1 00:00:00,925 --> 00:00:02,125 Grace mercy, and peace 2 00:00:02,125 --> 00:00:05,525 be to you from God, our Father and our Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ 3 00:00:05,925 --> 00:00:07,225 to which we could all say. 4 00:00:07,525 --> 00:00:08,125 Amen. 5 00:00:10,025 --> 00:00:10,525 Or not. 6 00:00:12,525 --> 00:00:13,225 Therefore 7 00:00:13,225 --> 00:00:15,625 I want you to understand that 8 00:00:15,625 --> 00:00:19,425 no, one Speaking of the spirit of God ever says, Jesus be accursed. 9 00:00:19,825 --> 00:00:23,525 And no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. 10 00:00:25,025 --> 00:00:27,825 All of these are empowered by the one, in the same Spirit, who 11 00:00:27,825 --> 00:00:31,725 apportions to each one individually as he wills. 12 00:00:32,625 --> 00:00:34,325 Dear friends in Christ, Jesus. 13 00:00:36,125 --> 00:00:37,925 Now, first of all, let me say this. 14 00:00:38,325 --> 00:00:42,125 I was here about 15 years ago, in the Pulpit on Martin Luther King 15 00:00:42,125 --> 00:00:42,625 Day. 16 00:00:42,925 --> 00:00:43,825 For some reason 17 00:00:43,825 --> 00:00:46,425 I end up in the Pulpit on Martin Luther King Day a lot. 18 00:00:47,625 --> 00:00:50,025 And so I was asked by Andy Bartelt. 19 00:00:50,025 --> 00:00:54,625 Anybody remember Andy Bartelt., don't know of Andy Bartelt. famed and 20 00:00:54,625 --> 00:00:56,625 legendary lore keeper of the Missouri 21 00:00:56,625 --> 00:00:57,125 Synod. 22 00:00:58,825 --> 00:01:01,525 I was asked by him to mention 23 00:01:01,525 --> 00:01:01,925 Dr. 24 00:01:01,925 --> 00:01:03,025 King from the pulpit. 25 00:01:04,625 --> 00:01:05,325 And I said to him 26 00:01:05,325 --> 00:01:06,725 nope, we're not going to do that. 27 00:01:06,725 --> 00:01:07,525 And he said, ah. 28 00:01:08,925 --> 00:01:09,925 You were in Black Ministry 29 00:01:09,925 --> 00:01:12,725 you have to do that. And I was like, no, we're going to talk about it. 30 00:01:12,925 --> 00:01:14,825 We're going to talk about him going to talk about him or not 31 00:01:14,825 --> 00:01:15,825 just going to mention him. 32 00:01:17,425 --> 00:01:19,625 So today I will say a few things about Dr. 33 00:01:19,625 --> 00:01:23,325 King, but then, we'll move on to this text 34 00:01:23,325 --> 00:01:28,125 we have and I think they're connected in this way. In that if the Holy 35 00:01:28,125 --> 00:01:33,025 Spirit of God had been a larger part of what happened, things would 36 00:01:33,025 --> 00:01:34,125 have gone even better. 37 00:01:37,825 --> 00:01:38,125 Dr. 38 00:01:38,125 --> 00:01:39,525 King had his flaws 39 00:01:39,525 --> 00:01:40,225 of course. 40 00:01:41,625 --> 00:01:42,925 You guys know about those? 41 00:01:42,925 --> 00:01:44,325 They've been publicized. 42 00:01:45,925 --> 00:01:49,925 And they're important in a certain way and that we all have flaws, but 43 00:01:49,925 --> 00:01:53,525 I think if we had our dirty laundry, looked at the way, Dr. 44 00:01:53,525 --> 00:01:57,625 King did most of us would find a few things in our closet as well. 45 00:01:59,425 --> 00:02:00,025 But Dr. 46 00:02:00,025 --> 00:02:02,125 King also did a great job. 47 00:02:03,825 --> 00:02:07,725 On bringing to the fore, the issues of civil rights based on the 48 00:02:07,725 --> 00:02:09,025 content of character. 49 00:02:11,025 --> 00:02:12,525 Based not on appearance. 50 00:02:14,125 --> 00:02:17,925 Based on fairness and based on bringing about the ideals of the 51 00:02:17,925 --> 00:02:22,525 Declaration of Independence and the ideals of the Constitution for all 52 00:02:22,525 --> 00:02:23,725 people in this country. 53 00:02:24,425 --> 00:02:25,625 Not just a few. 54 00:02:28,425 --> 00:02:31,625 So for that, we owe him a debt of gratitude. 55 00:02:33,425 --> 00:02:34,225 Amazing things 56 00:02:34,225 --> 00:02:39,025 he did. Amazing suffering and also a kind of a martyrdom for his cause 57 00:02:39,025 --> 00:02:39,725 of course. 