Lee Daniel Johnson

2 Corinthians 5:1

Our Heavenly Dwelling

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Have you ever camped in a tent?  When I was a boy, my parents decided we were going camping.  The first time out, they borrowed a tent and headed into the mountains of southern California.  The tent that they borrowed was common for the day.  It wasn’t like today’s tents made of lightweight and waterproof materials, and outfitted with screens and easy to use zippers.  The tent we used was made of canvas, had no windows, no screens, no floor and only had a tent flap that fastened ties. It was what today people would call an outfitters tent.  

I have no bad memory of that first outing.  But, my mother shared her memory.  She said that we were instantly filthy.  So, it wasn’t long until my parents upgraded their camping gear.  They bought a 1961 Shasta Airflyte camper.  That camper went on to become a classic!  It followed our family around for decades and was used for camping, moving, and guest accommodations.  

More wonderful than a beautiful home to an outfitters tent is the the eternal dwelling that God has prepared for us at the resurrection as compared to our earthy existence.  Our mortal bodies, troubled by sin, are often miserable.  But our Lord Jesus has had mercy on us and come to save us.  He suffered with us in this creation and He died for us on the cross.  Through faith in Him we have forgiveness and the certainty of sharing His resurrection and eternal life.  This is our eternal dwelling place and comfort in all earthly losses.

Let us pray

I thank you Lord Jesus for dwelling in a mortal body, and bearing my sins upon the cross.  I praise you for your forgiveness and the gift of eternal life.  Help me in the midst of trials of this life to remember my future with you and find comfort in the eternal home that awaits me.  Help all those who are struggling with sickness, sorrow, depression or anxiety this day. Allow them faith to turn to you and receive the eternal home, peace, and comfort, that only you can provide.  In your name I pray,  AMEN.    

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

John 3: 16-17

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 3:17 follows one of the most memorized verses in the Bible, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  What more could be said of such a clear statement of the Love of the Father for the world and His intention in sending His Son Jesus than John 3:16?  Apparently, there is more.  There is verse 17!

Verse 17 states the Gospel from the negative perspective!  Here God says clearly and simply why He did NOT send Jesus.  Jesus did not come to condemn the world.  Why is this so important?

The person with a guilt stricken conscience needs to know this.  God’s love is totally unexpected for the one who sees his sin.  The one whose conscience is dead has no fear of God or judgement.  Such a person needs to hear the Law of God clearly so that he or she will repent and not be lost forever.  But, the one who has heard the Law and understood his or her condition, needs to understand the Grace, Love, and mercy of God.  He could never dream such good news. Instead, he would despair!

Therefore, John 3:17 tells us what we would never have expected.  God didn’t send Jesus into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world.  Jesus death on the cross was intended to remove the death we deserved and Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is our sure and certain hope of eternal life.  God’s Word is complete.  It tells us that God sent His Son out of a divine love for the world.  And it tells us that Jesus first came not to condemn but to save.  

At Jesus second coming, He will come to judge the earth.  On that day He will separate the good from the bad, those who believe in Him from those who will not.  Through faith in Jesus, we need have no fear of that day.  In love for all others, we now share the good news of John 3:16 and 3:17 with all who will hear.

Let us pray,

Lord I thank you for coming into the world to save me.  Help me to daily remember you great gift, confess my sins, and trust in your redeeming work.  For all those who are in despair about their life or situation, grant them faith in you to find hope through your salvation for them.  In your name I pray,  AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Acts 2:14a, 22-24

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: 22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

Have you ever been at a loss for words?  Some people would describe themselves as “quiet.”  Words don’t come easily and so they often don’t say anything.  Other people are talkative, words come easy to them.  But, something may leave us all at a loss for words.  That is when we want to share Jesus with another person.  Many people wonder about what to say!

Jesus’ disciples example is helpful for those wondering what to say about Jesus.  They didn’t try to be Jesus and take up His teaching style.  Instead, they remembered the role that Jesus had given to them!  Jesus told them that they would be His witnesses.  The disciples were to speak to others of what they themselves had heard and seen of Jesus life and ministry.  They were called to share what Jesus said and did.

This is the same for us all!  We share what we have been given through faith in Jesus. We share what we have experienced as God’s people in our daily lives.

