Appointed with Purpose

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Passage: 1 Kings 19

Date: June 29, 2025

Pastor: Pastor Horton

In the movie, The Hunt for Red October, a rogue Russian submarine was led by its captain – a character played by Shawn Connery.  Before disembarking on their mission, he writes a letter to his Soviet authorities informing them of his intent to defect.  Mid mission the officers learn of this and are shocked by the gravity of their situation.   The captain then references Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortes, who, as legend has it, set fire to his boats upon landing and invading the Aztec empire.  Cortes may have actually scuttled, or dismantled them, but the point is clear: “Look at the smoke!  Retreat is not an option!  We’re not going back!  The only way for us is forward!”

Shawn Connery’s character could have referenced our reading for today in the calling of Elisha by Elijah.  Something similar had happened.  We hear about in 1 Kings how Elijah the prophet went through some highs and lows spiritually and emotionally.  From witnessing God’s victory firsthand upon the Carmel ridge over the prophets of Baal, to fearfully running from the wretched royalty of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel and praying to God for death.  “I am the only prophet left and have had enough, Lord.”  And then you may remember the great wind, the earthquake, and the fire, but God instead speaks to his disheartened prophet through the gentle whisper of his word.  “When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.”  For God has preserved 7,000 true believers in the land and has appointed his successor as prophet.  “Take heart,” says our God!

Speaking of that cloak, he’s going to need it in our reading.  We find the cloak or mantle to be an outer garment, loosely fitting, and most likely made out of animal skin.  But more importantly, this cloak was a symbol of prophetic authority and the divine call given to the man.  This mantle would fall to the ground as Elijah was taken up into heaven.  And both Elijah and Elisha would use this mantle to part the waters of the Jordan River.

And it’s there in our reading, “So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat.  Elisha was doing the plowing with twelve teams of oxen in front of him, and he himself was driving the twelfth team.  Elijah crossed over to him and threw his cloak over him.”  Did you notice how God works in this anointing of his prophet?  There was no job resume.  No list of candidates.  No interview process (no words spoken that we know of).  God chooses.  And in this case he chooses a man who is farming, not one from the well versed Levites or the most gifted from the school of prophets.  Elisha didn’t feel a special feeling in his heart or a specific drive to suddenly seek out this calling.  He was busy doing something else – driving oxen through the fields.  And he had enough oxen, scholars speculate, that Elisha’s family were a pretty well-to-do farm family.  He had other things going on in life.  And yet God is specific.  His call is divine.  And in this case it is sudden.  What a scene out there in the fields as Elijah walks up to him seemingly out of nowhere and throws his cloak over him.  You’re the next one up!    

And yet in some ways this scene mirrors how God calls us.  Mankind was given the gift of perfection with both one another and with God and we fumbled it away in the fall.  Yet God knew you and wanted you for his own from before even before the opening days of creation.  God appointed Christ Jesus as his solution to our sin and death.  You have personally been brought into God’s family of believers and given the gift of heaven.  This is not because we have earned or deserved it.  But entirely by grace – God acting in love – seeking you out – and making you into his own.  

While you may not be wearing a pastor’s stole today after being appointed, ordained, and given the uniquely special calling of public minister, it would not have been inappropriate for me to meet you at the church doors this morning and throw a cloak (or a robe) over each and every one of you as you walked in.  For God has appointed you as his own.  You who may be busy in life with many other things as Elisha was.  You are the ones to whom he comes in Word and Sacrament.  He wants you to hear his message of salvation for you in Jesus.  It is you who were set apart by God in the water and gospel words of your baptism.  You whom God has chosen to equip, and train, and bless with faith and knowledge of Jesus your Savior.  That is a gift that matters for all of eternity!  Do not take that for granted!

Because that temptation is very real for you and me.  Elisha?  He just had one simple request: “Then Elisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah.  He said, “‘Let me kiss my father and my mother good-bye!  Then I will follow you.’”  “Let me say goodbye to my mom and dad.”  But it got me thinking…what are we ready to kiss goodbye to for the sake of the gospel?  Maybe that question is all the more real after moving my family.  Not only because of all the earthly goods (a of it my junk) that I’ve accumulated over the years.  But also as we fashion our house: buying and selling on facebook marketplace, giving attention to just the right kind of planets in just the right pots with just the right amounts of shade, and finding my mind obsessing on the material.  Kiss that goodbye for the gospel?  And then there’s the people: family dearly loved, friends closely trusted, my social status in the world and the familiar faces around me.  Kiss all them goodbye?  And then of course there’s the comfort issue.  More than having air conditioning, boba teas, and vacations, am I (are you) willing to kiss away that personal comfort and be exposed to rejection or even persecution for Jesus?  That is hard.  And many times I find myself falling back into the trap of prioritizing the earthly over the eternal.  Maybe you do as well.  Lord forgive us for the many times we are unwilling to burn the boats in our lives as we conveniently forget that you have appointed us with purpose.  

