Confirmation Sunday

CONFIRMATION SERMON

Text: Habakkuk 3:17-19

Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.

SERMON Part 1

Habakkuk 3:17-18

In Christ Jesus dear fellow-redeemed, and especially dear Lindsay, Lindsey, Robert, Cassie, Dan, and Meghan:

I don’t believe any one of you (or anyone else here) had to go to school to learn how to smile. We may need reminders at times so we don’t look so grumpy and glum, but the act of smiling is something everyone can do as a baby without being taught. Still, I can tell you that your instruction in God’s Word leading up to this day has been teaching you to smile.

In a similar way, I don’t suppose you ever thought of coming to doctrine and confirmation classes as going to "strength training." Yet, that is exactly what you were doing.

Your instruction in God’s Word has been instruction to equip you for happiness so that you can smile in life—spiritually, even if not always physically. Your instruction in God’s Word has also been to equip you with the strength to persevere through this life into eternity. So on this, your Confirmation day, the message from God’s Word which Pastor Nolting and I wish to leave with you is: DEAR CONFIRMANDS, FROM THIS DAY FORWARD IN THE MIDST OF LIFE I. Rejoice in the Lord’s salvation! And II. Rely upon the Lord’s strength. We consider first of all rejoicing…

I. Rejoice in the Lord’s Strength

Habakkuk starts out by describing some pretty serious problems. However, because we don’t live in Israel at Habakkuk’s time, we might breeze right over this and say, "that sounds pretty bad" without giving it time to "soak in" so that we know just how bad it would be. What we need to do is to take the things Habakkuk lists, think about what that would mean for the Children of Israel in those days, and then think of what would be similar for our lives today.

First, we start with luxuries—there are none. The things that Habakkuk mentions were the things they needed to survive, not things to make their lives comfortable. So, if we want to make the situation which Habakkuk describes fit our lives, we have to start by saying that there are no luxuries: no TV, no VCR, no video games or entertainment on computer , no shopping malls where we can spend hours just looking, no make-up, no perfume, no pretty jewelry, no pets, no large comfortable homes, no extra money in the pocket, and certainly nothing in the bank. Strip away everything in your life that is not necessary and then you are at the same starting point as Habakkuk’s description.

Habbakuk imagines a life without figs, grapes, olives, or any crops from the field. These were the main vegetable and fruit items in the people’s diet. Habakkuk is saying, "though there be no FOOD—that means no corn or soybeans in the field, no wheat and, therefore, no food products that take flour. To us, Habakkuk would say: "though there be nothing in the garden and only aisle after aisle of empty shelves in Cub, Hyvee, Rainbow, and every other grocery store."

There is more…not only were these crops the Israelites’ food, but it was also their business. Figs, olives, and wine were export crops traded for other things from other countries. Habakkuk is saying, "though the industries and businesses all be closed, though the stock market crashes and ceases to exist, though there is no way to make money."

There is more…not only were olives used for food, the oil was also the people’s primary fuel for their lamps which gave light – "though there be no electricity."

Not only did the fields yield food for the people, but also the grass and the grain for the flocks and herds to eat. Habakkuk also talks about the flock being cut off from the fold. If sheep in the wilderness country of Israel are separated from their pen and the protection of their shepherd they’re dead, either by starvation or by a predator. Habakkuk describes a situation in which there are no animals for meat, and the wool of the sheep is gone so there is also no fabric for clothes.

Habakkuk’s last example is "no oxen in the stalls." The oxen were the hard-working animals for Israel. They were the animals that pulled the plows and turned the mills. So to us, Habakkuk says, "though there be no machines to work."

"What’s left?" you may ask. Not much! Which is why Habakkuk’s next statement is so amazing. “Though [all of these be gone]…Yet, I, for my part will be rejoicing in the Lord--Jehovah, I will jump for joy in the God of my salvation.” [v.18 – literal]

In the midst of a life that had virtually NOTHING, Habakkuk was ready to jump up and down and dance around for JOY. NOTHING and JOY? YES! BECAUSE Habakkuk was equipped to rejoice in the midst of life regardless of what that life did or did not have. Why? How? Because He had a true understanding of the Lord’s salvation—which is exactly where your instruction in God’s Word has brought each one of you.

Your instruction in God’s Word has equipped you to look beyond what you do or do not have in this life. You are equipped to smile even when you’re crying. I know that doesn’t sound like it makes any sense, but because of what you know from God’s Word it is true—you are equipped to smile even when you’re crying.

There is no way any of us is going to be able to keep smiling outwardly at all times. There will be many times when we will feel sad and cry because of EARTHLY loss or disappointment. It is a falsehood for anyone to suggest that believers are always externally HAPPY, because that’s not reality in a sinful world; but in the midst of that crying you can still smile spiritually because of the God of your salvation.

Habakkuk wasn’t rejoicing in the emptiness of the life he pictured. He said, “I will rejoice IN THE LORD…IN THE GOD OF MY SALVATION.” When Paul wrote to the Philippians while he himself was in jail, He didn’t say, "Keep on rejoicing in my imprisonment" because who would rejoice that ?! What Paul did say was, “Keep on rejoicing IN THE LORD always. Again, I will say, REJOICE!” (Philippians 4:4).

KNOWING what you know from God’s Word is going to lead to sadness every time you think about your sins…and how many there are…and how often they come…and how they hurt the God who loves you. You are likewise going to experience sadness every time the lasting effects of sin in this world come knocking on your door with trouble, or grief, or frustration. KNOWING what you know equips you to find JOY in your Lord Jesus and the salvation He gives even when the things in this life would leave you sad and alone.

There are so many passages in God’s Word that encourage us to rejoice and they all tie-into SALVATION as the source of that joy. The reasons for rejoicing all connect to the truth that Jesus came and died for our sins on the cross and gives us His righteousness. Isaiah wrote, “I will GREATLY REJOICE in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; WHY? For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with a robe of righteousness…” (Isaiah 61:10). When Mary first found out that she would be Jesus’ mother, she said, “My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior!” (Luke 1:47).

By God’s grace each of you were brought into the joy of the forgiveness of sins through your baptisms. Your instruction in the Word of God has caused that faith to grow and your understanding of what God has done for you to also grow. Today, you’ll receive the Lord’s Supper for the first time and through the sacrament you will experience the reassuring joy of sins forgiven. As long as you continue to use the Good News of your salvation through the Word and Sacraments you will be equipped to rejoice IN THE LORD while you are in the midst of this earth. Everything in your lives may change, but the God of your salvation DOES NOT and CAN NOT CHANGE! He and His salvation are ALWAYS reasons for rejoicing.

In just a few moments, the congregation will hear the memory verse each of you chose for yourselves. As I mentioned to you yesterday, remembering your confirmation memory verse is valuable thing. Remembering any part of the Gospel enables you to take the "joy of salvation" with you. Your confirmation memory verses are especially good for this because of what God says in them and because they are connected to this day.

Lindsay and Lindsey, you both chose the verse in which God tells you to have COURAGE because He is with you wherever you go. You can rejoice in the middle of life because your Savior is right there in the middle with you.

Robert you chose John 3:16—the very heart of the Gospel. How can we not rejoice to hear that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to die and be our Savior.

Cassie, your verse declares that the Lord is strength of your life so of whom should you be afraid? The answer is, of course, "NO ONE!" Fear can lead to tears, but with the Lord as your strength REJOICE!

Dan, your passage is Jesus’ speaking as our Good Shepherd. Jesus, our Shepherd, promises that He knows us and unlike the flock in Habakkuk’s words – nothing can separate us from the fold of Christ. Knowing that our Good Shepherd leads us and protects us is cause for JOY.

And Meghan, Jesus tells you in the verse you chose that He gives peace. It may not always be peace from earthly troubles. It will always be a true peace—one that knows that everything is right with God because my sins are forgiven and therefore I’ll REJOICE.

<<Congregation>> Do you remember your confirmation memory verse? Or instead, do you have a most favorite Gospel passage? In either case, that Word of Salvation when carried with you throughout life, will likewise, equip you to rejoice in the midst of life. Amen.

