God for all your pastors, bishops and teachers, whom you have called to serve your people with the preaching and teaching of your most holy word in law and gospel. Grant and promote in and through them your Holy Spirit, so that they will be faithful in guiding, keeping and nurturing your flock under your care and protection – you the good shepherd and archbishop himself. Build your church even among us. Through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen. (Strassbourg 1565)

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. (Andreas Gryphius 1616-1664)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Friday after the twelfth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 303 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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Herrenhuter readings for Friday, the 23rd August 2013

Posted on August 23, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

brich dem hungrigen dein brotThe LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. (1Sa 2:7 NIV)

Give, and it will be given to you.  (Luk 6:38 NIV)

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Löhe on 2.Corinthians 3:9

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

DSC_0339If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! (2Co 3:9 NIV)

The office of the ministry has clarity and grants clarity too. Yet those brethren carrying the yoke of this office are like Moses – the most troubled amongst people. That will be revealed one day. Then the Lord will let some of them shine like the heavens glory, then we will recognize from what dark night of dire straights and heavy burdens of sorrow and distress they were delivered to everlasting light and gladness. If I had time and space I would sing the praises of this office. Now it is but a sigh pertaining its glory and a tear shed for our sinfulness that I can offer for this wonderful passage. I know, many have not plucked the fruits of Word and Sacrament and therefore despise the office of the ministry – if they take note of it at all. However the apostle writes about the office of the ministry in the most elaborate fashion and highest praises – and the Church follows him in this as she has done throughout the ages. The saints in heaven as well as those on earth too speak the same language and are of filled with similar gratitude and joy that God has blessed them so magnificently through the precious gifts of this ministry of his and his called and ordained servants. They are all of the same mind that this delightful ministry is so precious because of the means of grace entrusted to it. That is the fruitful tree granting life and Spirit. That is their experience. This they share with those, who have ears to hear. They sing the praises of the office, which by the grace of God will remain to the very end – just like the holy Christian Church. It will serve and bless until the Lord returns in glory. It will prepare his holy bride for the eternal wedding bliss in heaven.

Merciful God, heavenly Father! We thank you from the bottom of our heart, that your Son instituted the holy office of the ministry here on earth and that you have preserved and promoted it throughout the ages even until this very time. We ask you, lead all faithful preachers and teachers in your holy Christian Church so that they would proclaim your word purely and truthfully and thus build your kingdom in this world and also among us. Through Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord. Amen. (Prussian Agenda 1895)

Come – those loyal to the king – gather under his banner and let his praises sound even in sorrow and grief. He has entrusted us the priceless treasure of his truth and love. That’s why we are gathered here – and if your afraid? – just lift your eyes and behold your King.

May he embolden our faith and purify our love, ignite our hearts and let our tongues aglow proclaim his grace amongst his people to waken those asleep. Even if our eyes don’t behold his future plans in detail yet, he leads us through the darkness to eternal light. No lock or barrier will stop his progress, so let’s sing glad and grateful. (Friedrich Spitta, 1852-1924)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Thursday after the twelfth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 303 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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Herrenhuter readings for Thursday, the 8th August 2013

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

jesus-suffering-in-gethsemaneThen we cried out to the LORD … and the LORD heard our and saw our misery, toil and oppression. (Deu 26:7 NIV)

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. (Heb 5:7 NIV)

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Elijah was a human being, even as we are…

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

ElishaThis mornings confessional address on James 5,13-18 can be heard here: 

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Löhe on 2.Corinthians 3:8

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

SalvatoreWill not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? (2Co 3:8 NIV)

Wherever the Spirit is, there life is too. And vice versa: Wherever there is not life, there no Spirit is either. That is why Luther translated the expression “ministry of the Spirit” appropriately as the “ministry, which gives the Spirit”. Emperors and kings have an office pleasing to God and instituted by him also. However these forms of government and political authority don’t have a “ministry of the Spirit”. They don’t propagate that and nobody looks for that with them either. Let us look even further back in history and time – right into the age of the Old Testament and concentrate on the office of Moses and his brother Aaron, but also at that of the priests and prophets. Is it justified to call their office and ministry a service that gives the Spirit? The apostle Paul rejects this notion outright. He calls the office of the Old Testament an office of the letter. Therefore the office of the New Testament, the ministry that Jesus Christ instituted by calling the apostles is unique. There is no other office or ministry that gives and transmits the Holy Spirit. That quiet pastor, who serves rather unobtrusively at the altar and preaches faithfully from the pulpit is perhaps disregarded by the high and mighty and all that count in the eyes of men. He might even seem rather helpless if not even a poor burden to most outsiders, who would not consider his demise a loss at all. Yet – in the eyes of God and also in the eyes of those, whom he serves – he has a very precious and high calling and vocation: To preach and to administer the most holy sacraments by which God gives the only saving faith where and when it pleases him in those who hear the gospel. May he never forget it and carry out his duty and obligation joyfully and with gladness and conviction!

