It’s Friday…
And is Jesus coming?
Soon?
Yes, and the day is nearer than when we first believed! [Romans 13:11]
But are we in the last days? Yes!
We have been since the Ascension.
One church history professor at the seminary told us that nothing significant happened in history after that day—since Jesus rose to be back where He was before. That everything since then has just been clean-up.
Like D-day and all that followed the end of WWII.
Yes, there were still pockets of German resistance in places. Places that had not heard that the war was over. Enemy soldiers that refused to surrender despite what they could see.
Same with the devil and his horde!
But, it is coming to an end. He and his evil have already been defeated.
Now the POW rescue operations are underway. When all have been brought home, then…
Then we have the celebration feast.
Until then, this is what we, the church, is to do. We are to seek the lost, and bring them with us back to the many field hospitals that our Captain has put up.
There they, like, will find help. There we find nourishment. There we learn how it is we are live in a post-war, clean-up manure. There we hear the truth, that speaks differently than the enemy propaganda that is still being transmitted by the enemy.
But this will not go on for much longer. The King is coming, and He will re-build His kingdom here. Better than it ever was before.
Look to the skies… today might be that very day.
Yes, it’s Friday, but Sunday may not come…
Today may be THE LAST DAY. May it be so.
Come Lord Jesus!
This coming Sunday – 16th Sunday after Pentecost – September 18th 2025
Readings
Old Testament – Proverbs 9:8-12
Epistle – Philemon
Gospel – Luke 14:25-33
Psalm – 121
Sermon – COUNT THE COST – Based on the Gospel lesson
Prayers – Remember those countries in conflict, especially Israel and Palestine; and Russia and Ukraine. That the loss of life would weigh heavy on their consciences and peace would be sought. That through this devastation, Christ would be looked to as the only real peace. Even though we have given away only a small number of Bibles, we would ask our Gracious Lord to give a hunger for His Word to these people and that they would read His Word, gaining faith and salvation thereby.
A Reflection by Luther…
Don’t Listen to them
On Jeremiah 23:16: ‘Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you; they make you vain [they teach you vanity, R. V.]; they speak a vision of their own heart—and not out of the mouth of the Lord!’
“Behold, all prophets who do not preach out of the mouth of the Lord are deceivers, and God forbids us to hear them. Does not the text state clearly that where God’s Word is not preached no one dare, under pain of God’s wrath, listen to it, for it is pure deception? O Pope, O bishops, O priests, O monks, O theologians, how are you going to escape here? Do you consider it a trifling matter when the Supreme Majesty forbids whatever does not proceed out of the mouth of the Lord and is something else than God’s Word? It is not a thresher or herdsman who is saying this. When the servant hears the master say: ‘Who told you to do that? It is not what I have commanded,’ he will certainly realize that he should not have done it as being contrary to the master’s orders.” (St. L. XIX:821 f.)