Lord, Thy Will Be Done By Us… That We May Rest in You.
by Pastor Edwin Lehmann on June 30, 2023 in Exodus 20:8-11
Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity July 2, 2023
Text: Exodus 20:8-11 Summer Sermon Series 23:2393
Theme: LORD, THY WILL BE DONE BY US…
That We May Rest in You.
When you invite honored guests to your house, do you get out the leftovers, warm them in a microwave, and serve them on paper plates in front of the television? I hope not! If they are honored and special guests, I think you would arrange your schedule so that you could serve them as best as possible and spend quality time with them. It’s the way we honor guests, offering them the best we have.
So, why is it that when we invite the Lord to go with us in life, there are times that we serve Him only leftovers – leftovers of our wealth and possessions, leftovers of our time, leftovers of our talents and abilities? It is particularly giving Him the leftovers of our time that can be the most destructive. When we give Him only leftovers of our time because we have too many other things that we think are more important, we not only dishonor the most important guest in our lives, but we hurt ourselves and destroy the blessings of faith that He wants to give us.
Jesus did not say, “Stay away from me and you will be blessed.” No! He invited, “Come to me. I will give you rest; and you shall have rest for your souls.” Is it any wonder that many, young people in particular, have so many problems and find no rest in life when they have no time for the Lord Jesus?
With that in mind, we turn our attention to the Third Commandment this morning and pray: LORD, MAY THY WILL BE DONE BY US That We May Rest in You. It’s Important.
I. “Sabbath” is a Hebrew word. In the Hebrew language it means “rest.” It primarily signifies an end of work. It has the idea of a celebration, even a festival (the German “feiern).
In the O.T. times God set apart the 7th day, Saturday, and appointed it for His people as a day of rest from physical labor, even for their animals. “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD, your God. On it you shall not do any work neither you, nor your sons or daughters, nor your male or female servants, nor your cattle, nor the alien who is residing inside your gates.”
In one sense it has a practical purpose, aimed at sitting back to restore the body and mind after a week of work. But there is much more. It is not enough that one only rest from physical labor. We are to keep this day of rest holy to the Lord. That is the heart of the commandment. Yes, He would have us rest from our labors. But most importantly He would have us sanctify this rest day to Him. Again, to me, there is a rather practical reason behind this.
I can so easily slough-off in life and be distracted. If I am constantly at work or busying myself with other matters, I don’t have the time nor the inclination to take care of what Jesus called “the one thing needful” – giving my attention to the Word of God.
Think of the story of Mary and Martha. When Jesus came to visit them, Martha immediately set herself to work, getting a meal and everything ready for the Lord Jesus to stay there. On the other hand, after a while, Mary broke off from her labors and took the opportunity to rest at Jesus’ feet so that she could give her attention to His words of life. When Martha grew weary and annoyed at her sister’s not helping her, she complained to Jesus. He replied, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things. But only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken from her” (Lk.10:38f).
The one thing needed is not work accomplished, nor recreation, nor games, nor more sleep, and so on. Those can all be distractions. The one thing needed for which the Sabbath is given is rest from one’s labor and other matters in order to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His Word. God did instruct us to set aside a day for that very purpose. But if one is constantly working and involved in other things, he has no time to feed his soul on the Bread of Life and is too tired to pay attention to God’s Word.
In our New Testament times it could be any day for since Christ has come and fulfilled the Old Testament requirements, God says that we are not so bound by a particular time as was the case among the Jews when it had to be precisely this day or that day (Col.2:16f). One day in itself is no better than another. It should be observed daily. But Sunday was appointed long time ago to remind us of the eternal rest Jesus won for us through His resurrection on Easter.
On Friday He worked our salvation through His payment for our sin on the cross. On Saturday He rested in the tomb. And on Sunday He rose to give us a new life in Him. That is the important thing we are privileged to commemorate in our New Testament times. So, to us this commandment would mean: “Worship me every day. But Sanctify Sunday. Come to church. Sing, make music in your heart to the Lord. Hear my Word. Hold it sacred in life. Grow in it through faith and find rest for your soul in what He did.”
