WEBVTT STYLE ::cue { color: #ffffff; } 00:00:01.210 --> 00:00:01.514 Grace, 00:00:01.562 --> 00:00:02.974 mercy and peace be unto you 00:00:03.012 --> 00:00:04.378 from our Lord and Savior, 00:00:04.474 --> 00:00:06.830 Jesus Christ. Amen. 00:00:07.330 --> 00:00:09.760 The commemoration of Job. 00:00:10.850 --> 00:00:12.080 Remember Job? 00:00:13.890 --> 00:00:17.120 When you say the word Job, 00:00:18.530 --> 00:00:20.462 many people associate his 00:00:20.516 --> 00:00:22.270 name with patience. 00:00:23.970 --> 00:00:26.134 Recalling the word words of Job. 00:00:26.332 --> 00:00:27.640 The Lord gives 00:00:28.730 --> 00:00:31.080 and the Lord has taken away. 00:00:31.450 --> 00:00:34.550 Blessed be the name of the Lord. 00:00:36.250 --> 00:00:37.682 But if someone says, 00:00:37.756 --> 00:00:40.330 My life is like Job's, 00:00:41.870 --> 00:00:43.418 they're not talking 00:00:43.504 --> 00:00:44.890 about patience. 00:00:46.350 --> 00:00:48.780 They're claiming Job's name 00:00:49.310 --> 00:00:51.498 because there's multiple 00:00:51.594 --> 00:00:54.160 troubles in their life. 00:00:55.490 --> 00:00:58.350 Multiple occurrences of tragedy, 00:00:59.410 --> 00:01:02.510 sickness and death. 00:01:04.550 --> 00:01:07.570 My life is like job's. 00:01:08.630 --> 00:01:10.370 How do you respond? 00:01:12.230 --> 00:01:13.810 I've heard people say, 00:01:13.960 --> 00:01:15.640 I'll pray for you. 00:01:16.890 --> 00:01:18.600 I've heard people say, 00:01:20.250 --> 00:01:22.150 It can't get any worse, 00:01:22.570 --> 00:01:24.120 Just hang in there. 00:01:24.890 --> 00:01:28.154 Or God will not give you any 00:01:28.192 --> 00:01:30.730 more than you can handle. 00:01:32.830 --> 00:01:35.690 My life is like Job's. 00:01:36.670 --> 00:01:38.522 We should not be surprised when 00:01:38.576 --> 00:01:40.640 trouble comes into our lives. 00:01:41.170 --> 00:01:44.080 In fact, in Job five, it says, 00:01:44.530 --> 00:01:46.906 just as sparks fly 00:01:46.938 --> 00:01:48.000 up from the fire, 00:01:49.090 --> 00:01:51.646 so does trouble come into the 00:01:51.668 --> 00:01:53.570 lives of all humanity. 00:01:54.070 --> 00:01:55.940 From the moment of life, 00:01:56.710 --> 00:01:58.050 there is trouble. 00:01:59.910 --> 00:02:02.500 Jesus said, in this world, 00:02:03.190 --> 00:02:04.770 you will have trouble. 00:02:06.410 --> 00:02:07.862 One commentator said, 00:02:07.916 --> 00:02:09.506 this is the grinding 00:02:09.538 --> 00:02:11.000 away of life. 00:02:12.330 --> 00:02:14.278 In my agricultural mind, 00:02:14.364 --> 00:02:15.782 I picture this, 00:02:15.916 --> 00:02:17.394 that our lives are thrown 00:02:17.442 --> 00:02:18.780 into a hammer mill 00:02:19.950 --> 00:02:22.090 and the hammers keep beating 00:02:22.430 --> 00:02:25.130 and beating and beating. 00:02:26.350 --> 00:02:28.570 There's always the threat 00:02:28.910 --> 00:02:30.330 of tragedy, 00:02:31.650 --> 00:02:34.670 sickness and death. 00:02:36.850 --> 00:02:38.826 When I would do prison ministry, 00:02:38.938 --> 00:02:39.886 people would ask, 00:02:39.988 --> 00:02:41.054 what's it like going 00:02:41.092 --> 00:02:42.270 into a prison? 00:02:43.170 --> 00:02:44.542 And I would say it's pretty 00:02:44.596 --> 00:02:45.630 intimidating. 00:02:45.970 --> 00:02:47.806 When they slam the doors and 00:02:47.828 --> 00:02:49.086 you're locked in there with the 00:02:49.108 --> 00:02:51.200 prisoners, there's no way out. 00:02:52.210 --> 00:02:54.870 You are locked in until someone 00:02:54.980 --> 00:02:57.750 comes and locks the door. 00:02:58.570 --> 00:02:59.780 When I shared this with 00:03:00.250 --> 00:03:03.006 someone one time they said, 00:03:03.188 --> 00:03:04.910 I'm not in prison, 00:03:05.810 --> 00:03:08.160 but I feel locked in. 00:03:09.010 --> 00:03:10.670 I feel trapped. 00:03:11.090 --> 00:03:12.986 I feel trapped in the troubles 00:03:13.018 --> 00:03:16.000 of life. And there's no way out. 00:03:18.370 --> 00:03:20.720 There's nowhere for me to turn. 00:03:21.890 --> 00:03:23.840 What am I supposed to do? 00:03:25.050 --> 00:03:28.470 My life is like Job's. 00:03:31.050 --> 00:03:33.222 Certainly Job experienced this 00:03:33.276 --> 00:03:35.079 trapness, you might say. 00:03:35.610 --> 00:03:37.826 How is he to explain his life? 00:03:37.948 --> 00:03:39.500 A righteous man, 00:03:41.310 --> 00:03:43.260 but trouble in his life. 00:03:44.190 --> 00:03:48.329 Multiple occurrences of tragedy, 00:03:49.150 --> 00:03:51.630 sickness and death. 00:03:53.490 --> 00:03:56.110 By an act of God's grace, 00:03:56.930 --> 00:04:01.022 Job comes to understand that 00:04:01.076 --> 00:04:03.874 there's a tomorrow to 00:04:03.912 --> 00:04:05.140 his life today. 00:04:05.510 --> 00:04:07.490 His life full of troubles. 00:04:08.070 --> 00:04:10.642 I know that my Redeemer lives. 00:04:10.776 --> 00:04:12.100 And at the last, 00:04:12.630 --> 00:04:15.329 he will stand upon this earth. 00:04:17.690 --> 00:04:20.322 The words of Job hopefully 00:04:20.385 --> 00:04:22.322 engraved into our hearts, 00:04:22.466 --> 00:04:24.098 into our minds, 00:04:24.274 --> 00:04:25.974 into the opportunities we have 00:04:26.012 --> 00:04:27.330 to share with others. 00:04:27.500 --> 00:04:28.954 But to focus on that 00:04:28.992 --> 00:04:30.409 word redeemer, 00:04:31.230 --> 00:04:33.638 the one who releases 00:04:33.813 --> 00:04:34.970 the prisoner. 00:04:35.550 --> 00:04:37.146 The one who lifts up, 00:04:37.168 --> 00:04:39.050 the one who is trapped, 00:04:39.390 --> 00:04:41.680 trapped in the troubles of life. 00:04:42.770 --> 00:04:43.950 Redeemer. 00:04:44.690 --> 00:04:47.262 The one who brings hope and 00:04:47.316 --> 00:04:49.440 certainty to today. 00:04:49.970 --> 00:04:52.190 Because there is a tomorrow. 00:04:52.630 --> 00:04:54.370 There's a tomorrow in the lives 00:04:54.440 --> 00:04:56.180 of those who believe. 00:04:56.710 --> 00:04:58.020 And for Job, 00:04:58.870 --> 00:05:00.180 as for us, 00:05:00.870 --> 00:05:03.650 Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, 00:05:04.070 --> 00:05:06.566 the one who paid the full price 00:05:06.748 --> 00:05:09.526 to release us so that we 00:05:09.548 --> 00:05:11.254 are free in this life, 00:05:11.452 --> 00:05:12.950 free from sin, 00:05:13.770 --> 00:05:16.102 free from death and free 00:05:16.156 --> 00:05:16.914 from the evil 00:05:16.962 --> 00:05:19.654 one. To know that there still 00:05:19.692 --> 00:05:21.370 is going to be trouble, 00:05:21.789 --> 00:05:23.594 but to know the certainty that 00:05:23.632 --> 00:05:25.642 God brings to us in Christ, 00:05:25.776 --> 00:05:27.706 that our life is in Christ, 00:05:27.888 --> 00:05:29.193 that we die with him, 00:05:29.232 --> 00:05:30.720 we rise to him, 00:05:31.330 --> 00:05:33.102 and we celebrate this 00:05:33.156 --> 00:05:34.430 each and every day. 00:05:34.580 --> 00:05:36.190 We have been baptized into 00:05:36.260 --> 00:05:38.400 Christ. We are His. 00:05:39.010 --> 00:05:40.474 We have the promise. 00:05:40.602 --> 00:05:44.014 We have the certainty that we 00:05:44.052 --> 00:05:46.640 know that our Redeemer lives. 00:05:48.770 --> 00:05:51.645 Many times I have stood by a 00:05:51.668 --> 00:05:54.854 casket singing the words, I 00:05:55.012 --> 00:05:57.000 know that my Redeemer lives. 00:05:58.169 --> 00:05:59.810 And no matter what troubles 00:06:00.410 --> 00:06:02.640 had come into this person's life 00:06:03.570 --> 00:06:04.654 no matter what their 00:06:04.692 --> 00:06:05.934 life was about. 00:06:06.132 --> 00:06:08.814 What was most important was for 00:06:08.852 --> 00:06:11.614 them to know the certainty and 00:06:11.652 --> 00:06:14.090 to be able to know the certainty 00:06:14.170 --> 00:06:17.006 that Jesus lives. Because 00:06:17.108 --> 00:06:18.078 He lives 00:06:18.244 --> 00:06:19.998 we have life not only today, 00:06:20.084 --> 00:06:22.110 but we have life for eternity. 00:06:22.450 --> 00:06:24.430 To be able to speak those words 00:06:24.500 --> 00:06:25.394 with the faithful 00:06:25.442 --> 00:06:26.870 around a casket. 00:06:27.210 --> 00:06:30.646 I know that my redeemer lives. To 00:06:30.668 --> 00:06:32.070 be able to speak with Job. 00:06:32.140 --> 00:06:33.974 I know even when my 00:06:34.012 --> 00:06:35.590 skin is destroyed, 00:06:37.470 --> 00:06:40.540 I will in my flesh see God. 00:06:40.990 --> 00:06:43.340 I myself and not another. 00:06:44.590 --> 00:06:46.746 God has given us faith to be 00:06:46.768 --> 00:06:49.370 able to say the words of Job. 00:06:49.520 --> 00:06:52.038 I know that my redeemer lives. To 00:06:52.064 --> 00:06:53.726 know that we will see God on 00:06:53.748 --> 00:06:55.882 that last day and that Jesus 00:06:55.946 --> 00:06:57.760 will have the last word. 00:06:59.250 --> 00:07:01.134 Jesus makes it very clear to his 00:07:01.172 --> 00:07:02.846 disciples and to us do not let 00:07:02.868 --> 00:07:04.430 your hearts be troubled. 00:07:04.850 --> 00:07:07.586 Trust in God, trust also in me. 00:07:07.768 --> 00:07:08.962 In my Father's house 00:07:09.016 --> 00:07:10.370 are many rooms. 00:07:10.950 --> 00:07:12.130 If it were not so, 00:07:12.200 --> 00:07:13.730 would I tell you that I go and 00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:15.438 prepare a place for you? 00:07:15.624 --> 00:07:17.106 And if I go and prepare 00:07:17.138 --> 00:07:18.358 a place for you, 00:07:18.524 --> 00:07:21.446 I will come back and take you to 00:07:21.468 --> 00:07:23.960 be with me where I am also. 00:07:25.770 --> 00:07:27.414 Jesus speaks to us each 00:07:27.452 --> 00:07:28.440 and every day, 00:07:29.210 --> 00:07:30.406 but he also calls 00:07:30.438 --> 00:07:31.510 us to minister. 00:07:31.670 --> 00:07:33.754 And even if someone does not say 00:07:33.792 --> 00:07:36.486 to us, my life is like Job's, 00:07:36.678 --> 00:07:38.134 we know that there's trouble 00:07:38.182 --> 00:07:39.718 in this world that we live. 00:07:39.904 --> 00:07:41.210 There's tragedy. 00:07:41.370 --> 00:07:43.326 Think about interstate in 00:07:43.348 --> 00:07:45.854 Illinois. I-55 this past week, 00:07:45.892 --> 00:07:47.070 the dust storm. 00:07:48.530 --> 00:07:50.282 Or this spring, 00:07:50.346 --> 00:07:53.650 the outbreak of RSV in schools. 00:07:54.310 --> 00:07:55.394 Or not long ago, 00:07:55.432 --> 00:07:57.086 we heard about a young pastor 00:07:57.118 --> 00:07:58.610 in Iowa who died, 00:07:58.950 --> 00:08:01.070 left behind his wife 00:08:01.150 --> 00:08:02.370 and congregation. 00:08:03.510 --> 00:08:05.202 It's always before us. 00:08:05.336 --> 00:08:07.074 So we need in our toolbox, 00:08:07.122 --> 00:08:08.674 our ministry toolbox, 00:08:08.802 --> 00:08:10.440 these words of Job. 00:08:11.530 --> 00:08:12.866 We need scripture, 00:08:12.978 --> 00:08:14.162 we need prayers, 00:08:14.306 --> 00:08:16.022 we need the Holy Spirit to work 00:08:16.076 --> 00:08:17.494 through us so that we can 00:08:17.611 --> 00:08:19.000 minister to others. 00:08:20.810 --> 00:08:22.878 There's one stanza, 00:08:22.914 --> 00:08:24.217 the hymn that we just sang in 00:08:24.224 --> 00:08:25.626 my toolbox and I'd like you, 00:08:25.648 --> 00:08:26.885 if you don't have your hymnal, 00:08:26.998 --> 00:08:29.970 open your hymnal 461 and we're 00:08:29.990 --> 00:08:30.954 going to sing that verse 00:08:31.002 --> 00:08:32.080 five together. 00:08:33.409 --> 00:08:34.813 And I would encourage you to 00:08:34.852 --> 00:08:36.074 have this in your ministry 00:08:36.122 --> 00:08:39.482 toolbox as you encounter 00:08:39.546 --> 00:08:41.630 people with troubles. 00:08:43.890 --> 00:08:50.350 He lives to silence all my fears 00:08:51.650 --> 00:08:55.960 he lives too wipe away 00:08:57.050 --> 00:08:59.170 my tears. 00:09:00.570 --> 00:09:04.446 He lives to calm my 00:09:04.628 --> 00:09:07.440 troubled heart. 00:09:08.930 --> 00:09:16.270 He lives all blessings to impart. 00:09:17.970 --> 00:09:19.742 The blessings of Almighty God 00:09:19.796 --> 00:09:21.230 for us to know God's will, 00:09:21.300 --> 00:09:22.590 that he wants everyone 00:09:22.740 --> 00:09:23.786 to be saved. 00:09:23.898 --> 00:09:25.702 He wants everyone one to know 00:09:25.756 --> 00:09:29.814 Jesus as their redeemer and to 00:09:29.852 --> 00:09:31.942 use us to be able to share 00:09:31.996 --> 00:09:33.000 that good news. 00:09:33.450 --> 00:09:34.834 So I have an assignment 00:09:34.882 --> 00:09:36.360 for you today. 00:09:36.890 --> 00:09:38.530 I want you to imagine 00:09:38.610 --> 00:09:39.586 when you get home, 00:09:39.628 --> 00:09:41.100 there's a letter from a friend. 00:09:42.110 --> 00:09:43.494 And in this letter, 00:09:43.622 --> 00:09:45.466 the friend shares with you all 00:09:45.488 --> 00:09:46.474 that's been going on 00:09:46.512 --> 00:09:47.370 in their lives. 00:09:47.520 --> 00:09:48.346 I'll give you just 00:09:48.368 --> 00:09:49.530 a few bullets. 00:09:50.850 --> 00:09:52.046 Their wife or their 00:09:52.068 --> 00:09:53.630 spouse has cancer. 00:09:54.530 --> 00:09:56.382 There's a divorce going 00:09:56.436 --> 00:09:57.600 on in their family. 00:09:58.050 --> 00:10:00.446 There's a coworker with 00:10:00.468 --> 00:10:01.470 an addiction. 00:10:02.790 --> 00:10:04.446 They've done a house inspection, 00:10:04.478 --> 00:10:05.406 and there's a crack 00:10:05.438 --> 00:10:06.610 in the foundation. 00:10:08.710 --> 00:10:09.566 In their church 00:10:09.598 --> 00:10:10.974 the pastor has decided 00:10:11.022 --> 00:10:12.050 to resign. 00:10:12.550 --> 00:10:14.114 And there's conflict within 00:10:14.152 --> 00:10:15.330 the congregation. 00:10:16.250 --> 00:10:17.880 There's health issues, 00:10:18.330 --> 00:10:19.800 there's wealth issues. 00:10:20.250 --> 00:10:22.280 We could go on and on and on. 00:10:22.890 --> 00:10:25.442 So how are you going to respond 00:10:25.506 --> 00:10:26.520 to your friend? 00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:35.210 Remember Job. 00:10:36.540 --> 00:10:37.640 We pray. 00:10:38.460 --> 00:10:40.584 We adore you O Christ our 00:10:40.622 --> 00:10:42.624 redeemer and we bless you, 00:10:42.662 --> 00:10:44.556 because by your Holy Cross, 00:10:44.748 --> 00:10:46.288 you have redeemed me 00:10:46.374 --> 00:10:47.490 and the world. 00:10:48.020 --> 00:10:50.432 Amen. The peace of God, 00:10:50.486 --> 00:10:52.092 which passes all understanding, 00:10:52.156 --> 00:10:53.664 keep your hearts and minds in 00:10:53.702 --> 00:10:56.172 Christ Jesus, our redeemer, 00:10:56.236 --> 00:10:59.036 to life everlasting. Amen.