1 Timothy 6:6-19. Affluenza?? 30/9/07
Amos 6:1;4-7; Luke 16:19-31.

{6) But godliness with contentment is great gain. {7} For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. {8} But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. {9} People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. {10} For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s. {11} But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. {12} Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. {13} In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you {14} to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, {15} which God will bring about in his own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, {16} who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honour and might forever. Amen. {17} Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. {18} Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. {19} In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Each of our readings here this morning are warning us of the dangers associated with a deadly disease that is running rampant in our country today. Affluenza has taken hold in epidemic proportions and threatens to decimate this country of ours. Most people are infected with this insidious disease and are completely unaware that it threatens to destroy their eternal future. And saddest of all, most people do not even care. Whilst many are aware of the problem, they think that it is not going to hurt them or their families.
Here today God is warning us of this danger and pleading for us to be alert, so that this problem do not destroy us. Through each of these readings God is seeking to make us aware of the dangers that are ever associated with this affluence - serious dangers. So, don't kid yourselves into thinking that this is not a serious issue. This disease is very much here in our country and community and is and has already been capable of leading many to their ruin and destruction; destroying them and their families relationship with God. They have gradually placed affluence ahead of their relationship with God and have paid dearly for it and their children and grandchildren have been lost altogether.

Through the reading from Timothy God is seeking to encourage us to look in the right direction as we live out our daily lives so that we don’t get dragged into this insidious disease; but are immunized against it. Here he is pointing us in the direction our lives should be going; and above all entreating us to hold firmly to the eternal life which is ours in our confession that Jesus Christ is Lord and saviour.

But firstly, remember back to the Old Testament lesson and compare the scene described by Amos, with the situation we have here in Australia today. The scene is that of people enjoying the comforts of their affluence. They have their expensive furniture; living on the best of foods; using the most expensive of cosmetics; sitting back and enjoying their own music. They had an insatiable hunger for the good life. But in their luxurious sophistication they live for themselves. They seemed to think that because the prospects of the future looked good and that they were the top people in the top nation, they had nothing to fear. They were full of self-confidence and of their self-importance. They had everything under control; so rejected any thought that disaster might be just around the corner. They were doing too well at creating misfortune for others to even consider the possibility that they might be digging their own graves.

In all of their affluence they had forgotten two things. They had become complacent in their consideration for the poor and underprivileged; having
no concern for the oppressed and wronged among their fellow country-people. Secondly they were too full of themselves and their focus on what they had and could enjoy, that they failed to give any thought to the welfare of others. They had forgotten they were all fellow human-beings travelling
through life needing the help and support of one another.

But above all they had forgotten their God. Not that this was a deliberate thing, but they had become so focussed on their own pleasures and their own accomplishments; probably even seeing them as sign of God's favour and presence with them. Even though they went to his Temple, there was no thought to actually listening and heeding the Word of God. After all, they thought they had it all under control. Their religion was for show; with no consideration toward obedience to God's commands. Lip service was given toward God, but their heart was in their affluence.

They had forgotten that it was God who had made them a people: that he had rescued them and given them all that they had. There was no deep, heartfelt thanks to God or praise for all that he had done for them; No obedience to his commands, because they were so secure in their affluence that had no need for God in their daily lives; no need to give consideration as how he wanted them to live.

'Therefore’ – therefore, it shall all come to an end. Those affluent people of the day shall lead the pitiful column of captives going into exile. With tragic irony Amos lets them be first to the bitter end. Where revelry filled the air, there will be ominous silence. The announcement of judgement predicts a tomorrow in which pride, and self-centeredness is swallowed up and disappears. The security of their affluence will bring disaster. And so it happened. A few short years later they are led of into exile. All their wealth taken from them and they were made to suffer bitterly.

Paul in his letter to Timothy also tells us that the People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s.

