Longing to See one of His Days

Welcome to the teaching ministry of Kungsvinger Lutheran Church.

Kungsvinger is a beacon for the gospel of Jesus Christ and is located on the plains of northwestern Minnesota.

We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for our sins and salvation by grace through faith alone.

And now here's a message.

From Pastor Chris Rosebrook.

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke chapter 18 verses 1 through 8.

And Jesus told them a parable to the effect that they ought to always pray and not lose heart.

He said in a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man and there was a widow in

that city who kept coming to him saying give me justice against my adversary.

For a while he refused but afterward he said to himself though I neither fear God nor respect man

yet because this widow keeps bothering me I will give her justice so that she will not beat me down by her

continual coming.

And the Lord said hear what the unrighteous judge says.

And will not God give justice to his elect who cry to him day and night?

Will he delay long over them?

I tell you he will give justice to them speedily.

Nevertheless when the Son of Man comes will he find faith on

earth.

You may be seated.

In the name of Jesus.

Alright our text today from our gospel lesson is well teaching us something about prayer.

But don't think for a second that the punchline of Jesus this parable is just keep nagging God and you'll

eventually get what you want.

That'd be a great way to you know that'd be wonderful I get whatever I want as long as I just nag God.

Come on God I want this please give it to me.

God says no.

I go back come on God I really really really really really want this.

That sounds kind of like the spoiled child approach to prayer.

That's not what Jesus is talking about.

Now in order to understand what it is that Jesus is really referring to you'll notice that

there was a gap from last week's gospel lesson the healing of the ten lepers and this

week's gospel lesson and the context in the right way of understanding what Jesus is talking about is found in

the gap.

Now as we work through the gap for our context then think of it this way we're going

to have to learn some well theological jargon.

If you want some big impressive theological $10 words that you can throw around at you know Christmas

parties and things like that.

Take some notes and then you can use those you know to impress your friends later.

That's really not the point of it.

You're going to need some theological jargon because well Christianity has some concepts that must be taught and rightly

understood.

So to help us get the context we're going to pick up at the very tail end of last

week's gospel lesson Luke chapter 17 verse 15.

If you remember the point of last week's gospel lesson was that there's a new temple in town that new temple is

Jesus and we're going to note that the Pharisees quickly pick up on what's going on here and its

implications regarding the kingdom of God and then watch what Jesus does.

Here's what it says Luke chapter 17 verse 15.

Then one of them when he saw that he was healed this is the Samaritan turned back praising God with a loud voice he

fell on his face at Jesus's feet giving thanks and now he was a Samaritan.

When Jesus answered we're not ten cleansed where are the nine was no one found to return and give

praise to God except for this foreigner and we noted that for the first time in 400 years a Samaritan actually

worshipped at the right temple and so he said to them rise and go your faith has

saved you.

That's what the Greek says.

Next verse being asked by the Pharisees so the Pharisees were clearly standing by and they see this

Samaritan worshiping and thanking Jesus for healing him and they

can see the connection now and immediately they kind of pick up on the theme and they said

so the Pharisees when the king they asked him when the kingdom of God would come so when is the kingdom of God

coming then Jesus that's kind of what's going on here and Jesus answered then the kingdom of

God is not coming in ways that can be observed the way the Greek says

it the kingdom of God does not come by observation.

In other words those people nowadays who are very well dead set on

trying to crack the end times code eschatology by the way is the

name given for the study of the end times eschatos last okay so

eschatology is the study of the last times those who read the newspaper and

with one hand and the Bible with another trying to figure out are these the signs and the times

and we can figure out that Jesus is coming back next Thursday at four o 'clock Eastern.

It always ends up in them making predictions does it not and how you know I sometimes joke and this is kind

of a silly thing to do but I joke about how I have survived the end of the world at least six times in my

adult life so the next time somebody predicts the end of the world it's like oh I gotta survive the end of the world

again.

Really it always turns out to be a non -event right.

So Jesus puts all of that away.