Help us be more like Elisha.  Watch his example for you and me in the remainder of our text: “Then he took the team of oxen and slaughtered them.  Using the equipment from the oxen as fuel, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate.  Then he got up, followed Elijah, and served him.”  Did you notice the lack of questions and demand for answers?  He speaks volumes with his actions stemming from a heart of faith: “The Lord is calling?  My answer is automatic: ‘Wherever you want me at and whatever you need me to do may it be always only to the glory of God.’”  We know from the pages of Scriptures that not everything would go well for the new prophet, Elisha.  His call would not be a call into wealth or into the praise of men, but into service.  Elisha would face some exceptionally trying times in war and famine.  And yet God would be enough.  He would give enough.  He would equip and train and guide and provide enough to his servant.  

In the same way we find God continuing to provide enough for you and for me in Christ Jesus.  In light of God’s calling us into service, what can we then, moved by the Holy Spirit, do today to serve in that same kingdom Elijah and Elisha belonged?  God doesn’t demand that we go out and torch our houses or burn our wallets, but rather be faithful stewards of what he gives us – mindful of the gospel opportunities we have to do and support.  And Elisha?  He makes full use of what he has at his disposal to sacrifice what God had so generously given him.  He then willingly follows and willingly serves and willingly glorifies God.  We find in him a heart moved by faith that is ready to commit all, even his life to the Lord, knowing that God will provide on earth for he has already provided him the promise of salvation through the coming Messiah.
That gospel promise of salvation through Jesus remains for you and for me today.  And the gospel has been given to you to share.  Go with God as you reenter the world – and don’t forget your Savior placing on you a mantle in the form of his robes of perfect righteousness and forgiveness!  He calls you to serve today!  He calls you to go rogue from the ways of the world today!  You have what you need for all of eternity in Christ Jesus.  Give thanks from the heart.  And look for ways to respond in faith – abounding in love – eager to serve – and made ready to go through life and death and into heaven with Jesus.  For he has appointed you with purpose.  Amen. 

Telling How Much God Has Done For You!

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Passage: Luke 8:26-39

Date: June 30, 2025

Pastor: Pastor Horton

There’s something to be said for coming home.  Be it after a long vacation and getting to finally sleep in the comfort of your own bed, or the happy reunion with your pet after boarding them, or seeing family again and having that favorite meal that mom always makes as your personal comfort food.  Home is familiar and welcoming and more often than not, something we long for.  It’s where we feel connected and loved.  Some of the children of our church may know that very feeling if you are away at a summer camp and spend the night there.  It may be fun to be with friends, but by the end of the week, it’s also fun to come home.

Biblical homecomings abound in Scripture.  Some are really good reunions that are even better than expected: remember Jacob returning home to brother Esau as they heal up their relationship, or the Israelites returning home from exile to rebuild God’s house – the temple in Jerusalem, or Naomi (with Ruth loyally journeying alongside her) to Bethlehem, and then there’s the joyful forgiveness and restoration we find in the parable of the prodigal son returning home to his father who runs to meet him and throws his arms around him.

I’m guessing that may not have been the initial reaction of the townspeople for the formerly demon possessed man in our reading.  This miracle was incredible.  And his return home was made possible entirely by Jesus.  

And you might expect him to be cautious on his return home – many people are.  They may feel unsure or embarrassed by their life or the lack of stability in their life.  They may have found themselves in trouble and are not proud of their situation.  At times people feel adrift, alone, or unwanted.  They may suffer through many things that separate them from family and friends: depression or battles with mental health and various disorders.  

But these are not the reasons why this man was ostracized by his hometown.  The inspired Word of God tells us that he was possessed by demons.  One of these devils would be unwanted and bad enough, and yet we are told that there were numerous cohorts of the evil one at work inside this man.  “Legion” was the self given description of the invaders.  A Roman legion in those times was about 5,500 soldiers strong.  That’s a lot of evil at work.  This man had suffered intensely and for a long time.  He was shackled but broke the chains with supernatural strength.  He was in torment, violent, naked, and living in the desolated areas where the dead were buried.  His condition was helpless and hopeless.  His new home was filled with death all around him and under the control of these dark forces.