But you fellow-Christians here today flee from this. Don't allow yourselves to fall into this same temptation and disaster. Watch yourselves so that the same disaster doesn't leave you and your family with nothing. Complacency creeps up ever so easily. Our affluent Australian lifestyle makes it ever so easy to forget God. Just look around you and see how the pursuit of affluence has distracted so many of our fellow Australians away from our Lord and his Church. Watch and pray that you or your family also do not join their ranks.

Now I am not saying that we are to run out and be hermits, having nothing to do with our world. No, we are to live in this world, but to be careful that we are not mastered by it and led into complacency. Remember we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it. Fellow believers, pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Seek after those things that are of God, diligently. They are far more lasting than the riches of this world. Grab hold of all that God has given to us in Christ Jesus, for dear life. Don't let go of that eternal life that has that given us at our baptism, when we were made children of God. Jesus died so that we might have life, now and in eternity. This assurance of eternal life with God is ours now. He has given and continues to give us all that we need for this life and the next.
So don't turn around and let go of all this by looking to and trusting in our earthly possessions and the luxuries of this world. Instead let us continue to put our trust in the God who has given us all that we have and more; in the God who truly is God Almighty the giver and taker of our affluence. Look to him and take him and what he has to say seriously before this dreaded disease, affluenza, destroys us and our families.

Here also learn from the message of our Gospel lesson as well. Seek after God and the things that are of God, now, while we have the chance. We like the rich man may have the security of riches in this life: we may have the honour of the people of this world. But - but if we are not rich toward God then we have nothing. Our riches here on this earth count for nothing when comes to gaining entry into heaven. So now while we have the chance, hold firmly to our gracious God and his promises. Listen to the Law and prophets as well as the Good News of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. Hold on to God, The blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light. To him be honour and might forever," Amen.

Look to him for our security, because his security far exceeds that of our affluence. In him find the riches that will give us the happiness and immunity that we are looking for and need. In him find the contentment that far exceeds what we can ever possibly imagine, and the peace which is beyond understanding. Be rich, but in the things of God. For in our almighty Lord and Saviour we do have all the peace and security that we could ever want. And to him alone belongs all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba

Luke 16:1-13. Wise use of our money?? 23/9/07

(1) Jesus told his disciples: "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. {2} So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.' {3} "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg-- {4} I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.' {5} "So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' {6} "'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied. "The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.' {7} "Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?' "'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied. "He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.' {8} "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. {9} I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. {10} "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. {11} So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? {12} And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? {13} "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

This morning we are encouraged to think about that one subject that is ‘taboo’ in the preaching within our churches. To bring up the subject of money into the pulpit is sure to cause a stir. But if we read our Gospels we find that Jesus didn't shy away from the subject. In fact he often addresses this issue; and I am sure that he does so, simply because it was a touchy subject: simply because many had and still have a problem in this area of their lives. In fact Jesus hits very hard with his comments in this reading when he says that: "no servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.'

Now there surely are some words that must make us sit up and do some thinking. He is saying quite clearly that we can't have a leg in both camps. We can't live as though money is the be all and end all in this life and still expect to get to heaven.
Jesus reminds us here that we can not be completely loyal our Lord and our money and the system by which it operates, at the same time. To use and view our money and wealth the way our world encourages us to, is to despise what God has to say to us. To love and place such great importance on our money and what it can achieve for us, is to hate God and what he stands for. And we can’t say that this is not a problem for us in our country today.

Yes, these are strong words to us and our society today. But there is no way around them, unless we want to ignore what God has to say to us. These are the facts as God sees them – and so we had better take them seriously. To do otherwise could have dire consequences. Now of course, while we live here on earth we need to use money. It is part of our everyday life in our society - Jesus recognised that; but it is our attitude toward it and our misuse of it, that we warned about. We do need to be wise in this whole area.

At the same time, we must recognise that God is God. He is the Almighty – the only true God; and there is no fooling him. We might be able to cheat on our tax; a business deal; not give to the work of the Church as we know we should; and the like and get away with it here on earth. Here we most likely will not be questioned. But God sees - God knows – and if we think we can cheat him and get away with it - look out. He also knows when our obsession with the making of money at the expense of the things that are truly important is there.