In this way, the Christian’s witness is all about Jesus.  We believe that He came into the world to save us.  He lived the perfect life and died on the cross for the forgiveness of all our sins.  We confess our faith in Jesus resurrection from the dead and our confidence for eternity through faith in His perfect life and work for us.

Some of us can’t help but speak with many words.  Some of us use few.  But, all of the words that God’s people speak in faith are carried by God the Holy Spirit with the power to save those who hear.  May God grant us each the faith to bear witness to what Jesus has said and done for us. God the Holy Spirit will grant power to our witness to do God’s Will.

Let us pray,

I thank you Lord for your mighty acts that have saved me.  Enable me to faithfully bear witness to your love to all people.   In your name I pray, Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Isaiah 6:8

8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

Isaiah was a great prophet, chosen by God, to speak to His people.  Through Isaiah, God revealed His wrath against impenitent sinners and His grace to those who would repent and turn again to Him in faith.  God revealed the events that were coming in the future in the light of HIs eternal plan of salvation.  Isaiah’s willingness to perform His divine call is clearly proclaimed in the scriptures with the memorable words, “Here I am! Send me.”

None of us has the call that God gave specifically to Isaiah to serve as a prophet.  But, is there a sense in which this memorable line could be spoken by us?  I think that there is!

In your baptism you were united with your Lord Jesus.  His perfect life, became yours!  When your heavenly Father looks at you, and as you believe in Jesus, He see’s Jesus perfect life.  Jesus death on the cross is the death of your sins. No longer do your sins separate you from God.  Jesus resurrection is your future!  In the end, you will rise to live in God’s presence.  Even now you rise each day to newness of life in the Holy Spirit.

This is who God has called you to be in your baptism. Your baptism unites you with the body of Christ, the church.  As part of Christ’s body, the church,  you have a calling.  Jesus commanded His church to take the Gospel into all nations.  

To fulfill this calling, God has given the individuals of his church a great variety of talents and abilities. In this way God will fulfill HIs mission through His church in anticipation of the resurrection of the dead, judgement day, and eternal life.

You aren’t Isaiah, neither am I.  But, we are baptized!  We are redeemed by the Lord Jesus and members of His body the church!  We are gifted in a wide variety of ways by God the Holy Spirit.  We have a calling to fulfill.  Therefore, we can say, along with the prophet, “Here am I send me.”  May God grant us faith to fulfill our calling joyfully.  

Let us pray,

Lord I thank you for giving me the gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation.  I thank you for making me part of your body, the church, and giving me the unique gifts you have chosen for me to use in my life.  May I be a faithful witness to your Good News throughout my life and joyfully respond to your call as did your prophet Isaiah, “Here I am. Send me!”

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Do you read labels when you shop at the grocery store?  Often, when it comes to packaged food, it is good to know what we are consuming.  But, the label has another bit of information that is also very helpful.  Often this bit of information is hard to find.  But, it is there.  I’m speaking of the expiration date.

The expiration date, or the “sell by” date, tells us when a product should be used.  Though some products are still good, and only somewhat diminished in quality by storage, the fresher the food, the more likely it is to spoil.  The better the food is for you, the more likely you will need to make sure it is fresh!

All of this underscores the temporary nature of this world, and highlights the value of the gift that God has given to the world in His Son Jesus.  Through Jesus God gives a gift that has no expiration date.  Baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we are united with the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.  

On the day of our physical birth, we we given an expiration date, namely, the day of our death.  But, on the day of our baptism, our expiration date was rewritten by the Lord Himself.  As it is written.“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  

Let us pray,

I thank you Heavenly Father for giving me the gift of life, and blessing me with the gift of eternal life through Jesus.  You have taken away my expiration date, and given me eternal life.  Strengthen all who believe, and open the ears of all who have yet to believe and be saved.   In Jesus Name I pray AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Scripture. John 16:15

All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Today is Memorial Day.  Our nation is remembering those who gave their lives in the armed forces of our nation.  While sacrifice is always something that we recognize as honorable, the sacrifices of memorial day are most significant.  On this day we remember those who gave their lives. We remember those in the armed forces of our nation who, in this sense, gave everything for the benefit of all.

As a Christian citizen, I give thanks to God for all the benefits of this nation.  He has provided the freedom we often take for granted through the sacrifices of others.  In particular, we remember the men and women of our armed forces who died in armed conflicts defending our nation.  And, when I think of sacrifice, I am immediately drawn to remember the greatest sacrifice of all, namely God’s pattern of “giving everything” for us and our salvation.  The Triune God has demonstrated this perfect Love from the very beginning.

