Sermon: Wittenberg Academy – St. Gregory the Great (Sept 3)

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.