So what are we to do as God’s people? What advice does Jesus to give us here? Listen again to the parable that Jesus uses. : "There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. {2} So he called him in and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.' {3} "The manager said to himself, 'What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm ashamed to beg-- {4} I know what I'll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.' {5} "So he called in each one of his master's debtors. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' {6} "'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,' he replied. "The manager told him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.' {7} "Then he asked the second, 'And how much do you owe?' "'A thousand bushels of wheat,' he replied. "He told him, 'Take your bill and make it eight hundred.' {8} "The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.

Yes this guy was cunning. With the bosses money that he had at his disposal, he made wise use of it in order to ensure a good future for himself. So what is Jesus encouraging us to do here? To cheat on our boss in order to gain influential friends? Well yes; but not in the way that we would like to think. Yes we are to cheat: to cheat on the system of selfish, self-centred use of money; on the system that sees money as all important and as that which makes a person something. Yes, we are to break the rules of that destructive system that tears relationships apart and leads us to see wrong things as important. We must not go along with that which is wrong,
even if it is done by many around us and is seen as quite acceptable by our society around us.

No, we as Christians are to have a different attitude and approach. We are to use the money and wealth that we have been given, in ways that make us friends: friends that welcome us into heaven. We are to use money wisely in order that we keep our real friends; friends that have the keys to eternal life. In other words Jesus Christ, our Lord and saviour. After all, he is the one who has given us that which is most important of all; forgiveness of sins, membership in God's family, and eternal life. He has ensured that we have everything that we possibly need in order to get through this life safely; that we can have the security, peace of mind and the greatest superannuation plan. It is far safer than any bank or company or amount of money could give; and it is guaranteed. So in other words, it is all there for us; everything that we will ever need.

So let us not blow it all with the wrong use of our money and wealth. Thinking that what money can buy and what the world has to offer is better than what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. If we think we can sneakily be dishonest even in very small matters we are in trouble. If we do not seek to be faithful in the use of our worldly wealth, Jesus says, how can be trusted with true wealth. If we have no desire to be faithful in using the money and wealth, which God has given us, he says why should he give us eternal life.

That being the case, we need to be very thoughtful in how we view and use the wealth that we have been. Let us then consider carefully whether we go to the pokies, pub or whatever; or selfishly hoarding our wealth or spending our kids inheritance. Should we be spending all our time earning those extra dollars so that we can get ahead - have our boat, two cars, billiard room and every other luxury item so that we can be seen to be impressive people and that we can simply enjoy ourselves. Instead let us consider our every use of what we have, in order to see that we are using it; not in ways that are wrong, harmful and selfish, but instead in ways that will helpful and useful in ensuring that we do not loose out in that which our Lord Jesus has won for us, and which will be helpful for others to know Jesus and the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation that he has won for us. Let us use what he has given us in ways that might serve him and his kingdom, and that will ultimately bring him the honour and glory that he deserves. Will it help people to get to know God and what he has done and is doing for us through Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.

It is here that I will point out that we do need to consider our giving toward the work of the church - we do need keep up our budget, even though our treasurer is saying that we are doing OK at the moment. But maybe if there was more there could be other things that we can do also that will help others to know the Good News of Jesus Christ as well. But it is not just there - in every way we use our money and possessions we need to consider if it helpful for God and his kingdom. Would he be happy with what I am doing even in small matters. In every aspect we are called to be wise - to be faithful.

