3 September 2019
Text: 1 Kings 19:1-21
In the name of +
Jesus. Amen.
Dear
brothers and sisters in Christ, welcome to the 2019-2020 school year! With each passing year of our Lord, it seems
that things get more and more difficult for us Christians. Our numbers diminish, our culture becomes
more hostile, and we watch our brothers and sisters all around the world fall
away from the faith.
And
yet, we are encouraged. We are the
ultimate optimists. For Christ has won
the victory for us at the cross. This
triumph has been delivered to us at the baptismal font. We participate in the feast of victory every
time we partake in Christ’s body and blood.
And even when we are placed into a grave, we celebrate with the host of
heaven, our eternal victory over sin, death, and the devil.
But
still, in this fallen world, it is easy to get discouraged.
Elijah
the prophet sure was when Queen Jezebel made it her mission to destroy
him. On top of that, Elijah recognized
that he was “no better” than his “fathers.”
As a prophet, Elijah felt himself to be a failure, “For the people of
Israel,” he said to God, “have thrown down your altars, and killed your
prophets with the sword, and I, even I only am left, and they seek my life, to
take it away.”
But
the Lord sent an angel to feed and sustain Elijah with bread, and with
water. And the Lord also sent a sign to
Elijah: a bombastic sign of wind, and an earthquake, and a fire – none of which
bore the Word of God. But what did have
the power of God’s Word? A “low
whisper.” For the power is in the Word, however
humbly delivered – not in the appearance of might. A true Word of God preached is more powerful
than any force in nature, mightier than any monarch or government.
And
no matter how bad things looked, there were thousands of faithful Israelites
that have not bowed to idols or kissed them.
And there would be men, successors of Elijah, anointed to carry the Word
and will of God to the faithful remnant.
And God sent Elisha to follow Elijah and to carry on this prophetic
ministry.
Dear
friends, no matter how grim things seem, let us remember Elijah, his
successors, his preaching of the Word, and the ultimate anointed successor of
Elijah: our Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true Man, who has overcome the
world, conquered the devil, and has forgiven all of our sins by His sacrifice
upon the cross!
Let
us not lose heart, but let us boldly live in our confession and life – in good
times and in bad, whether we are called to teach, or to learn. Let us read, study, and grow intellectually
and spiritually in this blessed new school year, in the Year of our Lord 2019
and 2020.
This
is the day that the Lord has made. Let
us rejoice and be glad in it! Amen.
In the name of the Father
and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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