Thy Strong Word From Kfuo Radio

Rev. Peter Burfeind, pastor of Agnus Dei Lutheran Church in Marshall, MI & Our Savior Lutheran Church in Union City, MI joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 14. Amaziah is now king.  He follows in his fathers footsteps by seeking more power, but the desire led to defeat, trampled walls, and death by the hands of his own people.  We seek power and influence in this life and it will lead to many problems.  Yet, our LORD shows His power in the weakness of the cross.  We seek humility and faith that we shall trust in the LORD and also live a holy life in His name.  “Lord God, give us a repentant and humble life, that we may serve You with righteousness, blessedness and innocence forever.  Amen” 

Rev. Gregory Alms of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Catonsville, MD joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 13. The only hero in the Bible is God.  The kings, the Israelites, and even the prophet Elisha all meet their graves but today we see how God uses lowly means to show His resurrection.  In all the chaos of Israel and Judah, we hear of the LORD who listens to the plea of the king.  He not only listened, but answered his prayer for deliverance.  Our LORD listens to us.  In faith, we ask for His grace for each day as we always have the hope of the resurrection as our foundation.  “Lord God, the grave stares at each one of us, but You are the hero who has conquered that grave and listens to our pleas for mercy today.  Help us O LORD, and keep us in Your gracious arms.  In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Steven Theiss, vacancy pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 12. King Joash and Jehoida, the priest, worked together to help restore for the good of God’s people.  After 23 years it appears there was a problem of accountability.  Working together, Judah made sure that the Temple was restored and the gracious gifts were used appropriately.  We pray for the same stewardship of people’s gifts and our churches to be used for His glory. “Lord Jesus, sustain Your church and help us to be generous with our gifts so that our houses of worship point people back to You and that people’s gifts are used in appropriate ways.  In Your name, Amen”  

Rev. Matthew Tooman, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wahpeton, ND, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 11. The lineage of David had to be preserved and the LORD used His people to assure that the last lineage of David, 7 year-old Joash, would become king. This is proof again that God preserves His Church and His guiding hands keeps us in His grace. When the people said, “Long live the king”, it is similar to our confession of faith, “Forever live the King of Kings”, for the kingdom of Christ will last forever. “Lord Jesus, You are our King of Kings. It is clear that You are the one we are to trust as You prove that power is not from our actions, but by Your weakness on the cross we have the power of Your salvation. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Rev. Jared Nies, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Corliss, MN, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 10. When God says “Thus says the LORD”, He means it.  Sin and false worship have long lasting consequences.  These consequences go beyond our generation and for those who are closest too us.  Although we may not see the destruction that occurred for Ahab’s family, we get a glimpse of God’s love for us—while we deserve this kind of wrath, He took this wrath on Himself.  We see the blood of Ahab’s family and the Baal worshippers and realize that Christ’s blood was shed for me.  “Lord God, help us to break our idols and once again refocus our lives to You.  Our sins have been washed, not by the blood of humans, but by the innocent blood of our Lord.  To You be all the glory.  Amen”

Rev. Bob Hiller, pastor of Community Lutheran Church in Escondido and San Marcos, CA, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 9. God calls Jehu to be king, but just like any calling from the LORD, it will not be all unicorns and rainbows.  God calls him to be a king of wrath upon Ahaziah, Joram, & Jezebel.  God’s Word is faithful, even in wrath because His Law is to be followed, but thanks be to God that He has faithfully taken this wrath upon Himself.  When we see the treacherous ways that the kings received wrath, we see the cross and give thanks for all that He has done for us.  “Lord God, in Your love You laid all wrath that we deserved on Your Son, give us repentant hearts and faith with thanksgiving to follow Your ways and trust in You.  Lord have mercy.  Amen”

Rev. Scott Adle, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Collinsville, IL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 8. The words, “God is a jealous God to the 3rd and 4th generation of those who hate me.” from Exodus 20 were never more true.  The more we hear of the family connections to the Ahab, the more sin and destruction occur.  We also see the faithfulness of the LORD to the 1,000 generations of those who love Him.  This is a reminder that although a generation or two of kings or families might be unfaithful, God always calls us to repentance and His love in Christ is above our sin.  “Lord God, we thank You for the gift of repentance and faith.  We pray that Your Spirit of Truth would keep us and our families in faith and a life of continual repentance.  Lord have mercy.  Amen”

Rev. Tom Eckstein of Concordia Lutheran Church, Jamestown, ND, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 6:32-7:20. In grief the king asks “Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?” We don’t like to wait, especially in trials. For the Israelites God provided by word of lepers from the camp of the Syrians. It was almost unimaginable just days before. Through Christ goggles, we look at our own lives and see how God provides in unlikely ways which shows us why we are able to wait for the LORD: the cross and empty tomb. He provides salvation. Why would He not give us all things? “Lord God, help us to wait on You. Help us to see how You have provided in the past and we are able to wait knowing the ultimate hope of new life with You. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Rev. John Shank of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville, IL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 6. If the LORD can make iron float, surely the LORD can save me. God so loved the Israelites that even in some of the worst sins imaginable, He was patient and worked through the prophets to give people the truth. He is the LORD of hosts, He sends His angels to battle for us as He has already had the victory! “LORD God, we commend ourselves to You, our bodies, our soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with us, that the evil foe may have no power over us. Amen”

Rev. John Lukomski, host of Wrestling with the Basics on KFUO Radio, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 5:15-27. Find Wrestling with the Basics at kfuo.org/wrestlingwiththebasics. Naaman went forward in faith and in the LORD’s peace.  Gehazi moved forward trusting in what he could get from others.  Elisha gives us the words we all need as His children, “Go in peace.”  In His peace we move forward knowing that He is our Prince of Peace.  “Lord God, fill us with Your peace so that when temptations to trust in anything other than You knocks at our doors, that we come back to You trusting that if You can handle leprosy, You can handle any burden we bear.  In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Dr. Thomas Egger, President of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 5:1-14. The LORD is the LORD of the lowly.  God worked through a little girl and a leper, not by silver, gold, or fancy clothes, but by a few words and some water.  In our world, “Might makes right.”  Whoever has the most power & money wins the day, but God shows us that He works for the lowly and the lowly do great things by His Word---forgiveness, life, and salvation.  “Lord God, as You have called us as Your own through a few nails, pieces of wood and claimed us through some words and water, bring Your healing upon us in body and soul that we may trust in You and allow Your will to be done.  In Christ, Amen”

Rev. David Boisclair of Faith and Bethesda Lutheran Church in Pine Lawn, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 4:18-44. The Shunamite woman loses her son and while seeking help from Elisha she says, “All is well.”  Clearly, she is grieving and in pain, but she speaks words of faith in the LORD.  We pray for the same faith when going through loss and trial.  Throughout chapter 4 we see how the LORD provides: gifts to live, our children, & food in famine.  Ultimately it points us to the greatest gift of salvation in Christ.  He is our bread of life, the prince of peace, and the only Son to save us from our sin.  “Lord God, we pray that Your Holy Spirit will open our hearts and mouths to trust in You.  Point our eyes back to Christ and fill us with peace to proclaim Your truth and rest in You.  In Christ. Amen”

Rev. Curtis Deterding of Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, FL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 4:1-17. The widow had nothing but a vessel of oil. The Shunammite woman was wealthy. Yet, we all have needs and the LORD provides “all that we need to support this body and life.” God worked through Elisha for God’s people and God sends helpers in your life to provide, serve, and care for you and others. For all this generosity from God “it is our duty to thanks and praise, serve and obey Him.” “Heavenly Father, as You provided for the widow and Shunammite woman, provide for our needs. As You used Elisha to serve You people, help us to serve others as You have served us in Christ. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Rev. Bruce Timm of Redeemer Lutheran Church in St. Cloud, MN joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 2 Kings 3. We need a preacher.  Jehoram, Jehosophat, and the king of Edom went to Elisha after seven days without water because “the word of the LORD was with him.”  Once again God provided: water for the thirsty, victory over enemies, and peace for the anxious.  We see a stark difference from the king of Moab to Elisha.  The king looked for peace by sacrificing his son to fake gods--Elisha looked to the LORD who would have his son sacrificed for the peace of forgiveness, life, and salvation.  “LORD God, give us a preacher to give us truth and peace.  Keep us from trying to find out God’s will from anything other than God’s Word and keep us with You.  Lord have mercy.  Amen” 

