10/14/2020 - Wednesday Vespers Full Worship Service

good evening uh blessings to you this evening as we continue on with uh our midweek vesper service october 14 2020 as we meditate upon paul's letters to the philippians concerning what it means to rejoice true rejoicing in the lord please rise as you're able as we continue with the order of vespers on page 200 and 29 [Music] oh lord open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise make haste oh god to deliver me may case tell me o lord glory be to the father and to the son and to the holy spirit as it was in the beginning is now and will be [Music] a reading from the catechism on page 325 in your hymnal as we read and how applicable this is to our meditation of the day of what true joy well the object of our true joy given to us in the gift of holy baptism why don't we read this all together responsibly the sacrament of holy baptism as the head of the family should teach in a simple way to his household first what is baptism baptism is not just plain water but it is the water included in god's command and combined with god's word which is that word of god christ our lord says in the last chapter of matthew therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit second what benefits does baptism give it works forgiveness of sins rescues from death and the devil and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this as the words and promises of god declare which are these words and promises of god christ our lord says in the last chapter of mark whoever believes and is baptized will be saved but whoever does not believe will be condemned third how can water do such great things certainly not just water but the word of god in and with the water does these things along with the faith which trusts this word of god in the water for without god's word the water is plain water and no baptism but with the word of god it is a baptism that is a life-giving water rich in grace and a washing of the new birth in the holy spirit as saint paul says in titus chapter 3 he saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the holy spirit whom he poured out on us generously through jesus christ our savior so that having been justified by his grace we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life this is a trustworthy saying fourth what does such baptizing with water indicate it indicates that the old adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before god in righteousness and purity forever where is this written saint paul writes in romans chapter 6 we were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that just as christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father we too may live a new life let us continue please be seated with our responsive reading of the psalm psalm 23 another cause of great rejoice the lord is my shepherd i shall not want he makes me lie down in green pastures he leads me beside still waters he restores my soul he leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake even though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death i will fear no evil for you are with me your rod and your staff they comfort me you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies you anoint my head with oil and my cup overflows surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and i shall dwell in the house the lord forever glory be to the father and of the son and of the holy spirit as it was in the beginning is now and will be forever amen let's continue with our first hymn this evening um him number 692 [Applause] [Music] 600. praise blessed jesus son of god who to serve your own creation came to share all flesh and blood guide me that i never made from your fold or passed astray god [Music] oh [Music] he with me throughout my life give me greater love for you and my faith and all brandon your birth your life and passion in your death and resurrection our reading this evening is based on philippians chapter 4 verses 4 to 13. please follow along as we listen or as we read together rejoice in the lord always again i will say rejoice let your reasonableness be known to everyone the lord is at hand do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to god and the peace of god which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in christ jesus finally brothers whatever is true whatever is honorable whatever is just whatever is pure whatever is lovely whatever is commendable if there is any excellence if there is anything worthy of praise think about these things what you have learned and received and heard and and seen in me practice these things and the god of peace will be with you i rejoice in the lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me you were indeed concerned for me but you had no opportunity not that i am speaking of being in need for i have learned in whatever situation i am to be content i know how to be brought low and i know how to abound in any and every circumstance i have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger abundance and need i can do all things through him who strengthens me this is the word of the lord thanks be to god please rise as you were able for our responsory on page 200 and 30. teach me your way o lord that i may walk in your truth your word is a lamp to my feet and a lie to my path unite my heart to fear your name that i may walk in your truth your word is a lamb to my feet and a light to my path glory be to the father and to the son and the holy spirit your word is a lamb to my feet and a lie to my path please be seated the sermon for this evening is is based on saint paul's letters to the philippians chapter 4 verses 4 to 13. the sermon is entitled rejoicing in the lord grace mercy and peace from god our father and our lord and savior jesus christ amen remember the question that i posed to you on sunday and i encourage you all throughout the week to ask yourself this very question what do you wear what do you wear what do you wear saint paul answers this question in his letter to the philippians he says rejoice in the lord always again i say rejoice because there in the true joy of the lord he is at hand he is at hand where we get to pray to him and we very well know that he hears us that because of that rejoice we have the peace of god that does what that will guard our hearts and minds words that we hear that have been freely given to us by the garment of grace so ask yourself as i said on sunday what what do you wear what do i wear today what do i wear tomorrow what do i wear the day after that because you are what you wear and what we wear is the triune name the garment of grace as god has called us in the water and word of holy baptism that is the garment of true rejoice freely given to us called out by our lord from this darkness into his freedom that means no longer enslaved no longer bound to this world no longer wrapped in eternal condemnation and robed in eternal separation but wrapped and robed in his righteousness you are right now as you live the life that is radically transformed uprooted from this spiritual darkness into the victory of the resurrection of our lord and savior jesus christ rejoice what a great meditation this is as we dwell upon day after day the love of christ this radical gospel because in this radical gospel that god has given to you this is who you are adorned with his promise covered by the slaughtered land the lamb of god who takes away the sin of the world at calvary this is what you wear covered by the blood of christ we see in our gospel text this sunday or last sunday and we see the parable of the wedding feast and we know what it is to not wear the garment of the lord we know the cautionary reminder of well if we wear our own garments this self-righteousness this legalistic work of garment all it will breed are blind eyes and deaf ears and a heart full of smug arrogance this arrogance that leads to those words i need not christ but only need myself that is a garment too isn't it jesus was pointing at the religious leader showing them that the way of the feast is the way of christ the garment of christ not a badge or garment of their own of course we say but as we look at our carnal flesh we too know what that is like how great it would be to be adorned with all the stars with the badges with all of our own self-righteousness it's easy right to live this way and see this text in a completely different way as i said earlier you are what you wear and if we're wearing the wrong garment we read this in a very have to sort of way right it says finally brothers whatever is true whatever is honorable whatever is pure whatever is lovely whatever is commendable and soon we read this text with hearts legalistic hearts that palpitate for the next quest for righteousness as if there is a quest in our flesh to gain that very righteousness by our own esteem as if we have the ability to acquire this quest of holiness by our own works so what are you wearing because the evil foe is like the dry cleaners turn style wardrobe rotating one after the another and he is throwing every garment at you everything but christ's and he is saying not that garment of christ but all these other ones right because christ that garment is not sufficient go to the eastern styles look at all the selection that you have pick one go for it because surely well you need more than christ right i think for us as we see this text what do we see right there in the beginning we say rejoice in the lord rejoice in the lord the root the foundation our being our life our salvation redemption eternity all of it is outside of ourselves and found in the lord this root is our radical restoration that now right now yes indeed now right now we live the restored life in christ for saint paul his imprisonment you would think that would define him but it did not circumstances these were but this is not what he wore rather in every situation every circumstance high or low plenty or hunger abundance or in need the circumstance the reality was the same because you are what you wear not what's around you but you are what you wear because saint paul in faith what he he wore the christ he didn't wear his resume he didn't wear the confidence of his flesh he wore what was given to him in christ jesus met on that damascus road saul saw why are you persecuting me and through christ there saint paul was given the life-changing message the indescribable joy in the lord now did he suffer of course yes did he struggle yes did he face persecution of course he did of course yes but nothing could separate him from the love of christ as he says in romans 8 because the love of christ is the victorious empty tomb that has overturned all things and that has brought this great predicament that is the fall condemnation eternal separation and there he found in the promise of god even in the midst of his circumstance those words i am content contentedness for you these are your words too it is the same right you are content you are content you are content right we have to say that over and over again because what the devil will tell you otherwise with his ongoing barrage his incense his incessant echoes never stopping never relenting always saying to you what you are not content you need more the lord's grace is not sufficient so go on go to your idols go to that turnstile and find another garment this is the tension in all of our lives i'll tell you that rejoice in the lord saint paul says yet in our circumstances as we have them in this present time how quickly we flee to those other garments i think for you and i i find these midweek vespers services uh a great blessing not only do we gather in the word but we retreat to our true rejoice the word that points us to our most comforting and true circumstance we're not wavering we're not wondering but we gather together in the word the cause of our great rejoice and that word is christ and because it is christ our reality does not change yes the world is filled with much chaos much reason for worries and anxieties and wonders in our lives swirling around with the what-ifs why how come but here we gather in the word where in every circumstance we hear those words rejoice in the lord again i will say rejoice because he is the cause the object of our true eternal rejoice we read psalm 23 the good shepherd this is the psalm we all know i think we know it so well but after a while we while we we forget it but as we continue to read and dwell upon the good shepherd who lays his life down for the sheep there we are at calvary there we live and are brought forth into his redemption dwelling upon what it means to be bought with a prize that our greatest circumstance that is against the sin death and the power of the devil has been over come because we can't do it that is our cause of great despair isn't it the unanswered reality of what we are born into yet saint paul says rejoice in the lord because it is our lord who conquers all things because we right now live the resurrected life the victorious one and thus we go meditating as saint paul says thinking about these things practicing these things not out of burden but with great joy will there be struggle of course will there be suffering yes will there be persecution of course no matter what generation we're living in there will always be a great reason the truest reason for rejoice you are what you wear don't you see you wear the robe of christ and his righteousness this robe that you didn't pick out but this robe that was given to you in this one true faith how do you know your by your baptism where god has made his claim on you connecting you to his death reviving you in