Author: TechCommittee

July 28, 2019                                                                                 Text:  Genesis 18:20-33

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Have you ever had someone say to you, “You can’t talk to her like that?”  “You shouldn’t speak to him in that tone of voice?”  Maybe it was a parent admonishing you.  Perhaps a spouse who intervened.  Maybe a basketball official or baseball umpire who didn’t like your questioning of a call.  We all have probably spoken when others around us thought we shouldn’t.

            Do you think the men traveling with Abraham thought the same thing?  “You can’t talk to God like that.  Who does this Abraham think he is?  Man, we are in trouble now?”  But that doesn’t really describe Abraham at all.  He says of himself, “I who am but dust and ashes.” (v. 27b) So, then where does he come off talking to the Lord like that?  Abraham believed and understood what God wants us to understand today.  That is . . .

“THE PRIVILEGE OF PLEADING PRAYER”

            Prayer is first of all a gift.  One that we can misuse.  We might ask for something that is not taught in Scripture or is not loving toward others.  An A on an exam (though I didn’t study), permission to stay out late (though I know it’s not safe) a date with ______ (though her boyfriend won’t like that.)  We might ask for a new job (though my wife thinks it will cut down on family time), for the kids to move closer to home (though that is really what I want.) 

            The Lord is often treated like those newfangled soda machines where you can pretty much get what you want in any combination.  We make the choices – not Him.  “You better do what I want God, or I’m done with you.”

            We also misuse this gift if we never approach Him.  Too cocky in our own abilities.  Too many things to do.  We might believe God doesn’t want to hear from us.  “I don’t really deserve God’s help because look at how I have messed up my life.” 

            None of these is how Abraham understood the Lord’s invitation to pray.  He knows he has no claim on God; he is just dust and ashes.  He’s not dictating.  He’s pleading.  He is not afraid to pray and ask for more, more, more.  How can a dust and ashes human being push Almighty God and not be reprimanded by God?  Because Abraham knew this:  the prayer line is open because of God’s mercy in Jesus.

            The Lord initiated this conversation.  He had told Abraham earlier that his descendants would be blessed.  The Messiah would come from his family tree.  Christ would bless all nations by reconciling the world to God.  He would bring us back into a right relationship with our heavenly Father.

            And get this.  Abraham is talking to none other than Jesus, long before He became flesh and blood Jesus of Nazareth.  The Lord himself invites Abraham to pray.  God himself invites us to pray because of Jesus.

            How would you answer this:  “Does God always answer prayer?”  Most astute believers answer, “Yes, no, and wait.”  But did you notice I just said “prayer,” I didn’t say “Christian prayer.”  A Christian prays a certain way.

            We pray through Jesus.  We are privileged to go to the Father through the Son.  We can do this because Jesus’ death on the cross took away the sin that separated us from God.  Sin nailed to the cross and we are back together with the Father.  We are his children who bring Him our requests.  We plead for mercy in “Jesus’ name” because merciful Jesus makes our prayers acceptable to God.

            Look at the mercy shown Abraham.  Why did he care so much for that moral cesspool of Sodom?  Abraham wanted to save his nephew Lot who lived there.  Six straight times – count ‘em – God says yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.  In the bigger picture God had already answered even more wonderfully back in v. 19:  “that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

            This is our promise.  Don’t we also pray for family and personal concerns?  The Lord says yes when He showers mercy on our prayers.  Loved ones kept safe in travel.  Family comforted in loss.  Friends finding answers in their marriage.  Our children kept in the one, true faith.  God allows us to address Him in the faith He has given us in Baptism and which He strengthens at the Altar of the Lord in His Word and Holy Supper.  As fragile, pleading human beings His grace is more than sufficient for our needs.  The faith He creates in us trusts that His mercy always gives us the best.

            Does prayer change things?  Sometimes we may see this statement as manipulating God.  It isn’t . . . you realize?  The truth is closer to this:  “Prayer changes things; namely, the person praying.”

            “You can’t talk to God like that!”  Well . . . yes we can.  We can confidently stand before the all-knowing and all-powerful Lord knowing that prayer is a privilege, a gift that God gives us through His Son Jesus.  So be bold, be consistent, lean on His mercy as you exercise The Privilege of Pleading Prayer.

                                                                                                                        Amen.         

July 21, 2019                                                                                    Text:  Genesis 18:1-14

Dear Friends in Christ,

            In the land of Israel a lady’s fight with a cockroach put her husband in the hospital with burns, a broken pelvis and ribs.  The Jerusalem Post  reported she found the insect, stepped on it, threw it in the toilet and then sprayed insecticide when it refused to die.  Her husband came home from work, sat on the toilet and lit a cigarette.  He threw the cigarette in the toilet and got burned on his “sensitive parts.”  When paramedics came they laughed so hard at the story that they dropped the stretcher, which broke the man’s pelvis and ribs.

            There was another time in Israel when laughter abounded.  It is in our text.  It involves a husband and wife.  A senior citizen couple.  Two souls thinking that having a child has passed them by.  But has it?  God doesn’t think so and He is the creator of life.  He enjoys a good laugh and I pray you do too.

“LAUGHING WITH GOD”

            Can we laugh with God?  I believe we can.  He makes me laugh all the time.  I like to park away from other vehicles in large lots.  Numerous times I come out and there is a car parked right next to me or that person is getting in their car at the exact same time even though there were hundreds of people in the store.  I laugh.  God laughs.  Whatever my foibles the Lord always says, “Not so fast human being Lueck, I’m in control here.”  I laugh.  He laughs.  It happens all the time. 

            Does the same thing happen in your life?  He laughs.  You laugh.  I sure hope it does because God’s gift of laughter has been shown in certain medical studies to stimulate organs with oxygen-rich air.  It also helps relive stress and tension, improves the immune system and mood and relieves pain. 

            Abraham and Sarah got even more than just health benefits.  Abraham laughed when told he would have a son.  Sarah now laughs.  “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”  Sarah has both joy in a child to be born and in having sexual relations at an advanced age.  Joy with child and joy with husband.  God wanted Sarah to laugh for joy.  God wants us all to laugh for joy in His unique and astonishing promises.

            Notice at first though how Sarah’s laughter is laughter of doubt.  She didn’t believe a woman of 90 could have a child.  They laughed at the Savior too.  When he healed Jairus’ daughter the people laughed in unbelief.  But that unbelief turned to joy when she came back from death.

            Do we laugh at the Lord’s promises?  Do we doubt his Divine Providence?  Do we laugh at God’s promise to forgive us over and over in our weakness?  When do we laugh at His promises?  When we are struggling with temptation, when we are beaten down by the world, when we are sick or fighting a disease, when the expenses outweigh the income, when the direction for our life is not clear, when we watch our kids struggle.  The Lord asked a question to this faithful couple and He asks us the same thing, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (v. 14)  Can our troubles be too big for the Lord?  Never.  Laughing with God because His promises lead us from doubt and unbelief to joy and laughter.

            That is what happened with Sarah and Abraham when their Son was born – Isaac – which means, “he laughed.”  Sarah said at his birth, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” (Gen. 21:6)  It was by faith that these geriatrics believed the promise.  This Son being born brought great joy.

            There would be another Son being born that brought great joy.  Not just to a small corner of Israel but to the whole world.  He would be a Son of Promise.  Promised by God to all of mankind.  This was also a promise to Abraham.  From his seed would come forth one who would be a blessing to all the world.  They would laugh that He was the Son of God.  They would laugh when He wouldn’t come down from the cross.  They laughed in mockery and scorn.  They laughed that He was dead and what were His followers going to do now.

            God kept the promise.  God laughed at their antics.  God laughed that they thought they were bigger than Him.  God laughed at their foolishness and arrogance.  The Promised One from Abraham’s line and David’s line has conquered unbelief.  He is living proof that God keeps His promises, for he rose again on the third day and is alive today.  “To those who believed in His name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

            God wants you today to laugh with Him.  Laugh in joy.  Witness to this joy when others laugh at your faith.  Who cares?!  You will stand before the throne of God someday and laugh for joy for you are in heaven forever. 

            God has a great sense of humor.  Don’t miss it as you go about your daily business.  God laughs with all of us because of the promise of forgiveness and salvation.  Laugh with Him at the antics and arrogance of our world and then know the God of laughter has the last laugh.  You will too.

                                                                                                Amen.