St. Luke Ev. Lutheran Church of Watertown

Sermon delivered by Pastor Anthony E. Schultz

Holy Trinity Sunday/Father’s Day

June 12 and 15, 2003 +++ Romans 8:14-17

Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

People of God—rescued from the flaming lake of fire in hell by the innocent blood of the very Lamb of God:

I love to listen to the news—when they have those dumb criminal stories. I heard a bunch of them the other day. This guy that stole gasoline. He prepaid $3 for gasoline—then pumped $3.50 and went driving away as fast as he could. There were three guys who checked in to a hotel—went to their room—put on masks—robbed the hotel—then ran to hide out on their room again. There was the guy who broke in to a hardware store—in the dark he knocked over a can of paint—broke into the cash register—got the money. Then walked through the paint on his way out. The police had no trouble tracking him down. There’s the guy that robbed a bank—then the next day went back to that same bank to fill out an application to work there. And then there’s the guy in England who robbed a bank—ran outside carrying the money. Mistaking a squad car for a taxi—he threw himself into the back seat—and yelled out his home address! How dumb is that? We are such sinful people—we aren’t even any good at being bad! We can’t even do sins well. How dumb is that? If you think about it—sin is always dumb. It’s always hurtful and self-destructive! It’s always bad. This Trinity Sunday—this weekend our nation is observing Father’s Day God’s Word encourages us:

Remember Who Your Father Is!

1. We are not slaves to fear

2. We are sons of God

3. We are heirs

The part of God’s Word we are concentrating on today is part of the apostle Paul’s letter to the believers in Rome. People who lived in ancient Rome were pretty much like people living in the United States today—in many ways! The decline and fall of the Roman Empire was not caused by powerful enemies within so much as by the dry rot from within her heart and soul! The corruption deep inside the heart and soul of ancient Rome was more powerful than her legions of soldiers. Rome was the only and ultimate super power of her day. And yet all her military might—her riches—her government of law and order—could not keep her safe from the wickedness that ruined her. The apostle Paul makes a grocery list of sin—the viruses that infected people’s hearts some 2,000 years ago. The same spiritual monkey pox that threatens us! When people tell God they are supremely happy living their lives without him—then in judgment God will say, “Fine! You want to live your life like a pigert? Then here is some more muck and mud to wallow in!” God …gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them! Romans 1:28b-32 These painful verses talk a lot about attitude. These painful verses are not just talking about the Enron and Imclone CEOs who are ruthless businessmen—making off with millions of dollars. It isn’t just talking about murderers and molesters—it’s talking about people who gossip. People who gossip—who whisper hurtful things about other people over the phone or around the water cooler—or in the break room over a cup of cold coffee. These verses are not just talking to mommies and daddies who are old enough to know better. It’s talking to children. Right in the middle is the phrase—they disobey their parents! That means children who won’t pick up their toys—won’t pick up their dirty clothes—won’t make their beds—won’t eat their green vegetables—won’t wash up and brush their teeth—won’t go to bed when they are told! That’s pretty serious stuff! And it’s pretty serious stuff when children are disobedient—and parents let them get away with it. It’s pretty serious stuff when children won’t pick up their toys and their clothes—and mommies and daddies grow so tired of telling them and tired of disciplining them—that we think it’s easier just to pick up their toys and clothes for them. That we think it’s easier to wash their broccoli and sprouts from Brussels and their spinach down the garbage disposal than to make them eat it! For people painfully aware of their sins—God’s Word gives us the comfort and healing of the essential Gospel. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: (in the scroll of the prophet Habakkuk) The righteous will live by faith!”

Paul wrote in the verses we are concentrating on today: Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. We are sons and daughters of God. Remember how the apostle John wrote, How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1 Led by the Holy Spirit we are children of God. Led by human reason we are cave men! Did you hear this week that they discovered three skulls in the Middle Awash region of Ethiopia? Two adult skulls and a child’s skull. Led by human reason they are trying to say—these skulls are 160,000 years old—prehuman skulls of creatures who evolved into thinking reasoning human beings. How sad! How sad to think these people were anything less than people—with immortal souls that Jesus died on the cross to save. What is really sad is reading that the child’s skull was worn smooth from handling. That the opening at the base of the skulls was made wider—that the skulls of the adults had cut marks on them. This is all painfully similar to tribes in New Guinea—all part of ancestor worship! Ancestor worship is to give to your great great great grandparents the honor and glory that belongs only to the one true God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit! We are children—not just of generations of people—fatally flawed by sin. We are children of our Heavenly Father!

