Lord, Thy Will Be Done By Us……That We Respect Your Representatives on Earth.
by Pastor Edwin Lehmann on July 7, 2023 in Ephesians 6:1-5
Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity July 9, 2023
Text: Exodus 20:12; Ep.6:1-4 Summer Sermon Series 23:2393
Theme: LORD, THY WILL BE DONE BY US… That We Honor Your Representatives on Earth.
A little child was valiantly struggling with the buttons on his new shirt. After great time and effort, he thought he was finished. He had successfully filled each hole that he could see with a button. But, to his dismay there was still a button “left over.” “Mom,” he cried. “my shirt is all wrong. With childish reasoning he concluded that whoever made the shirt made a mistake. There had been a mistake, alright. But the mistake was not the shirtmaker’s; it was the little boy’s. He had poked his first button into the wrong hole, and every button after that was placed incorrectly. He had to be taught the importance of the very first button. If he would get that one in its proper place, the rest would fall into line behind it.
The same is true of the Ten Commandments. If we put the first one in its proper place, it will be much easier for the rest to follow and fall in line. The Fourth Commandment offers a good example.
I. It’s important that we give honor to God’s representatives.
Notice how it begins: “Honor your father and mother….” God does not use words like “love, “obey,” or “do good to your parents.” Rather, He uses the world “honor” (timaw = set a price on). With that God has put father and mother next to Himself and uses a word with which we honor Him.
Honor is given not just with the body, as in bowing or taking off one’s hat as I saw many people do in last week’s 4th of July parade when the flag of the United States passed by. Honor is given from the heart, respecting with the heart, setting a “high price” on things.
God is well aware that the world in many places does not respect parents, especially when they carry out their God-given office of raising their children in the fear and trust of the Lord, disciplining them in the ways of God, and keeping them from all evil. The world, driven by the Old Adam, curses such parents under its breath and seeks to direct parents how they should raise their children, usually apart from God’s Word. It is not true that it takes a village to raise a child. God has given that task to parents,
God also knows that there lurks within children a poisonous resentment against their parents and therefore God commands not simply that we should obey them, but that we honor them. Children are to think highly of their parents not because they are strong, beautiful, famous, or well-clothed, but because of the First Commandment which commands that we fear God and trust Him who has given our parents to us.
You did not determine into which family you would be born; God did. Since He determined He commands, “Honor your father and your mother.” For the sake of the Word of God, which He speaks, you are to honor them. Even if they treat you as you consider unjustly, you are to honor them as long as they do not speak and act contrary to God (Ac.5:29). I am to fear and trust God above all things.” And He said, “Honor your father and mother.”
Such honor will teach you not to let them suffer need, but you will give them the best you can, which God has given you, so that you may “honor” them, even as you honor God. Do you see how the Fourth Commandment is shadowed in light of the First Commandment? For the sake of fearing God and putting Him above all things, God wills that your parents be your treasure and that you honor them as you honor Him. “If you fear and trust in me,” He says, “you will honor your parents.” They are placed at His side. They stand in His stead as His earthly representatives to you. So, God’s Word commands: “Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old” (Prov.23:22). It’s important that we give godly honor andrespect to them, for they stand in God’s place before us.
Think of it this way. Compare God to a general and parents to His first lieutenants. They carry out the general’s will and commands among the troops under them. In like manner, as a general separates and distinguishes the lieutenants as his direct representatives among the troops, so God has separated and distinguished father and mother above everyone else in our lives as His first lieutenants. When a lieutenant stands before the troops carrying out the directives of his commanding officer, do the troops laugh, mock him, and refuse to carry out the orders? If they do, they will face the consequences because they are expected to respect the orders as though coming directly from the general himself.
But here is where we see the devil ruling in the world, for all too frequently that respect is not there. Think of the times that we have failed to give the proper honor and respect that is due God’s commanding officers, the times of anger and backtalk, arguments and complaining, laziness and refusal to do what they have asked of us, the times of ridicule and shame we have expressed of them. That is the evidence of sin in our hearts for God commands, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” And again, “Children, obey your parents in everything for this is pleasing to the Lord” (Col.3:20), unless what they say is contrary to Him. Then “we must obey God rather than men” (Ac.5:29).
What each of us, young and old, need to ask ourselves is how do I show honor and respect to my parents? And if, to our shame, we must hang our heads in this, look to the work and the example of the Lord Jesus. Where we have failed, He has helped to save us.
Think of the twelve-year-old in the temple. When His parents thought He was lost and, searching, found Him attending to the preaching and teaching of His heavenly Father, Mary confronted Him. As the Son of God, He could have responded in righteous anger to her. But explained the necessity of His being there. And then that He went down to Nazareth and was obedient to them for the times we have not been obedient to our parents (Lk.2:41f).