So, what each of us needs to ask ourselves is how do I observe this commandment to honor and thank my God? How do I observe this commandment for the welfare of my soul and my family members? Am I too preoccupied in life to have time for my Savior? Am I only giving Him leftovers to the harm of my soul? We must be concerned with these things as Martha was not, but Mary was.
And we dare not think that this is only an option clause that God has given us for life so that after hearing a sermon or two, that is enough, and we have no further use of instruction because it’s all the same. It isn’t all the same for we are daily in the dominion of Satan in this world who stops at nothing to steal the Word from our hearts. To warn and encourage us on the way, God commanded, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, but the seventh is a sabbath TO THE LORD.”
It’s Important so that we find our rest in Him.
II. He gave it for our blessing.
Lest we get the wrong impression, as many have, that it is a work to gain God’s favor and so place legalistic restrictions on it like, “You must worship on Saturday,” let’s take a moment to look at the spirit behind the command. God gave it for our blessing.
The Apostle Paul writes, “When you were dead in your sins and your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code with its regulations that were against us.” That refers to the burden of all the O.T. laws, all the sacrifices, which by themselves could not take away sin, the temple, and all its appointments. “He took our sin away (along with those burdens of the written code), nailing it to the cross…. Therefore, do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink or with regard to a religious festival…or a Sabbath day. These were a shadow of things to come. The body, however, is found in Christ” (Col.2:16f; Heb.10).
Jesus gives us rest from sin, Satan, and the burden of the law through what He accomplished for us, not through what we do. Christ and His cancelling of the burden was the goal and the fulfillment of all the O.T. laws. In Him we find rest with God.
As mentioned before, to commemorate that truth, the early N.T. Christians chose the first day of the week, Sunday, as the day set aside for community worship. That’s when new life was given to us by Christ. Every Sunday when you come here, think of Easter’s blessings for you.
But again, it doesn’t take place only here in Church and only on Sunday. It happens every time you read and study God’s Word in Sunday school, Bible class, devotions at home, in your car, on a walk – anywhere and on every day when you sit at Jesus’ feet to hear Him, He blesses you with eternal rest.
So daily, but especially on Sunday, “remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” It’s important that we do for God gave it to us for our blessing.
To that end we pray: LORD, MAY THY WILL BE DONE BY US…That We May Find Our Rest in You. God grant it in our lives of faith for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
The Fourth Sunday after Trinity July 2, 2023
Welcome in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We are happy to have you worshipping with us this Sunday before the celebration of our nation’s birth. Even amidst the tensions and turmoil that we experience in our country and around the world, God has still given us many blessings in our land, seldom enjoyed by nations in the past.
The lessons of the ancient church chosen for this Sunday are a good reminder for us as church leaders and citizens of our land. They present the duties, patience, and hope required of Christians. The prayer for the day requests that the Lord would bless us with rest and peace so that our opportunities for service in His Church are enhanced in a world at peace. A most appropriate prayer for us this holiday weekend.
In the sermon text we continue in our study of the Ten Commandments with the Third Commandment. As the First Commandments instructed our hearts and taught us faith towards the one true God alone, and as the Second Commandment led us outward, training our heart, lips, and tongue to use God’s name rightly, the Third Commandment teaches us to occupy our hearts, minds, and mouths with holy words, works, and a holy life not just on one day of our week, but on every day of our lives.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Christian’s Duties, Patience, and Hope in the World
The Preparation
Opening Thoughts on the Service
The Entrance Hymn: “Before You, Lord, We Bow” #775
Order of Worship: Service: Setting One with Holy Communion: pages 154-160
Prayer of the Day
The Ministry of the Word
(The Lessons for the Day are taken from the Historic Pericope Series of the Christian Church.)
The Responses following each lesson are on page 160
Isaiah 65:17-19,24,25 The Lord stirs hope within the Prophet Isaiah and His faithful people by promising to create new heavens and a new earth. The hard times of the past will not be remembered. Instead rejoicing will overtake God’s people when He fulfills His promise. The Lord Himself will rejoice over His people and His new creation.
Romans 8:18-23 With patience during sufferings and hope in the glory that is yet to come, Christians look forward to the blessed freedom that awaits believers in heaven.
The Gospel Acclamation (God’s Word) page 161
Luke 6:36-42 A portion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain, as it is sometimes called, teaches His disciples of every age to have a merciful, forgiving, and patient mind like our heavenly Father has. As He is ever gracious and compassionate with us who have sinned against Him, so it is our Christian duty to mirror His ways to the world around us.
The Sermon Hymn: “Cling Tightly to the Word of God” #707
The Sermon: Lord, Thy Will Be Done By Us… That We May Rest in You.
Exodus 20:8-11
Our Response to the Word
The Confession of Faith: The Nicene Creed page 162
Prayer
The Offering
The Lord Blesses Us
The Order of Holy Communion pages 165-169
(We invite our communicant members to the Lord’s Table, believing that in the bread and the wine, they receive the Savior’s true body and blood for forgiveness of sins. Since Holy Communion implies a oneness of faith, our practice is that of close communion. We therefore ask visitors to speak with the Pastor before communing.)
The Distribution
The Distribution Hymn: “Lord Jesus Christ, the Church’s Head” #861
Thanksgiving & Blessing Beginning the middle of page 170
Closing Hymn: “Sent Forth By God’s Blessing” #932
Silent Prayer
* * *
The Organist: Jane Rips The Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann
Point to Ponder: “God has appointed a day of rest (“Sabbath” means “rest”) and on that day our bodies are to rest….It is not enough, however, that you only rest; you are also to keep this rest holy. The commandment does not say: ‘You shall be idle or get into mischief on the day of rest, but rather, you shall keep it holy….Concern yourself with the Word of God, devote yourself to it at home and especially in church….The commandment therefore requires first that you fear God and second that you trust God and hear His Word.” — Martin Luther on The Third Commandment
The Fourth Sunday after Trinity – Historic Series
Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 65:17-19,24,25 – The Lord’s New Creation
17 Watch this! I am about to create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered. They will not come to mind.
18 Instead, rejoice and celebrate forever, because of what I am creating. Watch this! I am about to create Jerusalem to be a source of gladness, and her people will be a source of joy.
19 I also will be glad because of Jerusalem,and I will rejoice over my people. The sound of weeping will not be heard in her again,nor will the sound of crying.
24 Then even before they call, I will answer. While they are still speaking, I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and lions will eat straw like cattle, but the serpent will eat dust as its food. They will not harm or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain, says the Lord.
Epistle Lesson: Romans 8:18-23 – We Look Ahead to Heaven.
18 For I conclude that our sufferings at the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19 In fact, creation is waiting with eager longing for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in the hope 21 that even creation itself will be set free from slavery to corruption, in order to share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.
22 For we know that all of creation is groaning with birth pains right up to the present time. 23 And not only creation, but also we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we eagerly await our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
Gospel Lesson: Luke 6:36-42 – Be Merciful as Your Father Is Merciful.
36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. In fact, the measure with which you measure will be measured back to you.” 39 He also told them a parable: “A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Won’t they both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? 42 Or how can you tell your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck in your eye,’ when you do not see the beam in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck in your brother’s eye.
Sermon Text: Exodus 20:8-11 The Third Commandment
8 Remember the Sabbath day by setting it apart as holy. 9 Six days you are to serve and do all your regular work, 10 but the seventh day shall be a sabbath rest to the Lord your God. Do not do any regular work, neither you, nor your sons or daughters, nor your male or female servants, nor your cattle, nor the alien who is residing inside your gates, 11 for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. In this way the Lord blessed the seventh day and made it holy. The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) © 2019
The Third Commandment
Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.
(Thou Shalt Sanctify the holy day.)
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching and His Word,
but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.
How this commandment is transgressed.
He who makes the Lord’s day an occasion for gluttony, carousing, gambling, dancing, lounging about or whoring;
He who is given to idleness and he who sleeps when he should be at divine service; also he who gads about or gossips instead of attending worship;
He who works or trades without necessity;
He who does not pray and meditate upon the sufferings of Christ, nor repent of his sin and plead for grace, celebrating the day solely by dressing, eating, and a formal observance;
He who amid his toils and tribulations is not resigned to the dispensations of Providence;
He who is rather a help than an obstacle to others in living contrary to this commandment.
Also sluggishness in matters pertaining to God’s service comes under this head.
How the commandment is fulfilled.
Turning to God and seeking His grace, which is done by prayer, attention to the Sacrament and the Gospel, and meditation upon the passion of Christ. Thus, a spiritual preparation for the Sacrament becomes possible; for this commandment requires a soul that is poor in spirit and brings its poverty before God as its sacrifice. Thus, he becomes its God, and his works and name take shape in the soul, as the first two commandments direct.
The requirements of this commandment embrace the whole of our duty in regard to the service of God, the preaching of the Word, good works and the relative importance of soul and body, so that all our works may be God’s and not our own.
— Treatise on the Law, Faith, and Prayer of 1520 by Martin Luther
Calendar & Announcements for Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
A member congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
4717 S Farm Rd 135 (Golden Avenue), Springfield, MO 65810
Church phone: 417.887.0886 www.zionluthchurch.com
Pastor’s cell phone: 417.693.3244 email: revelehmann@gmail.com
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July 9 |
| 9:00 am
Divine Worship Service with Holy Communion online -Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Bible Study
4th Sunday after Trinity (Pentecost 5) |
Confirmation Class recessed for summer
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11 am Midweek Bible Class
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A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today
How do people become members of God’s Church? People have lots of “human” suggestions. But a person only becomes a member of God’s Kingdom one way: through hearing and believing the Gospel. That is why the Third Commandment is so important and bids us to take every opportunity to hear God’s Word. He promises great blessings to all who hear and believe.
The Epistle Lesson: Romans 8:18-23 (the answers are found on the back side)
- What is God’s creation awaiting?
- What are we eagerly awaiting?
- Why do we need to be patient?
Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Greg Miller; William & Laurie Moon; Pauline Jaeger; Kirsten Jaster (Laurie Moon’s sister); Greg Pierson (the Long’s son-in-law); Libya, Jodi Milam’s granddaughter; Barbara Long; Lois Wiese; Barbara Breidel; John, Elisha & Isaac Covey; Lucille Huston, after a fall in the nursing home.
Forward in Christ’s latest edition for July has arrived. There are copies in the narthex for family and friends.
Lord, May Thy Will Be Done By Us Today we continue in our journey through the Ten Commandments with Commandment #3. Each Sunday we will review a commandment and Martin Luther’s Catechism explanation of it. We would encourage each member and friend to read through the sections of each commandment from the Catechism the week before it is the sermon text for the day. What a good review of your precious confirmation instruction that would be! If you don’t have a catechism, see Pastor for one. Next Sunday we look at the Fourth Commandment.
Upcoming Services and Events
July 31-Aug.3 – WELS 54th Biennial Convention in Saginaw, MI (Pastor Lehmann is a delegate from our area)
The Week in Review
Last Sunday Worship: 32; Bible Class 14; Midweek Bible Class: 4; Offerings: $1,222.
Next Sunday’s Lessons:
The 5th Sunday after Trinity: Lam. 3:22-32; 1 Peter 3:8-15; Luke 5:1-11 (Historic Pericope Series); Commandment 4
Answer to Today’s Epistle Lesson Brief Study:
- Awaiting the return of the Lord when it will be freed from the bondage of decay. In other words, things die and corrode in this world because of our sinfulness.
- We await our adoption as children of God, when our broken-down and decaying bodies will be replaced with a body like the one Jesus received in His resurrection (cf. Php 3:21).
- We need to be patient because Jesus’ return won’t take place until all those who were elected to faith from eternity are brought to faith the powerful Word of God. We don’t know when that will be, so we need to be patient.
