AALC Law & Gospel Class

 Greetings Everyone, 

     We are here today for another round of our ongoing Law & Gospel discussion. This is a theme woven throughout scripture that is very prominent in Confessional Lutheran circles (my camp). After reading Galatians, Luther began to understand that there are some portions of scripture that are Law, and there are others that are Gospel.  For example, in Ephesians, there are commands to flee sexual immorality, etc.  This is indeed biblical, and we also as Lutherans describe a third use of the Law (1. curb 2. mirror 3. guide). In other words, we are justified by grace alone through faith alone, yet once we are converted, there is an aspect of sanctification we subscribe to.  Interestingly enough, the original giving of the The 10 Commandments invokes the third use of the Law.  Before the Law is given, God says this to the people: 

Exodus 20

New English Translation

The Decalogue

20 [a] God spoke all these words:[b]

2 “I,[c] the Lord, am your God,[d] who brought you[e] from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery.[f]

We see that God tells the people to be holy because he has brought them from slavery. This is critical to pay attention to.  Sanctification is because, not in order to, as believers bought by the blood of the Lamb. This is also very freeing and uplifting because we don't have to perform, or be fixated on our holiness. We do strive for it, but for our neighbors and for the world. This is our corem mundo, our righteousness before man. There is a separate kind of righteousness, that is corem deo, our righteousness before God, which is declaritive, judicial and positional. The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord states:

VI. The Third Use of the Law

1 Since the Law of God is useful, 1. not only to the end that external discipline and decency are maintained by it against wild, disobedient men; 2. likewise, that through it men are brought to a knowledge of their sins; 3. but also that, when they have been born anew by the Spirit of God, converted to the Lord, and thus the veil of Moses has been lifted from them, they live and walk in the law, a dissension has occurred between some few theologians concerning this third and last use of the Law. 2 For the one side taught and maintained that the regenerate do not learn the new obedience, or in what good works they ought to walk, from the Law, and that this teaching [concerning good works] is not to be urged thence [from the law], because they have been made free by the Son of God, have become the temples of His Spirit, and therefore do freely of themselves what God requires of them, by the prompting and impulse of the Holy Ghost, just as the sun of itself, without any [foreign] impulse, completes its ordinary course. 3 Over against this the other side taught: Although the truly believing are verily moved by God’s Spirit, and thus, according to the inner man, do God’s will from a free spirit, yet it is just the Holy Ghost who uses the written law for instruction with them, by which the truly believing also learn to serve God, not according to their own thoughts, but according to His written Law and Word, which is a sure rule and standard of a godly life and walk, how to order it in accordance with the eternal and immutable will of God.

4 For the explanation and final settlement of this dissent we unanimously believe, teach, and confess that although the truly believing and truly converted to God and justified Christians are liberated and made free from the curse of the Law, yet they should daily exercise themselves in the Law of the Lord, as it is written, Ps. 1:2;119:1: Blessed is the man whose delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in His Law doth he meditate day and night. For the Law is a mirror in which the will of God, and what pleases Him, are exactly portrayed, and which should [therefore] be constantly held up to the believers and be diligently urged upon them without ceasing.

5 For although the Law is not made for a righteous man, as the apostle testifies 1 Tim. 1:9, but for the unrighteous, yet this is not to be understood in the bare meaning, that the justified are to live without law. For the Law of God has been written in their heart, and also to the first man immediately after his creation a law was given according to which he was to conduct himself. But the meaning of St. Paul is that the Law cannot burden with its curse those who have been reconciled to God through Christ; nor must it vex the regenerate with its coercion, because they have pleasure in God’s Law after the inner man.

6 And, indeed, if the believing and elect children of God were completely renewed in this life by the indwelling Spirit, so that in their nature and all its powers they were entirely free from sin, they would need no law, and hence no one to drive them either, but they would do of themselves, and altogether voluntarily, without any instruction, admonition, urging or driving of the Law, what they are in duty bound to do according to God’s will; just as the sun, the moon, and all the constellations of heaven have their regular course of themselves, unobstructed, without admonition, urging, driving, force, or compulsion, according to the order of God which God once appointed for them, yea, just as the holy angels render an entirely voluntary obedience.