He says the kingdom of God does not come by observation now that's not to say that Jesus hasn't

given us things to look for that warn us of his eminent return but keep in

mind the things that Jesus warned us about.

Well they are likened to birth pangs.

And those of you men who've had your wives go to the hospital because they've given birth.

We all know how that works out.

Right.

You go to the hospital because the wife wakes you up in the middle right and says it's time the baby's

coming.

And what do you do.

You drive 90 miles an hour to the you know to the hospital you know the police

pull you over.

My wife's having a baby.

That's okay.

I'll escort you.

And then you're driving now all right.

And then you get to the hospital and what do you do.

They hook her up to the all the machines you got the probes and the and the the graph thing going on.

Okay we're ready.

We're ready.

And what do you do.

You wait and the doctor comes and says well yeah she's at four sonometers

you know hunker down if you're gonna be here for a while 36 hours later and

no sleep.

Right.

What are you doing.

It's like this is baby gonna come or not.

But all along what is happening is the contractions are getting closer and closer and

stronger and stronger and your wife is getting more and more agitated.

So all of the signs of the end times pointing to the birth of the new earth.

Well they're like that so hunker and we're gonna be here for a while.

That's kind of Jesus's point.

So Jesus then says the kingdom of God doesn't come by observation.

Nor will they say look here it is or there behold for behold the kingdom of God

is among you.

It's in the midst of you.

The kingdom of God is here right now.

Do you see it.

Well that's an awkward silence.

You see the kingdom of God comes to us where people are brought to penitent faith in Christ for the forgiveness of their

sins.

The kingdom of God is here now we believe this by faith.

Someday we will see it by sight.

So that's why Jesus says when they say there it is don't believe them.

Oh there it is don't believe them.

And then he said to his disciples so he's kind of done with the Pharisees.

They're kind of a hopeless case at this point anyway.

So he says to the disciples all right.

Listen boys the days are coming when you are going to desire really

long to see one of the days of the Son of Man and you're not gonna see it.

There's times coming when you're gonna think oh yeah if only I can just have one

day with Jesus like we had back in Galilee and that's not gonna happen.

And in their lifetime they're gonna hear people say look there's Jesus or look here he's

over there.

Do not go out or follow them.

For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other so

will be the Son of Man in his day.

In other words keep this in mind.

When we pair this with Matthew chapter 24 we learned that one of the big end times

deceptions is going to be a bunch of people saying that guy over there

we heard that Jesus appeared and has set up court in the kingdom of God in

Nigeria.

We've sent the TBN news crew to go and check to see.

Oh yes we've got Jesus sightings in South Africa and stuff like

that.

And here's the sad part.

The reason why Jesus warns us about this stuff is because there are going to be a lot of people who are

Christians we're gonna sit there and go really really.

And then when they see the image of the fuzzy image of Jesus like the Sasquatch pictures on the

television they're gonna go Jesus.

And it's like no that's not Jesus.

Jesus told you that's not Jesus.

So that's how deceptive things are in the last days.

So think of it this way when Jesus returns it's gonna be as obvious as lightning.

Ain't nobody gonna sit there and go.

Is that Jesus.

Everyone's gonna know it's Jesus.

And if you're sitting there going is that Jesus.

It ain't Jesus.

I know it just seems kind of obvious and I'm trying to have a little fun with this but this is a dark topic.

Note this.

Then Jesus said the Son of Man first he must suffer many things

and be rejected by this generation.

And now Jesus engages in something that's kind of fascinating.

As you read this next portion Jesus is going between two poles.

This is what we call.

And here comes the jargon.

This is inaugurated eschatology versus consummated eschatology.

The last days begin with the death resurrection and ascension of Jesus.

They end with his coming and glory to judge the living and the dead.

So Jesus goes to two bookends and he kind of goes back and forth switches channels without any warning.

One second he's talking about inaugurated eschatology his death resurrection.

And then he switches to when he's coming again in glory.

And so you kind of have to watch the two that make sense.

So he says.

For as the lightning flashes crosses the sky so will be the Son of Man in his day.

