Now Is The Time! 2 Cor. 6:1-10

Invocabit, The First Sunday In Lent                               18-February-2024
Sermon Text: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Sermon Theme: “Now Is The Time!” I. Receive God’s Grace In Christ! (Vs.1-2). II. Witness To All! (Vs. 3-7). III. Take Up Your Cross Follow Jesus! (Vs.8-10) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. What is Satan’s most effective weapon? In the historical account recorded in Genesis 3, he masqueraded as a serpent querying the woman, “Did God actually say, “You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?” The devil questions our Creator’s clear Word and His loving care for His creation. “Has God indeed said?”is the root of all false teaching and heresies throughout the ages. The evil one seeks to separate and steal God’s Word from us. He lies. Twisting the Scriptures he promises us self-determination, personal autonomy if we rebel against our heavenly Father. Promises us we will not die. Promises us that we can make up the rules for ourselves - become our own gods. Our fallen flesh loves to have it so, as the world entices us, and the murderer and liar from the beginning tempts us through our own desires ensnaring us in sin and the fear of death. Beware of his tactics! Pray out loud! Read God’s Word out loud in your home! Keep the Sword of the Spirit sharpened and ready to defend you and your family against the devil’s lies, the world’s deceptions, and your fleshly desires.
    The devil also tempts with spiritual procrastination. The story is told of a council of demons was held. Satan was trying to find a weapon to lead men to hell. The first demon stood with his proposal hissing,“Tell them, that there is no God, that they all evolved, that there is no truth, no sin, that all is relative.” The others laughed, “Every fool can see from the complexity of the world they live in that there is a Creator.” The next demon rose hissing, “Tell them that God is love, that He will tolerate any sin no matter what.” Again a roar of laughter flooded the room. “Any fool reading the Bible will be able to see that God’s Law condemns those who break it, the Enemy gives them a conscience holding them accountable to what is right.” Then a demon rose smirking whispered, “Tell them, that the Triune God is the only True God, that sin, salvation and the Bible are all real and true.” “Are you crazy!” Satan howled. “No, tell them that Jesus is the Savior of the world.”said the demon at the podium, “but whisper in there ear, they have plenty of time, they don’t need to be religious now, they can put off church attendance till they are old.” “Whisper to them that they don’t need to read their Bibles, pray, go regularly to Church to hear preaching and to receive Christ’s Body and Blood to be Christians.” A hellish cheer went up from the demons - spiritual procrastination would gain them the billions of people for hell. Daily millions die - captives of hell, who were going to take salvation seriously tomorrow.
    Repent! Awake sleeper! “Now Is The Time!” I. Receive God’s Grace In Christ! (Vs.1-2). II. Witness To All! (Vs. 3-7). III. Take Up Your Cross Follow Jesus! (Vs.8-10)
I. “If you are a the Son of God” Satan tempted starving tired Jesus in the wilderness. 40 days earlier He was baptized by the prophet John in the Jordan River. Walking out of the water onto the river bank, heaven was torn open, God the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove, and God the Father spoke with joy, “Mat 3:17 "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The battle began immediately. Satan could not the man and his wife through whom God call all He had made “very good” live in peace. He hates mankind, lifelong marriage between a man and a woman, and the blessing of children. He seeks to destroy all that God declares “good!” History, recorded by Mark, informs us. Mar 1:12-13 Immediately the Spirit drove [Jesus] Him into the wilderness. (13) And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.”
    This wasn’t accidental. It was spiritual warfare to reclaim your body and soul from sin, death, Satan, and the just earned eternity of hell. The Holy Spirit teaches the congregation at Corinth through St. Paul, 2Co 5:17-21 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (18) Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, (19) that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. (21) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” God the Father through His eternally only begotten Son - enfleshed to be our Brother by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary - was reconciling us back to Himself. He put all of my sins on Jesus, all of your sins, all of the world’s sins - Jesus paid our debt in full! He became The Sinner - that God the Father might declare you His own beloved son swaddled in the robe of Jesus’ perfect life in baptism. Now you are a new creation! Forgiven! Renewed! Alive in Jesus! Sustained by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel.