7 However, believers are not renewed in this life perfectly or completely, completive vel consummative [as the ancients say]; for although their sin is covered by the perfect obedience of Christ, so that it is not imputed to believers for condemnation, and also the mortification of the old Adam and the renewal in the spirit of their mind is begun through the Holy Ghost, nevertheless the old Adam clings to them still in their nature and all its internal and external powers. 8 Of this the apostle has written Rom. 7:18ff.: I know that in me [that is, in my flesh] dwelleth no good thing. And again: For that which I do I allow not; for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that I do; Likewise: I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin. Likewise, Gal. 5:17: The flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other, so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

9 Therefore, because of these lusts of the flesh the truly believing, elect, and regenerate children of God need in this life not only the daily instruction and admonition, warning, and threatening of the Law, but also frequently punishments, that they may be roused [the old man is driven out of them] and follow the Spirit of God, as it is written Ps. 119:71: It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn Thy statutes. And again, 1 Cor. 9:27: I keep under my body and bring it into subjection, lest that, by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. And again, Heb. 12:8: But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons; as Dr. Luther has fully explained this at greater length in the Summer Part of the Church Postil, on the Epistle for the Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity.

10 But we must also explain distinctively what the Gospel does, produces, and works towards the new obedience of believers, and what is the office of the Law in this matter, as regards the good works of believers.

11 For the Law says indeed that it is God’s will and command that we should walk in a new life, but it does not give the power and ability to begin and do it; but the Holy Ghost, who is given and received, not through the Law, but through the preaching of the Gospel, Gal. 3:14, renews the heart. 12 Thereafter the Holy Ghost employs the Law so as to teach the regenerate from it, and to point out and show them in the Ten Commandments what is the [good and] acceptable will of God, Rom. 12:2, in what good works God hath before ordained that they should walk, Eph. 2:10. He exhorts them thereto, and when they are idle, negligent, and rebellious in this matter because of the flesh, He reproves them on that account through the Law, so that He carries on both offices together: He slays and makes alive; He leads into hell and brings up again. For His office is not only to comfort, but also to reprove, as it is written: When the Holy Ghost is come, He will reprove the world (which includes also the old Adam) of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. 13 But sin is everything that is contrary to God’s Law. 14 And St. Paul says: All Scripture given by inspiration of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, etc., and to reprove is the peculiar office of the Law. Therefore, as often as believers stumble, they are reproved by the Holy Spirit from the Law, and by the same Spirit are raised up and comforted again with the preaching of the Holy Gospel.

15 But in order that, as far as possible, all misunderstanding may be prevented, and the distinction between the works of the Law and those of the Spirit be properly taught and preserved it is to be noted with especial diligence that when we speak of good works which are in accordance with God’s Law (for otherwise they are not good works), then the word Law has only one sense, namely, the immutable will of God, according to which men are to conduct themselves in their lives.

16 The difference, however, is in the works, because of the difference in the men who strive to live according to this Law and will of God. For as long as man is not regenerate, and [therefore] conducts himself according to the Law and does the works because they are commanded thus, from fear of punishment or desire for reward, he is still under the Law, and his works are called by St. Paul properly works of the Law, for they are extorted by the Law, as those of slaves; and these are saints after the order of Cain [that is, hypocrites].

17 But when man is born anew by the Spirit of God, and liberated from the Law, that is, freed from this driver, and is led by the Spirit of Christ, he lives according to the immutable will of God comprised in the Law, and so far as he is born anew, does everything from a free, cheerful spirit; and these are called not properly works of the Law, but works and fruits of the Spirit, or as St. Paul names it, the law of the mind and the Law of Christ. For such men are no more under the Law, but under grace, as St. Paul says, Rom. 8:2 [Rom. 7:23; 1 Cor. 9:21 ].

18 But since believers are not completely renewed in this world, but the old Adam clings to them even to the grave, there also remains in them the struggle between the spirit and the flesh. Therefore they delight indeed in God’s Law according to the inner man, but the law in their members struggles against the law in their mind; hence they are never without the Law, and nevertheless are not under, but in the Law, and live and walk in the Law of the Lord, and yet do nothing from constraint of the Law.

19 But as far as the old Adam is concerned, which still clings to them, he must be driven not only with the Law, but also with punishments; nevertheless he does everything against his will and under coercion, no less than the godless are driven and held in obedience by the threats of the Law, 1 Cor. 9:27; Rom. 7:18. 19.

20 So, too, this doctrine of the Law is needful for believers, in order that they may not hit upon a holiness and devotion of their own, and under the pretext of the Spirit of God set up a self-chosen worship, without God’s Word and command, as it is written Deut. 12:8,28,32: Ye shall not do … every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes, etc., but observe and hear all these words which I command thee. Thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish therefrom.

21 So, too, the doctrine of the Law, in and with [the exercise of] the good works of believers, is necessary for the reason that otherwise man can easily imagine that his work and life are entirely pure and perfect. But the Law of God prescribes to believers good works in this way, that it shows and indicates at the same time, as in a mirror, that in this life they are still imperfect and impure in us, so that we must say with the beloved Paul, 1 Cor. 4:4: I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified. Thus Paul, when exhorting the regenerate to good works, presents to them expressly the Ten Commandments, Rom. 13:9; and that his good works are imperfect and impure he recognizes from the Law, Rom. 7:7ff ; and David declares Ps. 119:32: Viam mandatorum tuorum cucurri, I will run the way of Thy commandments; but enter not into judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified, Ps. 143:2.

22 But how and why the good works of believers, although in this life they are imperfect and impure because of sin in the flesh, are nevertheless acceptable and well-pleasing to God, is not taught by the Law, which requires an altogether perfect, pure obedience if it is to please God. But the Gospel teaches that our spiritual offerings are acceptable to God through faith for Christ’s sake, 1 Pet. 2:5; Heb. 11:4ff. 23 In this way Christians are not under the Law, but under grace, because by faith in Christ the persons are freed from the curse and condemnation of the Law; and because their good works, although they are still imperfect and impure, are acceptable to God through Christ; moreover, because so far as they have been born anew according to the inner man, they do what is pleasing to God, not by coercion of the Law, but by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, voluntarily and spontaneously from their hearts; however, they maintain nevertheless a constant struggle against the old Adam.

24 For the old Adam, as an intractable, refractory ass, is still a part of them, which must be coerced to the obedience of Christ, not only by the teaching, admonition, force and threatening of the Law, but also oftentimes by the club of punishments and troubles, until the body of sin is entirely put off, and man is perfectly renewed in the resurrection, when he will need neither the preaching of the Law nor its threatenings and punishments, as also the Gospel any longer; for these belong to this [mortal and] imperfect life. 25 But as they will behold God face to face, so they will, through the power of the indwelling Spirit of God, do the will of God [the heavenly Father] with unmingled joy, voluntarily, unconstrained, without any hindrance, with entire purity and perfection, and will rejoice in it eternally.

26 Accordingly, we reject and condemn as an error pernicious and detrimental to Christian discipline, as also to true godliness, the teaching that the Law, in the above-mentioned way and degree, should not be urged upon Christians and the true believers, but only upon the unbelieving, unchristians, and impenitent.

 https://bookofconcord.org/solid-declaration/third-use-of-the-law/

The Law is better preached as a curb for those who are not Christians. We see in society that secular law tends to curb crime and sin. We may think that the world is incredibly violent. But imagine the world without any laws!! If you've seen the movie "The Purge," it is a movie about what would happen if people were allowed to do exactly what they want for 24 hours. Meaning, if you disagree with a co-worker, or get caught up in road rage, you could shoot that person without discretion. Of course we would find that reprehensible, but if we consider our thoughts...if we've ever thought about killing or hurting someone, we're just as guilty as if we pulled the trigger. 

     Who is sufficient for these things? I believe that the Spirit of God uses the Law as a curb for the world, but also a curb, mirror and guide for the Christian.  I think the Law can also be used as a mirror to convict the conscience of the unregenerated also. If the Law is preached, and people are exposed to the reality of their sinful natures, prayerfully the Spirit of God will bring new birth to that person, and usher them into the kingdom of God. We must remember that salvation is God's work, and not our work. This is a radical concept to the majority of evangelicals. Yet if we hold true to scripture, we see that no one can come to Christ unless they are drawn by the Father (John 6:44). It is entirely the Spirit that does the drawing and wooing. More to come on that!!

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Goliath's Kids - Life of David Sermon

 

Goliath’s Kids

“Life of David: Goliath’s Kids”

 King Saul was the very first king of Israel; at this point in their history they were ruled by Judges. But the people complained and wanted to be like all the other nations that had kings, so Samuel anointed Saul as king. But he disobeyed God’s orders and lost his kingship to David. Then we get to the point where David fights for Saul’s army and kills the giant Goliath, which was our story last week. Now we are going to fast forward in David’s life and see what happens when he and his army encounter more giants in David’s old age.

Turn with me to 2 Samuel 21. 2 Samuel 21:15 (read). I want us to see two things here. First, who is Israel, who is King David fighting with? (The Philistines) Ring any bells from David’s childhood? What was Goliath? (A Philistine)

Second, what has David become? (Weary)

2 Samuel 21:15–17 (NLT) 15 Once again the Philistines were at war with Israel. And when David and his men were in the thick of battle, David became weak and exhausted. 16 Ishbi-benob was a descendant of the giants; his bronze spearhead weighed more than seven pounds, and he was armed with a new sword. He had cornered David and was about to kill him. 17 But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue and killed the Philistine. Then David’s men declared, “You are not going out to battle with us again! Why risk snuffing out the light of Israel?”

In the course of this battle, David became weary. Ishbi-benob, one of the Philistine soldiers, took note of David’s condition and determined to make the most of it. He was one of the giant’s descendants, with weapons very much like those of his predecessor, Goliath. Among his weapons was a new sword, which he hoped to initiate by drawing first blood from Israel’s king.

Now, why might David be weary? Well, it is because he is human, and he has been through the ringer. So I’m not going in chronological order of David’s life; I’m just doing an overview. So in 1 Samuel 17 when David kills Goliath he is very young. Well what kind of things happen between that time and 2 Samuel 21? Well, David didn’t build Jerusalem, he actually had to take it over from a group called the Jebusites (2 Samuel 5). The Jebusites said even the blind and the lame would keep David from taking the city, but after centuries of failure by the various tribes and people of God, David finally whooped the Jebusites, and took the city.

Subsequently, the ark of the covenant was brought into the city, but not without the death of Uzzah during which God got angry, and then David got angry with God (chapter 6). But when it finally does make it to Jerusalem, David is ready to worship and party, but his wife Milcah doesn’t understand his praise and despises him.

Then, in chapter 11, there is the whole encounter with Bathsheba, and King David is plunged into the depths of adultery, murder, deception, and the death of an infant child.

In chapter 13, one of his sons rapes his daughter. So another son kills the rapist, and has to flee for his life. That son eventually returns in chapter 14, but has undergone a bit of an evil transformation. Next thing you know, David is on the run for his life from his own son, and eventually is forced to send his armies after his son, Absalom, who ends up dying in the chase after his head gets caught in a tree in chapter 18.

Is there any question as to why David might be a bit weary? I’m weary just thinking about it. And now he is face to face with giants. . .again.

So picture this scene. David is facing the Philistines, and probably thinking, “Haven’t I seen you somewhere before?” And these constant, ongoing battles against these mammoth people, combined with the struggles of life are taking their toll. David is worn out.

This is serious danger zone for the people of God. When we are facing an enemy that we already thought we had beaten, and to be quite honest about it, are just plain sick of having to fight. Worn out. Weary. Ever been there?

Verse 17 (read) Whew! That was close. Enough with these giants already. Right?

Who was there to come to David’s rescue but Abishai, brother of Joab and the deceased Asahel, all of whom were the sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister (2 Samuel 2:18). He was a renowned hero in Israel (2 Samuel 23:18). While David may well have had his frustrations with Abishai — and he may not have even liked him — he certainly was indebted to him.

This incident troubled David’s army as much as it may have bothered him. They nearly lost their king in battle. When David fought, he led his men into battle. It was one thing to lose a soldier in battle, but it was quite another thing to lose a king in battle. David had been rescued by Abishai this time, but what about the next? David was past his peak; he was not the man of war he once was. His men did not wish to lose David as their king, and so they insisted that David no longer go out to battle with them. Now David was past his prime, but all of us are in the prime of our lives, and we still have many, many battles to fight. In fact, in terms of spiritual warfare, meaning the warfare against our minds and hearts that tries to cause us to doubt the Word of God, we will fight that battle until our deathbeds.

