07 26 2020 Meet Paul and Matthias
Who is the God of Angel Armies is always by our side? We can gather this morning in his presence in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit a man. Do good O Lord to those who hold fast to your name. And to those upright in heart, but those who turn aside to their crooked ways. The Lord will lead away with evil doors. So let us now confess our sins to God our Father. Oh Lord, have mercy upon me a poor miserable sinner. I have offended you in thought word and deed I have sinned against my neighbor. Spare me o God who confess my things to you and who hide not my faults from your eyes. Restore the penitent and forgive me all my sins according to the promise of your mercy revealed to me in Jesus Christ my Lord. As he suffered and died to cover my sins cover me with his righteousness and Grant me Grace that today and everyday I live up right sober and a Godly life to the glory of your holy name. Amen. And now after a general confession, let's pause for a few moments of quiet for personal confession.
Brothers and sisters. Almighty God in his Mercy has given his son to die for you. And for his sake you for gives you all your sins through the mercy of God in Christ, Jesus your savior. You have made a child of God in baptism. And now you live because of his mercy so now is it called and ordained servant of Christ and by his authority I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, I'm in thanks be to God and may he who began this good work within you bring it to completion on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Have you been short of God's forgiveness? We can share his peace with each other like we say the Peace of the Lord be with you and also with you. And let us pray.
Almighty everlasting God give us an increase of faith hope and love that receiving what you have promised. We may love what you have commanded through Jesus Christ your son our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit as one God now and forever.
Please be seated as we now continue with the reading of God's word.
The Old Testament reading is from Deuteronomy chapter 7. You are a people holy to the Lord your God the Lord. Your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession. Out of all the peoples who are on the face of the Earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord said his love on you and chose you for you were the fewest of all people's butt is because the lord loves you and is keeping the old said he swore to your father's that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery the hand of pharaoh king of Egypt 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. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. the Epistles from Romans chapter 8 we know that those who work those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose for Those whom he foreknew. He also predestined to be confirmed conformed to the image of his son. In order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and Those whom he predestined. He also called and Those whom he called. He also Justified and Those whom he justified. He also glorified
What then shall we say to these things if God is for us who can be against us
He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all how how will he not also with him graciously give us all things. Who shall bring any charge against God's elect it is God who justifies? Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died more than that who was raised who is at the right hand of God and who indeed is interceding for us who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword as it is written for your sake we are being killed all the day long. We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. No in all these things. We are more than conquerors through him who loved us or I'm sure that sure that neither death nor life nor angels nor rulers nor things present nor things to come nor powers nor height nor depth nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ. Jesus our lord. This is the word of the Lord is righteous, please for the reading of the Gospel.
The good news of Jesus for today is taken from the account of Saint Matthew and chapter 13 beginning at verse 44 Glory To You O Lord. These are the words of Jesus as he continues to teach his disciples and they claim to understand. The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which a man found and covered up and then in his Joy, he goes and sells only has and buys that whole field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls who on finding one pearl of Great Value went and sold all he had and bought it. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind when it was full men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad so we will be at the end of the age angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace in that place. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Have you understood all these things? They said to him. Yes. And he said that I'm there for every scribe who has been trained for the Kingdom of Heaven is like a Master of the House brings out of his treasure. What is new and what is old? This is the gospel of the Lord praise to you o Christ in response to the reading of God's word today. We confess that start with Christian faith as we find it in the words of the Apostles Creed.
I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit born of the Virgin. Mary suffered under Pontius. Pilate was crucified died and was buried he descended into hell the third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty from thence. He will come to judge the living and the dad I believe in the Holy Spirit the holy Christian Church the communion of saints the Forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body and the life Everlasting.
BB seated as we continue with our next song.
