Lent 1 The Word
Lent 1 The Word’s working word
2/25/2007
Rom. 10:8b-13
† In the name of our Lord Jesus †
Grace, mercy, and peace are to be yours, given to you from God our Father, and our risen Lord Jesus Christ.
The Depressed Composer
Disaster
What could change him?
The Messiah
For the musician, it seemed like one of those months that came straight from the depths of the pit of hell. Depression weighed in on him, partially because of the devastating events, and partially because he had nowhere to turn. He even had trouble getting out of bed, to face the day, and he thought of abandoning his career.
The group he led, had to disband, as it lost its lease on the place they practiced and played. Not that anyone considered them good, anymore. Indeed their last concert was shut down, as the boors and mocking of the audience made it impossible to play.
George did not know what to do, for in days he would be homeless as well. Should he return to his hometown, a man who left with high hopes, but returns as a failure? Could he? Could he even rise out of his depression and despair, and get dressed?
A knock on the door would change everything, as a friend named Charles asked him to create the music for some Biblical passages he had put together. Twenty-four days later, a man no longer depressed, but full of overwhelming joy, would leave his home, to present 53 pieces divided into three sections. The encounter with the person of Jesus, the Messiah shown in scripture, from prophesied hope, to suffering servant, to reigning King, would change George Frideric Handel. His work, which we know as The Messiah, would inspire Kings to rise, honoring the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. It would inspire generations, who would sing the scriptural passages He put to music.
For it is a hard man, that given that much time with the Messiah, with the words of scripture which tell of Jesus life, to not be changed, to not go from despair to joy. For it was the words, that brought the music out, and it was the working of the Holy Spirit in those words, that changed Handel, and still changes people today. To go from deep depression and hopelessness, to complete joy. To go from prospects of a dark future of failure, of shortcomings and eventually death, to know we are saved, by God’s love, by Christ’s death, that is the story of our scriptures. That is the gospel, the word of God which is shared with you, this day.
The Word
The whole thought,
Our Homologia
Jesus is Lord, and has been raised from the dead
“Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come…”
In Paul’s letter to people just like us, that were the church in Rome, He quotes an Old Testament Passage. It starts, the word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. It will help us first, to realize what we mean by the term, word. It is Rhema in Greek, one of three words that we translate as word. But it means more than just a few letters put together, syllables that present a single thought or a simple picture.
In our case, it means the entire content of a rabbi’s teaching. Using Handel’s field of music, we could say that we are not talking about an individual note, but the entire score of the Messiah. Though it may be summed up in a simple manner, the concept is deeper than any well.
Here in Romans 8, Paul sums it up quite succinctly, when he puts two phrases together, one trust that Jesus the Messiah is Lord, and two, that Jesus was raised from the dead by God the Father. Two very simple truths, but from that comes so much – that the Messiah died, that He has risen, that He will come again. This Rhema, this word, is a deep as the oceans, for we can talk of all God has done in making it happen, all that the Messiah did for us their, as He died and was resurrected from death.
What an incredible word, we call it gospel as well, that which has the power to save us, to transform us, as we realize the love of God, for us. It is what we trust, we believe in our heart, it is what we confess, for there is nothing else that provides what we need.
Confess, like Word, has a deeper meaning as well. It is not the one time declaration that we have decided that something is a fact. It is in greek, homologia – literally the “same words” – a testimony that never changes, that which we believe, trust, and have faith in. It is much like the latin “credo” – I believe. It is the credo of the church, throughout history, this word, this gospel. It is what we confess when we gather, in words of creeds, and sermons, words of hymns, it is what we see God do to us, in the water He washes us with, and what we are given as we share in Christ’s Body and Blood.
A word that we are God’s, that we are His people, that He is our God. That despite all the things we have put in the way of that relationship, God has swept them away, and found, that because of Christ’s blood, we have been found to be righteous, not of our own, but righteous because of Christ. Because we trust, that He has saved us.
The Word Kept Near
OT custom
Luther’s W&S quote
It is what Satan seeks to snatch away…
That is why Paul tells the people comprising the church in Rome, that the word is near. The incredible word of the gospel, the words of faith that are proclaimed, and bring us to trust in Christ. To keep those words near, the word there in greek is a derivative of the word to squeeze together – to keep that near to us, that we can never forget, that it cannot be stolen from us.
