Rev. Dr. Niveen Sarras

Psalm 40

January 19, 2020

 

Psalm 40 describes a person who is delighted in the steadfast love, mercy, and goodness of God. It talks about God’s salvation of the psalmist. In verse one, the psalmist says, “I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.” “Waiting” is an expression of trust and reliance on God. For the psalmist, this faithful waiting leads to God’s salvation.”[1]

 

The psalmist does not tell us his problem. He describes his problem and suffering as desolate pit and miry bog. The word incline in verse 1 means “the slope from a mountain’s peak to its base.[2] The Psalmist describes himself sinking in desolate pit and miry bog

at the bottom of the mountain. The Lord hears his cry and comes down from the peak of heaven and lift him and sits his feet on a rock and gives him a firm place to stand. So, he rejoices.

 

 In verse five, the psalmist declares and affirms the countless wondrous deeds and good thoughts of God toward him and his people. In verses three and four, God put a new song in the psalmist’s mouth so that who hears it fear the Lord and put their trust in God. The psalmist does not keep the story of God’s deliverance to himself, but he gives testimony to God’s goodness and salvation. He shares his song and experience with the congregation gathered for worship so that they trust God. In verse 11, the psalmist shifts from thanksgiving to petition to remind us of his suffering and his need to rely on God’s steadfast love.

 

As I was preparing the bulletin for this Sunday, I read all the readings. When I read Psalm 40, my eyes widened, and with an excited voice, I said, “this is my story.” The psalmist expresses my feelings and experience in his words. Let me tell you my story of God’s deliverance.

 

On December 30, I had to go to Milwaukee for an appointment, which I could not reschedule. Unlike Milwaukee, Wausau's weather was terrible. We expected a snowstorm. I did not have an option but to go to Milwaukee. After I finished my appointment, I called Jackie asking her about the weather in Wausau. She told me that the snowstorm arrived. She advised me to drive only on the highway because the department of transportation plow and salt major highways first. Bob Henning was standing next to Jackie and he agreed with her. I told Jackie that I would not leave the highway.

 

 I told myself, if the storm worsened, I would stay in a hotel. I depend on my GPS to navigate my way. Usually, if there is a problem on the road like construction or accident, GPS would suggest an alternate route. But I must approve GPS recommendation first before changing my route. When I became near Oshkosh, I began to see the snowstorm. I prayed constantly. I continued to drive slowly. The storm worsened as I drove toward Weston. The highway US-10 W was slippery and the cars formed a long line. Suddenly, Snow shifted under my car tires, causing them to slide. I tried my best to control my vehicle. A crazy truck driver behind me instead of slowing down, the driver drove fast. I was terrified. I saw several cars in the ditch. However, I continued to drive slowly. I was determined to follow my GPS and to stay on the highway. I looked around me to see a sign of a hotel, but I did not see one.

 

Unexpectedly, my GPS asked me to exit the highway.  I thought it was the time to turn to I-39 N, but I found myself on County J Road.  I have never been on this road before. GPS did not recommend a new route. It was only two cars beside mine on the road. It was covered with snow, but I was not worried because the road was not crowded. I drove through a residential area, which helped me to feel safe. Finally, my GPS led me to highway 29 W. As I entered the ramp, I saw a car hit a traffic sign at the entrance. Highway 29 W was clear of snow, and I was happy to find that I was seven minutes away from my home. I arrived home safely. The first thing I did was to kneel to thank the Lord Jesus. The next day I went to church and I shared my experience with Jackie and Bob. They were not aware of County J road. Jackie and Bob told me it was the Lord who helped me using my GPS. I thought of their answer. I realized that God made GPS to take me in a different direction for my safety.

 

The Lord heard my cry and came down from the peak of heaven and lifted me and sat my feet on a rock and gave me a place to stand. So, I rejoice. God delivered me from the snowstorm not because I am a good person, but because God is good. God’s steadfast love and faithfulness endure forever. I am sharing my story so that you trust the Lord and to believe that God’s thoughts for you are good. This is my story. What about yours? I encourage you to share your story of faith in public. Speak about God’s faithfulness to people around you. I will end with the same prayer the psalmist prays:

 

9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. 10 I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. 11 Do not, O Lord, withhold your mercy from me; let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever.

 

                                                                                                                                                             

Rev. Dr. Niveen Sarras

Ephesians

January 5, 2020

 

The church has called the letter to Ephesians, “God’s love letter to the church.” Imagine that this letter is directed to us, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wausau. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wausau, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The apostle Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison. He summarizes the whole gospel story and shows how it should reshape of our life’s story. The letter is divided into two sections: God’s story and our story. He explores how all the history came to its climax and Jesus in his creation of the multi-ethnic church.

 

The apostle Paul opens his letter with a typical Jewish poem where he praises God for the amazing things that God has done in Jesus Christ. From the beginning, God chose to bless the Jews. Now through Jesus, everyone can be adopted into the family of Jesus Christ. In Christ alone, we find forgiveness of sins and receive God’s grace.

 

God’s plan was always to have a big family of restored human beings who are unified in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit brought Jews and non-Jews into one family in Jesus. Paul says that the Ephesians and we would be energized by the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and placed him as the exalted head of the whole world. You have the same power that Jesus bestowed on the Ephesians. You are called Saints. You are members of Christ’s family. You are sealed by the Holy Spirit in your baptism. You are unique and special in the eyes of the Lord.

 

The apostle Paul explains that before they knew Christ,  non-Jews were alive but spiritually dead. Through believing in Jesus, they received forgiveness and Jesus brought them back to life. You are now like new human beings. You have the joy of discovering all the unique calling and purposes that God has set before you. Before believing in Christ, the non-Jews were cut off the covenant people. They were strangers. The law was a barrier, but Jesus fulfilled the law and the barrier fell down. You are no longer strangers but adopted into the family of Jesus Christ. The Jews and non-Jews—the two ethnic groups have become new unified humanity that can live together in peace.

 

After talking about God’s story, the apostle Paul shifts to talk about our story in the last chapters. He demonstrates that the church is a big family, but we are one body that is unified by one Spirit. We have one Lord with one faith. We have one baptism, and we believe in one God. Paul goes on to explore how unity does not mean uniformity. Immanuel Lutheran Church has many people with different vocations but all of us are one. And we are empowered by one Spirit.

 

We form new humanity in Jesus Christ. Consequently, the apostle Paul challenges the Ephesians\ Immanuel Lutheran Church and every Christian to take off their old humanity as a set of old clothes and to put on their new humanity in which the image of God is being restored. He gives examples:[1]

1. Instead of lying, new humans speak the truth.
2. Instead of harboring anger, they peacefully resolve their conflicts.
3. Instead of stealing, they need to work and be generous.
4. Instead of gossiping, they encourage people with their words.
5. Instead of getting revenge, they forgive.
6. Instead of gratifying every sexual impulse, they cultivate self-control of their bodily desires.
7. Instead of becoming under the influence of alcohol, the new humans come under the influence of God’s Spirit.

 

The apostle Paul spells out what that influence looks like in four different ways:

1. Singing together.
2. Singing alone. We can say that Immanuel Lutheran Church is under the influence of the Holy Spirit every time they sing.
3. Being thankful for everything.
4. The spirit will compel Christians to consider their neighbors are more important than themselves.

How does that work? The apostle Paul explains this point by showing how it works in Christian marriage. A Christian wife is called to respect and allow her husband to become responsible for her, and the husband is called to love his wife and use his responsibility to lay down his selfishness to prioritize his wife’s well-being above his own. Paul teaches it is this kind of marriage that is reenacting the gospel story.

 

The husband’s action mimics Jesus in his love and self-sacrifice. The wife's action mimics the church which allows Jesus to love her and to make her new. Paul then applies the same idea to children and parents as well as slaves and masters.[2] Our relationship with one another is reenacting the gospel story. God’s story is your story. Your story is part of God’s story. See how valuable you are. Your story is important to God.

 

But life is hard. Sometimes we fail to reenact the gospel story. For this reason, the apostle Paul concludes his letter by warning the Ephesians and us of the reality of spiritual evil. Paul teaches that these beings and forces of darkness will try to undermine the unity of the church and to compromise her new humanity. So, the apostle Paul metaphorically encourages us to protect our new humanity by wearing the body armor of God. The body armor is made of truth, righteousness, peace, salvation, and the word of God. God's body armor will help you and I grow and mature as Christians.

 

You cannot defeat evil without Christ and without the word of God. Jesus Christ will help you because you are unique. God chose you in Christ before the foundation of the world, that you should be holy and blameless before God. You are honorable because, in love, God predestined you for adoption to Godself as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of God’s will. You belong to God and what is to God, Satan cannot take.