July 4, 2004
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Mindekirken July 4, 2004 Jesus said this to the seventy he had appointed to go into the world. Here we see what missionaries must do in order to preach the gospel to the whole world. Jesus has an agenda for those he is sending out. What is it? First, go two by two into every city and place. Why two by two? Our Lord knows that it is best if you are going to be a missionary to have someone with you. That’s not so dumb. Jesus knows us well. Two can keep their courage up and help each other and encourage each other so they can go out to those who want to know more about Jesus. Second. Before you go, you must pray for the Lord of the harvest to send out workers. The harvest is great, but the workers are few. All mission work must begin in prayer, says Jesus. It is often said that before revival can begin, there must be prayer. That’s why any Billy Graham crusade begins years before the actual event—as people meet to pray together for revival. So we pray: Help us to do your will, strengthen us, send us. I know many old missionaries who pray many times each that the world will come to know Jesus as its Savior. Pray, they say, that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers for the harvest is great. Send them out before you come again so that everyone can hear your word. They know that the day is short, and the night is coming when no one can work. Work for the night is coming, we have heard many times in the old revival song. Pray, the Lord of the harvest to send out workers. Thirdly. Jesus said that we go out as lambs among wolves. That is true, really true! To go out to the world with only a word about Jesus is dangerous. We know, or have heard about, many people who have gone out to faraway lands and have never come back. I think about a young woman, Thea Ronning, born in Bø in Telemark, in 1865, She emigrated to America when she was barely twenty years old. She lived with her brother, Pastor Halvor Ronning in Solr, near Faribault, Minnesota. But they, both of them, heard the millions of Chinese crying out to them, come and help us. In 1891 these two young people left for China. Hunger, disease, war, death all around them. It was frightfully hot in the summer, and terribly cold in the winter. But for Jesus’ sake, she began to learn the Chinese language. It was hard work, difficult and tiresome. But she was smart, and finally learned the language so that she could tell, especially the women, about Jesus. Every week she wrote home to tell how the work was going. Women here in Minnesota read her letters and knit stockings and made quilts for the young children I Fan=cheng. One day, when she was traveling to Hankow to meet other missionaries coming from America, she fell among thieves, and lost all that she had, her money, her clothes, everything. Not long afterwards she became ill and died. She had been in China only 9 years, but suddenly she became ill and died. Her dust lies beneath the earth far away. On her gravestone one can read that she is waiting, like us, for the Lord to come again and take her home. We go out as lambs among wolves. It can be dangerous to work for the Lord! Fourthly, says Jesus, we should take next to nothing along with us. Neither purse, or bag, or sandals. The prophets must go barefoot! Nor can you greet anyone you meet on the way. Go right out to every city and place. We don’t have time to stand here talking! All you have with you is the saying---Peace to this house. It’s not much, but for those who serve the Lord, it’s enough. His word has power and authority. And those who hear us, he has promised, hear the Lord. So when you meet a person, says Jesus, if they receive your word, then you can stay with him in his home, as you continue your work. With my word you can heal the sick, and say to every person, the kingdom of God is near you. Here is the key to the passage. When we say a word about Jesus to each other, and go his will, truly, as he has promised, the kingdom of God is near. When God’s kingdom comes, everything is changed! Before my dear father, who preached here many times, died, he marveled at how often Jesus healed a person and then immediately forgave them all their sins. To be near Jesus was to be made whole, he said. Jesus, in his word, today is with us here. And he can do much more than we think. He can heal us in our body, soul, and hearts, give us peace, and deliver us from the evil one, as we say, and take us with him to heaven. When we hear Jesus we are in God’s kingdom, right now! But it will be much better when we are with him in Paradise! I have an old second cousin in Kragero who suffers great pain in his legs, still a joyful man, but when who ask him how are you, Kolbjorn, he frequently says, just fine, but, it will be so much better, much better, up there with Jesus in Paradise! That is not all that Jesus said. It is scary to hear how it will be with those who do not hear these words and reject Jesus. Those who do that, says Jesus, reject the one that sent me. It is God who has sent Jesus. Have we rejected God from our hearts? How is it with you, my friends? Have you said yes to the Lord of the Harvest? He is waiting for you, he is waiting for you hear in his word, here in the bread and wine. When you hear his voice, the kingdom of God is near. Many years ago, Bishop Schreuder from the west coast of Norway, left his homeland to begin mission work among the Zulu in southwest Africa. He worked many many years among them without any success. One day, in 1858, all of Norway heard that Umatendhjwaze, a young Zulu girl, was baptized. She was the first of many Zulu who said yes to Jesus. All of Norway rejoiced, church bells rang out over the entire country, and Landstad wrote the hymn we will close with. So it is, said Jesus. The text fits the Fourth of July as well, for when the seventy were away, Jesus said later, he saw Satan fall down from heaven, like lightning, fireworks from heaven. That is the power of his word. Even the devil is defeated. So it is when you hear the word of Jesus and follow in his footsteps, and receive his body and blood. Heaven rejoices and comes near. And you will receive the courage to go forth with this word, the kingdom of God is at hand! |
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716 |