What is the work of Satan? To create havoc in the world? To spread horrible outward acts of violence? To be a visible embodiment of evil? Many of these things can come from the hand of Satan. But it is not his greatest work.
We learn a lot about Satan’s work when Peter and Jesus have an interchange in Matthew 16. Jesus is telling his disciples that He must suffer and died and be raised from the dead. That this is His primary work of salvation.
Peter vehemently disagreed with Jesus and told him it would never happen. Jesus’ response? Thanks for looking out for me. NO! “Get behind me Satan.”
The primary work of Satan is to prevent Jesus from forgiving your sins. To stop the benefits of Jesus’ cross from being delivered into your life.
These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Proper 16
How do you get into your locked house? You need a key! But not just any key, you need the RIGHT key. That key lets you into the safety and security of your own home. Without it, you have nothing. But that key does something else. Those who don’t have it, the thieves and the intruders, are kept out.
Jesus said, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
He has given the church on earth the keys to our eternal home. The forgiveness of sins won by Jesus on the cross is shared to all who confess Jesus’ name and all He has done for us. Thanks be to God for Jesus’ forgiveness shared through His Church!
These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.
Jesus said, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
He has given the church on earth the keys to our eternal home. The forgiveness of sins won by Jesus on the cross is shared to all who confess Jesus’ name and all He has done for us. Thanks be to God for Jesus’ forgiveness shared through His Church!
These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.
Proper 15
What do you feed your dog? His own special food? Table scraps? Or maybe your dog is a canine vacuum cleaner gobbling up anything that touches the floor under your table.
Your canine vacuum doesn’t deserve to eat those crumbs. It happens to be one of the benefits of being in your household. Some days he reaps greater rewards than others. But none the less, his presence in your house is of tasty benefit to him.
This is the understanding of a woman who approaches Jesus to heal her daughter. She trusted that even the food that fell from the Master’s table was enough to sustain her.
Jesus then said to this woman something He never said to even His chosen disciples: “Great is your faith!”
Great is the faith of those who trust in Jesus’ undeserved care.
These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.
Your canine vacuum doesn’t deserve to eat those crumbs. It happens to be one of the benefits of being in your household. Some days he reaps greater rewards than others. But none the less, his presence in your house is of tasty benefit to him.
This is the understanding of a woman who approaches Jesus to heal her daughter. She trusted that even the food that fell from the Master’s table was enough to sustain her.
Jesus then said to this woman something He never said to even His chosen disciples: “Great is your faith!”
Great is the faith of those who trust in Jesus’ undeserved care.
These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.
Proper 14
Jump in! The water is fine! The sounds of summer at the pool. Peter in Matthew 14 made such a jump; from the boat to the sea. At Peter’s request, Jesus bid him to walk on the water to meet up with his Lord. And in did he jump without a splash.
If we would pause the frame right there, life is pretty good for Peter. He’s living a miraculous life standing on the water. But there is no pause button in life. The wind and the waves began to crash and Peter began to sink because he was afraid.
In reached his Savior’s hand. Thank you Peter, for what you experienced, so do we. The wind and waves do crash in on our miraculous lives, and we are afraid. And in reaches our Savior’s hand and pulls us out of the drowning water into His marvelous eternal arms.
These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.
If we would pause the frame right there, life is pretty good for Peter. He’s living a miraculous life standing on the water. But there is no pause button in life. The wind and the waves began to crash and Peter began to sink because he was afraid.
In reached his Savior’s hand. Thank you Peter, for what you experienced, so do we. The wind and waves do crash in on our miraculous lives, and we are afraid. And in reaches our Savior’s hand and pulls us out of the drowning water into His marvelous eternal arms.
These Seeds of Faith have been sown by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, NE. I’m Pastor Allen Strawn.
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