Advent 3 2021 Gaudete

1 Corinthians 4:1-5

December 12, 2021

Zion Lutheran Church + Nampa, ID

 

Pastor John, the Baptist, was a faithful minister of God, indeed no one more so than he has ever been born.  In expectation for the first coming of Christ, John the Baptist was the preacher of preparation.  The great forerunner of Christ, the new Elijah, the voice crying out from the wilderness to make ready the way of the Lord’s coming had come without worry or concern over being sensitive, politically correct, culturally woke or accommodating. His faithfulness to God alone caused him to end up in prison and it finally ended in his death.  But you see, here’s the thing about death.  Death doesn’t have the last word, it doesn’t silence the preaching of John for he spoke not his own words, but the word of the Lord.  And the Word of the Lord endures forever.  

To ensure that the word of the Lord continues to be preached unto the whole world, to continue the ministry of preparing God’s people for His Advent and “so that we may obtain [saving] faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted.  Through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given.  He works faith, when and where it pleases God, in those who heard the good news that God justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ’s sake.” (AC V1-3a).  The King who is coming again still has His preachers of preparation, the ministers of Christ, the stewards of His mysteries according to St. Paul in our Epistle reading for this morning (1 Corinthians 4:1).  The Lord still has His messengers who are able to prepare the faithful for a blessed commemoration of the First Advent, for the constant coming in Word and Sacrament, and for His coming again in power and glory.  

In a similar way as Pastor John, pastors today are not their own master, but servants of the King.  They are sent to do God’s business in the world, not their own.  The treasure of Word and Sacrament that a pastor is called to disperse are not his own, his words are not to be his opinion, his service not his preference.  Likewise, pastors are not ministers of the congregation, but ministers of Christ and for Christ’s sake to the congregation.  St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:1, “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” As a servant of Christ the pardon announced in the absolution and the preaching of the Gospel, the Law proclaimed curbing and condemning sin and to guide the Christian in faithful living; the preaching, the prayers, the visitations, the study of God’s Word are all conducted in service to Christ for the benefit of His Church.

But Paul also says that Pastors are to be stewards of the mysteries of God.  A steward only manages what belongs to His master and in accordance with his master’s will. So pastors are under orders to speak God’s Word and hand out God’s gifts according to God’s command, and it is only effective by Christ’s commission and authority.  This word that Paul uses for “mysteries“ translated in Latin is sacramentum, from which we get the English word “Sacrament.” So Paul is telling us here it is those who have been placed in the Office of the Holy Ministry by Christ, through His Church, whom Christ has made managers or stewards of the Word and Sacraments. So we confess in the Augsburg Confession XIV, on ecclesiastical order that “no one should publicly teach in the Church or administer the Sacraments without a rightly ordered call.” So, pastors then have a great responsibility in stewarding the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and administering the Sacraments according to God’s intent and purpose and dare not go against the will of God.

So this is why St. Paul also says (1 Corinthians 4:1b), “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.”  Trustworthiness, faithfulness, to the Lord Christ, to the pure teaching of the Gospel and the correct administration of the Sacraments of Baptism, Absolution, and the Lord’s Supper, are the main duties of stewards even if they are to end up like Pastor John.

Your responsibility is to hear their voice crying out with God’s Word, to receive the gifts being delivered from the hands of Christ’s steward, to assist him in trustworthiness to God.  Don’t neglect God’s gifts.  Don’t reject His forgiveness and comfort.  And be careful. For there are false pastors, those who speak what itching ears want to hear. Judge what you hear in Church, what you are taught in Bible study, what your kids learn in Sunday School, or at our school or daycare by the Word of God and not by the personality of the pastor. We all have our quirks, strengths and weaknesses. And please, when the Word is faithfully spoken in alignment with the Scriptures and you don’t like it, or it hits close to home, or wounds your sinful pride, don’t shoot the messenger. Your problem isn’t with me, it’s with God.  And frankly, while I love you all and value your opinions, I fear and trust God’s judgment much more than yours.

Ultimately, the point is this: Christ is coming.  To prepare you for His coming, He sends His messengers, His called and ordained pastors, to speak His Word and deliver His mysteries. Give thanks and praise to God that for more than 100 years God has sent His pastors to Zion Lutheran Church, and by His grace, may He continue to do so.  In doing this, in sending you faithful pastors, God is telling you how valuable you are to Him. Just as He has commanded angelic messengers to guard you in all your ways because you are His beloved child, so He has commanded His pastoral messengers to serve you by Christ’s command and with His authority as a continuation of the apostolic ministry.

But this is not just to take place here in a church building once a week.  The word “apostle” means one who is sent, and the apostolic ministry is the ministry, the service, of those called and sent by God, His pastors, His undershepherds, instituted by and flowing out from Christ’s command as He delivers His comfort, His peace and the end of warfare through reconciliation in Christ, and His divine blessing by means of His messengers.  In Luke 9, Jesus sends out the Twelve disciples, and then in Luke 10, He sends out the 72 to proclaim the kingdom of God which has arrived with the presence of the King, Jesus.  And these are sent to the homes of God’s people.  And the house they enter, they are to say, “Peace be to this house!  And if a son of peace is there, then your peace will rest upon him.  But if not, it will return to you.” Upon the return of the 72, they joyfully say, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!”  Jesus reaffirms, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.” 

Next month, during the season of Epiphany, I will start conducting house blessings for this very purpose.  To deliver Christ and His blessing, His Good Word, to you and your family so that you are prepared for His Coming, that your homes are sanctified and set apart as a godly place to live out your vocations. That’s God’s Word and prayer are applied for your divine protection, guidance, preservation, and blessing.  That the good word of the good news is for you, behold your God, the Lord God comes with might, His arm rules by the pierced hands of Christ (Isaiah 40:9b-10), who stirs up His might and comes to save (Psalm 80:1).