LÖHE ON ACTS 10,42-44.48

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

CorneliusHe commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message…So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (Act 10:42-48 NIV)

The apostolic sermons all start off with the history of our Saviour Jesus Christ. The apostles also point to his return in glory and also to the coming judgment facing all people – dead and alive. They demonstrate that all prophets gave witness to him and that all, who believe in him, will receive forgiveness of sins. The history and future of Jesus Christ, the prophetic promises pointing towards him throughout the Old Testament and finally belief in him and the forgiveness of sins are the main parts of the apostolic homilies.

As they were delivering these sermons, our Lord was with them. He was working faith through them in those listening and he confirmed their words with mighty signs, miracles and wonders. That’s how it was at Pentecost and also in the scriptural reading above.  Cornelius and his people received St. Peter’s sermon as the word of God. Their hearts were filled by it with light and confidence. Besides these internal experiences there were also outward confirmations of powerful signs and miracles. They began to speak in tongues as on Pentecost and the apostles praised God, that he had given pagans repentance to life and the gift of his most holy Spirit.

This made St. Peter recognize that Pentecost is for all people and that even the pagans can come to Christ directly – and do not have to come via Judaism. When St. Peter say that the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit were granted to the pagans, he no longer hesitated to hand out to them the regular gifts of the same Spirit and ordered that they be baptized too. Those glorify the children of God, these however save them. Salvation is necessary, vital and crucial, glorification is good, but remains optional.

Faith is given to Cornelius, therefore baptism can’t be refused. He, who grants faith, also gives baptism. Therefore obey the command of our Lord Jesus Christ and hold fast to his promise: Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved!

God’s own child, I gladly say it: I am baptized into Christ! He, because I could not pay it, Gave my full redemption price. Do I need earth’s treasures many? I have one worth more than any That brought me salvation free Lasting to eternity! (Erdmann Neumeister 1671-1756; tr. Robert E. Voelker 1957)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the high Christian holiday of Monday after Pentecost. It is found on Pg. 209 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.

Posted in Meditations by P.Wilhelm Löhe (Translation) | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Herrenhuter readings for Monday, the 20th May 2013

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Christ at Sea of Tiberias“O my righteous God! Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.” (Psalm 4:1 NIV)

Jesus said: “I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail.”  (Luke22:32 NIV)

Posted in Losung & Lehrtext | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

LÖHE ON ACTS 2,1-4

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Church of the Holy SpiritWhen the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4 NIV)

Many think that the Acts of the Apostles is a plain book. Others are so bold as to declare that if we would preach like St. Peter at Pentecost, then nobody would be satisfied and strict examiners would give him the lowest marks possible. Yes, it is true. The Acts of the Apostles are plain. However it is a wonderful and even miraculous simplicity as the Holy Spirit leads the apostles in all truth even before our very ears and eyes. We are truly amazed by this dawning spring of the early Church. The sermons in Acts and especially the one on Pentecost are truly masterpieces of oratory and even the rhetoric of the persuasive church father St. Augustine or the mighty sermons of Dr. Luther don’t come close. The preachers in Acts stand as if on mountains from which they look forward into one testament and back into another and above is the open heaven. Nobody lived in a time like them before and none did afterwards either. Who was privileged to see, hear and speak such surprising, convincing and overwhelming truths like them ever before? It is the Spirit of the Father speaking in and through them. That’s obvious in every verse and paragraph. In this book its always Pentecost.

It is quite understandable that these spiritual sermons brought about wonder, amazement, bewilderment, surprise, but also ridicule and derision among those who first heard them. Yet who can understand that there are even Christians, who are left cold and unmoved by this Pentecostal account and these acts of the apostles, God’s miracles and wonders. Therefore let us pray for us and everybody else, who listened to the message of Pentecost today: Lord, open our eyes that we see the miracles of your law. Show us the way of your truth and grace, so that we will walk in them always. Amen.

Enter in and let me feel and taste your power, that power that helps, saves and delivers from sin! Purify my senses that I will serve you gladly and honourably in pure spirit as I owe you.  (Paul Gerhard 1607-1676)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the high Christian holiday of Pentecost. It is found on Pg. 208 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.

