+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Jonah 3:5
Theme: The Ninevites Converted
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The word of God changed a city of 120,000 people. It was called Nineveh. From the king right down to the last peasant they heeded the warning and wisdom of God. But God didn’t reach them by thundering from heaven. He sent Jonah. Now if we don’t believe such an amazing event occurred or is still possible, then the Holy Spirit calls us to step back and reflect on what our Christian convictions are really founded on. God’s grace isn’t artificial; it is incarnated in the person of His Son. Divine truth is effectual.
It’s an understatement to say that initially Jonah was the reluctant prophet. When God said, “Go this way,” he ran in the opposite direction. He was so hard-headed, God had to have him thrown into the sea and swallowed by a giant fish. Obedience followed, but then also regret and resentment. His bold preaching of repentance met with such great success Jonah questioned the worthiness of the recipients. He reasoned that God was being too gracious to the Ninevite heathens. The character of Jonah is candidly set forth in just a few chapters and it in we see illustrated the human tendency to question God’s judgment.
Dear friends, the word of God is not simply information. It carries divine power. Of course, there’s nothing humans like to do more than spin the news. From flat out falsification, to subtle, subliminal misrepresentation, sinners like to communicate the news with their chosen bias. There are two commandments that specifically address this propensity: The Second Commandment, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.”1, and of course, the Eighth Commandment, “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.”2 Such sins originate from the attitude of the heart. Driving such actions is doubt whether God will speak on our behalf.
Many Christians in the modern era become disillusioned with God simply because they think He isn’t hearing them; that He doesn’t answer their prayers. It’s not a complaint we should trivialize. But what does the Bible say, “You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”3 God does answer prayers, but not according to our demands. We cannot manipulate Him.
We said last week that it’s not necessary to keep pace with every movement and transition of the Divine Service. Public worship is a corporate activity, so the liturgy must “keep moving” for the sake of all present. Still, the Holy Spirit is working on people individually, not just collectively. So again, when the question is asked, for instance, “Do you confess that you have sinned, and do you repent of your sins?”4 It will be a very worthwhile use of time to present to God just one issue that particularly troubles your conscience or weighs heavily on your heart. The thought can be followed through right to the conclusion of service. The rest of the exchanges can take place between God and His people, while you continue to meditate about God’s wisdom and grace for you regarding that particular matter.
The Holy Spirit works through the word of God. The gospel is not simply a presentation of the news. Yes, it is a communication of facts: Christ, the Son of God, lived a perfect life of obedience, died an excruciating death, rose triumphantly from the grave, and ascended to the Father’s hand of power, all to atone for the sins of humanity and restore life and light to a dark and dying world. But, as the Scripture says, the gospel “is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”5 It says, “The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword…”6
It changes things. The power of Jesus’ death and resurrection is an eradicating and vivifying power. The apostle says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”7 Through this power the Holy Spirit puts to death the potency of sin within us and revives us in the grace of God. He does this in baptism. He does it in Holy Communion. The gospel draws us out of servitude to the temporal and opens to us the horizon of the eternal. It frees us from obsession with material and trivial things so that we can focus on spiritual and permanent things. Recall the apostle’s wisdom today, “…those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.”8
God’ word changes us from people who flee to people who follow. Jesus called twelve close disciples. Except for Judas they became the apostles. They had special prominence. But he had many other significant followers during His earthly ministry. And then there were the crowds. Today Jesus says to all, “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”9 What does it mean to follow God? In the context of Jonah’s situation today we might ask what it mean that the Ninevites repented?
Firstly, and most importantly, the text says they believed God10 and that faith was evidenced by humility. The relationship between trust and following is directly proportional. But it is not formulaic. Humans are complex creatures. Faith is never absolute. We are sinners. We are plagued with doubts and temptations from within and without. But the object of our faith, the Lord Jesus Christ, is absolutely reliable. The blessings of our faith- peace of mind, reconciliation with God, cheerfulness about our eternal destiny- these are never at risk (even though we doubt)- because they are gifts of our merciful God. He does not lie. He cannot be overcome. Satan is no threat to Him. Hell is no worry.
What does it mean to follow? It means we are not spectators but participants in life; yet in ways that purposefully align with the wisdom of God. It means the way in which we assess things, make decisions, and carry them out is guided by our beliefs about God’s judgment and His mercy. It means we learn to distinguish between the sacred and the profane. Knowing on one hand the Scripture that says, “Everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.”11 On the other hand, we cannot whitewash evil. “Do not love the world or anything in the world…for everything in the world- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does- comes not from the Father, but from the world.”12 For example, sexual desire, when directed properly towards one’s spouse is a gift from God. But, lust cannot be sanctified. Lust must be repented of, repudiated, and forgiven.