So yes, here we have a challenge set before us. Here we all need to do some solid thinking. Our money is important - but how we view it and use it is vital. Let us remember that we cannot serve two masters – God and money. All the while never forget what God has done for us through Jesus Christ and the cross. Without him, our money and even our life itself, would be nothing. So let us see to it that our wealth doesn't sidetrack us away from that which is important. But instead to use it for our Lord and friend, who has done so much for us. Be faithful - be wise – for God has blessed us already so richly. To him be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN

Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba

1 Timothy 1:12-17. God's unlimited grace/patience 16/9/07
Luke 15:1-10; Exodus 32:7-14.

(1 Tim 1:15-17) Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. {16} But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. {17} Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
(Exo 32:12-14) Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. {13} Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.'" {14} Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
(Luke 15:1-2) Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. {2} But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Each of the three readings this morning are helping us to focus on God's unlimited grace and patience toward us as human being. His utmost concern is for saving sinners and for furthering his kingdom. In each of these readings people are in real trouble – in fact extreme trouble when it comes to their relationship to God. They deserve and are facing destruction and Hell. Yet God extends his love and patience toward them: and likewise to us. There is great rejoicing as a result of those who accept this grace from God and do not turn their back on it, or take it for granted; but instead who live in light of it.

But let us look a little closer. In the first reading God's chosen people have ‘gone off the rails.’ They mumbled and grumbled against God, because he was not doing what they wanted him to do; they made a golden calf and worshipped it. They made no attempt to live and act as God would have them live; and certainly were not living as God's chosen people. After all that God had done for them in bringing them out from slavery: and the great miracles that they had seen, now they where very quickly ignoring him. Thumbing their noses at him and all that he had done for them.

As a result of this arrogance and selfishness, God's thoughts are of wiping them off the face of the earth. They simply don't deserve to be God's chosen people. He was so angry that his own people should treat him this way that he now decides that he is going to give them their ‘just deserts.’ But Moses reminds him of the promises that he had made. Moses stood by his people - even if he was not happy with what they were doing. He interceded for them and showed his concern for God's ongoing kingdom. He didn't bury his head in the sand and show no interest in what was going on around him. As a result, the Lord changed his mind and did not bring the disaster that he had threatened. He extended his love toward them, giving them every chance possible to be his people in the promised land.

In the Gospel reading we are reminded again of Jesus’ concern for those who are lost and in trouble. Unlike the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law who felt secure in their own goodness, and who had no concern for those who were on the outer and who society considered as a lost cause; Jesus had love and compassion for them. He came to reach out and save those who were lost and lonely and in trouble. He included them all in gathers and discussions, knowing that many of them were in trouble and knew it, and were longing for a way out.

There Jesus uses the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin to show the sort of concern that he has for all. Here we see very clearly the thinking that God has toward those who are lost, and the rejoicing that he has in mind when they are brought home. Jesus is desperate that all survive and be a part of his flock. Because one has gone astray, he doesn't say, ‘foolish sheep, they deserve to perish for their actions. She’ll be right, as long as we have got a few faithful and healthy sheep, the rest can go and get lost if they don't want to tow the line. No, he wants all to be saved – and he has made it possible for all be with him in heaven; no matter who they are or what they have done.

In the second reading we are reminded of just who and what sorts of people he has in mind and how far he was prepared to go in grace. God patiently waits and searches out Paul; who was not just a non-Christian, but violently anti-Christian. Who openly sought out and persecuted the early Christians. He spoke evil of Christ - insulting him. But God reaches out through Jesus to Paul and every sinner - even the very worst of them. He saves them and even considers them worthy to serve him in a big way. Here we are told of the appointing of Paul to let others know of God's unlimited grace and patience.

Paul sees this as absolutely amazing. Something that he is extremely happy about and thankful for. This is the best - simply fantastic - beyond human understanding – and there was no way that he was going to take it for granted; thinking of it as no great consequence. He knew that there was no point in looking to himself - thinking he was somehow good enough and acceptable, which he knew he wasn’t. But more importantly, what was the point – after all, God loves him, forgives him and has set the work that he wants him to do. God has done everything necessary for him and his salvation. He sought him out and challenged him; revealed himself and what he has done for us all. He even gave him the faith and the love that he needed; helping him to believe and gave him the strength to do the work the he wanted him to do. For Paul there was no doubt as to the extent of God's patience and grace. He owed everything to Jesus Christ: all honour and glory was to go to him who has done so much for him and for us all. God is just so great; so wonderful and so loving; everyone needs to know this Good News.

That is why Paul then goes to great pains to help others know how great this patience, love and help really is: how great the Lord truly is. He now wanted everyone know this Good News of Jesus Christ, and that he is absolutely true and trustworthy; and this is something that we all are to accept and believe. To reject Jesus Christ and his grace and turn our back on it; or take it for granted, is to loose out on all that God has done for us and not receive eternal life in heaven. Because after all, to think that God will let us into heaven because we are OK is to reject this great grace of God.

But why would we want to look to ourselves; why would we want to keep our distance from this one who wants to and has given us so much. Why would we want to reject this one who loves us so much. Instead, surely we would want to follow him and give him all honour and glory. After all, he is unlimited in his grace and patience toward us; he is ever out to seek and save the lost.
That being the case we don’t need to pretend that we are better than we really are. We can acknowledge that we are far from the people that God would have us be and that we deserve nothing from God except rejection and punishment. But at the same time look to Jesus Christ and know that he has died in our place and that we have been saved. He sought us out and drawn us to the waters of baptism so that we could be washed clean from our sinfulness and included into God’s family. Then week by week he continues to draw us back into his presence so that we can be reassured over and over again that he loves us and forgives us despite our sinfulness of the past week. As we kneel at the altar rail Jesus gives us his very body and blood so that we can be sure that he is always with as we live out our lives every day.

This is absolutely amazing that he should extend such amazing grace and patience to us here today. Despite who are and what we have done in the past week, he continues to extend his Good News to us. He continues to look to us and encourage us forward to live and be his people; seeking to have us share this wonderful Good News with those around about us: wanting us to share his saving grace with the lost and lonely around about us. And here remember all of heaven rejoices when one believes in what he done for us: who repents of their selfish ways, and trusts that God has saved them through Jesus’ death and resurrection. No matter who they are and how bad they may be in our societies eyes and in God’s eyes. He want his grace to be there for them all; for us all.

So to conclude let us forever remember that, Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba

Hebrews 13:7-8 Today's Message - same yesterday's 2/9/07

{1) Keep on loving each other as brothers. {2} Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. {3} Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. {4} Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. {5} Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." {6} So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" {7} Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. {8} Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. {9} Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them. {10} We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat. {11} The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. {12} And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. {13} Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. {14} For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. {15} Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. {16} And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Is the message that we hear and take on as our own today, the same as it was yesterday and in years gone by? At a time when we are hearing all kinds of strange teachings being put forward - within Christian circle and outside; and when things are changing at such a fast rate in our world, is there something that we can hang on to as a constant and secure thing, that will help us through it all? Or are we at the mercy of the winds of change - being blown this way and that; never quite knowing what is right and wrong?

As we look around us we see many people who are in trouble in this way. There are many who no longer sit here in this building or any other such building. While a number of others who do so, do so only occasionally. And perhaps there are some of us here who are not quite sure: hearing lots of other thoughts and ideas which make us question that which we have been brought up with; making us think of changing our ideas or even doubt the value of our church.

However, we are constantly warned in Scripture to beware of those who try to lead us astray with all kinds of fancy talk. It warns that in the later days there will be many who will come in God's name, but not with God's Word. They will come in their own name giving us that which our ears are itching to hear.

We are living in very difficult times when it comes to the Christian faith; but the answer is not to walk away from that which is all important. Nor to let go of that which ultimately is the only thing that is beneficial to us all. Or again to follow that which will only simply makes us feel good, but does not deal with the real issues. To do so is to even further erode any security and hope that we would have that will be able to give us life and salvation; and help us through the difficult and troubled times of life. As well as leaving us even more uncertain and alone. Which is of course the devils aim.