First he must suffer many things be rejected by this generation.

Inaugurated eschatology.

Just as it was in the days of Noah so will be in the days of the Son of Man.

They were eating and drinking and marrying and giving in marriage until the day when Noah entered the ark the flood came and destroyed

them all.

Consummated eschatology.

You see the two bookends here they were eating and drinking.

Likewise just as it was in the days of Lot they were eating and drinking buying and selling planting and building.

But on the day when when Lot went out of Sodom fire and sulfur rained from heaven and

destroyed them all.

So will be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

That's the end of time.

On that day let the one who is on the housetop with his goods in the house not

come down to take them away.

And likewise when the one who is in the field not turn back.

And here's the gist of what Jesus is saying.

We know what to expect.

Jesus told us what's going to happen.

And if we happen to be alive on this day when Jesus returns in glory to judge the living and the dead your

neighbors are going to do this.

Unbelieving neighbors they're gonna go.

Oh my goodness what are we gonna do.

We gotta hide.

We gotta we gotta figure out how to survive this quick grab.

Grab the photo albums.

Get the bug out bag.

Go get all that food that we've been stocking up and let's go go get in our bunker like that's gonna solve the

problem.

We on the other hand we see the sign of Jesus is coming and we said that's Jesus coming.

You know we do grab a lawn chair and wait for the angels to pick you up.

Seriously there's no point in running.

There's no point in hiding.

We know how this is all going to go down.

And this is Jesus's point.

So then he says whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it.

Whoever loses his life will keep it.

I tell you in that night there will be two in one bed.

One will be taken the other left.

There will be two women grinding together.

One will be taken the other left.

Now notice when does all this take place on the day that Jesus returns in glory to judge the living and

the dead all right.

You'll notice this one taken one left.

This isn't secret stuff.

Okay this is in conjunction with Jesus's return in glory.

So the idea here is is that this one taken one left.

This is the separation of the sheep and the goats.

The sheep on the right the goats on the left.

The angels are doing the sorting.

So when they pick you up all right I'm gonna be put with the sheep because that's how that goes.

Because you is sheep.

I know it's bad English but it's true.

So then they said to him where now this is an interesting thing.

So Jesus is describing consummated eschatology the very

very last day.

And they go where's this gonna happen.

Okay now watch what Jesus does.

He goes all the way back to the other bracket where Lord he said to them where the

corpse is there the vultures will gather.

He's referring to the corpse of his body.

And where was Jesus's corpse.

Originally Jerusalem.

So in the sense this last phrase which is kind of a little bit cryptic Jesus is referring to his death and

resurrection and also returning talking about the place to which he will physically return on the last day

you see it now.

That's our context.

So Jesus in talking about boys you're gonna wish to see experience and have one

of those days with me.

But you're not gonna have it.

So what do you do in the in -between time from the time of Jesus's death and resurrection into the

time of his return.

What's what's your mindset.

Because I know you're gonna want to see me but it ain't gonna happen.

And it's gonna seem like I'm not hearing your prayers.

And oh you're gonna go through all kinds of trials and tribulations.

It's gonna be really awful at times.

So what should be your mindset.

Here's what he says.

So Jesus told him a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray

and not lose heart.

And so he tells the story about a really ornery judge.

This guy doesn't care about anybody except for himself.

In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.

And here's kind of the point I'm gonna kind of tease this out.

This unjust judge is representing God in certain

ways.

But Jesus's point is that although this judge has similar power to God in that sense

God is nothing like this judge and so trust that.

But here's who he says.

So this judge neither feared God nor respected man which

means he was neither Jewish in his thinking because he didn't fear and love God and he

didn't respect man.

He didn't go along with the culture and that was an honor culture at the time.

You can say that he didn't go along with Norwegian yontal oven concepts.

Right.

This guy was totally in it for himself.

And then there's this widow widows in that day had like nothing.

They had no power no authority.

She's totally at this guy's mercy.

And this guy doesn't care about her doesn't care about their culture doesn't care about God.