When God gave to His Son, He gave everything.  Jesus in speaking of our Heavenly Father, tells us “all the Father has is mine.”  With these simple words we get a glimpse into the selfless love of the Father for the Son.  He doesn’t withhold one thing, but gives them all to Jesus.  God the Father gave His Son Jesus everything.

When Jesus gives to you, He gives you everything.  In Jesus incarnation, He left behind all the glories of heaven and became man.  Perfect in faith and life, Jesus came to give us everything.  He offered Himself on the cross for the forgiveness of all our sins.  He rose from the dead, anticipating our resurrection to eternal life through faith in Him.  Through God the Holy Spirit we receive all the blessings of heaven through Jesus.  Indeed, all that the Father has given to the Son, Jesus now freely shares with His church through the Holy Spirit.  When Jesus gives to you he gives everything.

When God gave His Son, He gave you everything. When we think of everything that the God the Father has, we may be drawn to think of the vastness of the universe, or the riches of glory and power.  But, to get the best picture of all this glory and wealth, we must only remember Jesus.  Jesus is all the best of heaven, the focus of the Father’s Love, and His gift of salvation to you.  In receiving this great gift we are humbled, and rejoice.  For when God gave us His Son, He gave us everything.

Let Us Pray,

O Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I thank you for your profound and perfect gifts given for may salvation.  Help me to be enriched by your love, sustained in saving faith in Jesus, and encouraged in selfless love for others.  I thank you for the examples of sacrifice that I remember this day.  In your name I pray, AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Acts 2: 21 

And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

It is common to hear concerns for the future these days.  There are many things that are worrisome.  While a person could say that every generation has had challenges to face, that doesn’t diminish our immediate concerns.  There is one thing that can help us, namely, God’s salvation in Jesus.

Even if we should face the terrors of the end of time, we have this promise from God, “And it shall come to pass that everyone who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  Why is this so comforting?

It is comforting because Jesus came into the world to provide a future for us in view of the final judgement.  His death on the cross is the full pardon of all our sins.  His resurrection from the dead is eternal life for all who believe in Him.  

It isn’t that Christians are unconcerned about the world.  We are concerned and we try to be helpful to all in need.  The difference is that we are comforted by the Gospel and ready for whatever the future may bring.

This is the peace that surpasses all understanding.  Above anything that our minds can do, God’s peace guards our hearts and steadies our minds so that we can share this good news, “Everyone who calls on the Lord shall be saved.
 

Let us pray,

I thank you Lord Jesus for Your great salvation and for calling me to faith.  Call all who are in anxiety or terror to repentance and faith in you.  Help me to share the Good news of yours salvation with all people as you give me opportunity.  I look forward to your promised return.  Come Lord Jesus, AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Acts 2:5-7

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

One part of the miracle of Pentecost was that everyone was able to hear the Gospel in their own language.  Another part is that the ethnic identity of the speakers didn’t match the familiar language!  They were shocked because the ones who were speaking were all Galileans!  

One of the experiences that I had while visiting in Russia was being helped by fellow Christians who served as translators for me.  Most spoke very good English. They had the expected Russian accent.  But, one fellow surprised me.  He spoke very good English too, but with a British accent!  He explained that he was taught english by a British teacher, so he picked up the British english accent.  He understood that this was a little confusing. He assured me that he wasn’t British. He was fully Russian!

The accent of a person who is speaking carries with it a feeling of comfort and connection.  The disciples who were given the ability to speak in other tongues were a surprise to those who heard for this reason.  They were obviously Galileans by dress and ethnicity, but they spoke clearly and convincingly in other languages.  I don’t know if their accent was in keeping with the hearers, but it seems that it could have been that good.  

God the Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to speak the Gospel to the people who were from every nation under heaven.  This miracle set the stage for the spread of the Gospel that continues to this day.

For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.  Jesus offered Himself on the cross for the life of the world.  God the Holy Spirit still carries this message to all nations of the earth,  in increasing numbers of languages and cultures.  This first week of Pentecost we still marvel at this gift and give thanks for the voices who speak the Gospel to us from all nations of the earth.

Let us pray,

I praise you Lord Jesus for the gift of the Holy Spirit who proclaims your Gospel throughout the World through your church.  Please grant receptive minds and hearts to those who listen, so that they may repent, believe in Jesus, and be saved.  In your name I pray.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Acts 2:1-4

2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a] on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Many years ago I visited the Lutheran Church in Siberia.  They joyfully and faithfully shared the Gospel.  It wasn’t easy work then, and it isn’t easy now.  But, I can’t remember hearing them complain.  They talked frankly about the challenges, but without complaint.  This impressed me.

One Sunday I was able to visit when they had their church service.  The service was a regular divine service with holy communion.  The liturgy is the same as most Christians use around the world.  In fact, because it was a Lutheran Church, the liturgy was familiar, indeed!  Even though the entire service was spoken in Russian, I could understand what they were saying because I knew where we were in the liturgy.  

When it came to the sermon, I planned to think about the scriptures noted in the bulletin and pray.  To my surprise, they had already made arrangements for me.  As the pastor was preaching in Russian, I could hear the sermon being spoken in English by a person who had moved close behind me.  That person continued to translate the sermon for me, so that I could hear a voice that I could understand.  

Every Pentecost I remember this experience and the wonderful Russian Lutherans whom God the Holy Spirit used on that Sunday to preach God’s Word to me in my own language.  As the Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in other languages long ago, He still speaks through believers today so that all may hear the Good News of Salvation through faith in Jesus.

Jesus came into this world to save humanity through His death on the cross and resurrection.  This is the Gospel spoken around the world.  The familiar voices from whom you hear this Gospel may be pastors, laypeople,  Bible Translators, or electronic media.  The reach of the Gospel on Pentecost was to the many visitors from around the world who were in Jerusalem.  Many of them believed.  And through them and the apostles witness then, God continues to reach out to all nations today.

Therefore, we give thanks when we hear a voice we can understand.  For, when that voice is heard, we know that God the Holy Spirit is caring for us by sharing the Words of Jesus that give eternal life.

Let Us Pray

Help me, O Holy Spirit, to recognize your presence as I hear the familiar voices you have placed in my life to speak the Gospel to me.  Be with parents who teach in their homes, all teachers and especially those who care for children in Sunday school, and pastors as they teach in my church.  I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Ezekiel 37:11

Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’

It is bitter when one suffers unjustly.  However, is it really any easier to suffer justly when we have done something wrong?  Perhaps suffering is just suffering.  Suffering justly for what we have done wrong has its own bitterness indeed.

The people of Israel had broken faith with God and because of that they fell under severe judgement.  Enemies over powered them and they lost their land.  They were taken into exile as slaves.  This situation was terrible! Yet, the people were stubborn and wicked.  So Ezekiel was called to tell them again and again that they deserved their miserable situation! That must have a been a most bitter message both to speak and to hear.  

Why would God send such a message to suffering sinners?  God gives bitter rebuke to help sinners who are numb to the truth and refuse to see their sins.  God preaches His Law to show us our true selves, and urge us to repent and turn to Him in heartfelt faith.  Therefore, though bitter rebuke is present in Ezekiel’s preaching, we find in Ezekiel some of the more wonderful promises of hope. And, in God’s good time the people did return from exile.  The Gospel words of the prophet were fulfilled.  

We would be very dull if we didn’t see that this was all played out in the life of Jesus.  Jesus was cast outside of Jerusalem and cut off from the living when He was crucified.  And though Jesus didn’t deserve the death sentence because of His own sin, He willingly accepted our guilt.  He took our sins to the cross and suffered our death.  Jesus then broke the bonds of the grave and rose from the dead, the first of all who will rise from the dead to eternal life.  God calls all people to repent of their sins, believe in Jesus, and have eternal life.

This is the gospel that we need to hear when we are suffering, and especially when we realize that our suffering is due to our own sin.  God loves the world, and He cares for us.  God loves you. Though the consequences of our sins may sting, they do not overrule the love of our Heavenly Father, the reality of Jesus’ forgiveness, or the power of the Holy Spirit to grant us faith and renewal.  

Let us pray

I thank you Almighty God for extending hope to me in the midst of my troubles.  I confess to you my sins, and recognize that, like people of old, my suffering is due to my own actions.  As you have forgiven me through Jesus, help me to rest in your Love.  Grant me increased faith and renewal in my life, O Holy Spirit, that I may be released from my sin and live according to God’s purpose for me.  Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen.