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Sermon Sunday, February 6, 2011 - 4th Sunday after Epiphany

4th Sunday after the Epiphany Es 40.12-31

songs available:

Mansion with us by your grace LIS 3: 1-5

I sing Lord, LIS 22: 1-4

O sweet Providence LIS 24: 1-5

12 Who measured the oceans in the hollow of his hand? Who determined its measurements of the sky in a measure and shall maintain all the dust of the earth in a measure?

13 Who understood the Spirit of the Lord and what a man was to instruct his counsel?

14 With whom did he intentionally to be enlightened by it? Who taught him the path of law, he taught his skills and introduced him to the path of understanding?

15 nations are like a drop of water falling from a bucket, they are like dust on a scale, and islands like dust that flies.

16 forests of Lebanon would not suffice to fuel the fire of the altar and his animals would be insufficient for the Holocaust.

17 All nations are reduced to nothing before Him, they have less to his eyes that nothingness and emptiness.

18 Who do you look for God? Which representation would you compare?

19 is a craftsman who merits the statue, then covers it with a goldsmith gold and casteth silver chains.

20 He who is too poor for such an offering selects wood that will not rot, it uses the services of a craftsman skilled enough to make a sculpture that is not sacred bobble.

21 Do not you know? Do not you learned? Do you have we not learned from the beginning? Have you ever thought about the foundations of the earth?

22 is the Lord who sits above the circle of the earth and its inhabitants are, for him, like grasshoppers. He held up the sky like a curtain, it unfolds like a tent to make his dwelling place.

23 He who reduces rulers to nothing, which makes the judges of the earth like a vacuum.

24 They are not even planted, not even seeded, trunk has not yet developed roots in the ground it blows over them while they dry, the vortex carries them as a straw.

25 Who will you compare me to that I like him? asked the Saint.

26 Look up at the sky and watch! Who created it? This is the one who brings the heavenly bodies in order. He calls them all by name. His power is so great, his force so powerful that not one is missing.

27 Why do you say, Jacob, and why you affirm, Israel "My situation is out of the Lord my right goes unnoticed to my God! " ?

28 Do not you know? Do not you learned? This is the everlasting God, the LORD, who created the ends of the earth. It does not get tired, it does not end. His intelligence is impenetrable.

29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the resources from that in the end.

30 Teens get tired and exhausted, young people begin to stumble,

31 but those who rely on the Lord shall renew their strength. They take flight like eagles. They shall run and not run out, they walk without getting tired. "

Dear brothers and sisters who have " right " to the solicitude of the Father Heavenly!

We rarely pondered a text as long. Already scheduled to play today - verses 12 to 25 - was not very short: Why, then, have added six more verses?

Because the last six verses of this chapter indicate why God put this long list of questions.

To get all the "pith and substance" (Rabelais) of a text, it is good to see what is the context, why it is so said here.

course we could talk in the abstract, the omnipotence and omniscience of God of the universe, just as in a course of dogmatic. But this is not the intention of God in our text.

He wants that we should withdraw something that enlightens us, which we built, which strengthens our faith in him. There is no theory, answering questions, he intervenes in a situation. And we can not really understand that with the last six verses.

In fact,

TO THOSE WHO SAY:

" My situation is beyond the Lord

my right goes unnoticed to my God! "

MEETS THE LORD

1. it "does not get tired" ,

"not exhausted" and

that "His mind is impenetrable. "

2. it " gives strength to the weary" and "who relies on him. "

YYY 1 YYY

To those who say

" My situation is beyond the Lord

my right goes unnoticed to my God! "

The Lord replied

it " never tires " ,

" not exhausted " ,

and "his mind is impenetrable. "

Who among us has not already experienced the discouragement, doubt, maybe even a real coup de blues? Who among us, if he has not formulated well, at least not ever feel: " My situation is beyond the Lord, my right to my God goes unnoticed ! " (v. 27)?

Oh! Certainly, I know I learned in Sunday school, I hear it in worship and Bible studies, I read in the Bible: " His power is so great, its force so powerful! " (v. 26)

But then why should I fight well? Why, despite my prayers - or have I ceased to pray? - Nothing changes? Why is not he intervene? Would it not as powerful as he claims? Or what I saw him he would be indifferent?