Posted in Meditations by P.Wilhelm Löhe (Translation) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Herrenhuter readings for Sunday, the 19th May 2013

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

baptismThey exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull, which eats grass. (Psa 106:20 NIV)

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38 NIV)

Posted in Losung & Lehrtext | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

LÖHE ON JOHN 1:16

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Holy Spirit come downFrom the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. (Joh 1:16 NIV)

Oh, how blessed I am that I am not alone. Rather he is with me. He, who had compassion with the people as they were scattered like sheep without a shepherd. He himself is the good shepherd. He seeks the lost, find them and carries them home on his strong arms and shoulders. Brings them to green pastures and to the peaceful waters by. He does the work. It’s his mission. I am looking on. Calling others to rejoice with me: “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is he, who comes in the name of the Lord!” That’s the little I do. I’m his mouthpiece. His tool. His however is all the authority in heaven and on earth. He is the one, who is with us all the days of our life until the very end of the ages. His is all the glory. His is all the praise. And yet he still is so gracious that he even gives us the honour and privilege to call us his co-workers, helpers, servants, stewards and even brothers and friends

If we work thus – he in us and we in him – and go about his calling and our mission, one in his spirit, united in striving for his goal strengthened by gospel and grace, then surely spring  is not far off from the Church. Just wait and see how those dry trees and plants are going to go green and blossom and bear fruit! Just wait and see how the angels will again rejoice over those many sinners, who repent and come to faith by God’s grace and calling. And Jesus himself will rejoice when he sees all those delightful fruits of his terrible, bloody suffering + And the Church victorious will resonate in harmony with the militant Church here on earth + Oh, how will the celestial halls be filled with festive multitudes of those saved by the precious blood of the lamb! Rejoice in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who reigns victoriously over all.

O Lord as yet your Church here on earth is more like a field of dead skeletons that your prophet saw in days long gone by. Do awaken for yourself many a powerful prophet, who will take your word to the ends of the world so that it will rush forth and become alive amongst those long dead. Come with your might Spirit o Lord + Amen. (W. Löhe)

O you Holy Spirit, who was promised by our greatest King, come to us o blessed comforter and let us take courage again. Grant us the sharp weapons of the early Church to face this slack and faithless age with love and power divine.

O Holy Spirit prepare a Pentecostal feast here and everywhere. Accompany the gospel of Jesus Christ with power from on high. O open the hearts of the world and our mouths, that we will proclaim to all the salvation in Jesus the Lord. (Philipp Spitta, 1801-1859)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after the 6th Sunday after Easter: Exaudi. It is found on Pg. 207 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.

Posted in Meditations by P.Wilhelm Löhe (Translation) | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Herrenhuter readings for Saturday, the 18th May 2013

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

deerRemember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”— (Ecclesiastes 12:1 NIV)

All things were created by him and for him. (Colossians 1:16 NIV)

Posted in Losung & Lehrtext | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Lutheran Order of service in isiZulu/seTswana

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Pentecost SundayThe Lutheran Order of Service for the high holiday of Pentecost is available here in isiZulu, seTswana and English. Today it comes with a sermon on Numbers (Moses 4) chapter 11 verses 11-12.14-17.24-25 written by brother Rev. Kurt Schnackenberg (LC Shelly Beach, KZN) in English (we1328130519 Pentecost) and translated as usual into seTswana (wt1329130519 Pentekoste) and isiZulu (wz1329130519 Phentekoste) by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD into isiZulu.

I pray you have a very blessed Pentecost Sunday and have time to meditate on the watchword for this Holiday: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. (Zec 4:6 NIV) The liturgical colour is red and the Church continues to rejoices with Hallelujahs, the Magnificat and the Gloria in exelsis.

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.

Posted in Lutheran Order of service | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

LÖHE ON REVELATION 13:10

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Church under the crossThis calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints. (Rev 13:10 NIV)

We moved from holiday to holiday, from festivity to festivity, from party to party – all the time from Christmas. Pentecost is to make our joy perfect. On this high holiday commemorating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit we too are to be filled with the joys and strengths of the coming world. As we are hoping and expecting this rich blessings of our Lord, it is truly meet, right and salutary to remember the droplets of harsh absinthe, which don’t spoil the cup of joy with bitterness, but rather spice it dramatically and make it all the more tasty. God be praised for all blessings of Pentecost and we thank him for overcoming all our conflict and suffering. We praise him for all hardship and strife, which has humbled us so that we would not think too highly of ourselves and not brag too much about the wonderful revelation that has been made known to us not due to our own merit or worthiness, but thanks only to the gracious mercy and love of our God and saviour Jesus Christ. We praise him too for reserving the highest joy and bliss for us in heaven still, where at last we will have unspoilt happiness and perfect peace with him and all that are his!

Lord, our time is restless and full of strife. Our people are in chains and severe misery. Our Church is bearing your judgements. We long for your peace. We hope in your power. We wait for your kingdom. Send your light and salvation. Grant good council to the clueless. Clarity to those in darkness. Confidence and patience to those, who are afraid and despairing and in their suffering do not feel the comfort of your hand. Let us overcome as we look forward to the completion of your Church. Lord, we believe, help our unbelief. Amen. (Prayer of the seasons: Berneuchener)

Sweeten our cross and in our darkness be our light. Carry us to Zion’s mountain with wings of faith and don’t neglect us if death as the last enemy tackles us, so that we may overcome joyfully by your grace.

Let us never forget that we are related to you o God. Let us serve you with joy and flourish in good works as a fruitful garden until we will rejoice eternally in your heavenly gardens in love and beauty. (Benjamin Schmolck, 1672-1737)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Friday after the 6th Sunday after Easter: Exaudi. It is found on Pg. 206 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.

Posted in Meditations by P.Wilhelm Löhe (Translation) | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Herrenhuter readings for Friday, the 17th May 2013

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Tax collector and the PhariseeThe LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18 NIV))

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ (Luke 18:13 NIV)

Posted in Losung & Lehrtext | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

LÖHE ON JOHN 16:3

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

persecutionThey will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. (Joh 16:3 NIV)

Our gospel started off so nicely with the witness of the Holy Spirit and that of the apostles and now it continues so badly. After the most glorious testimony comes hatred and strive, persecution and banning, murder and death. Our Lord talks so calmly about this in our gospel as if it goes without saying and as if it is a matter of course and just how things are. The Church must fight, suffer and die as long as it is on earth.

You could off course object and protest with the truth: Is the Church not a  kingdom of peace and her king one of peace? Well, yes, the Church does lead all lost sheep to the peace of the good shepherd and does not desire anything less than the true bliss and happiness of all people. Yet it is precisely this desire to bring all creatures to the peace of the Lord that brings about controversy, wakes opposition and fans the flames of warring factions. There are just too many, who don’t want to hear about the peace of Jesus Christ. Too many, who consider it a brazen insolence and even wicked audacity of the Church and its members that it would lead them and others to divine peace and the only Lord of all. They believe to have the best right and even serious obligation to oppose the Churches witness most determinedly.

This should not surprise us too much. If you offer the peace of Christ, you are rejecting the peace of this world. Yes, you don’t let it count for much of an alternative. It’s rotten. It’s worthless. It’s not even a passing fancy. If you invite others to enter the peace of God’s kingdom as it is proclaimed and professed in the Church, then you are simultaneously inviting them to leave the worldly realms and futile ways of their cultures, customs and traditions. You consider the life without Christ and outside of the Church as imperfect and sinful. No wonder the natural tendency of worldly oriented people will be to reject your offer, to oppose you and even to fight your message and cause. They will not suffer it that you and other witnesses of Christ want to know better than they, what the true and only way to heaven is – namely Jesus Christ and him crucified.

The ancient Romans permitted all pagan religions in their pluralistic world, because they all bore with each other and gave each other the benefit of the doubt. Yet they persecuted the Christian Church and its witness to the absolute exclusivity of the Lordship of Jesus Christ as the only saviour of mankind, because it blamed all other faiths and beliefs to be misleading into eternal damnation and called their confessors liars, blind and lost. That is why they on their part damned the Church and persecuted the Christians as enemies of the people. They tried to suppress the Christian gospel and eradicate the Church. That’s the fate of the Church. She is not just a party amongst others. She is the meeting place for  those from all parties, who are saved and healed. She is radically opposed against the worldly, sinful, ungodly orientation and therefore everyone bound with a worldly, sinful and ungodly orientation  is in opposition to her too. That’s how it was, that is how it is and that’s how it will be until the Lord returns in glory to end all misery and conflict once and for all.

As truly as God is God and his word remains the truth all the world, devil, hell and their ilk will finally be put to shame. God is with us and we are with God – victory is ours for sure too. (Michael Altenburg, 1584-1640)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Thursday after the 6th Sunday after Easter: Exaudi. It is found on Pg. 205 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.

Posted in Meditations by P.Wilhelm Löhe (Translation) | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment