Worship Helps for Pentecost 2

Worship Theme: The Holy Ministry stands on the rock-solid truth of God’s Word. Not all who call themselves ministers do that, so watch out for false teachers!  Many will come with wise sounding words and pious promises, but they are not what they seem.  The Church’s only defense is to stand firmly on the rock-solid truth of God’s Word. The Season of Pentecost explicates the teachings of Christ and the application of faith in the life of the Christian.  How fitting that this initial Sunday lays the foundation for that teaching and life: the inspired Word of God.  

Old Testament: 1 Kings 22:10 Dressed in their royal robes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them. ¹¹ Now Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made iron horns and he declared, "This is what the LORD says: 'With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.'" ¹² All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. "Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious," they said, "for the LORD will give it into the king's hand." ¹³ The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, "Look, as one man the other prophets are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably." ¹⁴ But Micaiah said, "As surely as the LORD lives, I can tell him only what the LORD tells me." ¹⁵ When he arrived, the king asked him, "Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?" "Attack and be victorious," he answered, "for the LORD will give it into the king's hand." ¹⁶ The king said to him, "How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?" ¹⁷ Then Micaiah answered, "I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, 'These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.'" ¹⁸ The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?" ¹⁹ Micaiah continued, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne with all the host of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left. ²⁰ And the LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?' "One suggested this, and another that. ²¹ Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the LORD and said, 'I will entice him.' ²² "'By what means?' the LORD asked. "'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,' he said. "'You will succeed in enticing him,' said the LORD. 'Go and do it.' ²³ "So now the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours. The LORD has decreed disaster for you." ²⁴ Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah went up and slapped Micaiah in the face. "Which way did the spirit from the LORD go when he went from me to speak to you?" he asked. ²⁵ Micaiah replied, "You will find out on the day you go to hide in an inner room." ²⁶ The king of Israel then ordered, "Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king's son ²⁷ and say, 'This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prison and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.'" ²⁸ Micaiah declared, "If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me." Then he added, "Mark my words, all you people!"

1. What lesson do you learn from the story of King Ahab about true prophets and false?

Epistle: 2 Peter 1:20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. ²¹ For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-- bringing swift destruction on themselves. ² Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. ³ In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

2. What important doctrine do you see explained in this reading?

Gospel: Matthew 7:15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. ²¹ "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' ²⁴ "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." ²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹ because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

3. How will be able to recognize false prophets?

4. True or false: Everyone who says, “Lord, Lord,” on the Day of Judgment will enter into heaven?

5. Why were the people amazed at Jesus’ teaching?

Answers:

1. Never before was there a man like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD. As he and Jehoshaphat listened, prophet after prophet promised victory in the coming battle. Those prophets looked the part with their props and talked the talk by speaking in the name of the LORD. But as Jesus said, not everyone who prophesies in the name of the Lord is a true prophet. Judge them by their fruit—the message they speak. This lesson starkly reveals false prophets as the liars they are. But Micaiah stands on the rock-solid truth of God’s Word that will not be shaken by royal power, personal violence, or professional disdain. Mark Micaiah’s words carefully, and judge him by his fruit. No disguise, or ruse, or armor could hide Ahab from the arrow of God’s judgment, just as Micaiah prophesied. As the dogs licked Ahab’s blood from the chariot and Naboth’s murder was finally avenged, the false teachers were exposed as frauds, but God’s ministers who faithfully proclaimed his Word stood on a foundation that could withstand any storm.

2. False teachers like Zedekiah give their own interpretation, suited for themselves or their audience. Not so true prophesy! Verse 21 speaks of the inspiration of Scripture. Using the false teachers as a foil, verse 21 draws a direct contradiction between false prophesy and Scripture. The Greek of Verse 21b is emphatic that the Holy Spirit is the important actor here. “By the Holy Spirit carried, men spoke from God.” Even the Greek word for “spoke” implies that man did not contribute the message, but the mouth. Peter encourages us to be ready for false teachers: we know they’re coming, and we know their ending. The Holy Ministry watches out for false teachers and stands instead on the rock-solid truth of the inspired Word of God.

3. Jesus says that we can recognize them by their fruits.

4. False.  Jesus is interested in more than mere words.  He is looking for the natural fruits of faith that the Holy Spirit works in our lives through the gospel.

5. Because he taught with authority.  In other words, he didn’t base his teachings on what someone else had said (like the teachers of the law).  Instead, Jesus would say things like: “Truly, truly I say to you …”  Jesus can do this because he is God.

The Sermon on the Mount closes with this admonition of our Lord: “Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few will find it.” The Gospel for today gives a reason so few will find that road: the deceptions of false teachers. Jesus warns the Church that no false prophet ever comes claiming to be one. We cannot judge them only by their actions—even Judas performed miracles. Outward power or piety merely masks the beast within false teachers. We must rather judge them by their fruit: not merely their moral lives, but the fruit of a prophet is his message. What does he say? He may speak it in the name of Jesus, but look at the prophet’s fruit, his message. The mark of a man on the narrow road, the mark of a true teacher is one who hears the words of Christ puts them into practice. That foundation of rock-solid truth can withstand any storm. True ministers of the Word proclaim the truth and put Christ’s words into practice.

Putting your faith into action

Calling out “Lord, Lord,” driving out demons, and performing miracles does not give you a ticket to heaven. Neither does giving an offering open up heaven. Jesus and his Word give you heaven. Those who do the will of God bear good fruit. They build their house on the rock. They will hold on to God’s Word. They offer God honest thanks.

A reading from the Book of Concord for Pentecost 2

As soon as Christian freedom is weakened and human traditions are forced on the Church with coercion, as though it were wrong and a sin to omit them, the way is already prepared for idolatry.  In this way, human traditions are multiplied and regarded as a divine worship, not only equal to God’s ordinances, but even placed above them.

Furthermore, idolaters are confirmed in their idolatry by such yielding and conforming in outward things.  True believers are grieved, offended, and weakened in their faith.  Every Christian, for the sake of his soul’s welfare and salvation, is bound to avoid these, as it is written:

Woe to the world for temptations to sin! (Matthew 18:7)

But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18:6)

But what Christ says is to be especially remembered:

So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32)

This has always been the faith and confession about such matters, by the chief teachers of the Augsburg Confession.  We follow in their footsteps and we intend to persevere in their confession by God’s grace. – Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Article X, Church Practices (paragraphs 15-18)