As for the people of Israel, our faith in God is sometimes strained, let's face it. We sometimes have to make the big difference between the claims of the omnipotence of God and our situation does not change significantly between the assertions of the holiness of God and the injustice that we face, between the statements that God knows and sees all and our test that does not release an inch.

is what the people of Israel lived at the time of the prophet Isaiah. The Kingdom of Israel with Samaria as its capital, in the north, had fallen under the onslaught of the Assyrian power, and the small kingdom of Judah with Jerusalem as its capital, in the south, feared to go equally to the pot.

This does not he demonstrated that the Lord was not so strong as that? The idols of stone, precious metals and even wood, pagan peoples had other resources, benefited more in their worship?

And we, as also happened with the Psalmist, we see that the unbelievers around us does not seem to fare so poorly without God. Should we not look elsewhere? Seek salvation in the money in the career in science? Or Islam or Eastern religions? Even in the religions of the ancient Celtic Gaul who know, indeed, a revival, albeit marginally, in Britain? Or visit the myriad of fortune tellers who appear in magazines and on the web?

If happiness can lead some to find God superfluous, misfortune may also turn away from God. The test can lead to blindness. Suffering, whether physical or otherwise, can we hide God can make us forget who he is, what he has done for us and continues to do for us.

God is trying to shake hers in their lethargy. He tries to open their eyes to get them out of their blindness. It does this by asking us to think a range of issues.

It uses Isaiah as a spokesperson. Happy are we if, when we are helpless, we have Isaiah makes us think about issues that awaken!

Happy are we if, when we are at the bottom of the hole and we cling to them, God places on our side or we meet someone who makes us reflect on the senselessness of our attitude.

the Israelites, God said that nations - including the superpowers - are only teardrop " that " dust " in his hand (v. 15). "All nations are reduced to nothing before Him, they have less to him than the nothingness and emptiness" (v. 17).

And indeed: Where is the Assyrian power today? - Swept 90 years after crushing Israel. Where is the power of Babylon who conquered Judah and Jerusalem 25 years later? - Extinct well. Where is the power of ancient Egypt with its unique civilization? - Extinct!

Here, speaking of Egypt, it goes back to the news. But we might as well think of the famous "Eastern Bloc" or the French royalty, or both Napoleonic empires. Capacities are ephemera. They pass. God, it is still there. "He reduced the leaders to nothing, which makes the judges of the earth similar to the vacuum. " (v. 23)

And with the different civilizations also spend their idols, both ancient stone, metal or wood, as new: wealth, immorality and so on.

No, when it goes wrong, we do not turn to these lures to replace God. The money, career, property are not to be rejected as such. These are blessings we owe to God for the care and happiness of this life. So much so, that God protects the property with the 7 th Command: "You do not steal! " (Ex 20.15), to the point he also blesses honest work or medical treatment.

But do not do our gods, our idols. Do not organize our lives around them, just for them, as if our salvation and happiness came from them. Do not think this could replace God.

God asks us "To whom will you compare me to that I like him? " (v. 25) It is true, if God has " created in His image " (Gen 1.26-27) of holiness and perfection, once fallen into sin, humans have forged their idols sinful image. The gods imagined by the mythologies from antiquity formed couples had children, committing adultery, were in occupations, fought, and killed just like humans.

And today, the world produces a character that resembles him, to "image" its sinful tendencies. This is no different.

"And you want " I compare " them even prefer them to me? Asks God. But "stand [Therefore] eyes to heaven and see! Who created it? " (v. 26)

" Who hath measured the oceans in the hollow of his hand? Who determined its measurements of the sky in a measure and shall maintain all the dust of the earth in a measure? Who has understood the Spirit of the Lord and what a man was to instruct his counsel? With whom did he intentionally to be enlightened by it? Who taught him the path of law, he taught his skills and introduced him to the path of understanding? " (v. 12-14)

Person! To all these questions there is one and the same answer: Nobody! Nobody "was his advisor for teaching" nobody "understands the Spirit of the Lord" nobody him "taught know-how" nobody "introduced him to the path of intelligence" . All this he has decided and done by his wisdom only by its power alone. He is the one God. The replacement is based on the nil and "empty" (v. 17).