But just like David’s army, if we get weary and exhausted, we have the potential to fall into sin, never to rise or return to Christ. But that’s the wonderful thing about the Body of Christ, the other believers around us. So know that this Christian walk is a team effort; no one is successful by themselves.

[1] Following Christ is a team sport — So again, we are the church as a people. In our culture, we’ve gotten used to “going to church” versus being the church. But no gathering of believers known as the church can move forward without everyone doing their part, and contributing. Serving God by serving his people is actually an act of worship; it’s just as sacred as prayer, just as sacred as taking communion. The apostle John tells us:

1 John 4:20 (NLT)

If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?

1 John 3:18 (NLT)

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

David’s men, especially Abishai show their love for their teammate, their leader David, in a real and tangible way. Let us help, serve and assist our fellow Christians in any way we can.

The next paragraph, verses 18–22, follows closely on the heels of verses 15–17. In the former battle with the Philistines, David had been attacked by one of Goliath’s offspring and had nearly been killed. The decision was reached that David would no longer accompany his men in battle. But could they win without this Goliath-killer? Was David essential to Israel’s victory against the Philistines? Verses 18–22 give us the answer.

In subsequent battles, other descendants of Goliath emerged, and they were killed also.

2 Samuel 21:19–21New Living Translation (NLT)18 After this, there was another battle against the Philistines at Gob. As they fought, Sibbecai from Hushah killed Saph, another descendant of the giants. 19 During another battle at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair from Bethlehem killed the brother of Goliath of Gath.The handle of his spear was as thick as a weaver’s beam!20 In another battle with the Philistines at Gath, they encountered a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all, who was also a descendant of the giants. 21 But when he defied and taunted Israel, he was killed by Jonathan, the son of David’s brother Shimea.

So David’s men killed other giants from Gath, the city of Goliath. The final “Goliath” descendant is saved until last, and no wonder. What a sight he must have been! Nevertheless, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, struck this giant down like the rest. Why are these stories given to us here? Let me make a couple of observations and then draw out some applications.

I see some emphasis here on the next generation. Saul has passed off the scene, as have his sons. These are the sons who could have challenged David’s son Solomon for the throne. But God providentially removed them. David here retires from his military career, just like one day all of the military people in here will retire. Even Yukino-San’s father, who did 36 years with the JASDF, had to eventually retire. We seem to be moving from one generation to the next.

Have you ever watched how professional athletes “retire”? The one thing they never want to do is retire after a bad year. They want to quit while they are ahead. I can understand that. It is better to go out with a shout of triumph than with a whimper of defeat. This is why earlier this year, in his very last NBA game, Kobe Bryant, at 37 years old, scored 60 points! He had spent 20 years with the Los Angeles Lakers and wanted to go out giving it everything he had. But now when we think of David…I think you and I can agree that David went out about as well as anyone could. Granted, David needed some help to finish Ishbi-benob, but this fellow was killed and the Philistines were defeated.

The success I am thinking about is to be seen on a greater scale. When the Israelites demanded a king, it was so they could have a man who would fight their battles for them and lead them into battle, especially against the Philistines (1 Samuel 8:19–20; 9:16). What would they do now when David was no longer able to lead them in battle?

The answer is beautiful, but let me take you back even further in time. When the first generation of Israelites had an opportunity to possess the land of Canaan, they failed because they were afraid of the giants who were reported to be in the land (see Numbers 13:25–33). When the Israelites were intimidated by the Philistines, Goliath was their champion who frightened the Israelites badly. David stepped forward and killed Goliath, and the Philistines were defeated. But now, David is no long able to handle the “Goliaths” which the Philistines put up against him. Does this mean that Israel is in trouble? Not at all! Was David no longer able to fight? No problem! Men were lining up to take on all the Goliath’s the Philistines could put up against them. And these offspring of Goliath were all killed and the Philistines defeated. What a way to end David’s military career, by leaving a legacy. So my question for each and every individual be is, when you are done with the military, what will be your legacy? I’m not talking about the awards you won, or the rank you retire at, but whom did you influence for Jesus Christ?

[2] We are all called to establish a spiritual legacy — — The people no longer needed a king to do their fighting for them; they were willing to fight themselves, even against the offspring of Goliath. Now this is what I call a great way to retire.

There is also a sense of closure in that things left undone, things not dealt with under Saul’s administration, are now made right by David. The army of Israel has reached the point where David need no longer fight their battles for them, or even with them. There are many mighty men who are able to carry on where David left off.

This to me is a very important lesson in leadership. Often people want leaders who will do their job for them. The task of leaders is not to do everything, but to facilitate, to train, equip, and encourage others who will take our place and do even better than we have. Under Saul, not one man was willing to stand up to Goliath. In David’s ministry, there were many willing and able to do so. David is now free to step aside (first as commander of the military and later as king) because he has done his job well — he has helped to create a level of leadership that is ready to take his place.

Let us leave a legacy of righteousess, holiness and faith in Christ everywhere we go. My prayer is that everyone we come across would want to follow us as we follow Christ, just as David’s men followed him as he followed Yahweh, God the Father.

Here we go. Jump to 2016. A huge global giant we face is terrorism. You guys, as long as there is sin in this world, there will be terrorism. I was watching a documentary the other day in which a journalist was imbedded with an Army infantry unit in Afghanistan for many months. This same journalist then went to Fallujah, Iraq to get imbedded with Marine and Army infantry units to fight Al-Qaeda. On April 5th 2004, U.S. Marines had surrounded Fallujah. That was the first battle. The second battle took place in November and December that year. The third battle for Fallujah happened in June this year, this time our forces fought ISIS instead of Al-Qaeda. Also, we fought against Al-Qaeda in Ramadi and Mosul back in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and well, we’ve had to retake these cities from ISIS here between 2014 and this year. So the battles were different, but then they were also very similiar; 10–15 years of the same battles. However, not even terrorism is something new to God, or something he can’t handle. That’s a global giant, but it’s a giant that’s being slayed; and our personal giants can be slain as well. Through God’s grace, you are able to find five smooth stones, and slay the giant in your life. I don’t care if it’s cancer. I don’t care if it’s the attitude of ex-husbands or wives. I don’t care if Goliath’s kids are your horrible bosses. Jesus Christ is strong enough, Jesus Christ is big enough, to kill all Goliath’s kids.

2 Samuel 21:22 (NLT) 22 These four Philistines were descendants of the giants of Gath, but David and his warriors killed them.

I love how this portion of David’s giant-killing career highlighted his entire army and all his other warriors. It says David and his warriors killed them. First, David worked in cooperation with a team, but it wasn’t just any old team. It was his warriors!! What does it mean to be a warrior?

What’s a warrior? A person who fights in battles and is known for having courage and skill. A warrior is a woman or man engaged or experienced in warfare; a person engaged in some struggle or conflict. Every believer is a king and queen, and a priest and priestess according to the Bible. So if you are a king or a queen, why are you not surrounded by warriors? Why are you around people who are spiritually weak? Now I don’t mean if you are weak if you struggle; everyone struggles. But there is a difference between struggling with sin and doubt, and just talking yourself into defeat. That’s not what we do, Neighborhood!

We are those that defeat; we are not the defeated. You know…just because it looks like the same battle from the past doesn’t mean that it is. Today, it was the Iraqi Army that has taken the lead to recapture Iraq’s major cities from ISIS, and the U.S. military was the supporting cast, especially in Ramadi. Ramadi, Bagdhad and Fallujah made up the “Sunni Triangle,” like the Bermuda Triangle, it was the most deadly area for U.S. troops. The recent recapture of Ramadi from ISIS by Iraqi security forces was a HUGE step in the right direction. David had to take a step back in this text, just like the U.S. Army had to take a step back in fighting ISIS in Iraq. And David’s supporting cast stepped up and took the lead. The Iraqi Army is finally taking charge of their country. We have to be each other’s supporting cast, or we will all lose. If one of us loses, all of us loses. This is why we lean on each other in times of war. But you don’t have to be afraid of Goliath’s kids.

[3] Let God awaken the warrior within you — — Don’t be afraid of Goliath’s kids. They have names…..Little snot nosed brats like depression, lust and anger. Some of us have been divorced and now are remarried. We tried our hardest to fight for our marriages, but things just didn’t work out. And now we’ve gotten serious about Christ, but we have a former spouse who makes things hard when it comes to blended families. Discouragement and despair might rise in your heart, but just hold on. Remember that you have all of Heaven’s Armies with you! You have the Spirit of the Living God, the Spirit of the God of the Universe inside you. All of Goliath’s kids have to die.