And yet see our Savior set foot into this region – thought to be a place most likely inhabited by unbelievers since we find pig herds (the locals were farming what would be considered unclean animals to the Jews).  But pay special attention to the limitless love of God moving in ways that would serve this man.  Jesus knows him, knows all that is tragically going on with him, knows where to find him, and knows how to help him.  Jesus knows that this man would be called and given faith and be considered one of God’s very own.  

And what a powerful reaction to just the presence of Jesus by this drove of destructive devils!  Many humans today diminish the divinity of Jesus and poopoo the fact that he is true God, but watch the response of these vile and wicked creatures  – who, unlike so many today, they know exactly who is standing there and exactly what the Son of God is able to do to them.  And they shudder.  We’re told, “When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, ‘What do I have to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?  I beg you, don’t torment me!’”  The power dynamic has in an instant shifted away from them to him who is alone the Son of the Most High God.  In Philippians 2 we are reminded “that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”  So off the unclean entities were sent into the unclean animals – and down the steep hills they ran – stampeding into a watery grave.  Interestingly enough, the same lake Jesus so often lifted up and saved his followers above the surface – now would see these possessed pigs sent down below.

The locals were horrified by all of this.  Upon further investigation they were shocked to find the same once out-of-control man now clothed, sane, and sitting at Jesus’ feet – at home with his Lord.  Jesus had a lot to tell him.  And the man would have a lot to tell the locals.  The people had a hard time dealing with this reality of who Jesus was, and did what is so often the case in unbelief: push the reality of this  truth aside because it was simply too much to process and apply in their own lives.  “Jesus we don’t know who you are, and who you might be makes us afraid, and we’d just like you to go away from us now,” was their response.  And what else should be expected from the natural unbelief of man when confronted with the authority of almighty God in action?

There are a number of things we are able today to take away from this reading.  The first involves seeing Jesus’ clear authority even over demons.  His victory at the cross marked their demise – the abyss of hell becoming their forever home.  The devil himself has now been made into a footstool of the Almighty.  Yet their power and threat to our faith is real.  That is their goal now: to tempt and to distract us away from our Savior.  There can be possessions (although they are exceptionally rare), as well as what we might call oppression (the account of King Saul may perhaps serve as an example of this), and then from the human perspective: people often have an unhealthy obsession with evil realms and entities.  God calls dabbling with such powers “despicable” before him.  He steers his children away from them.  He holds us close by faith to himself and even sends out his angels, ministering spirits, to guard and protect us.

And what a good reminder: that we are considered by God to be to his children thanks to Jesus!  We need not cower under the covers even if “devils all the world should fill.”  We have a champion in Jesus!  Just as this man was in a spiritual sense shackled to sin and the power of the devil.  So were we by nature.  We could not free ourselves or escape his clutches – and for our sin the eternal grave awaited.  Jesus had to act to save him – and Jesus had to act to save us.  And he did that through his suffering and death on his cross to win for you and for me full and free forgiveness before God.  His victory and his perfect status with God the Father are now yours!

The next good reminder for us in all of this?  Where was this man most at home?  Where did he want to be?  At his Savior’s side and learning God’s Word.  Our lesson concludes this way: “As Jesus got into the boat and started back, the man from whom the demons had gone out begged to be with him.  But Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your home and tell how much God has done for you.”  Then he went through the whole town proclaiming what Jesus had done for him.”  Jesus had a plan for this new man of faith: his vocation would be back home, amongst his own people.  He would stay there and be a walking, talking testimony of God’s grace shown to sinners.  God’s saving act wouldn’t be the thing of local legend – his story would not be a regional tall tale.  For years the next generation could go ask the guy who lived right down the street about his experience firsthand.  And would he have a lot to tell them about Jesus!  