Let's trust him! "It does not get tired, it does not end. His intelligence is impenetrable. " (v. 28)

YYY 2 YYY

To those who say

" My situation is beyond the Lord

my right goes unnoticed to my God! "

The Lord replied

it " gives strength to that

who is tired"

and "who relies on him. "

God responds within two doubts can creep in us. He wants to reassure us on two issues that could destabilize us. He wants to show us how he acts when in fact we feel that our situation is beyond him and he does not treated as we deserve.

" Why do you say [...] and affirm why you [...] : "My situation is beyond the Lord!" ? " (v. 27) Of course when this happens to us is that we do not move: the healing is delayed, the unemployed can not find a solution, the tension in the family or kinship persist.

But after what we just heard, it can not be due to the impotence of God, his power is unlimited. Nor can it be due to his indifference to us. In the next chapter, he continues his speech. There he states: "I chose you and you do not reject. Do not walk around worried glances, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I come to your aid, I will uphold you [...] " (Isaiah 41.9-10)

Oh! But how, if I still see nothing moving? Is that in his great kindness and great wisdom, our heavenly Father "knows what we need," (Mt 6.8). He also knows when and how we help. He knows us better than ourselves, we, our needs, our strengths and weaknesses, and "it will not allow us to be tempted beyond our strength, but with the temptation," with proof that we are experiencing, "also make a way out so that we can cope" (1 Cor 10.13).

For Isaiah, God promises us: "Those who rely on the Lord shall renew their strength. " (v. 31) Again this applies Paul's question: " If God be for us, " him, God's faithful love and unlimited power, "Who can be against us? " (Rom 8.31) what can really hurt us because it" mastered "all, to speak like young people?

"Rely on the Lord" do trust him: his hands we're in good hands, hands that protect and bless, hands reassuring and never waver.

With this faith or "confidence" , we will take courage, we will find the strength to surrender ourselves with patience to his business management because "will act" ( Ps 37.5)

And do not think he treats us as opposed to what we "right" . God asks us, because he knows our excesses: " Why do you say [...] and affirm why you [...] : "My right goes unnoticed to my God!" ? " (v. 27)

Because we " rights " with God! Maybe we do not emphasize enough. Too often we confine to repeat at length of days and years - and worship! - That we are sinners and saved only by the grace of God in Jesus Christ. It is true, and is the basis of everything. But we forget to say and sing what Jesus did for us by saving us: the children of God with rights.

After confessing our sins with humility and received absolution at the beginning of worship, we should no longer continue to move forward in continuing to worship in fear of beatings: absolution we can move straight and proud and happy rights that are now ours. Certainly not their birthright, but vested rights, acquired through our Lord Jesus Christ. In redeeming us through His Son, by adopting us as his children, he has granted us immense.

"You are all son and daughters of God through faith in Jesus Christ, you who have been baptized, have put on Christ! " (Galatians 3.26-27) God sees us through His Son, as brothers and sisters of her Son, with rights as children of God. Paul reminds us that we were "adopted" and have now rights pertaining to children, children of God. (Rom 8.15)

It is true, as the Israelites, everything happens as if sometimes "my right went unnoticed by my God" (v. 27), as if God forgot my rights child, the right to its protection, the right to his care, the right to his aid.

This is only an impression. Not that our suffering or our events are imaginary: they are real. But this is not a sign that God would deny the rights that we acquired his Son. God "remains faithful he can not disown himself " nor the rights granted to us (2 Tim 2.13).

Let us trust in our God of love. It's not amnesia, he knows what we deserve because of Jesus, he knows what he is committed to provide us as care in the covenant of Baptism.

Let's trust him. He has his reasons when he gives the impression of having forgotten that he is our Father and we are his children, when we have the impression that he forgets his duty as a father.

Here, listen to what we said a few chapters later (we'll finish with this wonderful promise): "I will never forget you. Look! I have engraved on my hands. " (Isaiah 49.15-16)

Amen.

Jean Thiébaut Haessig

Panasonic Adapter Vsk0317

Three years of grace at Mugar from 1990 to 1993.


Pastor Stålgren Henry and Anna-Carin . They were visiting Burundi, 4 years ago.

C and former missionary and director of the Ecole Normale de Kiremba. He talks about his work at the Institute of Biblical Mugar where he worked as Director. In the meantime, his wife Ann-Carin, dealt brilliantly for the Coordination of health centers run by the Churches of Pentecost.

The couple invites all who may well support this work where the needs are enormous.

"But we finished our work at Mugar 17 years ago and needs are always extremely huge following development in the churches ... So if somebody has the capability to support the school ..." It would be great. We would appreciate it.

Three years thanks to Mugar from 1990 to 1993.

I had the privilege in August 1986 to entrust the responsibility of management of the Normal School / High School for a replacement National Kiremba Mr. Kanyabitabu Andrew, a man of confidence, very competent.

was a great joy for my wife and me to see that work in this school Kiremba was over for us - after 15 years of work (shared between four terms) - often very hard. We arrived in Burundi in 1965 for the first time and we thought that our work in Burundi was finally completed in 1986 .-

But after a while in Sweden, the Church of Mugar has begun to send Invitations to work at the Bible Institute (WBI). We would, my wife and I preferred to stay in Sweden with our children. Furthermore, we had great jobs and important responsibilities to the Church. And yet, God had another plan for us both!

It was not easy for us to return to Burundi . But for God all things are possible .- We asked permission to our churches that we had already sent in 1965 and they have accepté.Par the grace of God, all was well in order for our three children - Eva, David and Patrick were all in agreement. Unfortunately I am became very ill. Hosptalisé I was five weeks before the scheduled date for departure. I had surgery during the hospitalization. At the date of our departure was restored .- It was in September 1990. .

M one wife was approached by CEPBU take responsibility like. coordinator of health centers in Burundi Pentecostal churches - also a very labor-important. As for me, the church asked me to work as a professor and Director of the Institute of Biblical Mugar.

Pentecostal churches in Burundi had at that time approximately 220,000 members. The alarm was still a reality and there was great baptisms each year. And the needs of pastors and evangelists was very great .- At the moment there were only three Bible schools in Burundi where the pastors and evangelists could receive training tailored to the needs of the servants of God in Kayogoro, and to Kigozi at Mugar.

The situation in Mugar

Material conditions were not favorable to school in the Bible Institute of Mugar. The main building the Institute was always terrible disorders Trademark 1972. The sheets had a lot of machine-gun bullet holes. They were temporarily repaired with capsules of coca-cola. In addition, the boarding school was built in non-durable material. While the board of the school was a room in the dwelling house for missionaries. In addition, the capacity of students was lower compared to the number of candidates.

The Filadelfia Church in Stockholm - in coordination with other churches in Sweden - supported by financial assistance from IBM to operate each year. It gave the same support to other Bible schools. Later this responsibility was taken over by the Pentecostal churches in Burundi. However, the necessary assistance for the repair and construction of the Institute, was difficult to obtain. For all of us - missionaries - Pastors - Evangelical - Churches - there was only one possibility: The Prayer ! -

The Church of Pentecost Eksjö, Sweden.

invitation of the Church of Pentecost Eksjö (the local Church of Miss Kerstin Fransson, who worked 40 years at Mugar) Andre Rurageze Senior Pastor of the Church of Sweden visited Mugar end of 1990 - My wife and I have also visited the Church of Eksjö before we left for Burundi

.- Once in Burundi, we started provide reports to the needs of the Biblical Institute of the Church of Mugar Eksjö, who in turn contacted other churches in Sweden .- In 1991, she took the agreement to become the godmother of the Biblical Institute Mugar .- It thus took over the role of contacting churches and organizations on behalf of IBM. The church Eksjö awarded IBM the sum total 169,810 Swedish Krona (SEK). Other churches in Sweden have provided - as well as private individuals - the total sum of 50,630 SEK.

General training and practice

By the grace of God we were able to contact a Swedish brother, well known in Burundi at the time: ie Mr Arne Fransson. This brother had created a foundation "New Future" that could collect requests for assistance for social works .- We presented problems for him but it was not easy to provide assistance to a school Bible.

So we continued to pray, discuss and explore together how do .-
Biblical Institute had four years of education but the education level and knowledge of students was very varied. We found that some students had to have additional general courses mainly in French, but also in Mathematics, Accounting, Geography, History, Management and Sciences during the first two years of study.

Because IBM did not have specialist teachers in all these materials, we have to appeal to teachers Lycee de Mugar
.- They were willing and they readily accepted this charge .- The compensation was modest to see their dispostion to serve not only as teachers but also to the library, use the typewriters of the IBM ... I'm sure they have received another salary plus: The blessing of God, and I heard the good cooperation continues between the two schools. Glory to God!

view the situation, we decided to focus the general course of four years of study at the Bible Institute for two years and call them " General education and practice ".- Of course, there were Bible courses but fewer .- Students who have completed lower secondary humanities (tenth year) could - after an entrance exam - be accepted directly in 3rd year.

Application submitted to "New Future "

We finally decided to submit an application to the management of the Foundation "New Future".
needs of the institute were very numerous: Two classrooms, an office building for the boarding school with sanitary facilities, kitchen with dining, and more - inventories and facilities for these buildings. We introduced the request and we prayed. And - Glory to God - the response was favorable!
Amount Awarded: 683 560 SEK.

Application submitted to PMU Interlife. After

contacts and discussions with PMU Interlife, we were given the green light to submit an application and other instructional materials for classes in "General Education and Practice."
Thus we have created a demand for books for the library and students, maps and boards, typewriters etc. ..-
A sum of 200,000 SEK. We were granted. Glory to God!

Summary of aid to the Institute for Biblical Mugar building, installations and inventory:

1. Church of Pentecost Eksjö 169. 810 SEK
2. Other churches / 50,630 private donations "
3. 683,560 New Future "
4. PMU Interlife 200,000 "
Sum Total: 1,104,000 SEK
( Approximately 150,200 U.S. dollars )

Before concluding this summary we would like to recall the two very important people for the Bible Institute of Mugar that the Lord has called, following many years of service with his brothers great fidelity to the Lord:

- The pastor and missionary Algot Edlund -
death in 1992 - The first pastor of the Church of Mugar Rurageze Andrew died in 1993

When we left, they were very great loss to us all!
................................................. .................................................. .......................

Acknowledgements

Finally, we thank all those with whom we had the privilege of working : In our three years at Mugar: Pastors, missionaries, professors at the Biblical Institute and the School of Mugar and all other collaborators and of course the Church of Mugar .-
May God bless you all! Signed in

Ekerö / Sweden in 2010

Anna-Carin - Henry Stålgren

Rn56323 Ca05553 Black Jacket

Sermon Sunday, January 23, 2011 - 3rd Sunday after

^{3 rd Sunday after Epiphany}

Text: Jn 4.46 -54

songs available:

You who has all things LIS 17: 1-3

My God, lend me your ear, LIS 292: 1-4

The cross that God gives me LIS 289: 1-4

Glory and praise to God helping LIS 161: 1-3

46 "Jesus returned at Cana in Galilee, where he changed water into wine. There was at Capernaum a nobleman whose son was sick.

47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, as he was about to die.

48 Jesus said "If you do not see signs and wonders, you do not believe?"

49 The nobleman said to him: "Sir, come down before my child dies!"

50 "Go ahead," said Jesus, "your son lives." The man believed what Jesus said to him, and it went.

51 He was already down when his servants met him and told him: "Your child lives."

52 He asked what time he had gone better, and they said: "Yesterday at one o'clock in the afternoon, the fever of left. "

53 The father knew that it was that hour Jesus said to him: "Your son lives." Then he thought he and his family.

54 Jesus was the second miraculous sign after returning from Judea to Galilee.

Dear relatives of Christ takes care of you!

"Takes Does he really care for us? "We ask ourselves sometimes. "Is he cares much about what happens to us? "This is not now that these questions sometimes creeps into their minds.

We sometimes think: "Ah! Only if Jesus was walking today in the streets of our city, instead of having it there two thousand years to Cana, Capernaum and elsewhere in Palestine! We would go to him, like Mary at the wedding at Cana, as the royal official at Capernaum came to meet, also at Cana! "

But, then, forgetting several things.

