Trinity 18 - 2025

  

The Hymn # 12                 This Day At Thy Creating Word                    

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Reward them that wait for Thee, O Lord: 

and let Thy prophets be found faithful.

Hear the prayer of Thy servants: and of Thy people Israel.

Psalm. I was glad when they said unto me: 

Let us go into the house of the Lord.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O God, forasmuch as without Thee we are not able to please Thee, mercifully grant that Thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn #613               Jerusalem the Golden

One Lord 

Communion Hymn # 307              Draw Now and Take the Body of the Lord 

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #56         Jesus Came the Heavens Adorning

        

Announcements and Prayers

• Therapy, diagnosis - Lorie Howell, Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris, Sarah Buck, Dr. Lito Cruz and family.

KJV 1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

KJV Matthew 22:34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

Eighteenth Sunday After Trinity

Lord God, heavenly Father: We are poor, miserable sinners; we know Thy will, but cannot fulfill it because of the weakness of our flesh and blood, and because our enemy, the devil, will not leave us in peace. Therefore we beseech Thee, shed Thy Holy Spirit in our hearts, that, in steadfast faith, we may cling to Thy Son Jesus Christ, find comfort in His passion and death, believe the forgiveness of sin through Him, and in willing obedience to Thy will lead holy lives on earth, until by Thy grace, through a blessed death, we depart from this world of sorrow, and obtain eternal life, through Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

One Lord

KJV Matthew 22:34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 

There is an old custom in Jewish debates, to see which one has the best response. That is just as true now as it was before the era of Jesus. When a woman at the supermarket bumped into my cart with her mechanical one, she said with humor, "I have a doctor." I said, "I have a lawyer" and everyone laughed. We then had a debate about nutrition. 

35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

Jesus had the upper-hand, and doubtless people sensed that quickly. Jesus radiated the love of His actions, His works, and His love for others. We are alien in some respects in getting things done rather than loving God first. That should be forever on our minds but that is a challenge. My delight is in hearing and saying those things which are the Scriptures. I get out my extra large print KJV New Testament and over chapters of Revelation and one other book. Revelation 13 is the center of all human knowledge - the time before the birth of Jesus and the growth of Christianity around the world. Love for God flows over to love for our neighbor.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 

He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

Truthfully, nothing is more obscure and wrong than the errors piled up against the Christian Faith. They are practiced in the most twisted way as well. One famous minister with a large church. He stayed where he could "enjoy" a combination of Asian paganism. Ignoring his desire to stay there as a big star, he said, "I am just here to pray and to meditate."

Here we have in this wonderful land of freedom, centuries experience with freedom, prosperity, and a Constitution rather than royalty and servility.

Trinirty 12 2025

  

The Hymn #343           How Lovely Shines the Morning Star

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Make haste, O God, to deliver me: 

make haste to help me, O Lord.

Let them be ashamed and confounded: 

that seek after my soul.

Psalm. Let them be turned backward and put to confusion: 

that desire my hurt.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Almighty and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that Thy faithful people do unto Thee true and laudable service, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may so faithfully serve Thee in this life that we fail not finally to attain Thy heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual

Gradual

I will bless the Lord at all times: 

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

V. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: 

the humble shall hear thereof and be glad. 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Sing aloud unto God, our Strength: 

make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Hallelujah!

       

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn #8     Father Who the Light This Day 

          Miracles from the Savior

The Communion Hymn #                  Holy Holy Holy         

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
Closing Hymn #283       God's Word Is Our Great Heritage

  

 Norma A. Boeckler

In Our Prayers and Announcements

• Medical Treatment -  Dr. Lito Cruz' family, Ed Buck, Lori Howell,  Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris Shrader.  
•  BibleJohn gathered cases and cases of KJV Bibles, mostly Extra Large, but also other sizes for the need, such as children and mothers. John said to me, "They do not know the giver and you do not know the receiver."
  

                        

KJV 2 Corinthians 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

KJV Mark 7:31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. 36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; 37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

Twelfth Sunday After Trinity

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast created all things: We thank Thee that Thou hast given us sound bodies, and hast graciously preserved our tongues and other members from the power of the adversary: We beseech Thee, grant us Thy grace, that we may rightly use our ears and tongues; help us to hear Thy word diligently and devoutly, and with our tongues so to praise and magnify Thy grace, that no one shall be offended by our words, but that all may be edified thereby, through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

 Miracles

KJV Mark 7:31 And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis. 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.