The same holds true for you.  As you get a breather this summer, go on vacation or off to camp – we will come home.  Take a moment and reevaluate your home with the Lord.  Home is where God has placed you and sent you.  The Triune God has already won your heart and converted it into a dwelling place for Jesus.  You carry the gospel of salvation with you.  And you go home with it.  So how has that been going?  I know for myself I’ve always got 100 things to do or places to be.  Yes, even the summer months tend to fill up fast.  But what is the number one focus in our homes?  Where is it that we can congregate as a family?  It is around the same gospel of salvation that this man was given through Jesus.  We have lots to tell in our very own homes about God’s goodness to us!  As we tell and live and share the very same joy of salvation this man had in our homes, consider a renewed focus on your prayer life or maybe starting that family devotion time!  Let’s look to make our homes a place where Jesus lives and dwells, where we like him sacrifice and love, forgive, encourage, and grow in the Word.

After all, you and I and our families are going home.  We are headed home to heaven to be with the Lord forever.  That is the goal of our faith.  We will get to be reunited there with loved ones thanks to Jesus.  We will get to be with the greater family of believers forever.  We can’t wait.  But today we can rejoice, and, beginning in our homes and on to the world, tell how much God has done for us in Jesus.  Amen.

“A Blessing That Lasts”

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Author: John H. Boggs

Passage: Numbers 6:24-26

Date: June 15, 20205

I’ve used the NPH book “Sermon Texts” a lot in ministry. It not only brings you through the proposed texts & readings for Sundays of the church year, but also includes suggested texts for special festivals. The “Easter” section is full of suggestions, as is “Christmas” & others. “Trinity Sunday”, though, is a little light on texts. There were a few I looked at and thought, “that might work”, but nothing really jumped out. Thankfully, when I dug a bit deeper my search was complete as I turned to Numbers 6 (read text). While there are others that would do, the words before us are perhaps the PERFECT passage for Trinity Sunday. Why? Because, it includes A Blessing That Lasts, sharing 1) A promise of protection; 2) A gift of Grace; & 3) An Assurance of Peace- All of which come from Father, Son, & Holy Spirit.

Israel was one year removed from the first Passover in which God freed them from Egypt’s slavery. They had crossed the Red Sea & been recipients of water from a rock and manna from heaven. They had witnessed God flex His muscles against their foes. Now they camped at the foot of Mt. Sinai, where they would receive His expectations in the form of the 10 commandments. It’s here where he would also reveal Himself as LORD- the God of the covenant who loved them, who would protect them, who would bring them much more than they deserved. This same LORD told Moses, “‘Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites’”. What follows is a blessing so powerful it has stood the test of time & is how God’s called NT servants dismiss their people, as well.

There is no missing the mystery of the Trinity in these verses. Three blessings, each specific to the part the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit play in the lives of God’s people. The Father’s work is evident in vs 24, “The Lord bless you and keep you.” Whether OT or NT ears, what a privilege to hear these words spoken! Martin Luther writes in his explanation to the first article of the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe that God created me and all that exists, that He gave me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my mind and all my abilities.” My how the Lord has blessed us! In different amounts; in different ways; but He has blessed us- The house which keeps us dry. The car that’s faster than walking. The ability to provide for self & others. The blessings of sight, learning, comforting, leading, following- the list goes on. Take a second and think how God has blessed you… amazing. There’s more, though, “The Lord bless you and keep you” We pray to our heavenly Father in the prayer He taught us, “Deliver us from evil.” We ask Him to keep bad things away from us, to deliver us from them when they do come, to make them work out for our good and to His glory. And He does! The One who created all things, the One who parted seas and provided for 2 million people wandering through the desert cares about each of us so much He not only blesses us beyond imagination, He protects us when Satan, this world, & even our sinful selves get in the way. That’s God our Father.

The blessings keep coming in our text, “The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;” I love the personal nature of the words here as we see the work of our Savior, Jesus, “The Lord make His face shine upon you.” I’ve gotten away in my ministry from using the phrase “What would Jesus do.” I understand what it means and that it was popular years back. When I look at my life, though, and ask WWJD & then compare that to myself, I’m horrified. I picture Jesus looking at me with his face downcast like a hurt mother or disappointed father. I ask myself WWJD and it’s so often not what I’ve done or contemplated or spoken. Oh, how I don’t deserve the blessing in this verse. And yet Jesus loves the unworthy. He loves the unlovable. He loves those who deserve wrath. God the Father is seen in the first verse of our text as LORD, “Yahweh”- the God of an undeserved, one-sided covenant. How much more for the second member of the Trinity we worship. It’s the same love revealed in Exodus, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” (34:9-10) As if this weren’t enough, we also hear, “The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;” Luther states that this Jesus “has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death.” 1500 years before that Good Friday outside the gates of Jerusalem, we today- at the foot of Mt. Sinai- see the effects of our Savior’s love, “The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.” That’s what undeserved love does! It looks on us & doesn’t see our warts and all. It sees us as blood bought souls because of the One who laid down His life for us. It sees us as new creations, as heirs of eternal life.