Our reading here today however gives us some very simple and important advice in this matter. So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Now I know this sort of thinking is out of tune with what is happening in our world today, where change at all costs is the order of the day: Where we are constantly encouraged to ignore the past as out of date and no longer relevant; And to go ahead and be more broadminded in our thinking and to accept all kinds of different thinking as being OK; and all the rest.
But here we are encouraged to hold firmly to that which is important and to follow closely that which has been handed down to us from the very beginning; imitating the faith of the great leaders that have gone before us. Here again we are encouraged to remember Jesus Christ and what he has to say and what he has done on the cross for us, as all important.

Some time back I listened to tape where one young man, when asked who he wanted to be most like and whose example he would follow; said that he wanted to be like his father who was a committed Christian and evangelist. All his lecturers and peers got into him suggesting that he had a real psychological problem: no one follows the example of their fathers any more [ unless it their bad traits]. Now it was great to hear that he stood up and told the lot of them that they were the ones who had a problem, if they were not committed enough to stand up and imitate those many good points of their fathers.

We too, need to stand up once again and imitate those many good Christians that have gone before us. They are the ones through whom God's grace has been at work carrying the Good News of Jesus Christ on to us here today. God has been at work in and through his Church for many hundreds of years, speaking his word to each successive generation; encouraging them to stand firm in their faith. And our church here stands in that line: the Gospel being the centre and focus of everything that we stand for.

But will we be responsible for that Word going forward to the children of the coming generations; or will our slackness and indifference mean that our children and grand-children will no longer have anything to follow and imitate. Will our running here and there, following every wind of doctrine, leave nothing solid for those who come after us.

Remember again what Jesus Christ and his life, death and resurrection means for us and for the Church of all time. It is he alone that stands central to our whole being, existence and future. What he has done and continues to do for us is paramount to everything. Forgiveness of sins and eternal life through him, is what gives life and hope.

Now, that we see from many of the Christian leaders that have gone before us. With full assurance that they had been forgiven through Jesus’ death on the cross, they knew that they had salvation and life eternal: they had a joy and hope even in the midst of the most terrible of situations. They were able to put away from their lives many of those things that are bad and wrong such as drunkenness, envy, greed, selfishness etc. And in their place came those qualities that are good, helpful and positive. Love becoming the basis of much of what they did.
But undergirding this, always was Jesus Christ and his death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins, that he has made available to us. They clung to that which they could not see, feel or touch; trusting that in Christ and his death lies their only hope and their only life. Then with that faith, they gave their all to share that which was so important, with those around them. Even as they faced death in whatever way or form it came, they trusted nothing could ever separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Now then, that is what our reading is calling us also to do: to imitate that faith, - carrying on forward that same hope and trust in our own life and as we face our own death. Primarily we are called to put aside all those thoughts of self and my achievements, commitment and whatever. The whole work of salvation and life now for us, lies firmly at the foot of the cross and Jesus Christ. Then with that as our basis for life, to go forward living and being the people that God has called us to be; knowing always that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

We do so because he is forever faithful and true. He alone stands as the one who offered himself for all sinners in the past. But also who ever intercedes for us in the present. He always remain our faithful Saviour and Lord. That is the message that has been passed on to us through our Church from the past; and is that which I give you today; and I pray that it is the same message that will go on being given and imitated for years to come.

So don't ignore the Church, this message and the truth that has been passed on to us. But let us continue to see Jesus Christ and the forgiveness that he offers as being that which is of utmost importance; trusting him and so giving your all to see that this same message and faith goes on to those who follow. Let us pray that God will help us to continue to imitate those great men and women who have gone before us. Through it all may we always remember that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. To him alone be all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba

Isaiah 58:13-14. Honour the Sabbath 26/8/07

(Isa 58:13-14) "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honourable, and if you honour it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, {14} then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
(Heb 12:28-29) Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, {29} for our "God is a consuming fire."
(Luke 13:14-15) Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath." {15} The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?