his resurrection assuring you that whoever has been baptized into christ has put on christ rejoice in the lord god is with me how do i know because my sins are drowned in the water in in the word of holy baptism how do i know because my sins are cleansed and i rise to the newness of life i rise by the very power of god's word this is the true rejoice and i get to pray and god hears me and i have peace that surpasses all understanding that guards my my heart your heart my mind your mind in the name of the lord this is what you have by the free gift and grace of our lord so i asked you this sunday what what do you wear saint paul shows us the true joy and the resurrection of our lord by his blood your name is written in the book of life that by his resurrection the mighty conqueror our savior has defeated death and its sting as you live under the word the good shepherd and the green pastures in the still waters as he protects you anointing you with oil and surely goodness emerges to follow you all the days of your life because you dwell in the lord no longer naked no longer separated but garmented reconciled as you live in the mighty fortress the eternal refuge the very picture of your true rejoice amen in the peace of god which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in christ jesus amen amen please rise for him number 805 [Music] all creatures here be low praise him above the heavenly host praise father [Music] in one voice let us recite the curie on page 200 and 33 together lord have mercy christ have mercy lord have mercy in one voice let us confess our faith in the apostles creed i believe in god the father almighty maker of heaven and earth and in jesus christ his only son our lord who was conceived by the holy spirit born of the virgin mary suffered under pontius pilate was crucified died and was buried he descended into hell the third day he was again from the dead he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of god the father almighty and then he will come to judge the living and the dead i believe in the holy spirit the holy christian church the communion of saints the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting amen in one voice let us pray 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 and please be seated at this time let us continue with the prayers of the church are there any prayers we would like to ascend uh to the lord this evening anything in particular i know continued prayers for those who are traveling this week are definitely safe travels for those who are who are traveling uh this week sorry about that my um continued prayers um for eve she continues to recover from her last bout of of uh just overall weakness and and sickness just bless eve and also um prayers for janelle as she um took a fall earlier this week uh and she's recovering um from a broken forearm so definitely um our prayers for janelle this week and she's doing she's doing okay but did your prayers for her recovery also continue prayers for craig and and also kurt and also uh bob uh ruffinin as he is still recovering from his knee replacement surgery as well up in montana so definitely prayers for all those who are who are all doctrine at this time let us continue uh with the prayers this evening almighty god you invite us to trust in you for our salvation deal with us not in the severity of your judgment but by the greatness of your mercy through jesus christ your son our lord who lives and reigns with you in the holy spirit one god now and forever merciful god we humbly implore you to cast the bright beams of your light upon your church that we being instructed by the doctrine of the blessed apostles may walk in the light of your truth and finally attain the light of everlasting life through jesus christ our lord amen almighty god you have called your church to witness that in christ you have reconciled us to yourself grant that by your holy spirit we may proclaim the good news of your salvation so that all who hear it may receive the gift of salvation through jesus christ our lord amen merciful father through holy baptism you called us to be your own possession grant that our lives may evidence the working of your holy spirit in love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness and self-control according to the image of your only begotten son jesus christ our lord amen lord god almighty heavenly father you are the great physician lord this day we pray for your saints we pray for eve we pray for janelle we pray for craig we pray for kurt we pray for bob would bless them as they are recovering from recent surgeries and ailments guide them in your peace that surpasses all understanding keep their hearts and minds in christ jesus and lord grant them your joy in the midst of their suffering be with them guard them protect them and bless them in body and soul oh lord guide them this night and and grant them your light of peace bless each and every one of them and and if it is your will o lord grant them a full recovery through all things we also lord pray for those who are traveling to and from this week bless them in their safe travels grant them a safe trip and guard them from any danger to and from or bless them and look after them and grant them your strength as you safely bring them to their destination lord for all these things we are thankful bless bless us and as we continue and trust entrusting our burdens to you or we pray that you may grant us your peace lord in your mercy hear our prayer oh god from whom come all holy desires all good counsels and all just works give to us your servants that peace which the world cannot give that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments and also that we being defended from the fear of our enemies may live in peace and quietness through jesus christ your son our lord who lives and reigns with you in the holy spirit one god now and forever amen please rise as you are able let us bless the lord thanks be to god the grace of our lord jesus christ and the love of god and the communion of the holy spirit be with you all amen let's close with him number 709 700 and nine [Music] i know if i am his and he is mine forever [Music] i straight but yet in love he saw me and on his shoulder gently laid and rejoicing brought me in as dark veil i fear no will with beside me thy rod and staff my comfort still thy cross before to guide me thou spreads a table in my sight thin anger [Music] [Music] may i sing thy praise within thy house forever go now in god's peace and serve in his name amen [Music] you

Channel: Faith Lutheran Church

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Keywords: worship service, christian, lutheran, church, moorpark, pentecost, sunday

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Length: 40min 53sec (2453 seconds)

Published: Thu Oct 15 2020