GreatnessThroughHumilityMt18 1 to 11

St. Michael and All Angels (Transposed from 29-September-2026)27-September-2026
Sermon Text: Matthew 18:1-11
Sermon Theme: “Greatness Through Humility!” I. Puffed Up In Pride The Fallen Angel Took Mankind Captive In Sin! (Vs.1-4) II. The Holy Angels Rejoice Over Every Repentant Sinner! (Vs.5-7) III. In The War Against Evil Trust Only Christ Jesus! (Vs.8-11) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. Luk 2:8-12 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. (9) And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. (10) Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. (11) For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (12) And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." In the deep darkness the light of God’s glory suddenly shines on lowly shepherds. The world looked down upon the humble shepherd and his calling to care for dirty smelly sheep. Faithfully fulfilling their vocation through the heat of the day and the cold of the night these men served their Creator by caring for His creatures. Humbly they served their fellow man by protecting and raising sheep to provide clothing and food.
To these lowly men on Bethlehem’s hills the angel of the Lord is sent. Jerusalem was only five miles away, but the angel doesn’t appear in the Temple as the angel Gabriel, who stood in the very presence of our Holy God, had done to Zacharias nearly a year and a half ago. Maybe it was because the priests, descendants of Aaron, prided themselves in their priesthood - they took like Zacharias would’ve question the good news of the Savior’s birth preached.
    The humble shepherds hear the sermon, take it to heart, and after the heavenly choir sings the hymn of praise, go to find the thing that has come to pass revealed to them by the preaching angel sent from God. Today, we have transposed the readings for St. Michael and All Angels from September 29th to this Sunday. Often, if this feast doesn’t fall on a Sunday we forget it, but we need to learn the comforting doctrine of God’s holy angels as we stand sober and vigilante against our adversary the devil and his evil fallen demons. The Gospel lesson for the 17th Sunday After Trinity, Luke 14:1-11, ends with Jesus preaching to us, Luk 14:11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
      Therefore as we bless the Lord for all His benefits towards us caring for our body, soul, and spirit. Let us bless Him as He cares for us through the ministry of His holy angels. Learn from their service to God’s children: “Greatness Through Humility!” I. Puffed Up In Pride The Fallen Angel Took Mankind Captive In Sin! (Vs.1-4) II. The Holy Angels Rejoice Over Every Repentant Sinner! (Vs.5-7) III. In The War Against Evil Trust Only Christ Jesus! (Vs.8-11)
I. Twice on their journey towards the Passover’s fulfillment in Jerusalem Jesus had taken His disciples aside instructing them as history records: Mat 17:22-23 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, (23) and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up." And they were exceedingly sorrowful.
   The disciples couldn’t wrap their minds around the truth that the eternally begotten Son of God, who humbled Himself to be born as a true Man of the Virgin Mary - would humble Himself to the point of death upon the cross - following His Father’s will to deliver us sinners from the evil one. It isn’t how our world works. (Vs.1) Who is the greatest Jesus? Who will take your place after Your crucifixion? The world lusts for power, not weakness!
    The Lord God after the creation of man on the sixth 24 hour day of the existence of all matter in the universe, declared all things, “Very Good!” Mankind was created male and female and united in the lifelong union of marriage, blessed by God to be fruitful and multiply - to fill the world with children - raising them to rejoice in the Creator. Then one of God’s chief created angels rebelled against his Creator. When the Holy Spirit lists the qualifications for men to fill the pastoral office through Paul’s pen, He writes, 1Ti 3:6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. A man to be considered for the pastoral office must not be a novice - or the devil may tempt him to pride - the root of the devil’s rebellion.
     We confess that God is the Creator of all things visible and invisible. During the first six 24 hour days of God calling forth all matter that we can see out of nothing, arranging it, and filling it with life - He also created the invisible - angels were created during these days. The Scripture doesn’t tell us on which day, but as God talks with Job He tells us that the morning stars sang together and shouted for joy (Job 38:7) As God created by the power of His Word alone and formed our universe. All angels were created without sin, but were not robots. The Lord God wanted them to freely love Him and rejoice to humbly serve mankind. The devil, Satan, Lucifer puffed himself up in pride leading a rebellion against his Creator. Isaiah compares the power hungry king of Babylon to the devil’s prideful pompous lust for power. Isa 14:12-15 "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! (13) For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; (14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' (15) Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. The Holy Spirit further teaches us through the pen of Peter, 2Pe 2:4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;”
      The devil, a created angel, wanted to be greater than his Creator. He lead a band of angels, maybe a third, against God - he lost and was thrown out of heaven. Come down on earth he has great wrath - seeking to destroy God’s creation and its crown - mankind. He strode into Eden as a subtle serpent, the old dragon, whispering to the woman that she could be her own god, choose her own path to wisdom and power. Adam stood silent - unwilling to preach God’s Word - to a talking beast that God had put under his dominion. So sin enter the world through Adam, and death through sin - now death has passed to all for all have sinned. We parade our sin in pride - but all it brings us is death - now and if unrepented of forever in the hell prepared for the devil and his angels.
