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“In Christ we can! Will we?” (A service on justification and sanctification.)

Scripture

• Isaiah 55:1-5
• Romans 9:1-13
• Matthew 14:13-21
• Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26 (Responsory)

DUE TO SOUND TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES, THIS SERVICE IS UNAVAILABLE. OUR APOLOGIES!

We as Christians can sometimes get a bit uppity — a bit arrogant; looking down upon those who don’t believe or don’t know Jesus. We know Christianity is correct. We know we have the right answer. Unfortunately, sometimes we share or live that out in a way that is not winsome, but rather haughty.

The Israelites sometimes got into that same quandary. They knew that they were God’s elect people — His chosen and holy Nation. And they were quick to let that be known to others. But they forgot the reason. They thought they must have been chosen because they were better than others; superior in some way.

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations.

Deuteronomy 7:9

Our text for today dispels that error. God tells us in Deuteronomy 7:7, “It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set His love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all people.” Instead, He tells the real reason: it is because He loved them and was keeping the oath that He swore to their fathers. In other words, God chose them for His own reasons, out of His own love, and not because of who they were, what they had done, or how superior they were.

The same is true for us. Jesus tells us that we did not choose Him, but He chose us (John 15:16). In other words, we are saved because of God, not because we are somehow superior. We are God’s holy people — set aside and consecrated by Him, for Him and His purposes. We are His treasured possession, not because of any superior aspect of ourselves or because we’re better than anyone else, but because He has chosen us for His own purposes and His own reasons.

Our scripture also says that He “keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:9). Yet, He does this after He has kept His covenant and steadfast love for us through Jesus. In other words, through His love, His works, His death, and His resurrection — through His love, mercy, and forgiveness — He has chosen us. He has saved us.

And now, we get to return that love and keep His commandments in joy. We cannot earn our place as the chosen; we are given that place out of God’s love. Now we get to love Him and keep His commandments out of sheer response — out of steadfast love for His mercy and grace. We are His treasured possession, as He has shown us through the work, the death, the resurrection, and the ascension of Jesus. He has shown us to be His treasured possession, and our only response, our only privilege as His holy people, is to love Him and keep His commandments.

How awesome is that?!

Thank you, Lord!

“Gracious Lord, we are amazed that we are Your holy, treasured possession through faith in Jesus Christ, who showed His steadfast love on the cross and through the empty tomb. Grant us, Lord, to respond in kind, with steadfast love and by keeping Your commandments. For we know that You are God, and we worship and praise You now and forever! In Jesus’ name, amen!”

Scripture

• Deuteronomy 7:6-9

You are God’s child all the time, and He promises good in Christ.

Scripture

• Isaiah 44:6-8
• Romans 8:17
• Romans 8:28
• Matthew 13:22-43
• Psalm 119:51-64 (Repsponsory)

There are a lot of hard words in Isaiah — words of judgment and prophecies of things to come that are not good. While there are many difficult passages, there are also some real gems in there: wonderful Gospel and tremendous hope.

Today’s Scripture is one of my favorites, from Isaiah 55:10–11: “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

My word be that goes out from My mouth shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:11

God’s Word is powerful; “living, and active, sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12); “breathed out” and inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16); it is our basis, our rule, and our norm for all that we know about Him, and for all that we know and love about salvation. It tells us what He has done for us, and it reminds us of what we are to do as His people. Most importantly, it always accomplishes the purpose for which He sent it.

There are times when we worry about saying the wrong thing — and probably rightly so. There are plenty of times when we say the wrong thing and put not just one, but both feet in our mouth. But God never does. His words are perfect and right all the time. They divide between right and wrong, good and bad, godliness and evil. When we rely on His Word and rightly apply it, we cannot go wrong. It is life-giving, life-affirming, and it is Christ Himself — the Word made flesh (John 1:1).

That is why it is so important to get into the Word and to understand it, for it is the wisdom and knowledge of God. In It, we learn what God desires, who God is, what He has done, and what our eternal future holds. Because God’s Word succeeds in everything for which He sends it, why wouldn’t we want to take every opportunity — every single day — to get into it? Why wouldn’t we want to learn more and draw closer to Him?

May we always do so, because the ultimate success of His Word is Jesus Christ for our eternity.

Thank You, Lord!