Following God doesn’t necessarily mean leaving our vocations or locations. Christ is present among us. The joys and struggles of being God’s people and witnessing to His love happen in our everyday routines. The power of the crucified and risen Christ inhabits our hearts, our homes, our places of work and play. Jonah was one believer in a city of 120,000 people. Soon God changed everything. Even after the miracle of mass conversion Jonah still wasn’t completely happy. But His relationship with God had come a long way. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will be sufficiently resolute but divinely gentle with us in our own struggles too. Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Third Sunday After Epiphany
21 January 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Exodus 20:7 2 Exodus 20:16
3 James 4:2-3 4 Lutheran Hymnal, p.6
5 Romans 1:16 6 Hebrews 4:12
7 Galatians 2:20 8 1 Corinthians 7:31
9 Mark 1:15 10 See Jonah 3:5
11 1 Timothy 4:4-5 12 1 John 2:15-16
Monday, January 22, 2018
Funeral for Murray Wedding (January 18, 2018)
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: John 14:3
Theme: ‘A Place To Call Home’
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Murray, Helen, Merilyn, and especially you, Phyllis,
Murray Wedding is home. It took a little patience in the end. But he is now at peace. He now enjoys the reward of faith and the crown of everlasting life. The coffin contains his earthly remains, but his soul is in the presence of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Scripture read earlier was one of Murray’s favourites, “Do not be afraid…for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”1 Indeed, that promise has now been fulfilled.
Murray Wedding loved music. He taught himself to play the organ and was happy to play in God’s house. He also loved to sing. His love for music was deeply connected with his faith. Music expresses the deepest sentiments of the human heart and soul. Profound truths are often better expressed in music than in words. The Bible is filled with examples, and none more important than the descriptions of being in God’s presence in heaven. Imagine how great and glorious that celestial choir is! It is populated with saints and angels.
St John had a glimpse into heaven and this is how he described it, “They sang a new song, saying, "… you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth." Then I looked, and I heard around the throne… the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"2 Such profound realities should appropriately occupy our thoughts as we reflect in Murray’s transition to eternal life.
Dear friends, the death of every believer is an important opportunity to reflect on our own brevity and frailty. What lessons about mortality do the Scriptures teach us? No one can cheat death, and no one can fool God. Yet, the selfish, sinful human heart is easily led astray. There is an insidious teaching the devil has long been inoculating the hearts and souls of modern people with. It has made great inroads into Christianity too. The falsehood is known as universalism. Put simply, it is the idea that all paths lead to the same place in the afterlife. It’s expressed in statements like “Everybody is going to a better place.” Underpinning this very alluring idea is the belief that all people are basically good, in and of themselves. Therefore, we can be confident that nearly everybody is moving on to a better life. If that were really so, would the Lord Jesus Christ have warned so clearly and constantly about the perils of hell? After all, what need is there for a Saviour if there is nothing to be saved from?
Dear friends, eternal separation from God is not an idle threat. No one plays God the fool. Heaven cannot be gained by hook or by crook. We are not judges of our own worthiness. At the threshold of mortality there are no words of defence or assertion that will suffice. Therefore, the Redeemer says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life”3 Murray was a hearer of the word. He cherished the gospel. He knew he was justified only by grace. He knew there was no way he could merit God’s unconditional love. Believers are righteous because Jesus has shed His own blood. As the Bible says, “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”4 Christ died and rose again for every human being.
Murray understood the rigours of Mallee farm life. The early years didn’t afford many luxuries, and everyone was required to pull their weight. Cooperation was essential, and a real community spirit was evidenced; something that is significantly diminished in todays’ society. The challenges and rewards of farm life were often stark: Feast or famine. Murray was adaptable and was able to adjust as circumstances demanded. When he was still fit, Murray was rarely absent from the Lord’s house or the Lord’s Table. He cherished the forgiveness of sins offered in Holy Communion. He was no Sunday-only or casual Christian. His faith informed everything he did.
Murray’ earthly journey has now ended. He is home in the eternal place prepared for him. He led a full, active, and faithful life. He was a husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. In his later years, we had a number of conversations about one of Murray’s favourite books called The Big Fisherman. It illustrated the life of Simon Peter and his transition from that of a fisherman to an apostle. Murray appreciated how it depicted Christ as the great seeker of souls. It impressed upon him that we often overestimate our own abilities in life and that it usually takes times of testing for us to recognize that God is actually in control. More than once, Murray humbly admitted to me that he thought he was handling life quite adequately on his own until some adversity reminded him to rely on God’s grace.