Luther: 2. First, the story or example before us is good in itself, for here we see that many persons received the poor man, as though his distress were their own, bringing him to Jesus to be helped. By this, both faith and love are shown to us. Faith, in that they had heard of the Lord before, that he was kind and compassionate, and helped all those who came to him. For the Word must first have been heard, and must first have entered the human heart, showing us the mercy of God in such a way that we depend upon it.

First of all, this miracle is understood - completely wrong. To understand that, we have to work on the errors of the early 20th century, which is when the KJV was revised by "scholars" like Westcott and Hort who mocked and distorted the original text. Two themes began to build during that time (1887 onward). One was Roman Catholicism and the other was rejection of the miraculous in the New Testament, especially in Mark's Gospel. This miracle story is a good example of people today  being puzzled and avoiding the story. The response is negative even today, although the text is quite plain.

Jesus brought the miraculous to the Decapolis, which is where the pigs went berserk and the Syro-Phoenician woman was healed (Lenski). Thus it makes sense that the crowds already had faith in Jesus, so they knew what the Son of God could do. Notice that in our times people look upon their churches with charts, future successful programs, and and expensive advertising. We can easily find photos of enormous buildings emptied because their growth miracles flopped.

The crowd believed because two great miracles had moved them to help this man. Miracles worked for the demoniac and the woman. They had confidence with Jesus, confidence meaning "with faith."

33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. 

Perfectly clear! Jesus put His fingers into the deaf man's ears. The man could not hear and could only be alarmed or confused. People often respond to this negatively, although many a mother or doctor has used a little spit. The deaf man was not very useful until Jesus healed the ability to speak. What burdened the man was simply his hearing and his speaking, but that was everything. 

36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it. 37 And they were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well; he maketh even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

Jesus commanded the crowd to keep the miracle to themselves. This created a paradox. Jesus wanted to limit the crowds because they were so excited and eager for more. However, Jesus had a specific time table, because He knew all that would happen.

[Mark 8 follows - Miraculous Feeding]

• Some dates to note -
• Kitchener Ontario vicarage - 1970 - 3,000 members, now torn up for 41 apartments
• St. Thomas Lutheran, Cleveland - torn down for apartments
• St. Timothy Sturgis, Michigan - business office
• Bethany Lutheran Church in Arkansas - 2009 to now. Springdale - 2011 to now, 55 years (with a few gaps).

We are dealing with a lot of technology now, as everyone knows. I began as a vicar leading some of the worship at St. Peter in Kitchener, broadcast over Eastern Canada. My sainted cousin complained because I did not signal him during the lection. I scratched my nose briefly from that time on, and he was pleased. I also introduced the Governor General in the same place. 

Everything was manual up to a point, when we used a telephone to reach others from the Bethany Chapel, New Ulm. That led to a video camera (Phoenix) weekly for the Meyer clan and others. Blogging was less expensive than mimeographs and other tools of the Stone Age. Video services changed from the most blurry and ad-filled to Vimeo to Zoom.

Trinirty 11 2025

 

Bethany Lutheran Church

Springdale, Arkansas

Pastor Gregory Jackson

The Hymn #462             I Love Thy Kingdom

"Timothy Dwight is one of the renowned names in early American History. Dwight was born in Northampton Massachusetts, on May 14, 1752. His grandfather was Jonathan Edwards on his mother’s side. At the age of 17, he graduated from Yale College. For a time he served as a chaplain with George Washington in the American Revolutionary War. After the war he served as a minister, representative of Connecticut State Legislature, faculty member and in 1795 the College’s President. While he was there, he raised the academic standards and brought a spiritual emphasis to the campus. Before that, the students at Yale had been influenced by Rousseau and the French Revolutionary ideals. It was thought that there were less than ten Christians on campus. His leadership brought a spiritual revival which spread to other parts of New England college campuses." https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/853

The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

God is in His holy habitation: 

He is God who setteth the solitary in families.

The God of Israel is He that giveth strength: 

and power unto His people.

Psalm. Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered: 

let them also that hate Him flee before Him.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve, pour down upon us the abundance of Thy mercy, forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

Gradual

My heart trusteth in God, and I am helped: 

therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; 

and with my song will I praise Him.

V. Unto Thee will I cry, O Lord, my Rock: 

be not silent to me; hear the voice at my supplications. 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Lord, Thou hast been our Dwelling Place in all generations. 

Hallelujah!