Today our readings throw out a challenge to us all with regard to our Sunday worship. More to the point, we are called on to reflect on what is our attitude towards Sundays and what and why we do what we do? And on reflecting on these readings this morning we see that we all fall into the dangers that God is making us aware of here. But even more significant is the fact that we are denying God the opportunities that he wants for us.

In light of attendances in recent weeks, we would do well to reflect on what God has to say to us here. I recognise that there is sickness and holidays for a number of people, but at the same time the devil and our sinful nature is at work as well. Unless we take these things seriously we too will find ourselves in serious trouble; and we will be denying God the opportunity to bring the blessings that he wants, to us and our nation. He may well level at us the term hypocrite.

As we reflect on this issue then, we see that there are three keys problems that we regularly find at work in our lives and which the devil feeds.
The first one is that we don’t need to take what God has to say with regard to the Sabbath seriously. I’ve heard many comments over the years that go along the lines of: ‘You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian? I can miss a Sunday here and there and it is not going to affect my faith! I have to do this or that on Sunday. Worship is boring. I don’t get on with the people there.’ And the list could go on. Underlying many of these comments is the attitude that we have more important things to do on Sunday, or that we decide what is good and right for ourselves.

The other problem that so often arises and which our Gospel reading places before us, is the legalism that all to often becomes associated with the Lord’s day. ‘You can’t do this or that on the Sabbath! We can only do it this way. It has to be hymns out of the hymn book or it is no good. As long as I ...... Or, I cannot commune because I am too sinful. And again the list could go on. Here underlying it all is the attitude that we must do things just the right way or else we will not receive God’s blessing.

But overarching these problems is that much deeper and more pervasive issue of the fact that we see ourselves as the centre of what the Sabbath is all about. Worship is what we do for God, not first and foremost we he does for us. It is we determining if and when, where and how, we worship, and everything else that has to do with this day. Even right down to what we think is important and what needs to be in our worship services. Or more to the point today, what we can discard and not have. Therein lies the sin of each one of us. We want to be like God and we want to decide for ourselves what we think is good and important. We want to be our own gods. And it is that attitude which brings death.

However here it is that Jesus reminded the Pharisees of his day, as well as us today, that there is a far more central issue involved here, than what we do and how we do it. This day has to do with us being freed from that which binds us and grinds us into the ground. He speaks of being freed from Satan. It has to do with forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. It has to do with our Lord and who he is and what he does. It has to do with, as Paul says to the Hebrews:
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Yes, that is what God has in mind for you and me here this morning and every time we gather here in his presence. He wants to meet with you here, together with all the saints, and he wants to reassure you that you are part of a new covenant where we can have that guarantee that we are forgiven for all your selfishness and sin, and that he has many blessings surrounding that for you and me. God and what he has to offer is what is essential for this life and the next. He is here to do just that and along with that he gives us the directives that we need for our worship and for life.

Here also remember that he was the one who set aside the Sabbath so that he could allow us to rest in his presence and receive all the good that he has in mind for us. He commands us to ‘Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” That means as Luther says; ‘we should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and his Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.’ We are to use the form of worship that he has set down for us since the early days of the Church.

Here also listen to what he says in our Old Testament reading today.
"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's holy day honourable, and if you honour it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

This is just as important for us today as it was back then. So we use this as an opportunity to turn away from doing that which “I” want to do and instead look to him and receive what he has to give. Following his Word, rather than the word of our sinful selves and the world around us. We take on board the fact that he is the “Lord of the Sabbath.” He is the one who is important, and he has much to give us as we live in a world full of temptations and troubles.

So as Paul said to the Hebrews: See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. [That is Jesus and his word of forgiveness] If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken--that is, created things--so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."

We have a great, awesome, and loving God who calls us week by week into his day of rest and receiving of all the good things that he has in mind for us. Through Word and Sacrament he seeks to richly bless us. Who then are we to deny him this opportunity. Or do we think that we are greater, stronger and wiser than God himself. No let us be challenged and encouraged to see the Sabbath as God’s gift to us for our welfare and good. And through it all may all glory and honour go to our great God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba