Sermons

He’s finally behaving the way they think a good rabbi should! They miss the test.
What should they have done? Well, they could have said, “Please help her, there’s a child involved.” They could have even said, “Lord, if You do what she wants, she’ll stop bugging us and go away.” But no. “Send her away.”

That’s the kind of robber we need, isn’t it? One who carries us off, away from the house of slavery—only to make us free, valued citizens of heaven. One who is forever strong enough to protect us against all comers. One who will risk His life for us—and share His resurrection with us, and all who trust in Him.

Nobody is past His mercy, His love, His attention. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have done. Jesus is here for you. His arms are waiting for you—those arms He once stretched out on a cross, for you.

Consider this fundamental truth. These “flesh-Spirit” choices are what all of us will face every day of our lives. The persistence of these issues is inherent in the fact that God only offers two options for every issue of life; namely, “live according to the flesh” or “live according to the Spirit.”

These are the people who will serve Him, yes; these are the people who will be eyewitnesses to His suffering, death on the cross, and resurrection. And these are the people who will ultimately carry the Good News to the ends of the earth—to you and to me, so that we can believe.

Doctors go where the sick people are; they are not surprised or disgusted by their problems. In the same way, Jesus comes to us, no matter how sick with sin we are. He is not surprised and He is not disgusted. Instead, He reaches out to make us well again.

This perspective on Christian living makes complete biblical sense, when we connect our daily walk to how we found spiritual life in the first place. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit,” It was strictly by the work of the Spirit that we received life initially; therefore, let’s take each step of life so “We walk in the Spirit through Jesus”

Now to my co-servants in His Vineyard: Whilst we journey in this part of eternity, troubles and sufferings will abound, but, be guided that, as Moses laid his hand on Joshua; and Elijah laid his hand on Elisha, so much more Jesus has laid His hands on us through the apostolic succession…and by the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus enables you and me to move from this mountain of faith through the valleys of this sinful world…, my fellow workers and colleagues in His vineyard be encouraged and of good cheer, run the race of faith till the end; confidently- trusting that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is with you, and He is making the best farewell arrangement for you on your last day… Amen.

Jesus stands in our place as the one Man who represents all humanity before God the Father. He is not a sinner, but we are—and so He is baptized for our sake, so that the blessings of Baptism come to us.