The only person he cares about is himself.

And so she came to him saying give me justice against my adversary.

Interesting little note there that frames what kind of prayer Jesus is talking about.

And I'll show it to you from scripture in a minute give me justice against my adversary.

For a while he refused.

Afterwards he said to himself self though I neither fear God nor respect man.

Yet because of this widow she keeps bothering me.

I'm gonna give her justice so that she'll not continue to beat me down by her continual coming.

It's like really you again.

Seriously.

So finally he just acquiesces and gives her the justice that she needs.

And see here's the thing.

This is the kind of prayer that Jesus is talking about.

Because in the in -between time in the in -between time of Jesus's death and resurrection and his return

we as Christians are persecuted.

We as Christians have to witness the rise of evil the rise of apostasy.

We have to see all kinds of things going wrong in the world and even in our own lives.

And here's the reason why.

Because God is saving people God is slow to anger and

abounding in steadfast love.

And so God in his patience is not giving people what they deserve today.

Instead today is the day of mercy.

Today is the day when we proclaim that in Christ is the forgiveness of sins.

In him is eternal life and salvation as a free gift.

Today we talk about the free pardon and grace that ends that

ends when Jesus returns.

Does that make sense.

So because of God's great patience and long -suffering and his forgiveness and grace

God puts up with a lot of nonsense in the in -between.

And as a result of it we Christians experience persecution suffering.

Well people who mock us.

People who become our adversaries and do injustices against us.

And what do we pray in the midst of all of that Lord are you.

Even there.

Do you not care.

I'm one of your children.

And we long to see the day of Christ just even one day like Jesus's Apostles.

And God tells us.

Don't lose heart.

Keep praying.

God hears you.

He hears you.

And that's the point.

So Jesus said here what the unrighteous just says.

And will not God give justice to his elect who cry to him day

and night.

Will he delay long over them.

No not long not long by God standards.

Maybe by ours.

And will not God give justice to his elect.

Brothers and sisters.

That's you.

You are the elect.

You are in Christ.

You are forgiven bled for died for buried and raised with Christ.

Your sins have been washed away.

A couple weeks ago we had the Lord's Supper where we feasted on the body and blood of Christ broken and shed for us for

the forgiveness of our sins.

You are his precious blood -bought children.

He hears you.

Keep crying to him day and night.

If you want to get an idea of what this looks like.

Well the Psalms show us what these prayers look like.

Psalm 79 is a perfect example of this type of prayer that Jesus is

encouraging his saints to continue to pray.

Don't lose heart.

God hears.

Psalm 79.

Verse 1 says this.

Oh God the nations have come into your inheritance.

They've defiled your holy temple.

They've laid Jerusalem in ruins.

They've given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food the flesh of your

faithful to the beasts of the earth.

They've poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem.

There was no one to bury them.

We have become a taunt to our neighbors mocked and derided by those around us.

See.

This is the kind of prayer that Jesus is admonishing us to pray and not lose heart.

These prayers are not going nowhere.

God hears them.

The psalmist continues.

How long oh Lord will you be angry forever.

Will your jealousy burn like fire.

Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you.

And on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name.

For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation.

Do not remember against us our former iniquities.

And so you'll notice kind of two tracks in a prayer like this.

And this is the type of prayer a prayer for justice.

But knowing this justice does not come until Christ returns

and that God is working to save sinners sinners like you and like me.

If he had not been patient and slow to anger where would we be today.

So we pray.

Do not remember against us our former iniquities.

God.

Let your compassion come to meet us.

For we are brought very low.

Help us.

Oh God of our salvation.

For the glory of your name.

Deliver us and atone for our sins for your name's sake.

Why should the nation say where is their God.

Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes.

Let the groans of the prisoners come before you according to your great power.

Preserve those doomed to die.

Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors.

The taunts with which they have taunted you.

Oh Lord.

But we are your people.

We are the sheep of your pasture.

We will give thanks to you forever.

From generation to generation we will recount your praise.

