"How Often Do We Need Our Ears Opened?" Romans 10:9-17

The Twelfth Sunday After Trinity                          18-August-2024

Sermon Text: Romans 10:8-17

Sermon Theme: “How Often Do We Need Our Ears Opened?” I. Daily Death Draws Near (vs.9-10) II. Daily Despair Threatens! (Vs.11-13). III. Daily Jesus Sends Forth His Word! (Vs.14-15) IV. Ephphatha! (Vs.16-17) by rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. Have you ever carried somebody to hear Jesus? Parents carry their deaf newborns to Jesus at the baptismal font. He speaks His Word breathing forth the Holy Spirit to open their ears to hear their Heavenly Father’s loving voice welcoming them Home. Now the infants ears are opened to hear. God the Holy Spirit reminded young pastor Timothy through St. Paul, 2Ti 3:15 GW From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures. They have the power to give you wisdom so that you can be saved through faith in Christ Jesus.” How? Paul reminds the despairing pastor, 2Ti 1:4-5 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. (5) I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.” Lois and Eunice not only brought infant Timothy to synagogue every Sabbath to hear God’s Word and Promise of Jesus. They prayed, sung, spoke, taught it to him at home daily.

    St. Peter writes to Christians facing persecution. At the Last Passover Jesus preaches, “Joh 15:18-20 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. (19) If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (20) Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” As Satanic darkness, hedonism, and the culture of death swallow up western culture Christians will be hated. Hated for they speak the Truth, defend reality, expose the world’s evil works. What is our stronghold when persecution comes? 1Pe 2:1-3 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, (2) as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, (3) if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” We don’t follow the world or our fleshly desires - instead we feed on the pure milk of Jesus’ Word.

    How often? A newborn baby nurses about every three or four hours. Perhaps we should follow their example of hearing Christ’s Word, that we may be His disciples, our ears opened to know the Truth which alone sets us free in our culture captive to sin and deceit. This morning let us repent and be carried to Jesus as we ask: “How Often Do We Need Our Ears Opened?” I. Daily Death Draws Near (vs.8-10) II. Daily Despair Threatens! (Vs.11-13). III. Daily Jesus Sends Forth His Word! (Vs.14-15) IV. Ephphatha! (Vs.16-17)

I. Their called servant of Christ’s Word was soon to leave the congregation. He had catechized them in Christ’s Word and doctrine. His forty years of serving among them by speaking and teaching God’s Word would end in his death. As a loving pastor he once more lays before them they path of good and life to encourage them to hear Jesus’ Word. He also warns them of the path of evil and death that they might not shut their ears to their Savior and follow the world. History records; Deu 30:11-14 "For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. (12) It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' (13) Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' (14) But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.” Moses speaks these words before his death on Mt. Nebo. The greatest Christian Old Testament scholar St. Paul begins preaching on these words praying for Israel’s conversion to Christianity.

     He calls them to repent, listen, that their ears may be opened to confess Jesus as Yahweh! (Vs.9-10) To confess Jesus is Lord - the one eternally begotten Son of God the Father, Who by the power of the Holy Spirit became our Brother in the womb of the Virgin Mary to save sinners. This is to confess that all our sin, all our hell, all our death is borne by Him in His body alone. His holy precious blood alone forever washes away our sin. To believe that God raised Him from the dead FOR YOU - to declare you forgiven, reconciled, a child of mercy - alone saves us sinners from death, the devil, and hell.

      Faith is never your work. Hear the truth! I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.” This isn’t a one and done operation of God the Holy Spirit. Think of it like this - how often do you need to breathe to live? Average respirations are about once every five seconds. If you stop breathing after about five minutes you will die, if someone doesn’t begin artificial respirations - trying to sustain your life. Faith is God the Holy Spirit breathing Jesus’ Word and Life into us - we breathe it out confessing Jesus as our Redeemer. Confession, never to be ashamed of Jesus and His Word in this wicked and evil generation, is Holy Spirit Gospel given and sustained faith breathing life into our dying world.

     We believe - we speak! By faith alone in Jesus alone does God the Father declare us righteous - forgiven - His own. By grace the Holy Spirit opens our lips to declare His praise - breathing life into our dying world.

     Believing and confessing Jesus go hand in glove. If we don’t gather with Jesus, we are doing Satan’s work of scattering. Daily we need to hear Jesus’ Word. Don’t let your lazy flesh tell you that you don’t have time. Jesus died to give you eternal life - give Him 1% of your time. He grants you 1440 minutes each day - take 14 minutes daily to hear His Word and pray. He gives you 112 waking hours each week - give Him 1% of your time on Sunday to let Him open your ears in the Divine Service and Bible study. One week will be your last - you will die - let Him open your ears with His Word of Life daily! Confess the Truth of Jesus’ doctrine - The Apostles’ Creed - it is the structure of reality - speak it boldly to all dying sinners.

II.  Their nation was on the verge of collapse, its days were numbered, judgment loomed. What could they hope in when all came to nothing, when their economy collapsed, enemies invaded, freedom surrendered for slavery? The preacher opens their ears to hear our Lord’s promise! (Vs.11) Isaiah the prophet preaches to the congregation of Israel and Judah, whose nations soon would be judged for their evil. What hope did they have in despair? Isa 28:16 GW This is what the Almighty LORD says: I am going to lay a rock in Zion, a rock that has been tested, a precious cornerstone, a solid foundation. Whoever believes in him will not worry.” Their hope is Jesus. He will come into their history. The Lord God will lay Him down, the Rock rejected by the religious leaders, as the Cornerstone of His Church - and the gates of hell will never vanquish it!

     Despair in our culture deafens our ears. The devil, the world, and our flesh tempts us to complain and curse. Lord, open my ears to hear hope! (Vs.12-13) Jesus redeems all sinners, both Jew and Gentile! A black cloud of dreaded locusts descended upon the land of God’s people devouring all their crops during the reign of king Joash. The prophet Joel is called and sent to preach Christ’s Word of repentance and faith to turn God’s despairing children back to Him. Joel’s name means, “Yahweh is God.” Here is the only place hope is found in the final judgment! Jesus! He enters history to rescue us sinners. He pours out His life blood to bring us back to our heavenly Father. The Father pours out the Holy Spirit through Jesus that we may be saved by grace through faith! Peter preaches this same verse on Pentecost - calling the crowd to repent and trust in Jesus alone to save them!  

     Daily hear Jesus’ Word and promise as He breathes forth His Holy Spirit to open your ears - as you call upon God the Father in prayer. His Prayer - the Lord’s Prayer - He will save you - deliver you from every evil! Hear Him!

III. Out of nothing, our Triune God created all things. He spoke His Word, “Let there be light!” and there was light! His creative life filled Word upholds all our creation. He sent forth His Word to rescue you! 2Co 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

     You didn’t choose Him, He chose you from before the foundation of the world in Christ Jesus to be His own beloved child. He rescued you by sending forth His Word. (Vs.14-15) Jesus baptized you through the hands of the preacher He called, ordained, and sent through His Church by the Holy Spirit. As we look back over the history of Emmanuel we can trace Jesus’ faithfulness in sending men to preach His Word, administer His sacraments, forgive or retain our sins. Yes, as a congregation you had a call meeting, but realize that it was King Jesus by the Holy Spirit ordering all things that your ears might be opened to hear. Pro 16:9 A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. God the Holy Spirit knows how long a pastor will serve a congregation.

     Dr. Martin Luther warned Germany that the Gospel is like a rain shower - it doesn’t remain in one area long. When we see Christian churches closing around our nation, it isn’t a problem of public relations - it is Christ’s judgment on our own apostasy and hardness of hearing!

Men called to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus have beautiful feet - because they follow the Master - preach only His Word and doctrine! Hear Him! Know His promises in Holy Baptism, absolution, the Lord’s Supper - He is present within preaching to save you by believing as you call upon His name in the Divine Service every Sunday!

IV.  Pray daily to hear Jesus say to you, ‘Ephphatha!” Lord Jesus open my ears to hear your Word and my tongue to sing Your praise! (Vs.16-17). Isaiah preaches Jesus’ passion to rescue us by suffering what we deserved. Many think the message of the cross is foolishness - they perish.

       Lord Jesus, don’t remove Your Word from among us! Speak it daily in our homes and in our congregation! Open my ears, my heart, my life by your Holy Spirit to hear and cling to You in Your Word.

      Have you ever carried someone to Jesus? Pallbearers have. If you wait to come to church until them - it is too late - hear Him today, every day, every Sunday. Then clinging to the Resurrection and the Life - though dead you will be living. Your casket will be clothed with His life - baptismal life - for His Word opened your heart to hear His voice! Amen.