2 Timothy 2:3–4 (NLT) 3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.

1 Timothy 6:12 (NLT) Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.

In terms of witnessing to the Japanese, God can work through the giant of cross-cultural discipleship and ministry (Butch and Keiko). Being afraid of witnessing to someone from another culture; that’s just another one of Goliath’s kids. So let’s kill the fear!

2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

amen!

Father I pray that you would awaken salvation in the hearts of those who don’t believe. I pray that you would awaken conviction in the hearts of those who do believe, but still struggle with feelings of inadequacy, who might feel that they are not good enough, or may feel they are too dirty for God to do mighty things through them. But Lord, just like you worked through a broken, sinful man like David, you can take our ashes and give us beauty. You can turn our mourning into dancing. Make us your oaks of salvation; your pillars of righteousness. Save the lost souls in this room today, if there are any. And continue to sanctify and purify those who do know you, so they can do great exploits, and kill Goliath’s kids, in Jesus’ name, amen!

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Glorified - John 12:20-43 Sermon

 GLORIFIED John 12:20-43 Sermon 

He spoke, and galaxies whirled into place, stars burned the heavens, and planets began orbiting their suns—words of awesome, unlimited, unleashing power. He spoke again, and the waters and lands were filled with plants and creatures, running, swimming, growing, and multiplying—words of animating, breathing, pulsing life. Again he spoke, and man and woman were formed, thinking, speaking, and loving—words of personal and creative glory. Eternal, infinite, unlimited—he was, is, and always will be the Maker and Lord of all that exists. And then he came in the flesh to a tiny spot in the universe called planet Earth—the mighty Creator becoming part of his creation, limited by time and space and susceptible to age, sickness, and death. Propelled by love, he came to rescue and save, offering forgiveness and life. He is the Word: he is Jesus Christ. It is this truth that the apostle John presents in this book. John’s Gospel is not a life of Christ; it is a powerful argument for the incarnation, a conclusive demonstration that Jesus was, and is, the very heaven-sent Son of God and the only source of eternal life.

 AUTHOR John the Apostle, son of Zebedee and Salome, and younger brother of James.

Bruce B. Barton, John, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1993), viii–ix.

So we see that this chapter starts with John describing how Jesus went to Bethany. He had just raised Lazarus from the dead in chapter 11, and people were flocking to Bethany to see Lazarus. At this point, the Pharisees actually plot to kill Lazarus because people are flocking to Jesus because of this miracle. Isn’t that sad? They were so absorbed with themselves that the Pharisees cared less about people’s lives that Jesus touched. Then Mary, the sister of Lazarus, pours out her perfume and washes Jesus’ feet with her hair. Judas is horrified at this, and this is where he goes out and plots to have Jesus killed. Then Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, and the people place palm branches on the ground and shout Hosanna! Glory to God in the highest. This was near the time of Passover, and some Greeks came to the feast. 

Greeks Seek Jesus 20 Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; 21 these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip *came and *told Andrew; Andrew and Philip *came and *told Jesus. 23 And Jesus *answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. 26 “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. 

Some Greeks request to see Jesus. Jesus says in order for something to truly bear fruit it has to die. Jesus says that we can’t love this life, else we will lose it. If we hate our lives in this world, we will gain eternity. Jesus said all those who follow him would be with Jesus where he goes, and will be honored by the Father. 

There is so much going on in this passage.  Jesus says that we must die before we can bear fruit. We must die to ourselves. This is another way of saying we should live crucified lifestyles. A crucified life is a life in which Christ will be glorified.

We live crucified lives by keeping our eyes on the one who was crucified. Jesus encourages us to follow Him, but in this world with so many distractions, we must remember that we cannot do this in our own strength. We must rely on the power of God in order to live in a way that serves our neighbor.  To live in a way in which Christ, is glorified.

Now, Jesus is getting closer and closer to the cross. Once those Greeks came who wanted to see Jesus, that was a signal to Jesus that His time had come to be the Lamb of God, the Atoning Sacrifice for the sins of the world. 