“Gracious Lord, we praise and thank You for Your word, which does not return empty but accomplishes all for which You send it. Help us to get into Your word daily — to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest it so that it becomes an integral part of who we are, just as it is an integral part of sharing who You are and what You have done. May we always be immersed in It for You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Scripture

• Isaiah 55:10-13
• Psalm 65:9-13 (Repsponsory)

There are precious few people I know who aren’t busy; who would define themselves as almost perpetually tired; and, if you get down to it, sick of the way life tends to play out for them on regular basis.

“Sick and tired.”

Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

How many of us have heard that? How many of us have said that? How many of us consistently feel that?

<<sigh>>

So when we hear Jesus’ words today, “come to Me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” those words are soothing to the ears!

“Yes, please!”

Yes, there is a lot more to His words and the ones that follow than we might initially grasp.

Let’s break some of this down:

First, let’s understand that His invitation to come to Him is open to all.

Second, He invited those who “labor and…heavy burdened.” This is far more than those who are fatigued in this world. The context suggests those who are being burdened by the rules and regulations of the Law. Those who are burdened by the religious authorities. Those who are burdened by sin. Those who are being beat down in the never-ending attempt to be good; to be godly; to be perfect.

Those who are truly “sick and tired.”

Does that include you?

Then Jesus gives more in His invitation to come…“take My yoke upon you and learn from Me.” Learn what? That He is “gentle and lowly in heart.”

So how is Jesus’ gentleness and humility help us?

Because He was gentle and humble to His Father unto death on a cross to take away all burdens and labors! His humbleness and gentleness leads to a release from all that holds down, all that encumbers, and that comes against us. All that makes us “sick and tired” – spiritually, emotionally, and physically! And since He has fulfilled everything needed, His yoke and burden is now easy and light!

It is telling that the next section after our text in Matthew is Jesus showing that He is lord of the Sabbath. Not only is He lord of the Sabbath, He is the fulfillment of it! He is our full and eternal rest! He is the answer to all that makes us “sick and tired!” Everything!

Halleluia! Thank You, Jesus!

“Gracious Lord; we praise and thank You that in Your gentleness and humbleness You fulfilled all labors and burdens and now give us full and eternal rest from all that makes us “sick and tired.” Grant us to see that fulfillment when our sins and the Enemy try to burden us again so we see the Truth in You. In Your precious name do we pray; amen!”

Scripture

• Matthew 11:28-30
• Psalm 145:1-14 (Repsponsory)

It’s not surprising that people don’t like pain and suffering. It is unpleasant and to be avoided.

So it’s no surprise that when faced with the option of suffering or comfort, we choose comfort; we choose that which is easy; we choose that which benefits.

Whoever does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.

Matthew 10:38

And some of the time that’s well and good.

But when it’s done to avoid doing the right thing, whether it is difficult or not, there’s a problem. Or when comfort is sought out instead of suffering for God, that’s a big problem.

We are called to Christ and to endure all – even death itself – rather than fall away from Him or serving Him. That is our call. That follows the pattern of Jesus Himself, who endured the cross, scorning its shame even to the point of death, in obedience to His Father and for our redemption.

There are even some Christians that take this to such an extreme as to not only deny that there should ever be suffering for a Christian, but to put off even the thought that this could, should or will happen.

“Get behind me, Satan!”

Jesus says very clearly in our text today that if we are choosing others or things or comfort or peace or anything above Him, we are not worthy of Him. If we do not take up our cross and follow Jesus, we are not worthy of Jesus. Our life is nothing without Him. Our life is forfeit without Him, because without Him, we would still be in death.

Suffering is a part of being a Christian. We don’t get to choose how that suffering looks or what it will entail, but we must always be ready to endure it to the very end; whatever it is;. for however long; in obedience and humility; in love; in response; to bring Jesus glory and to bring others to faith in Him. For that, let us endure anything and everything; any cross at anytime.

Jesus endured everything for us to save us. Including, literally, taking up His cross, bearing it for us. How can we not also and humbly – with amazing gratitude – respond in kind knowing that whatever cross it is that we are to bear, whatever sacrifice it is that we are to make, whatever suffering it is that we are to endure; it will end and we will find an eternal life in Jesus free from all of it.

Hallelujah and thank you Lord!

“Gracious Lord Jesus, Thank You for suffering all, even death on a cross, bearing it for our forgiveness; for our salvation; for our life. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to bear whatever cross, whatever sacrifice, whatever hardship, to bring You glory and others to faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Scripture

• Matthew 10:34-39
• Psalm 119:153-160 (Responsory)