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THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY February 9, 2025 Pastor Tom Steers Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto Our Opening Hymn: “Jesus Sinners Doth Receive” Lutheran Service Book, 609 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RODV7z-UQhI We begin our service with the Invocation: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Confession and Absolution – p. 184 The Introit Psalm 71:15-18; antiphon: Psalm 71:12 O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. 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 forever. Amen. O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! Our Collect Prayer of the Day: O Lord, keep Your family the Church continually in the true faith that, relying on the hope of Your heavenly grace, we may ever be defended by Your mighty power; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Our Bible readings: Old Testament – Isaiah 6:1-13 Psalm 138 (antiphon verse 5) Epistle – 1st Corinthians 14:12b-20 Gospel – Luke 5:1-11 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 rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there 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. Our Hymn of the Day: “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed” Lutheran Service Book, 398 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fARIFEVeYt4 The Sermon – Martin Luther, the Reformer of the Christian Church, preached on our text from Luke some 500 years ago. He wrote: "This Gospel is easy to understand for those who believe, and it presents two thoughts: Faith in its relation to earthly blessings, and faith in its relation to Heavenly blessings.” “I would add a third, faith in relation to the Church for both earthly and Heavenly blessings. I. Faith in its relation to earthly blessings -- “All who believe will have enough, but those who do not believe will never have enough. "There is no lack of provision, only a lack of faith . . . “ “Do your work according to your station in service towards others -- that is why you were created. Because of the curse of sin, it will be laboursome, full of grief. “Peter laboured, and yet is finally given more than he knows what to do with because he’s not a fisherman for himself, but for many. “This is a powerful, comforting lesson to us -- the Lord is near. “Though God may delay while we continue to let down our nets according to our calling while abiding in His Word, He will ultimately give us what we need, and as well what He wishes to deliver to others through us. Ultimately the nets will burst forth. II. Faith in its relation to Heavenly blessings -- “When Simon Peter saw the miraculous catch of fish, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’ “As Isaiah said: ‘Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!’ “This is where ministry starts, and where our Church Service begins as well -- in confession. Finally, it is also our touch point with the world. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1st Timothy 1:12-15: ‘I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.’ Luther stresses, "All ‘gods’ that do not take away sins are idols. . . for false gods wish to discover righteousness, but our true God brings it; God the Lord brings it with Him and does not discover it among the people to reward it. . . . the more disgraced you are, the quicker God imparts grace." “And there is truly no end to the supply of this grace, this forgiveness. III. Faith in its relation to the Church for earthly and Heavenly blessings. “Christ's Church is where, and only where, God forgives sins. “While He is doing this among us, He also provides for our daily needs. “Think of the boat in our Gospel text as the Church, Peter as the Pastoral office, and the net as the Word & Sacraments. “The great temptation for the servant of the Word, as well as the people God gathers to hear and be led by the Word, is to give up, give in, when, like Peter, James, and John it seems we’ve toiled all night in fishing and took nothing.” This kind of despair, of lack of trust in God, is what led to: • 40 years of wilderness wandering for the Israelites, • Three days in the belly of a great fish for Jonah, • Moses not being allowed to set foot in the Promised Land of Canaan, and • Saul being replaced as king of Israel Today in 2025, it’s what leads to false church organizations that substitute the sinful passions and evil work of human beings, for the powerful, perfect Word and will of God. It’s what leads people to abandon the true, Triune God, for false human ‘political correctness,’ atheism, perversity, and the demonic occult. It’s what leads many to bypass the true Christian Church – the Confessional Lutheran Church – for false churches that called themselves ‘reformed’ or evangelical but only offer un-Biblical lies. The Prophet Isaiah wrote, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9) This means God measures success and counts treasures much differently than human beings, or sinful secular cultures that deny Him. God does not work by motivating people to be ‘the best that they can be,’ or manipulating them to do what He wants. He works to kill the sinful nature in us, and leads us to repent of our selfish desires so that we turn to Him and receive the gifts He gives out of pure love for us in Christ. He desires all people to be saved, while in this world they serve one other. This is why Jesus tells us to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33) It is what Peter, Andrew, John and James discovered. It’s what gave them the faith to continue putting out into the deep of an un-Godly world with only the nets of God's Word and Sacraments -- even to the point of martyrdom and exile. Luther wrote, "If one believes, God gives him so much that he is able to help all people." We see this time and again throughout Scripture, and especially in: • Noah and his Ark, • Peter and a net bursting with fish, and yes, • Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. We receive not necessarily what we want, but what God wills for the good of His most beloved creation, human beings. The true Church is where God delivers us from sin, death, and the devil, not with gold or silver, but with Christ’s holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death into which you are baptized. The true Church is where God delivers us into His eternal life, a life not of outward success, riches, and great numbers, but a life united with Him and all believers in His resurrected flesh. The Apostle Matthew recorded Christ’s Great Commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) Fellow Christians, take comfort that the Lord of Heaven and earth is with you today, and always. Through His true Church He is making poor sinners rich, feeding the hungry with the Gospel, the Good News of salvation. He is working faith in you through the power of the Holy Spirit. By His Holy Word, He forgives sins, giving you eternal life in Heaven. Through the Lord’s Supper, He offers us His true Body and Blood for the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. With this blessed assurance, witness to our Saviour in Your daily life. Spread the Good News to those in darkness. Be comforted that the Lord of all creation is with you, now and forever. Amen. The Benediction – The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and + give you peace. Amen. Our Closing Hymn: “Come Follow Me,” the Savior Spake” Lutheran Service Book, 688 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gScrhj7eUIc 1 “Come, follow Me,” the Savior spake, “All in My way abiding; Deny yourselves, the world forsake, Obey My call and guiding. Oh, bear the cross, whate’er betide, Take My example for your guide. 2 “I am the Light, I light the way, A godly life displaying; I bid you walk as in the day, I keep your feet from straying. I am the Way, and well I show How you must sojourn here below. 3 “My heart abounds in lowliness, My soul with love is glowing, And gracious words my lips express, With meekness overflowing. My heart, My mind, My strength, My all, To God I yield, on Him I call. 4 “I teach you how to shun and flee What harms your soul’s salvation, Your heart from every guile to free, From sin and its temptation. I am the Refuge of the soul And lead you to your heavenly goal.” 5 Then let us follow Christ, our Lord, And take the cross appointed And, firmly clinging to His Word, In suffering be undaunted. For who bears not the battle’s strain The crown of life shall not obtain.