And so this type of prayer causes us to bring our petitions to God

to cry for justice to cry for mercy and to continue to trust him.

Even if it means for a moment that evil gets the over the upper hand.

Even against us you can pray this prayer even if you're

being marched off to your death.

Don't lose heart.

God hears your prayers.

And how do I know this.

Because Jesus himself prayed in this exact way.

And you won't find Jesus his prayer in the New Testament.

You're going to find Jesus's prayer in the Psalms.

It's in Psalm 22.

And watch how Jesus prays even in the midst of his crucifixion.

Remember when Jesus was on the cross and he cried out.

Eloy Eloy lava sabachthani.

My God my God why have you forsaken me.

Well that prayer then in its entirety we see in Psalm 22.

My God my God why have you forsaken me.

Why are you so far from saving me from the words of my groaning.

Oh my God.

I cry by day but you do not answer by night.

But I find no rest.

Yet you are holy and thrown on the praises of Israel.

And you our fathers trusted.

They trusted and you delivered them to you.

They cried and were rescued in you.

They trusted and were not put to shame.

But I'm a worm not a man scorned by mankind despised by the people.

All who see me mock me.

They make mouths at me.

They wag their heads.

He trusts in the Lord.

Let him deliver him.

Let him rescue him for he delights in him.

Yet you are he who took me from the womb.

You made me trust at my mother's breasts on you as I cast from my birth and from my mother's womb

you have been my God.

Be not far from me for trouble is near and there's none to help.

Many bulls encompass me.

Strong bulls of Bashan surround me.

They open wide their mouths at me like a ravening and roaring lion.

And I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joint.

My heart is like wax and it is melted within my breast.

My strength is dried up like a pot shirt and my tongue sticks to my jaws.

And you lay me in the dust of death.

Dogs encompass me.

A company of evildoers encircles me.

They have pierced my hands and my feet and I can count all my bones.

They stare and gloat at me.

And they divide my garments among them.

And for my clothing they cast lots.

But you oh Lord do not be far off.

Oh you my help come quickly to my aid.

Deliver my soul from the sword my precious life from the power of the dog.

Save me from the mouth of the lion.

You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen.

And I will tell of your name to my brothers in the midst of the congregation.

I will praise you.

You who fear the Lord praise him.

All you offspring of Jacob glorify him and stand in awe of him.

All you offspring of Israel.

For he is not despised or abhorred the afflicted the affliction of the afflicted.

And he has not hidden his face from him but he has heard when he has cried to him.

So Jesus told a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

And this is the type of prayer that we're talking about.

The prayer in the now and the not yet where we are right now while the world is in

labor and the birth pangs are getting stronger and getting closer together

a new world is on its way.

It's here but it's not yet here.

And in these times of affliction Christ has comforted us and said do not lose heart.

God hears your prayers and God is nothing like that unjust judge.

And he will answer your prayers speedily.

He will not long delay to give you justice.

Trust in him in the same way that Christ trusted while he was on the cross.

Because this day these prayers they're answered on the great day when Jesus

returns.

And so remember the days are coming when you will desire and long to see one of the days of the Son of Man

right now you will not see it but someday you will see Christ with your very eyes.

The one who has bled and died for you whose hands and feet were pierced for your transgressions whose head

was bruised for your sins and your iniquities.

He has heard your prayers and he will answer them speedily.

Do not lose heart.

Today is the day of mercy not the day of justice.

So today it looks like evil gets the upper hand but that this day is coming to a

close quickly.

Continue to trust.

Do not lose heart.

Christ has you in the.

Name of Jesus amen.

If you would like to support the teaching ministry of.

Kungsvinger Lutheran Church.

You can do so by sending a tax -free donation to Kungsvinger Lutheran Church

15950 470th Avenue Northwest

Oslo Minnesota 567 -44 and again that address is

Kungsvinger Lutheran Church 15950 470th

Avenue Northwest Oslo Minnesota 567 -44.

We thank you for your support.

All of our teaching messages may be freely distributed as long as you do not edit or change the content of the message.

And again thank you for listening.