Almighty and eternal God, by your inexpressible grace and mercy of your dear Son you have called us to the testament of the Holy Spirit. We plead you: Take the haze and obstructions from our eyes that we may see the clarity of your precious gospel and that it may mirror itself in our lives and we enlightened from one clarity to the next. We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen. (Evangelical Hymn- and Prayerbook 1817)

Equip us poor children with your gifts that we have strength and courage of faith added to a passion for your house and people. Yes, grant that we would gladly give a world with many treasures, all human honour and recognition, our time, body and life for this big and holy challenge.

Grant us that lofty spirit of those early confessors in the apostolic band, who readily defied all ridicule and shame to preach the blood of Christ to all! Let us confess this truth that has made us free and full of joy – oh grant that we don’t give it up, but rather stay in league with you and yours. (Karl Johann Philipp Spitta, 1801-1859)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Wednesday after the twelfth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 302 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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Herrenhuter readings for Wednesday, the 21st August 2013

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Jesus the peace makerHe will proclaim peace to the nations. (Zec 9:10 NIV)

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. (Col 3:15 NIV)

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Lutheran Order of service in isiZulu/seTswana

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

good samaritan 1The Lutheran Order of Service for the 13th Sunday after Trinity is available here in isiZulu and seTswana. Today it comes with a sermon based on God’s word in the gospel of St. Matthew the 6th chapter verses 1-4 by the late Rev. Aaron Ntuli (LC Enhlanhleni, KZN) in isiZulu (wz1343130825 n Tr 13) and translated as usual into seTswana (wt1343130825 n Tr 13) by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD (Welbedacht, KZN).

The readings for this Sunday are:

Old Testament:       Genesis 4:1-16a

The Epistle:            1.John 4:7-12

The Gospel:            Luke 10:25-37

The liturgical colour is green.

May you have a very blessed weekend and have time to meditate on the watchword for this Sunday: “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (Mat 25:40 NIV) – and if you are called to preach this weekend, may the triune God give you joy and strength, enthusiasm and wisdom, knowledge and insight – and the true words and pictures to preach his holy will purely and his promises faithfully! However if you are not preaching, but listening – then listen as if God is talking to you + His precious gospel is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Rom 1:16 NIV)

We thank the Lutheran Heritage Foundation for supporting the distribution of hard-copies of these orders of worship and sermons throughout Southern Africa. If you also want a copy please do not hesitate to subscribe by writing to EAWWeber@bundunet.co.za.

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PREACHING THAT SILENCES SATAN

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Jesus heals 1PREACHING THAT SILENCES SATAN

St. Mark 1:21-29

Hymn: “Spread the Reign of God the Lord” -830 LSB

Psalm: Psalm 138

 Prayer: O King of Grace whose strong Word does silence the demons, speak now to us and put to flight all that would defile us that clothed with Your righteousness alone, we may stand firm against every attack of the evil one and by Your mercy kept safe from all danger and delivered into your everlasting kingdom. Amen.

 Fresh from his victory over Satan’s temptations in the wilderness, Jesus begins to preach. His first sermon recorded by the Evangelist Mark is short and to the point: The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. It is preaching with authority; preaching that takes captive the fishermen Simon and Andrew, James and John. They leave their nets and boats behind and follow the Lord to be fishers of men. The authority of our Lord’s preaching is put on display in the synagogue for He teaches with an authority unknown to scribes. His preaching causes the gates of hell to quiver for it a proclamation that heralds the coming of the kingdom. The kingdom of the Lord Christ never simply annexes neutral territory or takes over unclaimed terrain. The kingdom of Christ defeats and displays the kingdom of the evil one.  The kingdom of Satan cannot coexist with the kingdom of God.

The scribes might not know who this new preacher is, but the unclean spirits recognize Him. One cries out “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus silences the confession of this demon. He has come in the flesh to destroy the work of the devil not to give him an opportunity to speak.

Mark tells us that Jesus’ fame spread throughout Galilee. The whole town shows up, drawn to see this man who heals the sick and liberates from demonic captivity. When and where Jesus preaches, Satan wants to have his say as well. Luther once said “where Christ appears, there the devil starts to speak.” That is why Luther understood the pulpit to be the battlefield between the Lord Jesus and the old evil foe. Or has Heiko Oberman says “for Luther, a sermon was an apocalytic event that set the doors of heaven and hell in motion” (Meuser, 25). The devil fancies himself to be a preacher, too. Satan always tries to get a word in as he did in Eden with his cool and calculating sermon “Did God really say?” His tactics are not new. To occupy the preaching office is engage the Temper in battle. It is a war of words, but God has armed you with His Word, the Word of Truth. No other weaponry no matter how cleaver will suffice in this struggle. To preach Christ crucified is to do battle against Satan. Preaching is no detached religious lecture, no soothing inspirational meditation but a declaration of Christ’s victory over sin, death, and hell. Satan is not troubled by platitudes of piety, by ten-ways-to fix-your life sermons. He knows that your piety is like a puff of smoke and your attempts at spiritual self-improvement are likely to end with despair or self-righteousness. But the coming of the kingdom whose king reigns on a cross and who exercises authority by extending mercy, that is another matter altogether. Satan cannot help but howl out in protest when word of absolution, of forgiveness of sins is spoken.