    Lay hold! Receive the Gift that cost God the Father the sacrifice of His only begotten beloved Son on the cross FOR YOU! (2 Cor.6:1,2) In the Old Testament the Lord commanded the children of Israel to celebrate the year of Jubilee. Every 49th year, all debts were cancelled, all property reverted to the families whom the Lord God had given it to when He brought His people into the promised land. It was a time of joy, freedom, and restoration. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection we now live in the time of jubilee. NOW is the day of salvation. The acceptable time is TODAY! Don’t think this message of the cross is a common or foolish thing! It is the very power and wisdom of your loving Heavenly Father in His Son to make you new again by His Spirit. Receive Christ’s body and blood as He promises that He gave and shed it FOR YOU to make you a new creation. Rejoice! Come to the Jubilee Feast! “These words, "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins," shows us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation. “
II. “We”, Paul includes himself, other pastors called to serve the Corinthian congregation by preaching Christ’s Word, administering the sacraments, forgiving or retaining sins. He also includes the “priesthood of the believers” the congregation at Corinth in that “we.” You too are called to be a fellow worker with Jesus. You too are to plead with family, friends, neighbors, and enemies - “don’t receive God’s grace in vain!” “Jesus died for your sins! Jesus rose again to declare to you God the Father is reconciled to you! Jesus sends forth His Holy Spirit superabundantly in the Gospel - preached - poured - forgiving - fed to you - surrounding you in a congregation of true brothers and sisters - to comfort and console you. Now is the time for all to witness! To let our light shine before men, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.
      Paul preaches, (2 Cor. 6:3) Social media thrives on offense. The devil, our flesh, the world loves to stir up a fight. What if I as your pastor, preached on Sunday, then spent the rest of the week drunk, gossiping, angry, rebellious, adulterous, swindling, and coveting your property, family, and employees? Might that cause others to stumble away from our congregation? Away from the hearing of Christ’s Word and receiving His gifts in baptism, absolution, and the Lord’s Supper? Paul calls us to a new life in Christ Jesus! (2 Cor. 6:4-5) Freed from our sinful desires - we endure that others might hear the Good News! We patiently speak to them God’s Word, suffer for the truth. We do without that others may hear the Gospel. We may be hated by the world suffer distresses inwardly and outwardly. We may be called troublemakers for speaking the Truth of the Holy Bible. Tumults may arise. Our labors may seem for nothing. We may spend sleepless nights in prayer and fasting for those who no longer join us here in this church.
    What witness are you giving this church by your daily walk and conversation in our community? How much has your witnessing cost you? Only money dropped in the offering plate? Now is the time to witness your church to our community! How? (2 Cor. 6:6-7) Be in God’s Word. Come to Bible Study. Recite the Catechism daily with your family. Pray. Study the Holy Bible around your supper table. Sing solid Lutheran hymns as you teach the faith to your children and grandchild.
You never retire from witnessing your church, your Jesus. Pray with the elderly Psalmist, Psa 71:16-18 I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only. (17) O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works. (18) Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.
    Rev. Simon Peter Long, was a Lutheran pastor in Ohio from 1886 to 1926. He preaches on this text saying: There are enough words in this text to make a thousand sermons, but let me say, in one word, never do a thing that will hurt your church. Christ purchased it with His blood on Calvary, and when anyone says anything against your church, come to her defense. I pity the poor children who live in homes where fathers have no more sense than to talk against the church; that live in homes where mothers are fighting their preachers; where children are allowed to hear things that will reflect upon the church, which Jesus Christ bled and died for on Calvary. I used to wonder why it was that every time we would say one word against our pastor our father would say, Now hush right there; hush. When the neighbors would say we needed a change of pastors, father would say, I don’t see any need, as long as we have got God’s Word preached in its purity, I do not see any need. My friends, I do not remember, in the fifteen years I was under the parental roof, that father or mother ever said one word against their pastor or against their church. At the time I thought they could not see as well as some of the neighbors. We had another neighbor who was always fighting the church, always found fault with this and with that, and his children heard it. Today they have nearly all left the church. No wonder. No wonder. When a parent in the home slaps the bride of Christ in the face, the children will fight her. Paul made a plea for the Church of God, that you do not offend her, and always come to her defense.”
III. Repent! Now is the Time! Daily repent! Drown your old sinful adam and his bent desires! Rise to new life as you take up your cross and follow Jesus! (2 Cor. 6:8-10). The world, allied with Satan, will treat you as it treated Jesus. Don’t look to the world for accolades. Don’t trust your feelings. Don’t covet power to make up the rules for self.
  Witness to the Truth! Honored by Christ - the world hates you, speaks lies about you, doesn’t know you, beats you up, takes all your money and possessions. Take it! You have the Treasure! Jesus! An inheritance, incorruptible, unfading, reserved for you in heaven! Sing in all trials! The Word they still shall let remain Nor any thanks have for it; He's by our side upon the plain With His good gifts and Spirit. And take they our life, Goods, fame, child, and wife, Though these all be gone, Our vict'ry has been won; The Kingdom ours remaineth.” Now is the Time! Come to the Feast! Witness to the world! Take up your cross! Follow Jesus! Amen.