I think of Old Testament passages, where Moses advised the people to keep the word close,
4 "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. (that is the another way of summarizing the word) 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (ESV)
And
8 You shall tell your son on that day, 'It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.' (there too is a summary of the word – that God does save His people) 9 And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. 10 You shall therefore keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year. Exodus 13:8-10 (ESV)
Everywhere you go, keep this word close to you, talk of it, meditate upon it in your heart.
I like to quote Luther sometimes, because he put things so clearly,
632. It has been well said that we must seek Christ not only while He may be found, but also where He may be found. The shepherds were given this direction: “This will be a sign to you:”—a proof that you have found Him whom you were seeking—“You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luther says: “Word and Sacrament are the manger and the swaddling-clothes into which it has pleased Christ to lay Himself.” The lowliness may seem incongruous to the superspirituality of some, but our Lord will be found nowhere else.[1]
This word is near, as we gather and hear God’s word read, as we gather and sing His praises, and know He has rescued His people. It is near as we hear His gospel, this gospel proclaimed. This word is near as we recall our baptism, and the promises guaranteed there. It is near as we pray, together and individually. We keep it as well in the promises given to us as well, as we commune, as the people of God share in the meal of Christ’s body, and the refreshing Blood.
Satan would do anything to steal this word, to distract us from it. To get us, for even the briefest of moments, to trust it not in our heart, or confess it together as the people of God.
The Word’s richness
What did Handel See?
God’s love, God’s care, God’s work
Our Fellowship is the result…
A little over 270 years ago, a man named Handel looked at 58 passages of scripture, and spent hours with a pen and staffs, creating amid tears a masterpiece of music. The passages that were placed together are incredible – in your bulletin you have a summary sheet of them. I would have you look at each of those verse, to see what Handel saw – the word of God.
The word that is near, the word that led him in 24 days, to write 3 hours of the most incredible music. Not out of the love for the music, but because of the love of God he found in Christ Jesus, through those very words.
He found God’s love for him, a love that is for you as well…love that so desired us to be His children, to be with Him, that He sent Jesus to die, that it could happen…
He found God’s care for him, care expressed in Christ’s death and resurrection that we might be saved, and found righteous in Him. Care expressed in the fact that we gather weekly in His presence, because He has called us to trust in him. A care that is ours as well…
And Handel saw God’s work, as he understood that life existed, not in success or in failure, but in realizing that we are God’s people, gathered by God, cleansed by the Holy Spirit – living in a peace beyond comparison. God’s peace, protecting us in Christ. Amen? AMEN
The Movements of Handel’s Messiah
With the verses inspiring each Movement
(Noted from Wikipedia)
PART I:
No. 1. Overture
No. 2. Recit. accompanied (Tenor): Comfort ye my people (file info) Isaiah 40:1-3
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God; speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem; and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplishèd, that her iniquity is pardoned.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
No. 3. Air (Tenor): Every valley shall be exalted Isaiah 40:4
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low; the crooked straight, and the rough places plain.
No. 4. Chorus: And the glory of the Lord Isaiah 40:5
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealèd, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
No. 5. Recit. accompanied (Bass): Thus saith the Lord (Haggai 2:6, 7 )
Thus saith the Lord of Hosts: --Yet once a little while and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come. AND
Malachi 3:1 The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; Behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.
No. 6. Air (Bass): But who may abide (file info) Malachi 3:2
But who may abide the day of His coming, and who shall stand when He appeareth?
For He is like a refiner's fire.[2]
No. 7. Chorus: And He shall purify (file info) Malachi 3:3
And He shall purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
No. 8. Recitative (Alto): Behold, a virgin shall conceive Isaiah 7:14 -- Matthew 1:23
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name EMMANUEL, God with us.
No. 9. Air (Alto) and Chorus: O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion (Isaiah 40:9 -- Isaiah 60:1
O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
Arise, shine, for thy Light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
No. 10. Recit. accompanied (Bass): For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth (file info) — play in browser (beta)
Isaiah 60:2, 3
For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee, and the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
No. 11. Air (Bass): The people that walked in darkness (file info) — play in browser (beta)
Isaiah 9:2
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
No. 12. Chorus: For unto us a child is born (file info) — play in browser (beta)
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be callèd Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
No. 13. Pastoral Symphony (file info) — play in browser (beta)
The "Pastoral Symphony", also known as the "Pifa", refers to a bagpipe tune. Handel characterizes the zampogna -- a type of bagpipe common to Italian shepherds made from sheep or goat skin -- with a droning element (pedal point) in the piece.
