Sermon - January 20, 2013 - The Battle Begins
How many of you have been reading ‘The Story”? Please raise your hands. How many of you like it? How many of you don’t like it? For those of you have not started, I encourage you to start. For those who like it, I encourage you to continue in the journey. For those who don’t like it, I want you to stop and reflect. Are you reading it by yourself? Are you reading it with others? Are you actually opening your heart to allow God’s Word to actually change your life?
The people wandering in the desert, were sent there to get closer to God. I think we as Americans can learn a great deal from this encounter, stuff does not bring you closer to God. More often than not, the more stuff you have, the larger the home, and the more you focus on that, the further you are from God. Yes, I am sure you who come every Sunday are probably getting sick of this message, but I will say it again. “We need to get back to the basics.” Why? Because many of you know them, but now it is time to live them out. Oh, and for those who are thinking, “I am so glad such and such is here to hear this message." This message is for YOU.
So where does a person begin? Do we begin with the latest technology? The latest movie that will help people understand? No, we start with ourselves. We begin by entering the word of God together. For the word of God changes your heart, changes your mind, and changes the world around you. You mean I have to start with that big book? No, for truly this is not one book but a collection of books that have been gathered through the ages to help you to understand and see where God is at work within the world. I would recommend you to start with the Small Catechism. Yes, that small book that you went through in Confirmation. For many of you, like the people who were wandering in the desert, it would be good to review the Ten Commandments. For these are the solid foundation that our relationships should be built upon so that they are healthy and sustainable. So what is the first commandment? What’s the Second?
The first three commandments help us to understand our relationship with God. They help us to remember that God is God and we are his creation. The fourth through tenth commandments help us to have good relationships with one another, our family, friends, and neighbors. Luther and the Jewish people wanted all people to have the commandments and their meanings memorized. Not so that you had something to do in confirmation, but so that you could use them within your everyday life.
The people spent 40 years wandering in the desert, learning the word of God and living it. Now their battle for their homeland, the promised land begins. In order to reclaim the land, the Hebrew people did not fight, their first battle was at Jericho. Yet their first action was not to rally the troops but to gather information. Sending men into the city, they learned about the military habits and tactics of the enemy. They learned what they should do and found an ally in Rahab, a prostitute. Now they knew their enemy, they knew what they could do and above all they trusted what God would do for them.
Here God had the people walk around the city, this fortified city with walls that were 50 feet tall and 20 feet thick. A city that all thought could not be conquered. God would not send his people into battle but instead had the people march around the city, blasting their horns and displaying the Ark of the Covenant. The place in which in the Stone Tablets of the Ten Commandments was placed. Along with that, the very presence of God was also known to be with the Ark of the Covenant. For six days, the Hebrew people marched around the city of Jericho. Displaying the presence of God and calling for repentance.
Remember the people within the land were sons of Ishmael, born of Abraham and part of God’s children. However, they had abandoned God. For 440 years, remember the Hebrew people had been in slavery for 400 years and then wandered in the desert for another 40. Now, God is calling for the people of Jericho to return to God or be destroyed. God, who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, was willing to take back these people who literally did not know God for generations. Now they were asked, will you follow me? Can I be your God or will you continue to worship these false gods? Can I give you the peace, love and grace that you long for, or do you wish to continue in your struggles to your death?
God fights and actually shakes the very earth so that the walls come falling down. God does the work in overcoming the obstacle that the Hebrew people could not overcome. God does the work for you, fighting your battle and does the work for you so that you may receive the Promised Land. Remember through your baptism, you are call and claimed as a beloved child of God. You are given the gift and promise that Jesus will fight for you to overcome sin, death, and the power of the devil so that you may have peace, love and grace.
It is this promise that makes us the people of God. It is this promise and love that binds us together.
The people wandering in the desert, were sent there to get closer to God. I think we as Americans can learn a great deal from this encounter, stuff does not bring you closer to God. More often than not, the more stuff you have, the larger the home, and the more you focus on that, the further you are from God. Yes, I am sure you who come every Sunday are probably getting sick of this message, but I will say it again. “We need to get back to the basics.” Why? Because many of you know them, but now it is time to live them out. Oh, and for those who are thinking, “I am so glad such and such is here to hear this message." This message is for YOU.
So where does a person begin? Do we begin with the latest technology? The latest movie that will help people understand? No, we start with ourselves. We begin by entering the word of God together. For the word of God changes your heart, changes your mind, and changes the world around you. You mean I have to start with that big book? No, for truly this is not one book but a collection of books that have been gathered through the ages to help you to understand and see where God is at work within the world. I would recommend you to start with the Small Catechism. Yes, that small book that you went through in Confirmation. For many of you, like the people who were wandering in the desert, it would be good to review the Ten Commandments. For these are the solid foundation that our relationships should be built upon so that they are healthy and sustainable. So what is the first commandment? What’s the Second?
The first three commandments help us to understand our relationship with God. They help us to remember that God is God and we are his creation. The fourth through tenth commandments help us to have good relationships with one another, our family, friends, and neighbors. Luther and the Jewish people wanted all people to have the commandments and their meanings memorized. Not so that you had something to do in confirmation, but so that you could use them within your everyday life.
The people spent 40 years wandering in the desert, learning the word of God and living it. Now their battle for their homeland, the promised land begins. In order to reclaim the land, the Hebrew people did not fight, their first battle was at Jericho. Yet their first action was not to rally the troops but to gather information. Sending men into the city, they learned about the military habits and tactics of the enemy. They learned what they should do and found an ally in Rahab, a prostitute. Now they knew their enemy, they knew what they could do and above all they trusted what God would do for them.
Here God had the people walk around the city, this fortified city with walls that were 50 feet tall and 20 feet thick. A city that all thought could not be conquered. God would not send his people into battle but instead had the people march around the city, blasting their horns and displaying the Ark of the Covenant. The place in which in the Stone Tablets of the Ten Commandments was placed. Along with that, the very presence of God was also known to be with the Ark of the Covenant. For six days, the Hebrew people marched around the city of Jericho. Displaying the presence of God and calling for repentance.
Remember the people within the land were sons of Ishmael, born of Abraham and part of God’s children. However, they had abandoned God. For 440 years, remember the Hebrew people had been in slavery for 400 years and then wandered in the desert for another 40. Now, God is calling for the people of Jericho to return to God or be destroyed. God, who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, was willing to take back these people who literally did not know God for generations. Now they were asked, will you follow me? Can I be your God or will you continue to worship these false gods? Can I give you the peace, love and grace that you long for, or do you wish to continue in your struggles to your death?
God fights and actually shakes the very earth so that the walls come falling down. God does the work in overcoming the obstacle that the Hebrew people could not overcome. God does the work for you, fighting your battle and does the work for you so that you may receive the Promised Land. Remember through your baptism, you are call and claimed as a beloved child of God. You are given the gift and promise that Jesus will fight for you to overcome sin, death, and the power of the devil so that you may have peace, love and grace.
It is this promise that makes us the people of God. It is this promise and love that binds us together.
Comments
Post a Comment