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn #282                   Lord Jesus Christ

 The Gospel Preached by Paul

The Communion Hymn #207   Like the Golden Sun Ascending - Kingo

[Some parts of the Danish rural population firmly held to Kingo's hymns during the Pietist and Rationalist periods, contributing to their survival.]

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #575                       Before the Lord We Bow - F. Scott Key                 

In Our Prayers

• Diagnosis and Treatment - Doc Lito and family;  Sarah Buck is much improved; Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris.  
• BibleJohn is getting a complete KJV audio Bible. It is reasonable and battery operated. 
• Two Old Testament classes will be resumed in mid-September.
• Revelation  3 - Tuesday and Thursday at 10 AM Central.

KJV 1 Corinthians15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

KJV Luke 18: 9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

The Gospel Preached by Paul

KJV 1 Corinthians15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

The Apostle Paul labored with his tent making and with trying to teach opponents about the Gospel. He spent two years preaching in Corinth (Acts 18) and dealt with all kinds of problems and scandals. The Apostle's three-fold declaration is a powerful message based on the Word - the Gospel! not frivolities and merches. 

Paul has three weapons of grace -

Preaching to the people,

The listeners receiving the sermons and lectures,

Standing up to the truth of the Gospel.

His primary battle was against faith in Jesus Christ. He could throw all the sins of the world against them, but the Gospel had to heal them and show God's grace in Jesus Christ, who came to forgive, pardon, and draw near.

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

Here is back and forth from Paul, as shown in blue - people are saved by preaching, listening to the Word, and standing up to the truth. It is too bad that people use the word "preach" as if it is a long-winded, angry harangue. That sounds a lot more like the people who  hate this country. They endlessly rail at people, angry and condemning all the time.

Jeremiah is the prophet known for his lengthen speeches against evil. He was so good at that the word jeremiad became a copy of Jeremiah's stance. I always use this passage to show what Jeremiah preached - the most beautiful passage in the Old Testament.

Jeremiah 31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:

33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 

Jesus offered Himself to Paul just as He does to us. Paul had no credibility except for Jesus coming to him, opening his eyes, and motivating him to spread this Word. That put Paul in the role of being the worst of all the Christians, the worst of the Jews against Jesus, and the Romans. The whole reality of this is sinners facing the truth of the Savior and learning what it means.

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

The miracle of Jesus was so great in His resurrection among many kinds of people - but no ancient denial (saved for the clergy and theologians today). Historians know - all of us know - they are missing the sealed tomb, the open tomb, the visits with startled believers sobbing and then realizing His resurrection. More than 500! Thousands spread because of the Apostles, Stephan the Martyr, and those who spread throughout from persecution and from sowing the seed of forgiveness and everlasting life.

7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 

The scattering was joyful, reaching all the Apostles, and Paul - who never imagined what the Son of God could do and expand the Gospel even more. There is a great yearning to know the Christian Faith because so much of our society is mixed up, and many suffer from the long-range damage of society. I asked one poor family why they drank that awful bottled, flavored liquid from the store. "Our waterpipes are so bad we cannot stand it." I pledged to leave a case of tap water every time I came by. One little girl tried her best to drag 24 bottles together. And there was so much more loss in the family because of drugs and alcohol. There are people listening or reading about being down so far everything looks like up. There is one path, which is the love and compassion of Jesus.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Smart-alecs of all generations have enjoyed making fun of the Apostle Paul. He was the lowest of all because he attacked and harmed the Christians he despised. For those who are beaten down and ashamed for their errors, mistakes, sins, abuse of alcohol and drugs - Paul was far worse. So whatever might be claimed, he is the example of the Good Shepherd's protection, healing, and blessing. Look over and see the many different things the Good Samaritan (Jesus, Luke 10) did to bring the broken and wounded, almost dead victim on the road. The by-passers symbolize those who will not help, but One does...always.

Trinity 10 2025.

  

The Hymn # 463                                For All the Saints

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

As for me, I will call upon God; 

and He shall hear my voice: 

He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me.

God shall hear and afflict them, even He that abideth of old: 

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.

Psalm. Give ear to my prayer, O God: and hide not Thyself from my supplication.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O God, who declarest Thine almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity, mercifully grant unto us such a measure of Thy grace that we, running the way of Thy commandments, may obtain Thy gracious promises and be made partakers of Thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual     

  

Gradual

Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of the eye: 

hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.

V. Let my sentence come forth from Thy presence: 

let Thine eyes behold the things that are equal. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. O Lord God of my salvation, 

I have cried day and night before Thee. Hallelujah!