No. 14. Recitative (Soprano): There were shepherds abiding in the field (file info) — play in browser (beta)
Luke 2:8
There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
No. 14a. Recit. accompanied (Soprano): And lo! the Angel of the Lord came upon them (file info) — play in browser (beta)
Luke 2:9
And lo! the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
No. 15. Recitative (Soprano): And the angel said unto them (file info) — play in browser (beta)
Luke 2:10, 11
And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
No. 16. Recit. accompanied (Soprano): And suddenly there was with the angel (file info) — play in browser (beta)
Luke 2:13
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying:
No. 17. Chorus: Glory to God (file info) — play in browser (beta)
Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will towards men.
No. 18. Air (Soprano): Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion (file info) — play in browser (beta)
Zechariah 9:9, 10
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee.
He is the righteous Saviour, and He shall speak peace unto the heathen.
No. 19. Recitative (Alto): Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened (file info) — play in browser (beta)
Isaiah 35:5, 6
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstoppèd; then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing.
No. 20. Air (Alto and Soprano): He shall feed his flock like a shepherd (file info) — play in browser (beta)
Isaiah 40:11
Alto:He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; and He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
Matthew 11:28, 29
Soprano:Come unto Him, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and He shall give you rest.
Take His yoke upon you, and learn of Him for He is meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
No. 21. Chorus: His yoke is easy, and His burthen is light (file info) — play in browser (beta)
Matthew 11:30
His yoke is easy and His burthen is light.
PART II:
No. 22. Chorus: Behold the Lamb of God (file info) — play in browser (beta)
John 1:29
Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world.
No. 23. Air (Alto): He was despised (file info) — play in browser (beta)
Isaiah 53:3
He was despisèd and rejected of men: a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.
Isaiah 50:6
He gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: He hid not His face from shame and spitting.
No. 24. Chorus: Surely He hath borne our griefs (file info) — play in browser (beta)
Isaiah 53:4, 5
Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; He was wounded for our trangressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him.
No. 25. Chorus: And with His stripes we are healed (file info) — play in browser (beta)
Isaiah 53:5
And with His stripes we are healèd.
No. 26. Chorus: All we like sheep have gone astray (file info) — play in browser (beta)
Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turnèd every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
No. 27. Recit. accompanied (Tenor): All they that see Him laugh Him to scorn Psalm 22:7
All they that see Him, laugh Him to scorn, they shoot out their lips, and shake their heads saying,:
No. 28. Chorus: He trusted in God that He would deliver Him (Psalm 22:8
He trusted in God that He would deliver Him; let Him deliver Him, if He delight in Him.
No. 29. Recit. accompanied (Tenor): Thy rebuke hath broken His heart Psalm 69:20
Thy rebuke hath broken His heart; He is full of heaviness. He looked for some to have pity on Him, but there was no man; neither found He any to comfort Him.
No. 30. Air (Tenor): Behold, and see if there be any sorrow Lamentations 1:12
Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto His sorrow.
No. 31. Recit. accompanied (Tenor): He was cut off out of the land of the living Isaiah 53:8
He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of Thy people was He stricken.
No. 32. Air (Tenor): But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell Psalm 16:10
But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell; nor didst Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption.
No. 33. Chorus: Lift up your heads, o ye gates Psalm 24:7-10
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is the King of glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory.
No. 34. Recitative (Tenor): Unto which of the Angels said He Hebrews 1:5
Unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten Thee?
No. 35. Chorus: Let all the angels of God worship Him (file info) Hebrews 1:6
Let all the angels of God worship Him.
No. 36. Air (Bass): Thou art gone up on high Psalm 68:18
Thou art gone up on high, Thou hast led captivity captive, and receivèd gifts for men; yea, even for Thine enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
No. 37. Chorus: The Lord gave the word Psalm 68:11
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of the preachers.
No. 38. Air (Soprano): How beautiful are the feet of them Romans 10:15
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.
No. 39. Chorus: Their sound is gone out into all lands Romans 10:18
Their sound is gone out into all lands, and their words unto the ends of the world.
