Proper 25 (Reformation Sunday--Observed-- 2023)
Notes
Transcript
Enduring Persecution Results in Salvation
Grace, mercy, and peace to you; from God our Father and from our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our text for this Reformation is from our gospel reading, verse 22:
The New King James Version Chapter 10
And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
Let us pray:
These are Thy Words O Lord. Help us and sanctify us in the Truth. Thy Word is Truth. Amen.
Throughout the history of the church, the story of faithfulness to the Word of God has always been the story of persecution. And rightly so, since Jesus promised it!
Who would send defenseless sheep into a world of ravenous wolves? It makes no sense, yet that is precisely the plan that Jesus describes in today’s Gospel reading; it makes no sense—unless you are the Good Shepherd who wants his sheep to utterly depend on him.
Trusting in Jesus does not mean the absence of persecution but faithfulness in the face of it. Jesus said that WE WILL witness to the Word of God before brothers, fathers, children, governors, and princes. And, Jesus is the one who promised, “all men will hate you because of me but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
What comfort that must have been for Martin Luther, whose faithful witness caused him to be expelled from his order, excommunicated from his church, and outlawed from his empire. Before the kings and princes of Europe, Luther gave faithful witness at Worms: “Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen.”
Do not to fear persecution for the sake of the Gospel, for the LORD is saving by your testimony.
Persecution & Christianity Go Together
Persecution & Christianity Go Together
Because Jesus Said it Would Happen
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves – Think about the characteristics of sheep for a moment:
They do not attempt to defend themselves.
They’re not aggressive, but are humble. Sheep do not fight “fire with fire” so to speak.
By the time our OT reading rolls around, Daniel is in captivity for 60-years. And now he is told that he can only pray to King Darius. What does he do? How does he respond to this order?
He goes home, opens his window toward Jerusalem, and does what he has done everyday for 60 years.
He kneels to pray three times that day to God Almighty, giving thanks.
How do we respond when a potential for conflict arrises because of our Christian faith?
Jesus said we will be His witnesses to those whom we meet.
Do we boldly stand and bear witness for Christ, even when consequences are evident? Or, do we shrink back for fear of offending someone?
Acts 1:8 “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses...”
1 Peter 4:12–14 (EHV) — Dear friends, do not be surprised by the fiery trial that is happening among you to test you, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead rejoice whenever you are sharing in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted in connection with the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
The suffering we endure for the sake of the Gospel is a cross for us to bear. It is part of being a Christian.
Look at those young people who were persecuted for the faith in Columbine Colorado those years ago when they were told to deny Christ or die. They refused and were killed.
Or in 2015 — 21 Coptic Christians were beheaded by the Islamic State. They all bore witness to Christ as Jesus said they would
Will you stand with boldness and give testimony to Christ like these brothers?
24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Martin Luther — In June 1520 Pope Leo X condemned Luther’s Ninety-five Theses, but he also gave Luther time to recant. In response, Luther publicly burned the papal bull and refused to renounce his propositions. He was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church on January 3, 1521. While the emperor should then have arrested and executed Luther, the intervention of Luther’s prince, Elector Frederick III the Wise of Saxony, led to the decision that he would appear for a hearing at the Diet (Assembly) under the emperor’s safe-conduct.
On April 17, 1521, Luther went before the Diet in Worms. In response to questioning, he admitted that the books displayed before the court were his, but, when asked to repudiate them, he requested time to consider the question. The next day, Luther refused to repudiate his works unless convinced of error by Scripture or by reason. Otherwise, he stated, his conscience was bound by the Word of God. He then declared, “Here I stand; I can do no other.” Disorder broke out at the conclusion of Luther’s refusal to recant, and the emperor dismissed the Diet for the day.
When it came to the question of what to do with Luther the Assembly was divided. So, Emperor Charles V passed the Edict of Worms, which banned Luther’s writings and declared him a heretic and an enemy of the state. Although the Edict mandated that Luther be captured and turned over to the emperor, it was never enforced.
Under the penalty of death Daniel bore witness to God, knelt and prayed to the one true God immediately after hearing the order from the King. For his faithfulness to God in disobedience to the King Daniel was placed into the lions den to be torn to pieces. But the Lord was with him.
In the face of persecution and penalty of death Luther bore witness to God, held his ground, clinging to the Word of God and our Lord was with him.
What about you? Do you freely speak of Christ Jesus to your family, friends, and neighbors — bearing witness to Christ — or do you hold back because you don’t want to upset them? If so, could your love for them be greater than your love for Christ?
Do not to fear persecution for the sake of the Gospel, for the LORD is saving by your testimony.
Enduring Persecution Means Salvation
Enduring Persecution Means Salvation
God had a purpose in mind when He sent Jesus into the world.
To be the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world.
To make peace with all who will confess Jesus as Lord.
God has a purpose in mind when it come to our persecution.
To be a witness of Christ to those who are persecuting us.
All are sinners and they need Christ and His salvation.
30 For two whole years Paul stayed in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to visit him. 31 He was preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without anyone stopping him.
4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.
In our daily lives we interact with a number of people.
Do they hear the name of Jesus and of His forgiveness from your lips?
Do they know about the free gift of God’s grace from you?
What was the result of Daniel?
25 Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in the entire earth: May your peace and prosperity increase. 26 I give this command throughout my royal dominion: People should continually tremble and be afraid before the God of Daniel, because he is the living God, who endures forever. His kingdom will not be destroyed, and his dominion is eternal. 27 He rescues and he saves. He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. So he saved Daniel from the power of the lions. 28 So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius, that is, during the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
What was the result of Luther?
You and I know about God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.
We now know that our works are filthy rags, and only through Jesus do we have the forgiveness of sins.
Think of where we’d be if Luther did not faithful to the gospel.
We’d still be trying to save ourselves by our good works.
We would still be lost in our sin.
Jesus said that all will hate us on account of Him. Jesus also said that a servant is not above his master; so, if they persecuted and tortured our Lord, then we should expect the same.
Trusting in Jesus for our salvation and in our daily lives does not mean troubles will pass us by. But it does mean when the opportunity presents itself for us to speak in Jesus’ name, we must not shrink away in fear because God the Holy Spirit is with us and will give us the words to say.
The hymn writer wrote:
Thy strong Word bespeaks us righteous
Bright with Thine own holiness.
Glorious now we press toward glory.
And our lives, our hopes confess.
Give us lips to sing Thy glory,
Tongues Thy mercies to proclaim.
Throats that shout the hope that fills us,
Mouths to speak Thy holy name.
May this Reformation Sunday be the day we listen to the Word of our Lord and proclaim the mercies of God and speak His holy Name, despite the potential for persecution. For the Lord is with you. He knows when a sparrow falls to the ground, and you are of more value than many sparrows. So like Daniel and Luther, shout the hope that fills you for the salvation of many depends on it.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.