Rev. Dr. Walter Maier III, professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study II Kings 2. God continues His prophetic office from Moses to Elijah to Elisha all the way to Christ.  How can we not see Christ as we see Elijah cross the Jordan and ascend to heaven?  How can we not see the reality that God provides for His church even when they lose the great prophet Elijah?  Elisha takes the mantle and faithfully serves the LORD and His people.  May we trust the LORD will continue to provide for us no matter the circumstance.  “Lord God, thank you for the prophets Moses, Elijah, and Elisha.  Help us to be faithful to the end as we know that as Your Son ascended and reigns on high, we can trust in Your promises.  Lord have mercy.  Amen”

Rev. Matthew Clark of Ascension Lutheran Church, St. Louis, MO joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to start our study of 2 Kings. Ahaziah had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the kings’ men couldn't put Ahaziah back together again. The LORD tells us that Ahaziah “provoked the LORD to anger in every way that his father had done.” Even after seeing the great works of the LORD and unable to do anything on his own after his fall, Ahaziah looked to false gods to give him direction. The consequence was death. The consequence of our sin is death, but in faith, we look to the resurrected Christ who has had the victory and life eternal. “O Holy Spirit, point us back to Christ. When we are in need, grant us humble hearts of faith that your consuming fire may not destroy us, but bring us back to You. Lord have mercy. Amen”

Rev. Ross Shaver of Zion Lutheran Church, Nampa, ID joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Psalm 149. Praise the LORD! Why? The LORD takes pleasure in you. He adorns, that is covers you with His righteousness and grants you salvation in His love. To pray Psalm 149 also reminds us that the battle is not done. Each day we pray to our LORD who has had the victory and gives us the two-edged sword of Law & Gospel to engage in this battle against Satan, our flesh, and sin. “O LORD, You have taken pleasure in Your people due to Your Son’s cross. Humble us in faith to fight the good fight with Your two edged sword of Your Word. In Christ, Amen”

Rev. Bryan Stecker, Grace Lutheran Church, Nashua, NH joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 3. What would you do if you had to flee for your life because of your child?  What if thousands of people are against you?  Our natural reaction is to either run in fear or make a battle plan.  Yet, David takes his fear and looks to the LORD.  The LORD is our shield, our glory, the lifter of my head, the God who answers from on high, and He is our Salvation.  “Lord Jesus Christ, as You are our salvation, grant us peace no matter the turmoil or the enemies that surround us.  Hear our prayers and arise to save us and take our fears.  Lord have mercy.  Amen”

Rev. David Juhl of Our Savior Lutheran Church, Momence, IL joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study Psalm 2. Who has the authority?  The nations or the LORD?  One of the more humbling words in all of Scripture, “He who sits in the heavens laughs.”  This Psalm reminds us that He has all authority and power, yet He does not use that authority to “lord it over us”, but to give us His peace.  Use this Psalm for our elected officials, especially during an election campaign.  He has set the King on Zion, his holy hill and we can take refuge in Him.  “Lord God, You have begotten the Son to be our Prophet, priest, and King with all authority.  Help us to take refuge and serve You as You have taken the wrath of our sin.  In Christ, Amen”

Rev. John Lukomski, host of “Wrestling with the Basics” joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study I Kings 22. “The entire life of the Christian is a life of repentance”, Luther tells us.  Ahab needed to repent, even thinking he could fool God, but the message is simple, “You can’t fool God.”  It’s time to repent.  We sympathize with both kings because we know we are indeed saved by God’s grace, but sin still clings to us.  “O Holy Spirit, keep us in the true faith and fill us so that we may live a holy life of repentance knowing that You are a patient and forgiving God on account of Christ.  Lord have mercy. Amen”