Jesus Foretells His Death 27 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 28 “Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” 30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. 31 “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” 33 But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die. 

Jesus says his soul is troubled because his death is near. He doesn’t run from it, but embraces it and says he came to this hour for this purpose; to die for our sins. He prays to the Father to glorify his name. The Father responds audibly. Then Jesus says that now judgment is upon this world, and this world’s ruler will be cast out. Then Jesus says if he is lifted up, he will draw all men to Himself, to indicate he would die by crucifixion. 

I couldn’t help but think of another section of John in which Jesus refers to Moses and the Bronze Serpent: Numbers 21:9

So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

The people were acting up and fiery serpents were sent to attack them. But when Moses lifted up the Bronze Serpent, and people gazed at it, they were healed. This idea is still in the Blue Cross Blue Shield logo today.  Jesus says in another section of the Gospel of John, chapter 3 verse 14, that just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that God could be glorified in His death. This is the entire point of this message, God glorified through Christ, and Christ glorified through our lives.   

Glorify is one of those biblical terms we often use without understanding its true meaning. The Greek root word is doxa, which refers to brightness, beauty, and even fame. One helpful way to think of the word is to substitute the word spotlight. Jesus was consciously giving God, the Father, permission to spotlight himself through what would happen to Christ, God’s Son. The Father responded by affirming that he had already spotlighted his name in Jesus and would continue to do so. When faced with a difficult task or decision, we can turn our thoughts back to why we are on this earth—to glorify God. Our life can spotlight God’s beauty and spread his fame. We can pray that God will guide us and work through us to glorify his name.

That is why Jesus came. To spotlight God’s beauty and love, and to spread His fame. That is why we are here also as Christians. To spotlight God’s beauty and love, and to make His name famous throughout the earth. To know Christ and make Him known. God is glorified in this. 

Bruce B. Barton, John, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1993), 258.

     Now, we see Christ constantly having confrontations with people. For as many people that followed Jesus, we also had people who did nothing but challenge him. Verse 34 highlights this. 

34 The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. 36 “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them. 37 But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40 “He has blinded their eyes and He hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.” 41 These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him. 42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.

• The Christ is supposed to remain forever 

• Jesus says walk in the Light, become Sons of Light while you have the light. 

• The people still didn’t believe, even after all the miracles. 

• The people were more interested in man’s approval than God’s approval. 

The people became confused when Jesus said he would die by crucifixion. They remembered prophecies where the Messiah would rule forever. So they figured that Jesus could not be the Son of Man, aka the Messiah, because he was going to die. But there were prophecies about a Messianic figure who would die for the sins of all mankind.  The book of Isaiah has all these “suffering servant songs” which depict someone giving his life for sins. Here’s a bit of Isaiah 53: 

Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 

But he was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    and with his wounds we are healed.

6 

All we like sheep have gone astray;
    we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

7 

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
    yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
    and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
    so he opened not his mouth.

8 

By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
    and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
    stricken for the transgression of my people?

9 

And they made his grave with the wicked
    and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
    and there was no deceit in his mouth.

10 

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
    he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
    he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

11 

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
    make many to be accounted righteous,
    and he shall bear their iniquities.

12 

Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
    and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
    and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
    and makes intercession for the transgressors.

This was written 700 years before Jesus was born.  And yet, look at what it says. When his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days. He poured out his soul to death, and was numbered among the transgressors. Yet he bore the sin of many (past tense), and makes intercession for the transgressors (present tense). 

What an incredible and powerful description of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Some groups of Jews believe that Isaiah 53 is talking about the nation of Israel as a whole taking on the sins of the world. But we know that this passage is referring to Jesus. He who took on our sins, transgressions and iniquities. By his stripes we are healed.  You know, a lot is said about physical healing in many churches. But what about emotional and mental healing? What about freeing us from guilt and shame over our sins? This world will bring suffering. But Christ promises that in His Father’s house there are many mansions. He is preparing a place for us, and will bring us to himself. I struggle with many invisible scars, wounds and conditions. But his grace is sufficient. No one knows what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was. But He prayed and Christ did not take it away. Instead, Jesus said his grace was enough for Paul. Where we are currently in our lives, is his grace enough? I believe it is. And I believe God is glorified in our weaknesses. Amen. 

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 12:20–43.

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