—Pastor Wayne C. Eichstadt

SERMON Part 2

Habakkuk 3:19

In Christ Jesus, Who enables us to do all things—including keeping our vows, dear fellow redeemed, and especially you confirmands:

It occurred several weeks ago. Perhaps you heard about it on the news or read about it in the paper. Three children were playing in a vacant field near an apartment complex on the outskirts of Savajevo in Bosnia, when one of them stepped on a mine. It had been planted in the field during the Bosnian War many months ago, but had never been removed. Warnings had been made not to go into that field for it was known that mines had been planted there, but these children either were unaware of those warnings, or did not heed them. The mine exploded killing two of the children instantly, while leaving the third child—a girl just a year or two younger than you confirmands—crying out for help. Help, however, did not come. Oh, it was not that people did not hear her. Many people living in the nearby apartment complex heard her crying out for help and could see her lying out in the field in the midst of her own blood with the bodies of her two playmates lying near her. But no one ventured out into the field to help her, because they were afraid that they too might step on a mine and die. Eventually, the cries for help stopped, for the little girl, perhaps exhausted stopped crying and died.

My dear friends—my dear confirmands, why bring up such a morbid story on such a festive day? It is because I am posting a warning—a warning that there are minefields out there in this world, which if you choose to enter them you may well lose your life! I hope and pray that none of you will ever have to face a war on our native soil. I hope and pray that none of you will ever have to live with the concern that you or one of your children may step on a military mine that will explode as it did in the case of these children. But I do know that there are plenty of other minefields out there in life. There are physical minefields of alcohol, drugs, and improper sexual activity, which can enslave you and destroy your bodies. There are educational minefields filled with men and women, who have long given up any belief in God or in the absolute truths of Scripture, and who at times are intent upon leading young Christians away from their faith and so mislead and distort their minds. There are spiritual minefields of false religions, which ignore, reject, or distort the Bible or portions of it, and so prove destructive to the soul. Yes, my dear friends—my dear confirmands, there are minefields out in our world. You would be wise to heed my warnings!

How can you avoid the minefields and keep the vows you have made? I would encourage you dear friends and DEAR CONFIRMANDS—FROM THIS DAY FORWARD IN THE MIDST OF LIFE rely upon the LORD’s strength! That’s sounds like such an easy thing to remember and to do, and yet it is so very difficult, for it goes directly contrary to the natural tendency of human beings. That is why Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:12 says, “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” We tend to trust in ourselves until we get in over our heads, but the time to turn to God—the time to rely upon God is before we get in over our heads. As we get up each morning, let us “Trust in the LORD with all your (our) heart, and lean not on your (our) own understanding!” (Proverbs 3:5). Yes, let us “Commit your (our) way to the LORD, trust also in Him. And He shall bring it to pass!” (Psalm 37:5)

Habakkuk urges you and me to recognize that our LORD God is our “strength!” Why would we want to look anywhere else when, as we have already seen, He has worked out our salvation for us? Why would we want to look anywhere else when, He is all-powerful, all-knowing, present everywhere, and committed by the promises of His Word to help and protect us? To turn away from such a God would be like the young Viking quarterback, Daunte Culpepper, telling his offensive line to stay on the sidelines during a game, because he will take care of the entire offense himself!

Habakkuk uses a wonderful picture to illustrate how the Lord provides for us when we rely upon His strength. He says, “He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.” The word for "deer" here can also me the "mountain goat." If any of you have ever been out to the Rockies, one of the most beautiful and interesting sights is to see the mountain goats climbing about on the steep crags and rocks of those high mountains. In places were we would sit huddled against the side of the mountain for fear of falling off, they run and skips as if playing on a flat meadow. When we rely upon the LORD’s strength, we too can proceed through our lives with such confidence!

Dear friends—dear confirmands, watch out for the minefields out there in life. There are many and they can bring serious harm. But, if you day by day and choice by choice rely upon the LORD’s strength as you rejoice in His salvation, you will keep your vows and you may rest assured that your God will keep His! “Be faithful until death,” He says, “and I will give you the crown of life!” (Revelation 2:10)

—Pastor Paul D. Nolting