As The End Draws Near, the Signs Say… 

It’s late afternoon, close to evening. The sun still shines, but dusk’s shadows are settling on another Church Year. Today and the next 2 Sundays are the last in the Church’s annual worship calendar. The lessons for the year are reaching their conclusion.

Up till now we have reviewed the great events in God’s plan of salvation. The cycle is almost complete. It begins anew in 3 weeks as we enter the Advent Season. But over the next 3 weeks we come to the end of the road for 2024 in our annual pilgrimage through the great salvation doctrines of the Christian Church. It is evening time.

It is also evening time in God’s world. The day of this world’s existence is drawing to a close. God’s clock stands at the eleventh hour. The signs of the end which the Savior gave are all being fulfilled. Daily we draw closer to eternity.  When will the darkness of the last day fall? No one but God knows, and He has left that date hidden in His eternal omniscience. But it approaches. So, what kind of people ought we to be? Sad, joyful, hopeless, hopeful, despairing, anticipating?

Our lessons will arouse such emotions at times. But most of all they encourage faith-filled watchfulness. We are to pay attention to what The Signs Say As The End Draws Near.  What do they tell us?  In our text their message is summarized in 2 pairs, 4 words altogether:  I. Watch and Flee; II. Pray and Believe.

(I. Watch and Flee.)  It was holy week, just a few short days before Jesus’ crucifixion when He spoke these words. Leaving the temple as the sun was setting, some of the disciples were noticing the buildings’ impressive structures – so beautiful, so indestructible! “Look, Teacher!” they exclaimed. “What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” (Mk.13:1).

But the Son of God does not see things as men do.  He must have startled them when He replied, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on top of another. They will all be thrown down.” Shocked by His response, the disciples inquired, “When will these things happen? And what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the world?” (Mt.24:3)

  Jesus spoke of wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines,

pestilence, false prophets, anti-Christs, love growing cold, wickedness, hatred, betrayals, persecutions, martyr deaths, and more filling the world.  All would and, indeed, have already taken place before the end comes. Then He added that Jerusalem, yes, this very temple that the disciples saw as astonishingly impregnable, would be in great distress and destroyed. These are the Signs As the End Draws Near. So, watch and flee He told them. Be alert! Get out; get away from the destruction before it descends on you.

Within 40 years, Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. It began when the Jews who opposed Christ destroyed themselves by turning further and further from God, His Word, and true worship. The precincts of the temple were desecrated by unbelievers (Idumeans) who turned on people in the temple and slaughtered over 8,500, mixing their blood with the sacrifices.  What an abomination in a place that God intended to be a place of refuge and blessing for His people, and the place that typified what Jesus would do in saving us through His sacrifice for sin. When believers saw everything so desecrated, it was time to flee, for a worse destruction was coming at the hands of the Romans (A.D.70).

This is what happens when people harden their hearts towards God, turn away from His Christ, and walk in their own wicked ways. Destroying themselves spiritually by refusing to believe in the Savior, they destroy themselves physically and, sadly, eternally. As Jesus later said, “Whoever believes and is baptized, shall be saved. But whoever does not believe shall be condemned,” (Mk16). God desires to save them all. Yet, people destroy themselves.

Years before this, God spoke in sadness through Hosea the prophet, “You are destroyed, O Israel, because you are against me, against Your Helper” (13:9). And not too much before this, Jesus lamented, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Look, your house is left to you desolate” (Mt.23; Lk.13).  Repeatedly, obstinately the people turned away. It reached its worst heights when they rejected Jesus as the Christ.

You know, dear friends, it is true as the Bible so often assures us that the Lord is “compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, forgiving sin.” But He also “does not let the guilty go unpunished” (Ex.34).

This is true concerning the severity of the Law and its

condemnation for sin, of which we see such examples in the past. And what about our present? The writer to the Hebrews warns (10:26f), “If we deliberately keep on sinning…only a fearful expectation of Judgment and raging fire (remains)…. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot….The Lord will judge His people. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Warned of such consequences, Jesus’ words to His disciples in their time also stand for us today: “watch and flee.”

Flee? Where? No other place but to the saving wounds of Christ for “although our sins be like scarlet,” He makes them “whiter than snow. Though they be red like crimson,” in Him “they are like wool” (Is.1).  For He is “the Lamb of God who takes away our sin.” See and flee to Him who promises to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.  See and flee to Him in faith for whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved. Watch for the Signs As the End Draws Near and flee in steadfast faith to Christ, for God promises, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (Ps.91). “Come to me,” Jesus says, “and I will give you rest, rest for your soul.” Eternal safety is found in His wounds, and His hands will hold us.

In such faith He promises to hear when we pray.  To His disciples in their time of distress He said, “How terrible it will be for those who are pregnant or are nursing babies! Pray that your flight will not take place in the winter or on a Sabbath. For at that time there will be great distress, unlike any that has happened since the beginning….If those days were not shortened, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened.”

Oh, the Savior felt deep pity for those who would suffer. If you read the pages of history, it was bad for Jerusalem! It is also bad when people today reject Him. In view of all, Christ urges us pray, beseeching God for more favorable time, pleading for shortening of His judgment, believing that He provides for such things. He has promised to those who remain in faith that “those days will be shortened for the sake of the elect.”

God hears the cries of His people in their distress. He reduces trials. No Christian was destroyed when Jerusalem fell.  Heeding His warning, they had long since fled to safety. And what about us?

Only those who are blind in heart will not see our world headed to destruction in sin and unbelief. The Apostle Peter wrote, “The end of all things is near” (1:4:7). How near? Only God knows. And He who is eternal has a different clock on His wall than we do. But since the end is near in His estimation of time, “what kind of people ought we to be…as we look forward and hasten the coming of the day of God?” (2Pt.3:11f). Jesus responds: “Believe and Pray.” Can that mold and control the course of history?

Well, only God does that.  However, Jesus does exactly imply here prayer’s impact. His admonitions to believe and to persevere in praying always contain the promise that such requests are heard, and that God intervenes for Jesus’ sake for those who trust in Him. God often does spare people and soften the severity of His judgment over them because of the prayers of His elect ones. The fact that this world is preserved today and continues to be blessed is in answer to our prayers. He remembers His promise. In mercy and compassion, He hears the cries of people who trust in His Son.

So, pray with all fervency and believe that God will lighten the load for The End Draws Near, As the Signs Say.

– Pray and believe that God will shorten the days and will give strength to those who are oppressed that they may remain faithful to Him.

– Pray and believe that God gives us true repentance and awareness of all that is false and misleading.

– Pray and believe that God gives us courage and wisdom to stand fast in the truth of the Gospel.

– Pray and believe as you joyously await His coming for that day will be a day of final deliverance for all who are found through faith in the Savior.

But until that glorious new day dawns, may we in the evening of this world’s existence watch and flee, pray and believe in Christ. And the Holy Spirit will keep us in His grace, blessed as His people.  God grant it to us in faith for Jesus’ sake.  Amen.

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Zion Lutheran Church of Springfield

4717 S Farm Rd 135 (Golden Avenue)

Church phone: 417.887.0886   Pastor’s cell phone: 417.693.3244 

www.zionluthchurch.com

You can also find us on Facebook 

 

The Third Last Sunday after Trinity     November 13, 2024

“For the sake of the elect, (God) will shorten those days.” Matthew 24:22

Welcome:  The family of Zion welcomes you as we worship the Lord today.  We encourage children to worship with us.  However, if you need to leave with your child, there is a nursery room to the right as you exit the sanctuary.  The rest rooms are located in the hallway between the sanctuary and the fellowship hall.  Visitors, please sign our guest book to the right, just outside the sanctuary.  We’re glad that you are here and pray that through our worship the Lord grants you peace.

U p o n    E n t e r i n g    G o d’ s    H o u s e

“In You, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.  Into Your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, my faithful God.  Let Your face shine on Your servant. Save me in Your unfailing love” (Psalm 31).

W h a t    T h i s    S u n d a y    i s    A b o u t

The Saved Face The End Aware That The Signs Point To It.

Autumn brings a change of colors on the trees, falling leaves, browning of the grass, cooler temperatures, and the like.  With such signs, we know that winter is not far behind, and we prepare for a colder, bleaker season. The farmer harvests his grain.  Food for the animals is stored away.  Autumn is a time of preparation for that which is coming.

Autumn also serves as a reminder to Christians that one day there will be an end to life as we know it in the present.  After that comes eternity.

So, it is that in the autumn season the Scripture lessons draw our attention to the end of all things and our preparations for it.  When the end comes, will we be found ready in faith?  As we observe the signs of the end times around us and we heed our Lord’s encouragement to remain strong in Him, we will be found faithful when He returns.

To that end we pray: Almighty God, we implore You, show Your mercy to Your humble servants that we, who put no trust in our own merits, may not be dealt with after the severity of Your judgment but according to Your mercy in Christ, for Jesus’ sake we ask this.  Amen

T h e   W o r d   o f   G o d   f o r   T o d a y

(The Lessons of the Day are from the Historic Pericope Series of the Christian Church.)

The Old Testament Lesson: Job 14:1-6

In the midst of bitter trials, Job soberly observes the fleeting nature of man’s existence on earth.  Life is brief and has its sorrows.  Its length lies in the hands of God, not man’s.  Job bids God not to judge him according to his own inadequate merits.

The Epistle Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Some Christians were unclear as to the events of Judgment Day, thinking that their relatives and friends who had already died would miss out. For our comfort, assurance, and certain hope Paul describes the events for believers.

The Gospel Lesson: Matthew 24:15-28

Jesus foretells the destruction of Jerusalem as a time of great distress, deception, and falling away from faith.  But for the faithful, the Lord will mercifully cut short the time.  The destruction of Jerusalem, together with the Flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and other divine judgments, is a type of the end of the world. He speaks of such things as signs that we might prepare ourselves in a life of vigilant faith.

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The Organist:Jane Rips                  The Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann

 

Point to Ponder:  “When the city of Jerusalem fell to Rome in A.D.70, the Eagles of the Roman legions (the eagle topped the army’s standards as they marched into battle) gathered thick as flies about the corpse of the covenant people of Israel.  It was a corpse from which the soul, that was the gracious presence of the living God, had fled. So it will be at the end of time.

This world will be like a decaying corpse from which the soul, the favor of the living God, has withdrawn.  Nor can the eagles of God’s Judgment be far distant, for the stench of a fearfully corrupt and decaying society fills the world more and more.  Oh, may the faintly audible whir of the eagles’ pinions awake the slumbering and arrest the thoughtless while it is yet time to flee beneath the wings of Him who would gather sinners to Himself like a hen gathers her chickens under her wings!”                                                — W.F. Besser on today’s Gospel Lesson

Outline of  Our Worship

The Preparation

Opening Thoughts on the Service

The Entrance Hymn: #703

Order of Worship:     The Service: Setting One     page 154-160

Prayer of the Day

The Ministry of the Word

Job 14:1-6

The Psalm: #31

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Gospel Acclamation: God’s Love     pg.161

Matthew 24:15-28

Hymn: #873

Sermon: Matthew 24:15-28     As the End Draws Near  The Signs Say…

The Offertory: Hymn #942

The Apostles’ Creed pg.163

Our Response to the Word

Prayer of the Church: pg.164

The Offering

Hymn: #490

The Lord Blesses Us

The Closing Prayers and Blessing     Hymnal page 171

Closing Hymn: #867 st.1-2

Silent Prayer

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Third Last Sunday after Trinity – Historic Series

Old Testament Lesson: Job 14:1-6 – Job Laments the Brevity of Life.

¹Man born of woman has a few short days, and they are full of anxiety.

² He blossoms like a flower, but soon withers. He recedes like a shadow and does not remain.

³ You keep your eye on such a man. You bring me into judgment in your presence.

⁴ Who can produce something pure from something that is impure? No one.

⁵ Certainly his days are determined. The number of his months has been set by you. A limit is set, which he cannot exceed.

⁶ Turn your gaze away from him, and let him be, until he finishes his day’s work as a hired man.

Epistle Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – The Resurrection at the End. 

¹³ We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you do not grieve in the same way as the others, who have no hope. ¹⁴ Indeed, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then in the same way we also believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.

¹⁵ In fact, we tell you this by the word of the Lord: We who are alive and left until the coming of the Lord will certainly not go on ahead of those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore, encourage one another with these words.

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 25:15-28 – Destruction of Jerusalem & the End.

¹⁵ “Therefore when you see the abomination that causes desolation, that was spoken of through the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place—let the reader understand— ¹⁶ then those who are in Judea should flee to the mountains. ¹⁷ The one on the housetop should not go down to take anything out of his house. ¹⁸ The one who is in the field should not return to get his clothes. ¹⁹ How terrible it will be for those who are pregnant or are nursing babies in those days! ²⁰ Pray that your flight will not take place in the winter or on a Sabbath. ²¹ For at that time there will be great distress, unlike any that has happened since the beginning of the world until now, and unlike any that will happen again. ²² If those days were not shortened, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened.

²³ “At that time if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There he is,’ do not believe it. ²⁴ For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive even the elect, if it were possible.

²⁵ “See, I have told you in advance. ²⁶ So if they tell you, ‘Look! There he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out there, or ‘Look! Here he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. ²⁷ Just as the lightning flashes from the east and shines as far as the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. ²⁸ Wherever the carcass may be, there the vultures will gather.

The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version^® (EHV^®) © 2019

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Calendar  &  Announcements  for  Zion  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church

 

Today Nov.10	Mon. Nov.11	Tues. Nov.12	Wed. Nov.13	Thurs. Nov.14	Fri. Nov.15	Sat. Nov.16	Next Sun. Nov.17
9:00 am Divine Worship Service online -Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Bible Study Door Offering for WELS Ministry to the Military 3rd Last Sunday after Trinity				9:30 am Women’s Neighborhood Bible Study (part 3)			9:00 am Divine Worship Service With Holy Communion online -Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Bible Study 2nd Last Sunday after Trinity

A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today

Imagine that everyone on earth were a needle. There would be almost seven billion needles in a huge pile. How can God keep them all straight? How can He keep His eye on you in particular and hear your prayers? He has no trouble at all—and not only because He is almighty, but because Jesus is your Good Shepherd. He knows you as well as the Father knows you, for Jesus laid down His life for you. Because of that and your faith in Him, He gives you a peek at what lies ahead.

The Epistle Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (the answers are found on the back side)

1. Who are those who had “fallen asleep”?
2. Agree or Disagree. A Christian should never mourn the death of a fellow Christian.

Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Greg Miller; William & Laurie Moon; Libya, (Jodi Milam’s granddaughter); Barbara Long; Norine Richardson; Melissa Morlock-Jaeger; Liz Lisenby; Barbara Long; Pastor Roger Neumann from Oskaloosa, IA.

Neighborhood Women’s Bible Study The women at Zion are continuing to sponsor a Fall Bible study on the Book of Ruth on Thursday mornings at 9:30 in their fellowship hall. All are welcome. Childcare is being provided. Session 3 of 4 will be held this coming week.

Divine Call Returned  Pastor Benjamin Birner has returned the call to us. The Holy Spirit led him to remain at his present call at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, Liverpool, NY.  We will let you know when another Call Meeting will be arranged.

Forward in Christ’s latest issue for November has arrived.  There are plenty of copies for family and friends on the credenza in the narthex.

Fall Clean-up  With all the events going on in October, we haven’t been able to schedule in our normal Fall Clean-up time in preparation for winter. We will plan on clean-up time from Nov.11-23^rd on your own time. A Task Sign-up Schedule will be placed in the fellowship hall so that those who can’t make a Saturday can do something whenever you have time.

Upcoming Services and Events

Today – Door Offering for WELS Military Ministry

Thursday, November 14, 9:30 am – Neighborhood Women’s Thursday Bible Study, part 3 (see Barbara Breidel for more info)

Thursday, November 21, 6 pm – Planning Committee Meeting at Zion

Thanksgiving Worship – Thanksgiving Eve, Nov.27^th, 7 pm, at Peace; Thanksgiving Day, Nov.28^th, 10 am, at Zion

Next Sunday’s Lessons:               

Second Last Sunday in Trinity: Daniel 7:9-14; 2 Peter 3:3-14; Matthew 25:31-46  (Historic Pericope Series)

Answer to Today’s Epistle Lesson Brief Study:

1. This word picture is often used in the Bible to describe those who died. It seems that there was some confusion among the Thessalonians about those who had died. They were waiting eagerly for the imminent return of Jesus. They were worried because they were afraid that those who died before His coming would not receive the same salvation.

2. We are comforted and encouraged by the fact that those who die in Christ will receive the reward that He won for them on the cross. We are consoled by the knowledge that we will see them again in heaven. A Christian will not despair as many in this world do. Yet, death is separation. Christians feel the loss. A Christian will miss his loved ones. A Christian will mourn and even cry as Jesus did when His friend Lazarus died? As Christians, however, we are comforted by the promises of our loving God.

This week I am praying for . . . .