Rev. Roland J. Wells, Jr. - Pastor

The Twenty-Sixth Sunday After Pentecost - November 17, 2002

Lessons: Zeph. 1:7, 12-18; 1 Thes. 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30

"Living Together With Him"

Introduction:

We had a big wedding here yesterday- young couple who have attended here some- always fun to work with young couples- so many new things; so many things to work through; different family traditions; different 'rules' for how to do things; different rules for 'fighting'- different rules for who does what; very different expectations.

But the hardest part is that your now been sentenced to a lifetime of living with that person. You have to share your room with that person. You have to share your toys with that person. They get to be just like...family.

Living in that kind of close relationship is new, it's hard, and it's not without painful adjustments. But at the same time, it's wonderful, it's exciting, and it's the beginning of a whole new family.

The Bible uses a strange term to describe the Church. All believers together, 'the Church' is called 'the Bride of Christ.' So a wedding image is not a bad description of the kind of intimate relationship Christ calls us to.

I) Live Together With Him

Paul, in the Letter to the Thessalonians, which we heard read a few minutes ago, speaks about an intimate relationship. The payoff of the section is the last verse, I Thes 5:10: He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. I don't know how many dozens and dozens of times I've read those words, but I never really noticed them before. Hear them again. [:repeat:] In life, we live with Christ, in death, it's the same. We live together with him. We're united with him, so we live, whether we are alive or dead. As Paul says

Romans 14:8: "If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. And again Paul,

Romans 8: 38-39: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

These texts are taking us back, right where we left off two weeks ago, talking about being with Christ for eternity, beginning right now.

(John 5:24) "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

(Col. 3:3) ...your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

What a difference this makes! Nothing changes when you pass from life to death. You're here with Christ, you're there with Christ. Death is a door. Nothing can destroy you. Not illness, not accident, not tyrannical world powers, not suffering, not anything the devil, human evil, the brokenness of this world nor Satan himself can throw at you. Your life is hid with Christ in God.

I Thes 5:10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

II) Together With Him

Listen to that phrase again: I Thes 5:10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. This life eternal that we start now has another dimension. It's together with him. What does that 'together' mean? Sure, it means with him, each of us as individuals- but the verse says that we might live together with him. It's about us all, with him together, living with him-now; and us all, with him together, living with him for eternity. This walk is not for Lone Rangers.

The Boy Scouts have a program called the 'Lone Scout' program. It's for kids who want to be Scouts, but there aren't any other boys around to form a troop -- growing up alone on ranches in Montana and such, where there aren't any other kids around. It gives them a chance to learn all the Scouting things, alone. But so much of Scouting is about teamwork, and learning together, that it's a good program, but it's kinda sad. I think of a poor little kid setting up a pup tent to have his own little campout all by himself out in the middle of Montana. No camporees, no campfires with other kids. It really doesn't work. Poor little guys.

Christianity does not have a 'lone Christian' program. Yes, many times, and many places Christians have held out, all by themselves, and Christ has sustained them. But that's not really what being a Christian is all about. Being a Christian is about being part of the body. Pretty tough being a fingernail or a belly button all by yourself.

Today we also celebrate 130 years of God's Faithfulness to St. Paul's. For 130 years God has called folks to faith here, taught them, and sent them out all over the world. Today we welcome seven more into that band of folks living together with him. I don't think that there is another Lutheran Church in the Upper Midwest area that has sent out as many pastors, and layworkers, and Christian nurses and missionaries as St. Paul's. We've sent many out. Sometimes I've wished they would have stayed! -but that's never been what God has accomplished here. So many have come, so many have been sent. For 130 years.

But those thousands of people trusted Christ are all together in eternity. We have entered that reality together. Right now, on this side, we are with them on the other side. When talking about these faithful people who have gone past time and space into the Lord's presence in a very curious fashion: Hebrews 12:1 tells us: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. These folks surround us! They are with Christ, but somehow they are also with us. Nothing shall separate us from the Love of Christ. And nothing will separate us from each other. We can't see them, we aren't to try to contact them, but somehow we're in Christ, and they're in Christ, and that's all that matters. 130 years worth. It's quite a bunch.

They were passionate in building a congregation that would be different. A congregation passionately in love with God's Word. A congregation that would pour itself out to reach the lost of the city. A congregation with more than a century's work in training people to do ministry. A congregation committed to making a difference for the whole church. A passionate congregation who role up their sleeves and get the job done, even after many others have quit or walked away. A congregation that passionately awaits their Lord's return, and desires to be found faithful. A group of faithful in love with their Lord, and filled with the joy of being his servants, renewed in their discipleship and pressing on.

It would be so much easier to do the status quo; so much easier to get tired, so much easier to let somebody else do the outreach, to send the missionaries, to spend the hours in prayer. But if we did that, it wouldn't get done. We have been called to stand in the gap. We have been called to faithful when others have gone asleep. And our Lord will continue to preserve us, continue to lead us, continue to do his work here. And the saints above who surround us rejoice.

And they know this so very well: I Thes 5:10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. And that's all that matters, come life, come death.

Invitation, Amen.

Pentecost 26 - November 17, 2002

Zeph. 1:7, 12-18

Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near.

The LORD has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited.

[12] At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent,

who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, 'The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.'

[13] Their wealth will be plundered, their houses demolished.

They will build houses but not live in them;they will plant vineyards but not drink the wine.

[14] "The great day of the LORD is near-- near and coming quickly.

Listen! The cry on the day of the LORD will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there.

[15] That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish,

a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,

[16] a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers.

[17] I will bring distress on the people and they will walk like blind men,

because they have sinned against the LORD.

Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like filth.

[18] Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD'S wrath.

In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed,

for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth."

1 Thes. 5:1-11

Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, [2] for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. [3] While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

[4] But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. [5] You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. [6] So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. [7] For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. [8] But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. [9] For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. [10] He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. [11] Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Matthew 25:14-30

"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. [15] To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. [16] The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. [17] So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. [18] But the

man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

[19] "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. [20] The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'

[21] "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

[22] "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'

[23] "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

[24] "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. [25] So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

[26] "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? [27] Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

[28] " 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. [29] For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. [30] And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'