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed             p. 22

The Sermon Hymn #239         Come Thou Almighty King

Idols Have No Sight, No Hearing

The Communion Hymn # 246     Holy, Holy, Holy                   

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #657                   Beautiful Savior

• Grand Canyon University has won against the President Biden's lawsuit, which was thrown out of the court for lack of credibility.
• Diagnosis and treatment - Sarah Buck is much better; Ed has severe back pain. Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris. Kermit Way.
• Included in our prayers - those suffering from emotional stress and those with metabolic disorders.

KJV 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

KJV Luke 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. 45 And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; 46 Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. 47 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, 48 And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

Tenth Sunday After Trinity

Almighty and everlasting God, who by Thy Holy Ghost hast revealed unto us the gospel of Thy Son, Jesus Christ: We beseech Thee so to quicken our hearts that we may sincerely receive Thy word, and not make light of it, or hear it without fruit, as did Thy people, the unbelieving Jews, but that we may fear Thee and daily grow in faith in Thy mercy, and finally obtain eternal salvation, through Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

Idols Have No Sight, No Hearing

KJV 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

America is far more diminished than ever before, for two reasons. One is losing the close connection between the Bible as the Word of God and Spirit. Second is the avoidance of the Holy Spirit's meaning. The great egg-heads of the last century were keen on making the Bible rational, not divine. They previously opposed the clear meaning of the Scriptures, and they scoffed at the Holy Spirit, the Word, and Jesus (only a man, a good man and no more than that.)

     Notice in the opening that the Corinthians fell prey to dumb idols. That meant statues or other physical objects which could not speak (dumb). Even now we see people dangling pagan, anti-Christian symbols or objects that mean something to them. Paul spent two years teaching the Corinthians and many were not trained in what we call the Old Testament. Idols? forbidden. Paul had the extra burden of addressing the pagan evils so they would not fall prey to Satanism and opposition to the Savior.

Luther - "Paul had experience in this matter in the case of the beautiful and famed Church at Corinth in Achaia, which he himself planted and where he taught two years. Soon after his departure they began to disagree about their preachers and to attach themselves to certain ones — some to Paul, some to Peter, some to Apollos."

3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

     "I couldn't help myself!" claims the modern cusser and blasphemer. Any error of that type is rewarding Satan, hurting our souls, and spraying filth on others. Has anyone counted the number of discussing words have fallen on your ears via conversation, angry outbursts, TV, media, movies, etc? It never stops and only gets worse. It starts at eroding our souls and eventually destroys us, if we hang onto the Father Below instead of our Savior Above, our Good Shepherd. Question - how is the big shepherd's crook? I bought a small version for dogs which kept pursuing Sassy Sue and me. The end of the object and GO HOME! ended the pursuits.

     This is a wonderful statement from Paul, speaking through the Holy Spirit. "...no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

This a great statement because even a family of four children will have very distinct differences. What God gives us is an essential part of life which we find in the family, in friendships, in the Scriptures. I have said to students, "No you will not learn the entire Old Testament in 8 weeks or even 80 years." The revelation of diversities - for us - is a great benefit. God is in everything and reveals everything as much as we can imagine. So the Holy Spirit is reveals through this wonderful, miraculous Book, one of a kind, precise, and full of thousands of insights. For believers, nothing exists apart from this Holy Spirit.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

This blueprint from the Spirit allows every person to be different and yet unified. The essence is God's own work, not ours. One can say, "I do not have or want the Spirit," but that does not change the Spirit. Instead, the Spirit changes the person by virtue of the Word of God, whether the Word is spoken, read, or remembered. A slight attachment might not mean as much, but that can grow and multiply to infinity.

Prayer conveys the universal work of the Holy Spirit in the Word, which cannot have an effect unless they are together, Word and Spirit. Time or place of prayer? That can be a few minutes or hours. When prayer takes over through the Word and Spirit, the results take place, not only in tiny elements but also in great changes.

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Who is to say what is a great work of God? People have forced me into a new congregation, in to a different location, a video camera!, so I have wondered, "Where are all the people who should be enjoying the Means of Grace, the Word and sacrament of Holy Communion?" America has sadly reached the point where every single person can ignore the Spirit in the Word because so much energy is used for electronic toys.

Nevertheless, Luther had a good understanding of this passage. When people are gathered, there are always differences. Perfection is never 100%. However, what God provides us is a great anchor and rock - a Bible filled with divine insight and faith in all that God has provided.