Or, when He hung on the cross, filled with anguish and pain of body and torture of soul, He looked upon His mother. Forgetting for a moment Himself and the wondrous work of paying the price for our sin, His heart went out to her and with unselfish love He provided for her future, telling His disciple to care for her.
With His redeeming sacrifice and His example in mind, may we be comforted and strengthened to keep this commandment. It’s important that we give godly honor and respect to them who stand in God’s place in our lives.
II. Also to all other authorities.
In addition, everything which is called “father” belongs under this commandment – the master over the workers in the home or the boss over the business, those who are in the government positions, watching over our welfare. God has commanded that you should honor and pray for them. Even if you despise them for other reasons, you dare not do so because of the Word of God (Rom.13; 1 Tim.2). Then you have God’s promise that He will be your God and will give you long life. If we do not do what God commands, we shall see everything full of war and chaos. Do you think this is the reason we have so many problems in our own country today?
So, there are three kinds of fathers or parents: fathers by birth, fathers in business, fathers in the land. To that you could add fathers in the church. All are God’s Representative on Earth Whom We Are to Honor…
III. … so that our days may be long in the land.
As Paul says, “this is the first commandment with a promise,” a promise to live a long life on earth. When people do not observe the Fourth Commandment, when children do not obey their parents, students their teachers, citizens their government, then there is disorder and the whole society suffers. Where that happens, a people, a nation will not long continue. God will show His disfavor.
On the other hand, where people keep His commandment, that nation will survive, and those families will thrive. That ought to encourage and motivate us. God’s promise of long life, like His promise of the Savior’s forgiveness, should melt our hearts with love and lift our hand in gratitude to God in honor of those whom He has placed over us. Nothing is more precious than that your days should be long in the land. As you fear and trust in God, God will graciously bless you here on earth and hereafter in eternity.
(There is more that we should say about fathers, parents, not provoking their children but bringing them up in the training and instruction of the Lord – Ep.6:4, but we shall save for another time.)
To that end we pray, LORD, THY WILL BE DONE BY US That We Honor Our Parents and Your Representatives on Earth. God grant it to us in faith for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
The Fifth Sunday after Trinity July 9, 2023
Welcome in our Savior’s name. May He grant us a rich manifestation of the grace we need to follow Him in the week ahead. Then ours will be active lives by which we bring others to see in Him a faithful Lord whose mercies and compassions are new every day.
Today’s focus in the lessons appointed for this Sunday emphasizes the call to the kingdom of grace. Although sin in our lives makes us undeserving of God’s kindnesses, nevertheless, the Lord calls and wondrously shapes us to be His people in marvelous ways.
In a heap of rubbish people found a block of marble. They saw a stone and nothing more. Michelangelo saw in that stone a statue and he carved it into his monumental ‘Moses.’ Out of the bumbling Simon, God carved the Apostle Peter. And so many heroic multitudes have been carved as God’s people, cleansed, and called to faith and a life of service to Him.
In the sermon text we continue in our study of the Ten Commandments with the Fourth Commandment. The first three commandments drew our attention vertically, to our relationship with God above. The remaining commandments, starting with today’s Fourth Commandment, draws our attention horizontally, to those around us and how we relate to them, especially to our parents and others whom God has given to represent Him in this life.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Called to Wait Quietly on the Lord in the Midst of Trials.
The Preparation
Opening Thoughts on the Service
The Entrance Hymn: “With the Lord Begin Your Task” #776
Order of Worship: Service: Setting One without 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
Lamentations 3:22-33 The Lord’s mercy and compassion never fail. He is good to those who put their hope in Him. He will not bring griefs upon them to punish them. As He calls us to faith, we rest confidently in His love and wait on Him for His deliverance.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 27 “The Lord Is My Light”
1 Peter 3:8-15 Christian, you are blessed, even should you suffer for doing good. Never be afraid, nor seek revenge. You are called to a faith that endures all things. As you set apart Christ in life, be ready to give an answer to others for the hope that is in you.
Hymn Response: “God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It” #679
The Gospel Acclamation: God’s Love page 161
Luke 5:1-11 Jesus calls His first disciples to put down everything and follow Him. At the time they were fishing. He borrowed their boat for a pulpit and taught the crowd on the shore. Afterwards, He gave them a great catch of fish and called them to “fish” for men.
The Sermon Hymn: “May We Your Precepts, Lord, Fulfill” #697
The Sermon: Lord, Thy Will Be Done By Us……That We Respect Your Representatives on Earth.
Ephesians 6:1-5
Our Response to the Word
The Confession of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed page 163
Prayer of the Church page 164
The Offering
The Lord Blesses Us
The Closing Prayer and Blessing page 171
Closing Hymn: “Oh, That the Lord Would Guide My Ways” #705
Silent Prayer
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The Organist: Jane Rips The Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann
Points to Ponder: “The liberty of God’s children is not a license to do as we please, but a liberty that is subject to the highest law of Christian love (Ga.5:13). The runaway horse is not free. He runs into harm…. The locomotive leaping the track is not free. It leaps only to wreck and the scrapheap. The cowboy shooting up a town is not free. His quick finish is a rope over an outspreading branch of a near-by tree. The horse is free which pulls an honest load and then goes home to find kind treatment. The engine is free which keeps on the track and steams triumphantly with its load into the terminal. The man is free who does his work and respects the rights of his fellow men. Freedom includes obedience to the law and respect for those things and people whom God has given to help us in life…. Our freedom in Christ who saved us is to work by faith according to His Law, bending our wills to His will, setting aside our honor to honor and glorify Him and those He has given to bless us in life.”
— adapted from W.G. Polack on Liberty
The Fifth Sunday after Trinity – Historic Series
Old Testament Lesson: Lamentations 3:22-33 – Great Is His Faithfulness
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietlyfor the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. 28 Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him. 29 Let him bury his face in the dust—there may yet be hope. 30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him and let him be filled with disgrace. 31 For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. 32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. 33 For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.
Epistle Lesson: 1 Peter 3:8-15 – Suffering for Doing Good.
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,
“Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (Ps.34)
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Gospel Lesson: Luke 5:1-11 – Jesus Calls His First Disciples.
1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”
11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) © 2019
The Fourth Commandment
Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother,
that it may go well with thee and thou mayest live long on the earth.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not despise nor anger our parents and masters, but give them honor, serve, obey, and hold them in love and esteem.
(English text as published in the Concordia Triglotta, 1921)
How this commandment is transgressed.
He who is ashamed of his parents because of their poverty, infirmity, or their humble station in life;
He who does not supply them with the necessary food and clothing;
He even more grossly disobeys who curses, strikes, slanders, hates them, or refuses to obey;
He who does not reverence them in his heart as God commands;
He who does not honor them even when they act unjustly or harshly;
He who does not give heed to the commandments of the Christian Church in reference to fasts, holy days, and other things;
He who fails to respect, slanders, or grieves the office of the ministry;
He who does not honor, follow, and obey his master or ruler, whether he be good or bad;
Among such transgressors are found all heretics, rebels, apostates, fugitives from justice, the obdurate and others;
They transgress it who fail either to promote respect for it or to oppose its enemies;
All pride and disobedience are condemned here.
How this commandment is fulfilled.
Cheerful obedience, humility, submission to all authority for the sake of God without gainsaying, murmuring, and complaint, as the Apostle Peter teaches.
All that is taught in reference to patience, meekness, submissiveness, and reverence pertains to this commandment.
(Martin Luther on: A Treatise on the Law, Faith, and Prayer of 1520)
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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Divine Worship Service online -Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Bible Study
5th Sunday after Trinity (Pentecost 6) |
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A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today
What does it mean to have compassion? The word “compassion” comes from the Latin language. “Passion” means “suffering,” and “com” means “with,” so if you have compassion for someone, it means that you suffer with them. That’s why it is so appropriate to call Jesus our compassionate Savior, because he came to suffer with us and for us in this world of suffering. He shows his compassion by calling us to his side to serve in his kingdom, even though we fall far short of his perfection. Yes, Jesus is our compassionate Savior!
The Gospel Lesson: Luke 5:1-11 (the answers are found on the back side)
- How did Jesus end up on Simon Peter’s boat?
- After Jesus finished preaching, what did He ask Peter to do, and what was Peter’s answer?
- What happened when they let down the nets?
- When Peter saw the great catch of fish how did he react, and what did Jesus say to him?
Forward in Christ’s latest edition for July has arrived. There are copies in the narthex for family and friends.
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.
Lord, May Thy Will Be Done By Us Today we continue in our journey through the Ten Commandments with Commandment #4. 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 Fifth 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: ; Communed: ; Bible Class ; Midweek Bible Class: no class this week; Offerings: $.
Next Sunday’s Lessons:
The 6th Sunday after Trinity: Ruth 1:1-17; Romans 6:3-11; Matthew 5:20-26 (Historic Pericope Series); Commandment 5
Answer to Today’s Gospel Lesson Brief Study:
- He was preaching to so large a crowd that he asked Simon Peter for the use of his boat so that the people could see and hear him better.
- Jesus asked Peter to put down his nets for a catch of fish. While Peter suggested that they wouldn’t catch anything, he did it anyway because Jesus said so.
- There was such a great catch of fish that the nets began to break.
- In amazement and fear Peter fell at Jesus feet and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” But Jesus had compassion on Peter and called him and his colleagues to be fishers of men.
This week I am praying for……