No. 40. Air (Bass): Why do the nations so furiously rage Psalm 2:1, 2
Why do the nations so furiously rage together? [and] why do the people imagine a vain thing?
The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take consel together against the Lord, and against His Anointed.
No. 41. Chorus: Let us break their bonds asunder Psalm 2:3
Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yokes from us.
No. 42. Recitative (Tenor): He that dwelleth in heaven Psalm 2:4
He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn; the Lord shall have them in derision.
No. 43. Air (Tenor): Thou shalt break them
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
No. 44. Chorus: Hallelujah
Revelation 19:6; 11:15; 19:16
HALLELUJAH! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ: and He shall reign for ever and ever.
KING OF KINGS, and LORD OF LORDS, HALLELUJAH!
Problems playing the files? See media help.
PART III No. 45. Air (Soprano): I know that my Redeemer liveth Job 19:25, 26
I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
And though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
I Corinthians 15:20 For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first-fruits of them that sleep.
No. 46. Chorus: Since by man came death I Corinthians 15:21
Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
No. 47. Recit. accompanied (Bass): Behold, I tell you a mystery I Corinthians 15:51, 52
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep; but we shall all be changed in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
No. 48. Air (Bass): The trumpet shall sound I Corinthians 15:52, 53
The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
No. 49. Recitative (Alto): Then shall be brought to pass I Corinthians 15:54
Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory.
No. 50. Duet (Alto and Tenor): O death, where is thy sting? I Corinthians 15:55, 56
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
No. 51. Chorus: But thanks be to God I Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
No. 52. Air (Soprano): If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31, 33, 34
If God be for us, who can be against us? who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth?
It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us.
No. 53. Chorus: Worthy is the Lamb that was slain Revelation 5:12, 13
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by His blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Blessing and honour, glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever.
Amen.
AMEN!
The Word’s working word
2/25/2007 The First Week of Lent
Rom. 10:8b-13
† In Jesus Name †
George’s Story – from utter despair and depression to tears of joy
The Word
Rhema means ______________________
Homologia means ____________________
To confess is or is not a one time event?
The Word kept NEAR
How Close? Near is a derivative of the word
________________
When is the word kept near us?
The Word Saves
It tells of our R___________________ with God, and what it cost to create that relationship
Optional homework
For the next 24 days……
The Word’s working word
2/25/2007 The First Week of Lent
Rom. 10:8b-13
† In Jesus Name †
George’s Story – from utter despair and depression to tears of joy
The Word
Rhema means ______________________
Homologia means ____________________
To confess is or is not a one time event?
The Word kept NEAR
How Close? Near is a derivative of the word
________________
When is the word kept near us?
The Word Saves
It tells of our R___________________ with God, and what it cost to create that relationship
Optional homework
For the next 24 days……
Announcements
Prayers and Squares
Come Tuesday Morning at 9 am to help create the wonderful quilts we use to minister to others. No experience at quilting necessary (though it helps), but be ready to pray!
Midweek Lenten Service
Come join us Wednesday night at 6 – for the devotional service, and then stay for the potlick. All sorts of great food for soul and for body. This week, we look at the Promise of the Lamb (well at least in the sermon!)
Coachella Valley Hispanic Ministry Annual Meeting
Today at 3 pm in Banning. For eleven years, this church has given part of its district offering to the CVHM, to assist in ministering to those in the area of our circuit to establish ministry amond Spanish speaking people. Today is the annual meeting, where we elect new officers and do other business. If you want to go, consider carpooling with pastor.
Announcements
Prayers and Squares
Come Tuesday Morning at 9 am to help create the wonderful quilts we use to minister to others. No experience at quilting necessary (though it helps), but be ready to pray!
Midweek Lenten Service
Come join us Wednesday night at 6 – for the devotional service, and then stay for the potlick. All sorts of great food for soul and for body. This week, we look at the Promise of the Lamb (well at least in the sermon!)
Coachella Valley Hispanic Ministry Annual Meeting
Today at 3 pm in Banning. For eleven years, this church has given part of its district offering to the CVHM, to assist in ministering to those in the area of our circuit to establish ministry amond Spanish speaking people. Today is the annual meeting, where we elect new officers and do other business. If you want to go, consider carpooling with pastor.
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[1]Burgess, David F.: Encyclopedia of Sermon Illustrations. electronic ed. St. Louis : Concordia Publishing House, 1997, c1988, S. 138