Jesus' mission was not to cure all patients: most have not been cured and, indeed, even those he has healed are fallen sick and died one day, as will one day also our case, after experiencing one or more healing in the life .

When Jesus worked miracles by taking action to solve a problem, it was always to support his preaching, not for the miracle in itself. Moreover, the Bible calls his miracles "signs" (v. 54), events that carry a message: that the Almighty Lord Jesus.

That said, it's not because we can no longer meet at the corner of our street that is disconnected from our lives. There is very intimately involved.

First because he redeemed us dearly so that we can be safe with him.

Then because that "it has the power to submit everything to his authority" (Phil 3.21) and "his dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not cease" (Dn 7.14)

event related in our text - the healing of the son of a "nobleman" Herod Antipas (v. 46) - "second miraculous sign " wrought by Jesus at Cana (c. 54), did something to teach us? We respect he?

course! He shows us how

LORD JESUS COMES IN

FOR HIS OWN MANY

1. who have faith in him,

2. growing faith in the touch of His Word,

3. who attribute the benefits.

X X X 1 X X X

Lord Jesus intervenes

for our good who have faith in him

The first thing that strikes me reading this, c is that Jesus has no bias against any class or politics whatsoever. "An officer of the king" Herod Antipas among believers! For a scoop, it is!

Note the differences with the other story, heard in the liturgical readings of the day (Mt 8.5-13): If they both lived in Capernaum, for "the king's officer" is a son who is ill, for "the Roman officer" is a servant "the king's officer" asks Jesus "down" of Cana to Capernaum and heal his servant, "the Roman officer" did ask so much: "Just say a word and my servant will be healed! " (Mt 8.8)

Fortunately that Jesus does not expect us " so great faith, " (Mt 8.10) than that given in example, 's Officer Roman " ! Fortunately it does not turn away from those who have faith in "the king's officer" , or that, this vacillating father exclaimed "I believe, help thou my unbelief! " (Mk 9.24).

yet Jesus had a low opinion of Herod Antipas and his clique. Had he not put his followers in custody: "Beware of the leaven of Herod! " ? (Mk 8.15)

But our Lord does not mix, he knows how to separate things. Even in the midst of a group of depraved morality may still be of good repute. Remember "Obadiah, the head of the palace" of the immoral King Ahab! Not only was he remained a believer, but it also hid and fed a hundred prophets. (1 Kgs 18.2-16)

It reminds me of my friend, Viola Fronkova, Bratislava in Slovakia, which, under the communist regime aggressively atheist, worked in a department by day and night, animated biblical circles underground.

No, Jesus comes "for the good of all who love him" (Rom 8.28), whether Jewish or French or Slovak, regardless of the regime under which they live and whatever occupation, provided that they lead a life of repentance and faith in him.

So he received in the inner circle of the apostles a "Matthew" , former collector of Roman category of people who were known to be collaborators and thieves, but also a former terrorist, "Simon the Zealot" .

And in our text, it does not turn away from the officer of a king decried as immoral manners. Whether we be a lesson: Jesus cares for all humans: we also do not discrimination or segregation between people.

But Jesus cares about everyone, it's also a huge comfort to ourselves: therefore, we too are not excluded from his interest, his caring, concern, whatever we have done, whatever may be our opposite impression.

"The son of the nobleman was ill" (v. 46). Jesus did not turn away from this man. He does not refuse to help him. Oh! he came to refuse to perform miracles, "Because of their unbelief" , as at Nazareth. (Mt 13.58)

And before you take action, he said to the officer, but his words are aimed in fact to the crowd as he speaks in the plural: "If you do not see not signs and wonders, you do not believe? " (v. 48)

" The nobleman " shows that if. Him, he believes without seeing. When Jesus said "" Go, your son lives! ", The man believed the word Jesus said to him and went away. " (v. 50)

Although it took to believe the word of Christ! "At a time when Jesus told him:" Your son lives. " " (v. 53), his son had recovered to about thirty miles away!

Do not think it was easy for this man to believe what Jesus said to him. He expected something else. He wanted Jesus to come and see first hand and act accordingly.