Jesus will not permit the demons to speak because they know Him. Even the demons believe that God is one says St.James-and they shudder. But that does not make them confessors! Satan can quote Scripture but that does not make of him a preacher of the Gospel.

Jesus’ preaching exercises His authority over Satan. Jesus’ words unplug deaf ears and loose mute tongues to confess His mighty works. But these same words tie Satan’s tongue. That is what the preaching of the foolishness of the cross does. Where the living voice of the Gospel is going on, there the crucified and risen Lord Jesus is Himself speaking. He speaks a word of forgiveness and where there is forgiveness of sins, Satan has no say. Where there is forgiveness of sins, the voice of the accuser has no authority for the blood of Christ cleanses you from all sin. No unclean spirit can hold you captive because Christ Himself has washed you with His blood in Holy Baptism. Your life is under the One to whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been given. By His cross, He has triumphed over principalities and powers. He has rescued you from the kingdom of darkness and given you an inheritance in the kingdom of light.  Satan has no claim on you. The Gospel that has opened your lips to confess that Jesus is Lord renders Satan silent. He has no right to accuse or threaten. Yes his doom is sure. One little word shall fell him.  Where the truth of the cross is proclaimed, the father of lies is muzzled and your lips are open to confess in truth that Jesus is the Holy One of God whose blood sets us free to live before Him in holiness and righteousness now and forever. Amen.

Prof. John T. Pless

Monday in Trinity 12

19 August 2013

LTS Chapel –Pretoria, South Africa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Löhe on 2.Corinthians 3:7-8

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Moses and the lawNow if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? (2Co 3:7-8 NIV)

The ministry of the New Testament as service of life stands in contrast to the ministry of the Old Testament that brought death. The plain and simple pastor at the Altar has something to offer that you can’t find anywhere else. Would you like to know, why he administers this office and service? Would you like to hear, how he, who is possibly quite feeble, even ill, close to death himself – can still offer Spirit and Life itself? The Holy Scriptures calls our sinful nature: “fleshly”, “dead”, “sinful”, “lost” and “condemned” How blessed is the ministry of the New Testament if we keep that in mind. The law doesn’t make us into new people. It can’t. It calls us to do good works – continuously. It reveals our inability to live up to God’s high standards of the perfect divine law. It reveals our guilt, our shame and the coming judgment and condemnation awaiting those, who sin against this law and divine will. The more and harder the ministry of letters and the law is pressed the more desperate or conceited be get. Those are the two natural reactions to the good and holy law of God. The experience of God’s wrath and judgment and condemnation weigh heavy on our soul and heart. For this there is only one remedy and that is the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the gracious service of the gospel, the most holy and blessed means of grace – the Gospel of forgiveness, holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The man bearing this holy office of the ministry does not have the Holy Spirit to dispense as his own, but rather the holy Word of Christ’s death and victorious resurrection through which the Holy Spirit is effective and the Lord’s Sacraments – they are able, they can and they do – thanks be to God!

Almighty and eternal God! Hear my supplication for the holy orders and vocations in your holy Church. Maintain her bishops and pastors by your mercy that they preach your holy Word purely and faithfully and administer your holy Sacraments according to your institution. Grant that their lives and conduct would be sanctified in you and serve your people as good and blessed example and for encouragement. Let our prayers for our pastors and teachers come before your throne as a pleasing offering and serve to praise your holy name. Grant that we would strengthen us in our desire to go home and be with you, that we accompany each other on the way as faithful brethren and by your help and guidance reach your destination in heaven. We ask this in the name of our Lord and savior, your Son Jesus Christ.   Amen.

Faith and truth and life bestowing, Open now the Scriptures, Lord, Seed to life eternal sowing, Scattered on the wind abroad. Let not hearts, Your Word receiving, Like a barren field be found, Choked with thorns and unbelieving, Shallow earth or stony ground.

May the Spirit’s pow’r unceasing Bring to life the hidden grain, daily in our hearts increasing, Bearing fruit that shall remain. So in Scripture, song, and story, Savior, may Your voice be heard. Till our eyes behold Your glory Give us ears to hear Your Word. (Timothy Dudley-Smith, 1926)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Tuesday after the twelfth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 301 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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