    The humble God/Man teaches us, (vs.2-3) Jesus calls a toddler, a child under two, to come to Him. He takes up the young child and sits him on His lap. The toddler has no power to sustain his life. He depends only the on the love and care of his parents for life and safety. Greatness in God’s Kingdom is being the least, the weakest, the broken, one who comes with nothing in his hands - simply clinging to Jesus crucified for his sins and raised again to declare him forgiven!
    From Adam our sinful nature from the moment of conception is captive by Satan, sin, and death - puffed up in pride. We need to be converted - born from above by the Holy Spirit with water and the Redeemer’s Word. Daily and richly we need the Holy Spirit to call us by the Gospel, enlighten us with His gifts, sanctify and keep us with Jesus Christ in the one true faith within His Church. Humbly we confess that we cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ our Lord or come to Him. (Vs.4) Repent of the lie that you can handle life by yourself - it is a devilish deception. Humble yourself before the cross of Christ! 1Jn 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.  1Pe 5:6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, (7) casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
II. Angels were created by God. They are spirit beings having no body, although they can appear in bodily form. When the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus visited Abraham two holy angels walked with Him. They appeared as three men. The Lord announced the birth of Isaac, then warned Abraham that Sodom and Gomorrah was soon to face judgment for its sin which cried out to heaven for justice. The two angels would appear as men to the perverse men of Sodom, as they rescued Lot and his family from the fire from heaven. Angels cannot procreate. Their number is fixed from the moment of their creation. No human being becomes an angel after death - we are body and soul creatures - redeemed through the flesh and blood of Jesus to live with God face to face in these resurrected bodies for all eternity.
    God’s holy angels are ministering spirits, sent forth from God humbly ministering to Christians who will inherit salvation. (Heb. 1:14). (vs.5) What brings the greatest joy to God’s Holy angels? One sinner who repents! Humble himself to confess that he is a poor miserable sinner - and only looks to the blood of Jesus for cleansing and renewal. Receiving a child in Jesus’ Name is to receive Jesus. The God who is born an Infant to rescue us from all sin, from death, and from the power of the devil. Every infant baptized into Jesus’ Name fills the heavenly choirs of holy angels with joyous hymns of praise. Every fallen sinner, who finally is honest and returns to his Father’s Home - the Church - in contrition and humble repentance - fills the angelic host with joy.
    Beware of the devil and his demons! (Vs. 6-7) The devil is in league with the world and your own selfish prideful flesh to cause little ones to sin. The devil hates babies and rejoices in the blood bath of abortion. If he can’t get you to abort your child, your flesh tempts you to be selfish and neglect teaching it the Ten Commandments, The Apostles’ Creed, and the Lord’s Prayer from infancy daily in your home. The world perverts and persuades your child that there is no God - life is only a cosmic accident as it peddles the myth of evolution as scientific fact.
    Beware that you don’t offend the little ones who believe in Jesus! Friendship with the world is enmity against God! Watch your words and your life - lead all crushed sinners to Jesus the only Sacrifice for sinners!
III. Your baptism clothed you with the armor of Christ! Stand against the wiles of the devil. Peter warns, 1Pe 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (9) Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
     Be honest! We pray, “Our Father, who art in heaven, Thy will be done!” Break my old adam’s prideful will in me! (Vs.8-9) Let nothing take your eyes off of Jesus. Look only to Jesus’ wounds for healing and restoration. Cutting off your hands and feet, plucking out your eyes will not change your sinful heart. Learn from David to confess your sins to Jesus daily! Confess your sins to those whom you’ve sinned against! Cut them off by seeking private absolution from your pastor of the sins that torment your conscience. Jesus will speak through his lips as the nail scarred hand of Jesus is laid upon your forehead declaring, “Son, be of good cheer! Your sins are forgiven you!”  
     Let no family, no government, no friends take your eyes off of Jesus! (Vs.10-11) Rejoice! In this fallen world we are not alone! The mighty Syrian army surrounded the small town of Dothan in Israel. They were there to capture the prophet Elisha dead or alive. Elisha’s servant shook with fear - there was no escape. 2Ki 6:16-17 So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." (17) And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
      We live in evil dark days in these last times, but do not fear! As you humble yourself - as little ones - the Father’s beloved children in Christ Jesus by Holy Spirit given and sustained faith - you are protected. Soon you will join your voices with angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven. The Table will be set - heaven and earth rejoined - as Jesus feeds you His living flesh and blood in bread and wine. Feast on it with joy and depart in peace! Your Savior lives! The victory is won! Satan is cast out of heaven - no longer able to accuse you. Overcome him by the blood of the Lamb of God washing away all your sin. Speak the Truth - the Apostles’ Creed every morning and night. Take up the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God as Jesus prays with you and through you, “Our Father!”
   The holy angels still sing here: Luk 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: (14) "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" Amen.