Sometimes we also expect something else. Here, when Paul insisted for God to deliver a serious problem, God replied: "My grace is sufficient for thee for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9) He really had to trust Jesus believed that God would act powerfully in leaving him in his ordeal.

Let us trust in Jesus who went to the wrath of God and the sufferings of hell in our place for us to avoid them! Let us trust in him, even if his behavior does not match what we thought, or when his response is different. "All authority he was given " (Mt 28:18) says it: he can use it for our good, and he'll use it for our good.

X X X 2 X X X

Lord Jesus intervenes

for our good that strengthen our faith

in contact with His Word

It is true, as I said before, it is not simple nor easy to trust in Jesus, especially, in addition, when nothing works as expected or desired. Not only is it not simple, it is impossible without the intervention of the Holy Spirit through the Gospel.

Remember the beginning of explanation of 3 th Article of the Creed Petit Catechism " Martin Luther " I believe that I can e , by my reason and my own strength, believing in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to Him. " This we confess in us based on biblical words like this: " Nobody can say "Jesus is Lord!" except by the Holy Spirit. " (1 Cor 12.3)

But we also continue to confess with Luther: " [...] , but the Holy Spirit which by the gospel, called me, informed of his gifts, sanctified and kept in the true faith. "

The words that Jesus addressed to " the king's officer " have their effect, have affected this father felt. It reminds me that Jesus once said: " " The words I say to you are spirit and life "" (Jn 6.63), and through my words the Holy Spirit produces spiritual life of faith waiting to follow the life everlasting. "

Dear friends, let us never forget! There are some who say they do not need to go to worship and be saved. True, the cult is not a meritorious work, it's not there to earn salvation, we go because it's the place where God heals, heals us, comforts us and we weapon to face life, to face life and death. It "Meeting" that God does not want us "abandon" (Hey 10.25), avoiding or attended only rarely, because in doing so we prevent the Holy Spirit to make us grow in faith, even to keep us in faith through the Word and sacraments.

"The nobleman" heard the words of Jesus. This is what led him to place his faith in him. The Good News that Jesus has announced it has strengthened his faith in Jesus.

And our faith, Jesus strengthens when we just listen to worship, when we come to meet him in sacrament. It says things so strong, so comforting, so loaded with hope and encouragement that makes us grow in our faith in him.

X X X 3 X X X

Lord Jesus intervenes

for our well

who ascribe all glory

When we escape from danger when we cure a disease when we overcome an ordeal, when something we succeeded at that we ascribe to which we attribute the glory?

"The father knew that Jesus' (v. 53) was originally the healing of his son. He might be skeptical and say: "This is a fortuitous coincidence that my son was healed "at the very hour when Jesus told him:" Your son lives. " "(v. 53)

He could have said:" This is the care he was given by my wife and other caregivers who have cured my son. "No, he ascribes all glory to God.

Dear friends, these past weeks, these last months, we prayed for Andre Ménégaux as "the king's officer" had prayed for his dying son. Weeks in a coma ... That was long! What a profusion of care also ! One day I counted twenty devices and screens of all sorts connected to him.

A month ago he came out of a coma last week it was able to sit in a chair. This week his mind was clear and we were able to maintain. The next day - last Thursday - it could leave the ICU to a rehabilitation center.

On my arrival in the service, Wednesday, a nurse approached me, all radiant, "Is not that wonderful? We did it! "

not my desire I want to minimize the efforts, the amount and intensity of care provided by that service ... but when we were alone, the Lord is above all that we thanked him for answered prayers for the family, our prayers also including in our worship.

We can thank him for the coverage we have, because none of us could afford months of intensive care also.

We can thank him for giving his blessing to the care and support caregivers. We know with Jacques: "Every blessing and everything perfect gift is from above, they descend from the Father of lights " (James 1.17).

In saying this we do not want to minimize the role of policies that have put up our coverage, nor the doctors and nurses. Thank God we do not dispense to thank - and thank them with warmth and emotion - those whom God has used to do us good to get out of tight spots.

But never forget "recognize" - as "the king's officer " did - as a last resort we owe to our Lord, it's the kindness, concern and intervention of God that we must.

"What God gets all the glory due to him through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen! " (1 P 4.11)

Amen.

Jean Thiébaut Haessig