58 00:02:42,925 --> 00:02:43,525 And Dr. 59 00:02:43,525 --> 00:02:44,225 King 60 00:02:46,025 --> 00:02:49,625 as far as we know, was also a believer in Jesus Christ. 61 00:02:50,725 --> 00:02:56,525 One who worked tirelessly with a gospel that involved more liberation 62 00:02:57,125 --> 00:02:58,225 than we're accustomed to. 63 00:03:04,625 --> 00:03:07,525 But I think it has to be said 64 00:03:08,725 --> 00:03:10,825 that there is greater strength 65 00:03:12,025 --> 00:03:13,725 in actually repenting 66 00:03:15,725 --> 00:03:16,625 of bigotry. 67 00:03:18,225 --> 00:03:22,125 Then in simply saying it will go away by education or exposure. 68 00:03:25,925 --> 00:03:27,425 And that's the problem, isn't it? 69 00:03:29,725 --> 00:03:31,625 We always think the other guy is the bigot. 70 00:03:33,925 --> 00:03:35,625 But the problem is we're all bigots. 71 00:03:37,625 --> 00:03:39,525 We all have that sin of bigotry. 72 00:03:41,725 --> 00:03:45,425 Some of us for one thing, some for another, some based on race, some 73 00:03:45,425 --> 00:03:51,025 based on academic achievement, some based on all kinds of other 74 00:03:51,025 --> 00:03:51,925 criteria. 75 00:03:53,425 --> 00:03:56,025 But we're all prejudicial in certain ways 76 00:03:57,125 --> 00:03:58,025 and unfair. 77 00:04:00,925 --> 00:04:01,725 And that's what we need to 78 00:04:01,725 --> 00:04:05,325 repent of, is this sin of bigotry. 79 00:04:08,625 --> 00:04:10,625 As I said, it's not always about race. 80 00:04:11,325 --> 00:04:12,825 It can be about snobbery. 81 00:04:14,925 --> 00:04:17,525 It can be just about hating our neighbor. 82 00:04:19,425 --> 00:04:20,925 We don't always like each other. 83 00:04:25,625 --> 00:04:30,125 Now, I think one of the big things that would help with that is what 84 00:04:30,125 --> 00:04:31,525 we have in our text. 85 00:04:33,825 --> 00:04:35,925 Therefore, I want you to understand that 86 00:04:35,925 --> 00:04:39,125 no one speaking with the spirit of God ever says Jesus be accursed. 87 00:04:39,125 --> 00:04:43,225 And no one can say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. Because 88 00:04:43,225 --> 00:04:50,225 if we have Jesus, as our Lord, we must honestly confess what we are as 89 00:04:50,225 --> 00:04:50,625 well. 90 00:04:52,625 --> 00:04:54,525 I a poor miserable sinner. 91 00:04:55,925 --> 00:04:57,625 And I don't like that translation. 92 00:04:58,725 --> 00:05:00,025 it's pietistic. 93 00:05:01,525 --> 00:05:04,925 And misery and Latin actually seems to mean wretched more than 94 00:05:04,925 --> 00:05:05,525 miserable. 95 00:05:05,525 --> 00:05:07,225 I a poor wretched sinner. 96 00:05:09,825 --> 00:05:12,525 Confess to you all my sins and iniquities 97 00:05:14,025 --> 00:05:16,625 with a with which I have ever offended you. 98 00:05:24,325 --> 00:05:25,125 You see 99 00:05:26,325 --> 00:05:32,925 Jesus is Lord means that we have to be honest. 100 00:05:34,525 --> 00:05:39,025 And when we are honest, Jesus says, you are forgiven. 101 00:05:41,525 --> 00:05:43,325 And when we are not honest 102 00:05:44,525 --> 00:05:45,725 Jesus says, 103 00:05:47,325 --> 00:05:48,525 you are judged. 104 00:05:51,825 --> 00:05:54,125 And so, we flee to Jesus mercy. 105 00:05:55,425 --> 00:05:57,125 We flee to his cross 106 00:05:59,025 --> 00:06:01,825 because Jesus Christ is Lord. 107 00:06:04,025 --> 00:06:05,725 He is also our savior. 108 00:06:10,025 --> 00:06:13,525 In ancient and medieval times people understood lordship. Today 109 00:06:13,525 --> 00:06:16,625 we don't understand lordship in the United States of America. 110 00:06:17,325 --> 00:06:19,825 We have declared by the enlightenment 111 00:06:20,025 --> 00:06:21,425 there is no lordship. 112 00:06:22,325 --> 00:06:23,625 There is only wealth. 113 00:06:26,725 --> 00:06:27,925 There is only power. 114 00:06:30,125 --> 00:06:31,525 But lordship is gone. 115 00:06:36,425 --> 00:06:42,825 And so for Americans, the idea of Jesus is Lord is unfamiliar and 116 00:06:42,825 --> 00:06:43,725 uncomfortable. 