Two weeks ago, Pastor Bartels opened the Advent Season by reminding us what the word 'advent' means. He reminded us that the word 'advent' means 'coming.' He also shared with us the three ways in which Jesus comes to us.

Particularly, at this time of year, during the seasons of Advent and Christmas, we prepare for Jesus' coming, as a baby born in Bethlehem. When Jesus was born, as a baby in Bethlehem, He came to be our Savior. This means He came to save us from our sin.

Another way in which he reminded us of how Jesus comes to us, is that Jesus comes into our hearts, as the Holy Spirit works faith, through the preaching and the hearing of God's Word and through the reception of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

But, there also is a third way that Pastor Bartels reminded us of how Jesus comes to us. And that is the one we are going to focus on today, as we prepare for Jesus' second coming. When Jesus comes the second time, He will come as judge. He will judge all people, both living and departed, both believers and unbelievers.

So, today, let us look at that third way in which Jesus comes to us, as our Judge. As our sermon text reminds us,

"The Lord is near."

Rejoice

Now, what attitudes should we have, as we prepare for that great and glorious day, as the Lord is near? Well, Paul wrote the words of our text about 2000 years ago, and we are nearer today, than Paul was. If Paul was able to rejoice, then we should also rejoice. Paul says it twice. "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! The Lord is near."

It is interesting to note that just a few verses before the one which I just recited, there were some women in the congregation of Philippi, who were disputing with one another. Their names were Euodia, and Syntyche. Apparently, Euodia had been very beneficial to Paul and his ministry at Philippi. And, apparently Syntyche had been very beneficial to Paul in his ministry in Philippi, as well. And yet, there was a disagreement between those two ladies that was hindering the work of the Lord in that church in Philippi.

The reason I make mention of that disagreement this morning, between those two ladies in that congregation, is because the same thing happens among us today. As we all are here this morning, we are reminded that all of us here at Holy Cross, and everyone who is a member of any congregation, are sinful human beings. And, as we come together to do the work of the Lord, we bring our strong opinions with us. And, those opinions clash with one another. Feelings get hurt. And grudges are held. Instead of the work of the Lord being done and accomplished, the work of the Lord is hindered.

And so, that is why Paul pleaded with Euodia to agree with one another, in the Lord. He also pleaded with Syntyche to agree with one another in the Lord. And then, he tells them to rejoice.

Now, today as we apply that to ourselves, is it possible for us to rejoice, when we are going through hard times, with other members of our church, or with other members of our own family? Listen to what Pastor Kucshel says in his commentary, on this very section of scripture, which answers that question.

"Can believers really feel joy in their hearts, when they are troubled by past sins? Can they rejoice, when they or those they love are facing life's sharp edges of unemployment, financial problems, sickness, uncertainty, pain, and death?"

Remember, Paul wrote these words as a prisoner, a man with years behind him, of being conformed to the fellowship of Christ's suffering, with an uncertain future ahead of him. Yet, he wrote this epistle with a song in his heart and words of praise on his lips.

Even when things around us seem dark and gloomy, as Christians, we can rejoice. After all, Jesus came the first time as a baby, born in Bethlehem, as our Savior to save us from our sin. And it is the Holy Spirit who brings Jesus to us, in our hearts, through the preaching and hearing of God's Word, and through the reception of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. We are able to rejoice, because we look forward to Jesus' second coming. "The Lord is near," therefore we can have joy and rejoicing in our hearts.

Pray

Also, in keeping with our text for today, Paul tells us, as "the Lord is near," we should come to God in prayer. Paul says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

First of all, don't be anxious. Another word for anxious, really, is to worry. And that is to take a problem or a concern and hold it onto yourself, and worry about it.

This last week, our Confirmation Students learned two passages, asking us not be anxious about anything, but to bring our requests before God, in Heaven. They learned what it says in I Peter 5:7,

"Cast all of your anxiety on Him,

because

He cares for you."

They learned what scripture says in Psalm 37:5

"Commit your way to the LORD,

trust in Him and

He will do this."

Do we keep worry and anxiety to our self, clinging unto it and making it our own problem? Scripture, in both of those passages, asks us to give those worries and those anxieties, those problems and concerns to God, in prayer. Place them into His hands, knowing He will work all things out, for the good of His Children.

Not only can we rejoice that "the Lord is near," but we can also pray and bring all of our requests before the Lord, because "the Lord is near."

Peace

One of the last emotions or attitudes that Paul shares with us that we can feel, because "the Lord is near," is that we can have peace. At the end of every sermon, here at Holy Cross, Pastor Bartels and I close the sermon by saying,

"And now, the peace of God,

which surpasses all understanding

keep your hearts and your minds

in faith in Christ Jesus, our Lord."

We are quoting this passage from Paul, in the book of Philippians.

This is a wonderful word picture that the Philippian Christians would have understood. They had Roman soldiers around them every day of their life. And, they saw those Roman soldiers standing guard at doorways. Nobody could go in or out of those doors, unless they passed by that Roman soldier. And, just as those Roman soldiers stood guard at the door, back in Paul's day, we have God, our Heavenly Father, who is standing guard at our hearts. Nobody is able to pass by, not even the devil, unless he passes by God.

So, may the peace of God

be with you.

At the end of every committal service, as Pastor Bartels and I say words of blessing, as the family is leaving from the graveside, again words of peace are shared through scripture. We say, "The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the Sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, keep you in your faith, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Christ is arisen. He is arisen, indeed. Let us go forth in peace, in the name of the Lord."

"The Lord is near." And, we are two thousand years nearer to the Last Day, than Paul was, as he wrote those words. And yet, we can have wonderful emotions and attitudes about us.

We can rejoice, because "the Lord is near."

We can continue to bring all of our prayers before the Lord, because Jesus is near.

We can have peace in our hearts, because Jesus, when He came the first time as a baby, came to be our Savior, who saved us from all of our sin.

And, He has come into our hearts through the working of the Holy Spirit, as God's Word is preached and we hear those words and also are strengthened in our faith, through the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, so we are prepared for Jesus' second coming.

And so, may we, as a congregation, be prepared for that great and glorious day, when our Judge will come. And may He say to all of us, "Come you who are blessed by my Father, receive the inheritance prepared for you, since the creation of the world."

God grant this unto you, for Jesus, our Savior's sake.

Amen.