Grace mercy, and peace be to each of you from God our Father through Jesus Christ. His only son and I are only Lord and Savior, man. So we're taking this summer time journey to get better acquainted with the closest friends of Jesus while he lived on earth the group known as the 12 apostles were taking that Journey based upon how their days fall during the calendar year cuz obviously each one of them has a day so we started our journey in November with Andrew on November 30th. And then Thomas his day was December Twenty-One John we talked about last week is December 27th. Next on the list of saints days are Apostles days in the calendar would be Paul same call. His day is January 25th on January 25th to churches in the tradition of remembering his conversion is the conversion of st. Paul. That's a big deal that was life changing events and probably a world-changing event because Paul is such a huge character in the history of the church then and No, the other writings that he wrote the letters the Epistles that are in the Bible and so on and so forth used to be sold a persecutor and then he became Soul the preacher and the missionary and evangelist and the epistle writer and and so on and so forth the other day that Paul has on the calendar though is June 29th, and he shares that day with Peter that is the day of st. Peter and st. Paul 25th is his own day when we remember his conversion.
Okay, so we're not going to be talked about him too much today. There is so much that can be said about him that really he ought to have his own sermon that he want to have his own day when we can kind of get to know his life and learn some lessons from it. So that'll be as sermon separate some other time. Not today. We just want to kind of glossed over him and just say this on the calendar will be February 24th, which is the day of Matthias St. Matthias. Also not one of the 12 but he is comforted among the apostles because he was the one that was chosen to replace Judas Judas was the one who betrayed Jesus went out and killed himself then in between those two events of the Ascension of Jesus and The Descent of the holy spirit that 10-day window some ways in there the apostles the 11 got together and said, you know we got Feel this spot this position among the 12 with someone so Matthias the lot fell to Matthias. He was literally chosen by lot by my by gambling if you will. Even though he has his own saying stay. We don't know anything about him. We don't know anything about it from the Bible. We don't know anything about him from tradition only from his selection in Acts chapter 1. The only thing that we can probably say I'm leaving that not confidently about Mathias is that probably be 11 acted prematurely to select fill the slot of Judas because God had probably selected Paul to fill the slot of Judas and it was probably God's intentions. You were speaking for God where God hasn't told us what he thinks so that's why we can't say definitively God is probably chosen Paul to take the place of Judas in the 12th, but Did the 11 shows Matthias and what's goes so curious about that. Is that after? Matthias was chosen by lot. There was nothing ever done by lot anymore in the New Testament. That was the last time Lots whatever use to discern what God wanted to discern God's will so we're going to stay about to say about Mathias. We can extrapolate a lot about Matthias, you know, and how that happened like waiting on God and so on and so forth. What I want to do today is I want to finish looking at the deficiencies of the 12. I want to finish looking at the obstacles that Jesus had to overcome in the 12th. I want to finish looking at the weaknesses of those Twelve Apostles cuz last week we start a kind of begin a conversation or are we saw three of them three weaknesses obstacles deficiencies that the apostles had number one day lacks spiritual understanding. Remember that number to that likes you Melanie and number three they lacked faith. How did Jesus overcome all this? Well, when it came to the spiritual understanding you just keep teaching them as the gospel readings keep recording for us. This summer. Jesus is teaching his disciples through these Parables and explaining and and sometimes they say, yeah, we got it. And I would love to have I would love to have seen him give them a test if they got it or not when it came to that lack of humility. He modeled humility for them all the way to the cross. Even death on the cross for your bottles and show them what your mother team looks like the number three when it came to their lack of faith. He kept doing miracles for them so that they could see who he was and they could believe who he was. The Christ the son of the Living God. So there's two more problems that I want to look at today that they had that you had to overcome. And then I think we'll see the application, you know to us and in our day the 4th problem accounting from last week. The fourth problem is their lack of commitment.
They were sickle. They loved the crowds that surrounded and followed Jesus. I love the Miracles when he did them. They love the popularity and cuz you don't get to be close to Jesus closer than anybody else in the crowd. They love the admiration. People would come to them and ask them for help. But when Jesus was arrested. When push comes to shove when they needed came down to the gritty they fled they ran away date and they denied him.
That is not commitment.
So, how did Jesus overcome this?