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear… Did you ever drive down a street in Watertown—and suddenly you notice in your rear view mirror—one of Watertown’s finest is driving right behind you? What did you think? How did you feel? Did you get a knot in your stomach? Suddenly it’s difficult to swallow. Your hands are suddenly clammy—you squeeze and squeeze and squeeze your steering wheel—pump the brakes. Oops! Don’t do that! It will make it look like you were speeding! Look back! Look ahead! Look back! Look to both sides! Why don’t they turn off—please, please, please go follow somebody else! You look back again and all their lights are flashing—their headlights glaring—pull over—pull over. What was I doing wrong? They go whipping around you—off to help somebody in need. Off to serve and protect. They weren’t after you at all! Has that ever happened to you? Fear has to do with guilt and punishment. We have nothing to fear from our Heavenly Father—because Jesus already paid for all our sins. He suffered in our place. He endured his Father’s crushing anger against all our sins. Because Jesus died for us—we have nothing to fear from our Heavenly Father. We are forgiven—completely forgiven for Jesus’ sake!

The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. We are God’s children—because Jesus lived a life without sin—then died on the altar of the cross—sacrificing himself to save us. I read the other day about a family that lived in Florida—by a pond—connected to a creek—that emptied into the Gulf of Mexico. That’s why there was an alligator—a 400-pound alligator hiding in this pond. A twelve-year-old boy named Michael was snorkeling in that pond—when this alligator came after him. Neighbors saw what was happening. What did they do? They shouted and clapped their hands—trying to distract the alligator. That might be what we would do. But think it through—just a little bit. Is that alligator really going to come out of the water and across the lawn to try and get you who are making lots of noise? Or is he going to keep on coming after this child—in the water—just a little bit away? What do you think? Would you run into the water? Would you put yourself between the child and the danger? Would you grab hold of the alligator—before the alligator could take hold of the child? The alligator took hold of Michael’s head—and made a terrible gash. For a moment the alligator let go—then grabbed hold again—this time taking hold of Michael’s leg! The alligator actually broke Michael’s leg—so hard did he take hold. But then Michael’s mommy arrived. She took hold of her son’s hands—and she pulled. What a grim tug of war. The 400-pound alligator on one end—the 100-pound mommy on the other! Three months later—Michael’s wounds healed. His hair grew over the gash on his head. His socks covered the scars on his calf and ankle… What you can still see—are the marks on his hands—where his mom took hold—and wouldn’t let go. There are three small scars--where she took hold and dug in and held on—until her son was safe! Jesus took hold of us. He held us close in his nail marked hands. He held us close and would not let us go. He has made us children of God by adoption. His hands bear the forever marks of his love!

You received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Abba is Father—Daddy—Papa—the name you use for your father when you are a small child—climbing up on their lap—hugging them tightly around the neck. There is this fishing company that did this survey. If you could go fishing with any father and son—who would you go fishing with? The most popular choice--Tom Hanks and son Collin. I could see that. Tom Hanks and his dark naturally curly hair and his twinkle-y eyes. I bet he would be wonderful to go fishing with. Second place--Pres. Bush Sr. and his son Pres. Bush—the president right now. That would be neat, too. But if you think about it—you can go fishing with Jesus and with your Heavenly Father. When you go fishing—when you are out on the water—and the sun is shining—and maybe the fish are biting and maybe they aren’t. And maybe you catch fish and make a wonderful supper—and maybe you catch and release—let them go to grow even bigger—you can be fishing with Jesus. He is with you—right there beside you. Keeping you safe so you don’t fall out of the boat and drown. Keeping you safe so you don’t poke yourself with a fishhook. Keeping you safe from all harm and danger—so that you can call God your Father without fear and without worry!

If indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Singer, songwriter—rock ‘n roller Paul McCartney is celebrating his wedding anniversary on holiday on the French Riviera. He and his wife are staying at the Grand Hotel. The cost? $1,400 per night! That must be a suite—not just a room—don’t you think? I wonder how nice it is. Do you suppose there is one of those little refrigerators with the little bottles of Napoleon brandy and little bottles of Vodka and Gin? Do you suppose there is a basket of fruit—bananas and apples and oranges and a little brown fuzzy Kiwi? Do you suppose there is a vase or two of fresh cut flowers? Do you suppose there are little chocolates on their pillows—the blanket and sheet neatly turned down? Do you suppose the TV is a big screen—or maybe one of those plasma TVs hanging on the wall? How nice would it have to be—to be worth $1,400 for one night? And would you sleep any better—knowing it cost that much? The fact is—the nicest room in this world—no matter how extravagant—no matter now luxurious—no matter how tastefully decorated—cannot begin to compare to the forever home we will have in Heaven! We will stay in the ultimate mansions of Heaven. And the cost? Jesus paid in full with his blood. Remember this Father’s Day who your ultimate Father is—God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen!

To God alone all glory!