117 00:06:46,525 --> 00:06:48,725 We want Jesus to be savior 118 00:06:50,825 --> 00:06:52,225 and of course, Jesus is. 119 00:06:54,425 --> 00:07:00,325 We prefer Jesus as Savior because Jesus as Savior is not necessarily a 120 00:07:00,325 --> 00:07:02,225 Jesus of obligation. 121 00:07:04,725 --> 00:07:10,125 He is not necessarily a Jesus of nobility or a Jesus of duty. 122 00:07:15,025 --> 00:07:22,225 Jesus, of course is Savior, but that is because Lords come to save 123 00:07:22,225 --> 00:07:23,025 their people. 124 00:07:24,825 --> 00:07:27,525 Lords are also savior's. 125 00:07:30,825 --> 00:07:33,325 But savior's are not necessarily Lords. 126 00:07:36,725 --> 00:07:42,225 And so, Paul tells us that the way we can be sure that we have the 127 00:07:42,225 --> 00:07:43,425 Holy Spirit. 128 00:07:45,625 --> 00:07:47,025 Is by declaring 129 00:07:48,325 --> 00:07:51,725 Jesus is Lord and meaning it. 130 00:07:53,225 --> 00:07:55,125 Because anybody can utter the vocals? 131 00:07:57,925 --> 00:07:59,125 So, let's try this. 132 00:08:00,425 --> 00:08:01,725 Just for grins. 133 00:08:04,425 --> 00:08:05,625 Jesus is Lord. 134 00:08:09,925 --> 00:08:11,425 Spoken like a true Lutheran's. 135 00:08:13,025 --> 00:08:14,625 Most humble, in they're speaking. 136 00:08:15,825 --> 00:08:17,825 Let's try a little bit more vigor. 137 00:08:19,225 --> 00:08:20,525 Jesus is Lord. 138 00:08:22,525 --> 00:08:23,025 Thank you. 139 00:08:23,025 --> 00:08:24,925 That's like I got a good deal at Best Buy. 140 00:08:24,925 --> 00:08:25,925 That was pretty good. 141 00:08:30,425 --> 00:08:31,825 Yes, Jesus is Lord. 142 00:08:31,825 --> 00:08:33,325 He is our Lord. 143 00:08:35,225 --> 00:08:38,425 And you see these guys called the Pentecostals like to come around and 144 00:08:38,425 --> 00:08:40,825 say, you don't have the Holy Spirit, you don't speak in tongues, but I 145 00:08:40,825 --> 00:08:43,325 speak in Hebrew and Greek and Latin and German. 146 00:08:45,025 --> 00:08:45,625 Do you? 147 00:08:50,825 --> 00:08:52,725 But I think the main thing is, 148 00:08:57,125 --> 00:09:00,225 that Paul had a hard time with people speaking in tongues. 149 00:09:00,225 --> 00:09:01,925 He said he did it more than anybody. 150 00:09:04,125 --> 00:09:06,225 Any he never sets in order for getting the gifts. 151 00:09:06,225 --> 00:09:08,625 And he never says you have to have tongues first. 152 00:09:12,225 --> 00:09:12,725 Instead 153 00:09:12,725 --> 00:09:18,125 what, what Paul says is the indicator of the Holy Spirit is the simple 154 00:09:18,125 --> 00:09:21,225 declaration that Jesus Christ is Lord. 155 00:09:25,225 --> 00:09:30,125 Paul sets, a low bar, a bar that Lutheran's can pass. 156 00:09:34,125 --> 00:09:37,625 We actually do believe that Jesus is Lord. 157 00:09:39,525 --> 00:09:43,125 We declare it at the beginning of our service, when we put Jesus there 158 00:09:43,125 --> 00:09:44,725 with the Father in the Spirit. 159 00:09:46,225 --> 00:09:47,925 We declare it in our creeds. 160 00:09:50,125 --> 00:09:51,725 We declare it in our blessings. 161 00:09:54,025 --> 00:09:55,525 We declared in our hymns. 162 00:09:58,325 --> 00:10:00,525 We declare it in our text of scripture. 163 00:10:04,525 --> 00:10:05,825 In Philippians chapter 2, 164 00:10:05,825 --> 00:10:10,525 We read each of the look not only to his own interests, but also to 165 00:10:10,525 --> 00:10:14,425 the interests of others, having this mind among yourselves, which is 166 00:10:14,425 --> 00:10:15,925 yours in Christ Jesus. 167 00:10:16,425 --> 00:10:20,025 Who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God, 168 00:10:20,125 --> 00:10:23,025 a thing to be grasped but made himself nothing. 169 00:10:23,225 --> 00:10:26,725 Taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men and 170 00:10:26,725 --> 00:10:28,925 being found in human form. 171 00:10:29,425 --> 00:10:33,025 He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even 172 00:10:33,025 --> 00:10:33,525 death on a cross. 173 00:10:34,525 --> 00:10:36,825 Therefore God has exalted him and bestowed on him 174 00:10:36,825 --> 00:10:38,625 the name that is above every name. 175 00:10:39,325 --> 00:10:42,525 So that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on 176 00:10:42,525 --> 00:10:43,925 Earth and under the Earth. 177 00:10:44,225 --> 00:10:48,025 And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. 178 00:10:50,225 --> 00:10:51,725 To the glory of God, the Father. 179 00:10:58,125 --> 00:10:59,125 It's disturbing 180 00:11:00,925 --> 00:11:04,025 people say they want to escape God, they want to go to hell because 181 00:11:04,025 --> 00:11:04,925 they're all the parties there. 182 00:11:04,925 --> 00:11:06,425 They like to joke about that. 183 00:11:10,025 --> 00:11:14,025 But the fact of the matter is that everyone in Heaven on Earth in Hell 184 00:11:14,025 --> 00:11:18,225 everywhere will declare Jesus Christ is Lord. 185 00:11:22,725 --> 00:11:24,025 He is Lord of everything. 186 00:11:25,725 --> 00:11:28,925 He rules, Heaven, Earth, 187 00:11:29,425 --> 00:11:31,225 Hell everything. 188 00:11:36,525 --> 00:11:39,925 He is king of kings, and Lord of lords. 189 00:11:47,525 --> 00:11:49,525 Why is it important to say that 190 00:11:49,525 --> 00:11:50,725 Jesus is Lord? 191 00:11:52,825 --> 00:11:53,725 Because he is. 192 00:11:55,525 --> 00:11:56,825 He is the Lord over you. 193 00:11:57,825 --> 00:11:59,025 He is a lord over me. 194 00:12:00,925 --> 00:12:02,925 He has established his lordship 195 00:12:04,125 --> 00:12:10,625 by going to the Cross being crowned with thorns being raised from the 196 00:12:10,625 --> 00:12:11,225 dead. 197 00:12:13,425 --> 00:12:16,925 He has established his lordship in his dialogues with Pilot. 198 00:12:18,825 --> 00:12:20,925 He has established his lordship 199 00:12:21,825 --> 00:12:24,325 in the work of the Apostles in Acts. 200 00:12:26,725 --> 00:12:30,425 Jesus Christ is your lord and my Lord. 201 00:12:32,725 --> 00:12:37,725 Jesus Christ sets us up for that second kind of righteousness 202 00:12:38,925 --> 00:12:45,025 in which, with Jesus as Lord we get the privilege of doing Jesus 203 00:12:45,025 --> 00:12:45,625 things. 204 00:12:47,325 --> 00:12:48,425 Loving the neighbor. 205 00:12:50,125 --> 00:12:51,925 Taking care of our fellow, man. 206 00:12:53,125 --> 00:12:53,925 And yes 207 00:12:55,125 --> 00:13:01,025 seeking the appropriate rights and liberties of our fellow people. 208 00:13:05,125 --> 00:13:07,425 So, there's lots of good news this morning. 209 00:13:09,825 --> 00:13:12,325 You have the Holy Spirit. 210 00:13:13,725 --> 00:13:17,025 The same Spirit that empower the apostles and prophets. 211 00:13:17,925 --> 00:13:21,325 The same Spirit that worked with Jesus in his ministry. 212 00:13:24,525 --> 00:13:27,125 And we have a great Lord, Jesus Christ 213 00:13:28,725 --> 00:13:30,125 who takes care of us. 214 00:13:31,225 --> 00:13:32,925 Loves us and protects us. 215 00:13:35,625 --> 00:13:36,325 And finally, 216 00:13:37,825 --> 00:13:42,125 we even have spiritual gifts which God gives us 217 00:13:43,125 --> 00:13:47,225 to use each as God has given 218 00:13:48,325 --> 00:13:49,325 and apportioned. 219 00:13:50,625 --> 00:13:52,925 So, there should be no rancor or jealousy. 220 00:13:52,925 --> 00:13:54,025 No, petty envy. 221 00:13:55,125 --> 00:13:56,925 God gives as he wills 222 00:13:58,025 --> 00:14:03,025 and a portions, the evidence of his grace in us through the Holy 223 00:14:03,025 --> 00:14:03,725 Spirit. 224 00:14:05,325 --> 00:14:07,625 The name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 225 00:14:08,725 --> 00:14:09,325 Amen. 226 00:14:10,725 --> 00:14:11,925 Now, may the peace of God 227 00:14:11,925 --> 00:14:13,525 which passes all understanding. 228 00:14:14,025 --> 00:14:17,525 Keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 229 00:14:18,425 --> 00:14:19,025 Amen.