Finally, the Aaronic blessing concludes with the words, “The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” The Holy Spirit often gets the short end of the Trinity stick, doesn’t He?! I know He gets Pentecost, but throughout the Church year, Christians focus more on the work of the Father & Son than this “behind the scenes” member of the Trinity. Not today, though. The One who both creates faith in us and strengthens this faith through the Gospel in Word and Sacrament is revealed as we hear the timeless truth that God does indeed ‘turn His face toward us.” Luther continues, “But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.” There is nothing worse than when you are talking to someone and they- either because of anger, boredom, or distraction- turn away to focus on something else. Wow is that frustrating. It’s also something that never happens in life for those who call on the name of the Lord! The faith created in our hearts by Water & the Word gives us access to a God who never sleeps, vacations, or gets bored with ‘turning His face toward you.” Think about that- the Creator of the universe, the Savior of our every sin, partners with the Holy Spirit to answer our every prayer, to conquer our every fear, to be attentive to our every need. Only because this is true can we hear the final words of our text, “The LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace”- Peace in the middle of a messed up marriage; peace bigger than a hurting back or body ravaged by cancer; Peace when sleep deprivation hits us or financial crisis is an everyday reality or when life seems to either be passing us by or hitting us in the face again and again. This peace that the triune LORD gives us assures us that in Him we can handle any situation. And why?! For the same reason Paul could proclaim, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This blessing of peace is not built on me, myself, & I. It’s built on Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I’m going to read the words of our text again with the understanding that the original Hebrew uses the 2nd person singular every time the word “YOU” is said. Hear these words spoken directly to you today, dear friends. Know this blessing first spoken 3,500 years ago is just as valid today as it was at Sinai. It’s a blessing powered by our Triune God- Father, Son, & Holy Spirit. Hear these Words and know that this same God continues to shower His love on you and gives you His peace (read verses; end with “That is the Word of the Lord- AMEN.”)

June 2025 Newsletter

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Author: Pastor Horton

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”    John 3:14-15

The Snake, an Unexpected Animal

My first parsonage was located on the edge of town in the Minnesota River Valley.  It was beautiful, but it was also filled with snakes.  There were small and colorful garter snakes as well as large bull snakes which were harmless  – even though they closely resembled rattlesnakes.  The cool basement block of the parsonage attracted them during the hot summers.  And more than once I opened the front door only to startle a snake and have it slither quickly away.  Each time I ran into a snake it was unexpected.

Certainly the serpent found in Genesis 3 was unexpected.   Perhaps its function and ability to speak was unexpected to Adam.  Regardless, the content of its message was absolutely unexpected, catching Adam and Eve off guard.  The devil operated through such an animal to question and then to challenge God.  Such temptations led humans into the first sequences of sin and the grim reality of death.

In our passage for today, we find Jesus, referencing a different account involving snakes.  The children of Israel grumbled against Moses and in so doing grumbled against God.  Their punishment involved an outbreak of venomous snakes in the camp.  More than a threat, people were bitten and died.  But they also understood and applied the severity of this lesson.  They repented, asking both Moses and the Lord for forgiveness.  God’s solution?  Help would come in the form of a bronze snake lifted up before the eyes of the people that all who looked upon it would live.

This was God’s gracious act to save.  His gracious act to save us through Jesus was also unexpected.  We have only earned death for our sins.  And yet look at what God does for you and for me who are so often sinfully rebellious to him!  He sent Jesus, who, in our verse for today, foreshadowed his wonderfully unexpected work of winning our salvation.  For just as the bronze snake was lifted up before the eyes of the people – Jesus himself would be lifted up on a cross for all of humanity.  All who looked upon him by faith were saved!  Thankfully, God the Holy Spirit has helped us to hear and to see God’s wonderfully unexpected gospel actions which save us from our sins and to give us life with him both now and forever.   

If you happen to bump into a snake this summer in your adventures you may be alarmed.  It may be an unexpected meeting.  Remember the first fall into sin.  But remember also Jesus’ wonderfully unexpected promise and fulfillment to be lifted high on the cross and remove sin and death for us.  Through him we have life.  Let’s live this summer to his glory!