He prayed for them. He prayed for them down the road at some point in time that they would get it together. They would keep it together and that they would be faithful and committed to him and to the mission. He was going to give them. The longest place in the Bible that we have a record of Jesus praying for his disciples. These Apostles is in John chapter 17. John chapter 17 is known as the high Priestly prayer of Jesus and he prays for them and he prays for everybody who's going to believe in him based upon their message, which means he's praying for you
that was an idea was betrayed. That's what he prayed that prayer. the next morning
cuz he was on the cross. He put another prayer that we don't often associated with the apostles and with the disciples, but I believe they are connected. He prayed from the cross. The first thing that he said was father about that goes for give them. They didn't have no idea what they're doing. You didn't say it in those words. They know not what they do. Obviously, he's praying for the Roman soldiers who were crucifying him. He's praying for the religious leaders. today, who are Making it possible for him to be crucified.
But I also think he's praying for his apostles who have just fled and hidden. Except for John who is down there with Mary and some of the other women. father forgive them They don't know what they're doing. He prayed for them. And finally weakness deficiency obstacle number 5 and lacked power. They were week. They were helpless, especially when they were confronted by demons. They were not able to cast them out cuz I looked at their spiritual walk the spiritual life. Spiritual Dynamics what comes to my mind is The Three Stooges?
That's how I see these Apostles running their spiritual life. Just like The Three Stooges. without power without strength without energy So, how did Jesus overcome this?
He sent them the Holy Spirit on Pentecost just as he promised. He would he filled them with power from on high going to cost is not the day that the apostles receive the spirit the apostles receive the spirit on Easter evening when the Bible tells us that Jesus entered this locked room and he breathed on them and said receive the holy spirit that was it received the Holy wind receive the holy breath. The Greek word means all three things. That's when they received it. But then he said before his Ascension 40 days later. You stay in Jerusalem and wait. Until you receive power from on high. And that's what happened on Pentecost. They receive power from on high in the form of the Holy Spirit descending and then giving them the ability to speak languages in that hovering above their heads with the flames. That's how Jesus overcame the lack of power. When you look at these 12. When you look at their weaknesses at their deficiencies at the obstacles, Jesus had to deal with you have to wonder why didn't Jesus pick some other guys. Why didn't Jesus pick some people that were more qualified? Why did he pick 12 men with no understanding? No humility. No face, no commitment and no power. Why did he do that?
Because his strength is made perfect in weakness.
Pretty much the same reason why he picked you. and me because his strength is made perfect in weakness. That's what he told false. That's what he tells us. God chooses the weak to confound the mighty.
That's the way God works. You can't look at the 12 or 2:14 if you want to include pulling the tires from today. You can't look at him and then conclude they did this based upon their own abilities. You can't look at him and conclude that they did what they did because of them themselves because of their own talents skills or abilities. The apostles did not succeed in establishing the Church of God the body of Christ the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth because of their natural skills and talents. They didn't they couldn't the success of the Apostles with the miracle
it has no human explanation.
and so therefore all the credit roll the plane if you're on the other side of France goes to God.
and all the glory all the praise goes to God. And not to them. In there in the book in the Bible in the New Testament called The Acts of the Apostles we call it asks for short. It's the fifth book in the New Testament after Matthew Mark Luke and John the four Gospels. Where is the record of the beginning of their reference? Of the beginning if you will of their success and accept the one like I mentioned it tells us a story of Muhammad Ali this was Jose. Accept the truth and the story of Pentecost and how the Holy Spirit came down with power on the disciples and the apostles Peter and John heal a crippled Peter begins to explain this to the crowd they get arrested in prison because they were preaching about Jesus and the resurrection. And accept the floor then they go on trial. For this and they have to defend themselves before the religious leaders. And again Peter is doing the talking cuz Peter has not come into his own. He's no longer the Peter the gospels. He is not the Peter of the book of Acts. And you know what those religious leaders song. And they were listening to Peter and John. Here's what it says in Acts 4:13. They saw the courage of Peter and John and I realize they were unschooled ordinary men. They were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
I don't know what you think about this first. I think some of the most powerful verses in the entire Bible certainly in the entire New Testament. Because Peter and John we're finally tapping into that Pentecost power. They had received a couple of days earlier. But underneath the Pentecost power you can still tell and you can still see that these are unschooled Ordinary People. Nothing in English. This is a very nice way of saying what the Greek actually really says deep underneath in the original language this whole idea upon schools in ordinary because in Greek on school and ordinary is a grandma toy and video tie.
You can kind of figured out where I'm going with this. Okay in Greek when you add the letter a in front of a word that indicates it okay is so we do the same thing and in English, for example of when you say the word atheist when you say there was an atheist you're speaking Greek because the a in front of theist means you are not a theist atheist is someone who believes in God and atheist is someone who does not believe in God so and a grandma toy is basically that a non Grandma toy is an unknown Grandma's Boy and Angry Crab light comes from the word gravitas which means illiterates or learning or or educated so I grabbed a toy is illiterate uneducated, okay. In and of course, I don't think I need to explain to you idiot. I do I that's self-explanatory. All right. So in Greek Peter and John and the apostles were not only unschooled and ordinary One X. What a nice sanitary way of saying it.
And people could tell. Or in our age maybe we would say if they were unenlightened idiots. Jake has a lot of a lot of people are literate in the sense of someone educated someone schooled but a lot of us are not enlightened like the rest of us, but these illiterate idiots they healed and they spoke with courage and with passion and with wisdom and the religious leaders were astonished that these the illiterate idiots could do that and they questioned how could this be? What's the difference?
And the answer is they were with Jesus.
That's the difference. That's the answer. I notice how things have not changed in 2,000 years.
Cuz how are Christians perceived today?
Fenway folks illiterate idiots or like I said before unenlightened it is We always end up being on the wrong side of the culture. We always end up being on the wrong side of society. We always being end up being not politically, correct. Cuz we believe there's only one true God we believe who revealed himself as Father Son and Holy Spirit. We believe the one true God created Humanity in His image and created them as male and female and there is a difference. We believe this one true. God sent his only son homie call Jesus into the world to save Humanity from sin. Therefore we believe that the fundamental problem that people have is thin. Not poverty. not a. Lack of Education
we believe that's the only way to this to know there's one true God Is by faith in Jesus Christ.
We believe that God forgives our sins already them before we confess them. We just simply confess them so that we can hear from him how much he forgives Us and how much you love. We believe the most important thing in life is to know God, but that's the definition of eternal life. We believe that you're not forget to return the life and comes up in heaven. You don't do stuff. your trust you do stuff because you trust you don't do stuff to get somewhere. You don't bribe your way and you don't learn your way and you don't pay your way in.
We believe that God continues to send your spirit into the hearts and lives of people today. And with that Spirit comes the gift of peace and love and joy and patience and faithfulness. The things that people are trying to get their hands on today. by buying them or by controlling their environment
or by expecting it from the government.
We Believe human life begins in the womb
from conception
and we also believe that all kinds of people in this world struggle with all of these issues and that for a lot of people these are hard things to deal with.
And therefore we believe.
the best way we can communicate God's love and God's existence to people is by compassion.
not by judgment
We Believe not only certain truths are self-evident.
We Believe certain truths are timeless And if they are absolute.
And it may not be expedient. because of agendas that people may have
I'll be believe what the word of God says.
Which makes us illiterate idiots? It makes as unenlightened idiots.
social questions to wrap up this morning first of all If we believe these things are we speaking our beliefs with courage passion and wisdom like the apostles did? Are we conveying our beliefs to somebody?
question to flip side of the coin
the people that we interact with Can people tell that we have been with Jesus?
Can people tell from knowing us and interacting us with us and watching our lives?
Can people tell? That we have been with Jesus and people tell that the difference in our lives versus their lives. is Jesus even though we are unalike and idiots can people still tell the Jesus is the difference.
Is a lot of passionate people out there in the world today who are sounding awful really loudly now, we have social media which gives everybody the platform to share their opinions with everybody else cuz everybody's entitled to my opinion.
And we may not be able to compete with that.
Because as people as all kinds of loud passionate people around all kinds of platforms telling you what you should believe because I believe it.
There's a whole lot of people believing a whole lot of nonsense.
Which we may not be able to compete with. Maybe we can depend upon how much we use that. I thought you available to us. But here's the thing.
We can certainly compete with that. on a one-to-one basis As we connect with people we know as we connect personally with colleagues as we connect personally with friends as we connect personally with neighbors as we speak when the opportunity presents itself the truth with love and with courage and with passion and with wisdom and as we let them on a one-by-one one-on-one basis as we let them know and let them see that we have been with Jesus and that that's the difference.
Some folks are going to persecute us for it. And some folks are going to want to know more. And those folks who want to know more. Those are the folks God is sending us to I'm even the folks are persecuted. Scott may be sending us to them too. You got to play that out one day at a time by faith.
Do people know that we have been with Jesus?
amen
And this time we will go across poison our service to receive the tithes and offerings that have been brought and so we'll just take a few moments and give folks a chance to do that online. If you would on the website or those of you who are here on your way out is an offering plate in the back and we'll just pause and I'll ask you to watch this video.
Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses.
Let us throw off everything that hinders.
I'm assuming that so easily entangles. Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Fixing our eyes on Jesus. pioneer Prospectors of faith
For the joy set before him he endured the cross scorning its shame. Sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God.
Consider him who endured such a position so you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Invite your please rise for prayer in our prayers today. We need to add the name of rabies vac. And of course his family who has been in the hospital since Monday and will probably be there for you quite some time. Let's pray.
Oh my God, your loved ones created all things and set apart of people of your own according to your word and promise Grant to us that kind of face that we may believe your word. all that it says even the parts that are Politically Incorrect Everybody he's a call of your love for us and for all people and that we may find peace in your gift of Salvation and share that piece and that gifts with others. Lord in your mercy. Our prayer Blessed father your love is our great treasure in your kingdom is your great gift to us like that Priceless Pearl like a treasure hidden in the field heading in the world. Grant that we made with bold voices voices of passion and courage make known your salvation your love your mercy to the ends of the Earth, especially with the people that you've already placed into our lives. Lord and your mercy hear our prayer merciful god new established your church in this world through your Apostles you and out her with your word and with your sacraments. We pray you would bless all pastors and missionaries teachers and workers servants and leaders in your kingdom as they serve us in your name bring us your gifts and your grace and follow themselves in the footsteps of these 12 Lord and your mercy hear our prayer. Mighty God you are upset over us leaders to exercise the authority of the state for our protection against enemies for justice against evil doers bless our President or congress all who make administered and judge our laws our governor Al legislature are mayor's our councils all those who have entrusted with this Authority enable them to rule well to decide well. To take action well for your glory and for the good of the people in their charge Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. Compassionate father your son was wounded for our transgression humbling himself. To the point of death, even on a cross and in his wounds, we find out healing and strength give us now as we pray on behalf of all those who are sick those who suffer those who are grieving those who are dying those who are struggling with all kinds of or any kind of issue a body Soul or Spirit as we named them now in these next moment either quietly in our hearts or out loud.
We especially pray for rain in the hospital in for his family as they go through this time with him. Not all things would work out well for he's good and For Your Glory Grant and Wolves of these people that that we know and love and are concerned about all that. They need to support them in their hour of need Lord and your mercy hear our prayer. Got the brains, you've given us the gift of work in the privilege of using the fruits of our labors for the support of our families and ourselves Grand Theft Auto. So with that A Generous Heart, do we need to give Aid to the poor and honor to you with the worship of our hearts and a ties and the offerings. I want hands Lord and your mercy hear our prayer. It isn't your hands dear Lord that we commit ourselves and all for whom we pray we do that trusting in your mercy through your son Jesus Christ Our Lord who told us when we pray we should say Our Father who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation. But Deliver Us from Evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
I know the Lord bless you and keep you in the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you and the Lord look upon you with his favor and Grant you his peace all men after our closing song. They'll be a few announcements.