A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs His steps. As James says, we should not say I go here or there, do this or that, without saying “God willing.” This “God willing” is not throwing up our hands to fate, or to an indifferent God who pulls strings like a puppet master. It is entrusting our life and our ways to our loving heavenly Father, our faithful creator. We do not know what will happen tomorrow. Commit your ways to the Lord, and your thoughts will be in the right place, your heart will be content, and your life will be at peace. This is a peace which was won for you on the cross by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. Amen.

WHY IT IS NECESSARY FOR CHRISTIANS TO JUDGE PREACHERS

Christians must be vigilant and judge preaching because of the great danger that comes with believing the words of man over the words of God. In our OT lesson, Jeremiah speaks the Word of God against false preachers who have deceived the people and gives the diagnosis -

Here in Jesus Christ we see the image of God shining out in a living breathing man. He was free of every stain of sin, perfectly pure and holy from birth, and also perfectly kept the law. What the stone tablets of Moses reflected in outward characters, He fulfilled as a living, breathing Person. All so that He could give this obedience to us by faith and restore us to God through the work of the Holy Spirit. That is what Jesus means when He says “I have come to fulfill the law and the prophets.” 

In this scene, Jesus has attracted crowds - thus already shown he can bring in many people and teach them. He has miraculously brought in a catch of fish - shown His divine power to provide beyond any human expectation or knowledge. Now we see that the two are connected. Jesus is using the catch of fish to compare the lesser to the greater. 

This strengthening of faith leads to great joy. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, and Elizabeth, John in the womb, and Mary, are all filled with great joy at the news of the Lord’s work. Trusting in God, they cannot help but be joyful when they hear of his fulfilled promises. That is a great thing other Christians can console with, pointing to those fulfilled promises when everything seems black. Bringing joy through the proclamation of Christ’s work to one another.

Therefore, be wary about who your guides are, that they aren’t blind. There are many guides in this world who have some sort of goodness. They do things that seem good and helpful. Jesus even told the disciples to do what the pharisees said, but not what they do, because they were hypocrites. You cannot just follow anyone who seems to be right in your own eyes

Sermon by guest preacher, Rev. Jim Kress

We cannot look to Providence for how God feels toward us, but must look to Christ

This is the same story which gets repeated throughout history. Whether it’s a person, like Nimrod, or an idea, like the tower and the city, man in his sin always tries to form some kind of greatness without God. Like the people of Babel turned away from the teaching of Noah, so it always begins with the current authority being the enemy. We first throw off the 4th commandment authority God has put over us, and then everyone is promised a golden age, a perfect future which we create. 

The good news is that even in Ezekiel’s time, God promised that what He will do for us is not for our sake or what we have done. We will not sanctify His name. We will not be the ones who need to make God holy. He will sanctify His own name, for His holy name’s sake. The good that God will do, the gifts that He will grant, will come from the promises He has made from Himself, from His own desires.