Dear friends, the believer need not fear death, because at death the promise of baptism is realised. The Holy Spirit says through the apostle, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”5 Murray now has newness of life beyond our comprehension. Grief is still very real. Phyllis, Helen, Merilyn, as you grieve, recognize the gift that Murray was- a gift that will never be replaced- but look forward to a reunion with such joy and vibrancy that it utterly exceeds anything we can experience in this life. In the blessed name of Jesus, Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Murray Desmond Wedding
18 January 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Deuteronomy 31:6 2 Revelation 5:9-13
3 John 5:24 4 Romans 3:22-24
5 Romans 6:3-4
Text: John 14:3
Theme: ‘A Place To Call Home’
Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Murray, Helen, Merilyn, and especially you, Phyllis,
Murray Wedding is home. It took a little patience in the end. But he is now at peace. He now enjoys the reward of faith and the crown of everlasting life. The coffin contains his earthly remains, but his soul is in the presence of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Scripture read earlier was one of Murray’s favourites, “Do not be afraid…for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”1 Indeed, that promise has now been fulfilled.
Murray Wedding loved music. He taught himself to play the organ and was happy to play in God’s house. He also loved to sing. His love for music was deeply connected with his faith. Music expresses the deepest sentiments of the human heart and soul. Profound truths are often better expressed in music than in words. The Bible is filled with examples, and none more important than the descriptions of being in God’s presence in heaven. Imagine how great and glorious that celestial choir is! It is populated with saints and angels.
St John had a glimpse into heaven and this is how he described it, “They sang a new song, saying, "… you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth." Then I looked, and I heard around the throne… the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"2 Such profound realities should appropriately occupy our thoughts as we reflect in Murray’s transition to eternal life.
Dear friends, the death of every believer is an important opportunity to reflect on our own brevity and frailty. What lessons about mortality do the Scriptures teach us? No one can cheat death, and no one can fool God. Yet, the selfish, sinful human heart is easily led astray. There is an insidious teaching the devil has long been inoculating the hearts and souls of modern people with. It has made great inroads into Christianity too. The falsehood is known as universalism. Put simply, it is the idea that all paths lead to the same place in the afterlife. It’s expressed in statements like “Everybody is going to a better place.” Underpinning this very alluring idea is the belief that all people are basically good, in and of themselves. Therefore, we can be confident that nearly everybody is moving on to a better life. If that were really so, would the Lord Jesus Christ have warned so clearly and constantly about the perils of hell? After all, what need is there for a Saviour if there is nothing to be saved from?
Dear friends, eternal separation from God is not an idle threat. No one plays God the fool. Heaven cannot be gained by hook or by crook. We are not judges of our own worthiness. At the threshold of mortality there are no words of defence or assertion that will suffice. Therefore, the Redeemer says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life”3 Murray was a hearer of the word. He cherished the gospel. He knew he was justified only by grace. He knew there was no way he could merit God’s unconditional love. Believers are righteous because Jesus has shed His own blood. As the Bible says, “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”4 Christ died and rose again for every human being.
Murray understood the rigours of Mallee farm life. The early years didn’t afford many luxuries, and everyone was required to pull their weight. Cooperation was essential, and a real community spirit was evidenced; something that is significantly diminished in todays’ society. The challenges and rewards of farm life were often stark: Feast or famine. Murray was adaptable and was able to adjust as circumstances demanded. When he was still fit, Murray was rarely absent from the Lord’s house or the Lord’s Table. He cherished the forgiveness of sins offered in Holy Communion. He was no Sunday-only or casual Christian. His faith informed everything he did.
Murray’ earthly journey has now ended. He is home in the eternal place prepared for him. He led a full, active, and faithful life. He was a husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. In his later years, we had a number of conversations about one of Murray’s favourite books called The Big Fisherman. It illustrated the life of Simon Peter and his transition from that of a fisherman to an apostle. Murray appreciated how it depicted Christ as the great seeker of souls. It impressed upon him that we often overestimate our own abilities in life and that it usually takes times of testing for us to recognize that God is actually in control. More than once, Murray humbly admitted to me that he thought he was handling life quite adequately on his own until some adversity reminded him to rely on God’s grace.
Dear friends, the believer need not fear death, because at death the promise of baptism is realised. The Holy Spirit says through the apostle, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”5 Murray now has newness of life beyond our comprehension. Grief is still very real. Phyllis, Helen, Merilyn, as you grieve, recognize the gift that Murray was- a gift that will never be replaced- but look forward to a reunion with such joy and vibrancy that it utterly exceeds anything we can experience in this life. In the blessed name of Jesus, Amen.
+ In nomine Jesu +
Christian Burial of Murray Desmond Wedding
18 January 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Deuteronomy 31:6 2 Revelation 5:9-13
3 John 5:24 4 Romans 3:22-24
5 Romans 6:3-4
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