Graduates! Sing Salvation's Song! Isaiah 12

Cantate - Easter 5                                                 15-May-2022
Sermon Text: Isaiah 12:1-6
Sermon Theme: Graduates: Learn The Song of Salvation! by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. “The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!” Psa 98:1-2 Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. (2) The LORD has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.” The song of Christ’s victory over Satan, sin, and death echos through all the Holy Bible. On a Sunday morning, isolated and exiled to the island of Patmos for speaking Truth - St. John isn’t alone. He is a member of the living body of Christ Jesus part of the Church and her song in that dismal prison. St. John’s eyes are opened and he writes, Rev 5:11-13 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, (12) saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" (13) And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" We joined in heaven’s song this morning in our liturgy.
      The Christian Church has always been a singing church. In the first centuries as Roman soldiers led Christians out to be tortured and executed for speaking The Truth - testifying of Jesus - they marveled. The Christians led to their deaths sang songs of victory and triumph as if they had won and Rome had lost. They sang salvation’s song confessing with St. Paul, Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
      Israel and Judah were collapsing. They believed the lie and shut their ears to the truth - God’s Word preached by His prophets. Graciously the Lord sent prophet after prophet calling them to repent and believe His promise in the Christ. Isaiah preached from 740B.C. to 686 B.C.. He warns the nations of God’s impending judgment. They won’t listen. In 722B.C. the nation of Israel - the northern 10 tribes are conquered by the Assyrians and lost to genocide. In preaching repentance Isaiah also preaches the hope we have in Christ Jesus - God’s Servant - Who will suffer for our sin - to bring us Home again to our God and Father. Even as once godly nations collapse we have hope in Jesus and we sing salvation’s song.
    Today we recognize our high school graduates. The Holy Bible has been systematically banned from our government schools beginning in the 60's. The Truth rejected and the LIE promoted as education. We live with the results of this failed experiment. Evil is called good. Basic biological facts are denied. Children are raised to fear everything. Suicide runs rampant they have no hope. The plastic life and flickering images of TicToks, likes, on social media sucks real life out of us. The devil distracts us from life and truth as we idolize our screens. How can Christians survive in an idolatrous culture? God the Holy Spirit teaches through St. Peter, 1Pe 5:7-9 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (8) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (9) Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” Pray! Throw all your worry upon your Heavenly Father. Know the Truth - Confess the Apostles’ Creed. Resist the lie by standing with your fellow Christians - gathering together within the Father’s House to be strengthened by God the Holy Spirit through Christ’s Word preached, poured, and fed you every Sunday. Graduates: Learn The Song of Salvation!
    In the midst of preaching God’s just judgment on the nations. Isaiah breaks forth into a call to sing. (Vs.1) “In that day” which day? The day that the Lord’s just anger over us sinners is turned away. The day of Christ Jesus! He takes our humanity into His divinity to reconcile us back to His Father. He places Himself under the Law for your sake. He shoulders the burden of your sin throughout His life in His innocent flesh. He drinks the cup of God’s just wrath for my sins and it tortures Him with my hell upon the cross. He lays down His life into my grave. He takes His life up again marching victoriously through hell and out of the grave to bring me victory. He ascends to rule and fill all things - ordering history that this good news might be preached and the Holy Spirit might convict sinners of salvation through believing in Jesus.
    Today is “that day” - every Sunday is the day of resurrection - Easter! Are you willing to confess the truth - God justly hates your sin? Stop walking in darkness! Stop the lie! Be honest and every Sunday bring your sin to Christ within His Church! Every good gift of forgiveness, life, and salvation flows here from the Father through Christ Jesus by His Spirit to you. Here His just anger is turned away. He comforts you - forgives, strengthens you. Here Jesus preaches to you. Joh 8:12 ... saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
    Sing forth as you walk in the Light of Life!(vs.2) The nightingale is a lovely song bird in the wild. If you capture and cage it - it falls silent - it will not sing in a cage unless you put out its eyes. The Christian has true liberty, true freedom - flowing from Christ - forgiven Christians sing forth - even when unjustly imprisoned and tortured to death. (Vs.2) Look to the Crucified - God is my salvation! Behold - Look - Jesus is my Sacrifice - the Lamb of God Who took away the sin of the world - my sin and yours! It is in Him that I trust - not the failing money that bears that motto. Trust in Him and fear not! If the Lord God has secured your eternity- He knows how to give you day by day all that you need to support your body and life. Aged David sang forth, Psa 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. The Lord will preserve your life through trials and suffering.
  For “Yah’ the Lord is your strength! Jesus abides with you. He has won the victory over Satan, sin, and hell. He comforts you by sending His Holy Spirit. The world is convicted of its sin - refusing to believe that Jesus is its salvation. We are righteous not because we have done enough good, but because our Brother Jesus has ascended to our Heavenly Father that His good works might be clothed upon us in Holy Baptism. Never forget you are baptized into Christ! The world has lost for its ruler Satan is judged. Sing forth of Jesus - He is your Strength, your Song, your Salvation.
    Death soon would claim Moses. He entrusts the children of Israel to the care of Joshua. As Joshua leads the people into the promised land, Moses encourages him with Christ’s promise, Jos 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua and the children of Israel had the visible reminder of God’s abiding presence in the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle - the Tent Temple. We have the abiding Temple of Christ’s body - His Church - He has knit us into Himself as one - Eph 5:30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.” We have been born from above by the Word of Truth in the water of holy baptism. (Vs.3) How long can you survive without drinkable water? With no liquid intake, studies suggest that you can only live about 3 to 8 days. Water is essential to life.
    How long will your faith survive in the desert of this world if you don’t joyfully draw water from the wells of salvation? Beware graduates - Satan will convince you of a pseudo spirituality - maybe even call it Christian - that never draws near to receive the well of salvation that flows forth in Christ’s blood and body fed at His table. A false spirituality that never draws forth the birthright of our baptism to gather in Christ’s House to be washed forgiven and fortified in the Faith by the Holy Spirit.

    Discipline yourself to come into the Lord’s House, on every Lord’s Day! Athletes train to make the team. Practice the same disciple with the gift of Faith - Christ has given you through the Holy Spirit. 1Ti 4:8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” Receive with meekness the implanted Word which is able to save your body and soul! (Vs.4-5) Gathered by God the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Church - Come! Confess your sin of unbelief praising the Lord for His faithfulness in forgiving and strengthening you in Jesus. Call upon His Name! Tracing His cross upon your forehead and heart - knowing that His righteousness is clothed upon you as you drown your old sinful adam, rising to new life in Christ daily.  
    Declare His deeds! Confess your faith to those whom the Lord will bring you into contact with - do not be afraid. Confess your faith by your body - be present to hear and receive Christ Jesus in His Word and Sacraments. 1Co 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. Exalt the name of Jesus! Giving God all the glory for your talents and gifts in Christ Jesus.
      The Christian Faith confesses - it cannot be silent. (Vs.6) We cry out for Jesus - Emmanuel - God is with us - in flesh and blood breathing forth His Holy Spirit forgiving our sins, clothing us with His righteousness, and freeing us from Satan’s tyranny of lies and the fear of death. The Holy One of Israel is here - in our midst - Jesus is here in His Word and Sacraments. He reclaimed you to be His own for Life! 1Co 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? (20) For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
Graduates! Learn the Song of Salvation - Rom 6:8-9 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, (9) knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.” Sing it forth! Cry it out loud! Where ever the Lord Jesus leads you to serve your neighbor with your various talents. Amen.