Dr. Glen A. Thorp December 25, 201
Hebrews 1:1-4, I Corinthians 16:13 (All Rights Reserved)
"LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS"(Christmas Sunday based on:
"Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe")
INTRODUCTION: Winter Solstice, December 22 , is shortest day of year -
Darkness dominates those living in the northern states and countries.
Imagine living without electricity. Some in the San Gabriel Valley,
California were without electricity for as much as six days as a result
of major windstorm. They, at least, had the light and warmth of sun during
the day. Imagine that happening in Alaska or Scandinavia.
It is no wonder they look forward to Spring.
"In The Bleak Mid-Winter" (Song)
In the bleak mid-winter, Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, Winter like a stone:
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter, Long, long ago.
Rattenberg, Austria’s smallest town (440 residents) lost 20% in the last
two decades. The reason: "Darkness." Nestled behind 3,000 ft.
Tyrol mountain range which blocks the Sun from November to February.
Imagine not having sunlight for 4 months. Thanks to new technology,
an Austrian Company will instal 30 heliostat mirrors on the sunny side
of the mountain, reflecting the light down into the village.
The cost: $2.4 million. It will provide "Hot spots" where people can gather
and soak up some rays. If it works, there are 60 other villages ready for it.
One person said: "It’s unpleasant to come here...It’s Dark and Cold."
I’m looking forward to the Coming of the Light."
One of the themes of Christmas is Light.
The Light of Christmas: (A Hymn)
"Praise the One Who Beaks the Darkness"
- liberating light
frees prisoners
turning blindness into sight
Praise the one who preaches the Gospel ...
In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Aslan, the Lion blows
on the stone statutes liberating the prisoners, frozen in place by
the White Witch anyone who defied her or spoke of Aslan,.
(If you haven’t read this book, part of the Chronicles of Narnia,
written by C.S. Lewis, I encourage you to do so or rent the DVD.)
Light of Christmas: Is the Life and Light of Humanity.
Darkness can not comprehend it.
John Bears witness to the Light.
(John 1:1-14)
In the LWW, Lucy, the youngest of the children, hiding in a wardrobe
pushes back through the fur coats falling into a winter scene were she
sees a Lamp Post. It is there that she meets Mr. Tumnus, a faun.
Edmund, the middle brother, looking for his sister also enters the wardrobe
and pushes through the coats falling into the wintery scene. He doesn’t see
the Lamp Post . When he meets the White Witch, she points to the
Lamp Post and says: "Do you see the Lamp? Straight beyond that,
is the world of men."
Many years later, after the four children have ruled as Kings and Queens
they come across the Lamp Post while hunting a mysterious white stag.
The Lamp Post lights the way back to their own world.
There is nothing about the origin of the Lamp Post, in this book.
It is the sixth book: The Magician’s Nephew which in some sense is
the first book of Chronicles of Narnia (Pre-Quill) which tells of the
creation of Narnia. A piece of a lamp Post from our world is brought
into another world by Queen Jadis, who we know her as the White Witch.
Just as Aslan is bringing Narnia to life, Jardis throws a piece of
Lamp Post at him, and, like a seed, which falls to the ground, it sprouts,
which eventually becomes the Lamp Post which shines in Narnia
eternally, day and night.
We learn Three Things about the Lamp Post:
1. It was there from the creation of the world.
2. It shines eternally.
3. It lights the way between the two worlds.
C.S. Lewis drew from Genesis 1:1-4a
1-2 First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see,
all you don't see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness,
an inky blackness. God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss.
3-4 God spoke: "Light!"
And light appeared.
God saw that light was good.
John 1:1-5 also captures the theme:
1-2 The Word was first,
the Word present to God,
God present to the Word.
The Word was God,
in readiness for God from day one.
3-5 Everything was created through him;
nothing—not one thing!—
came into being without him.
What came into existence was Life,
and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
the darkness couldn't put it out.
So do Psalms 27:1, 119:105:
1 Light, space, zest— that's God!
So, with him on my side I'm fearless,
afraid of no one and nothing.
105 By your words I can see where I'm going;
they throw a beam of light on my dark path.
God’s first creation of our world was LIGHT. LOGOS: WORD.
"It is the Eternal Principle of order in the universe,
which controls everything. Jesus was the WORD ...
intimately involved in the creation of the world – the eternal life –
which is the LIGHT of the world, brings light to all people.
Can anything grow without light? No.
We need light to live.
It is reason the people of Rattenberg are spending
$2.4 million to bring sunlight to the village.
They Cannot Create the Sun Light.
They can only REFLECT the sun light.
The light guides, brings life and warmth.
The WORD is God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures which are
"God Breathed" showing the light, so we know where we are walking.
It tells of God’s Power and Love.
Light shines in darkness releasing the those frozen into immovable statues
by evil, by corruption, sickness, despair and death.
Scriptures we read during Advent: ie:
Isaiah 9:2, 60:1-3 - tell of light-hope.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
light! sunbursts of light!
1-3 Get out of bed, Jerusalem! Wake up.
Put your face in the sunlight.
God's bright glory has risen for you.
The whole earth is wrapped in darkness,
all people sunk in deep darkness,
But God rises on you,
his sunrise glory breaks over you.
Nations will come to your light,
kings to your sunburst brightness.
The Light of Christmas is Jesus. - born as a baby who grows
and becomes the Savior of the world.
Without the cross, the birth is insignificant.
The Light of Christmas is an expression of God’s love.
Jesus Said: "You are lights . Reflecting my light to a dark world.
There is a story of girl in Sunday School who learned the scripture:
Let your light shine before others... (Matthew 5:14-16)
Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out
the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept.
We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.
If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you
under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand.
Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine!
Keep open house; be generous with your lives.
By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God,
this generous Father in heaven.
The next week the girl got into a fracas with another,
causing an uproar Someone said to her:
"Don’t you remember the verse you learned last week?
The girl blurted out: "I have blowed myself out!"
CONCLUSION:
This Christmas falls on a Sunday. It has caused a dilemma for
some Churches. Worship will interrupt family time.
Many Churches are having only one worship service.
In almost every case, where there is Associate Pastor,
she or he is preaching on Christmas Day.
Other churches cancelled their Christmas Eve services
and encouraged their members to attend Christmas Morning Worship.
One Church cancelled Christmas Morning Worship
and is placing all their focus on Christmas Eve.
The Word Christmas comes from the Mass (Worship) the Christ.
It was not a holiday. It was the Day of A Special Worship Service
celebrating the Birth of Jesus of Nazareth in the Village of Bethlehem,
the same city in which King David of Israel was born.
It is ironic then, that this special day is interrupting family time, this year.
One person said: "I was looking forward to spending Christmas with my
Christian Family. I have no biological family with whom to commemorate
this special day. That won’t be possible because my congregation will not
have a Sunday service."
I told this person: "You are to reflect the light of Christ wherever you are.
Why not volunteer your time. at a local mission serving others who also
don’t have family or place to live, on Christmas.
Christmas is about giving. Jesus gave his life for us.
We give gifts to one another in gratitude for his gift to us.
Thus giving yourself to others will make your Christmas very special
for those you serve, reflecting Christ’s light, and you will
receive great joy seeing the smiles of joy on those you are serving."
May the Light of Christmas reflect through you wherever you spend
Christmas/Eve this December 24 & 25. If you attend a Christmas Eve
Candle Light service, notice how the darkness is dispelled by one candle
representing the Christ who said: I AM the light of the world.
Notice how taking that flame and passing it on to another,
to another and to another ... spreads the light.
Imagine taking that light with you wherever you go.
That is the most powerful way of illustrating the Light of Christmas.
By the way, the "Twelve Days of Christmas" are those that follow
December 25 ending on January 6 (Epiphany) which means:
revealing, manifesting or shining. It is the day Christians commemorate
the arrival of the Magi who followed the light of star to the baby Jesus.
They believed he was the King of the Jews.
May the Joy, Hope, Peace and Light fill your lives as you
continue celebrating and reflecting the Light of Christmas throughout
these coming 12 days and throughout 2012.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS
Dr. Glen A. Thorp December 25, 201
Hebrews 1:1-4, I Corinthians 16:13 (All Rights Reserved)
"LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS"(Christmas Sunday based on:
"Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe")
INTRODUCTION: Winter Solstice, December 22 , is shortest day of year -
Darkness dominates those living in the northern states and countries.
Imagine living without electricity. Some in the San Gabriel Valley,
California were without electricity for as much as six days as a result
of major windstorm. They, at least, had the light and warmth of sun during
the day. Imagine that happening in Alaska or Scandinavia.
It is no wonder they look forward to Spring.
"In The Bleak Mid-Winter" (Song)
In the bleak mid-winter, Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, Winter like a stone:
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter, Long, long ago.
Rattenberg, Austria’s smallest town (440 residents) lost 20% in the last
two decades. The reason: "Darkness." Nestled behind 3,000 ft.
Tyrol mountain range which blocks the Sun from November to February.
Imagine not having sunlight for 4 months. Thanks to new technology,
an Austrian Company will instal 30 heliostat mirrors on the sunny side
of the mountain, reflecting the light down into the village.
The cost: $2.4 million. It will provide "Hot spots" where people can gather
and soak up some rays. If it works, there are 60 other villages ready for it.
One person said: "It’s unpleasant to come here...It’s Dark and Cold."
I’m looking forward to the Coming of the Light."
One of the themes of Christmas is: Light.
The Light of Christmas: (A Hymn)
"Praise the One Who Beaks the Darkness"
- liberating light
frees prisoners
turning blindness into sight
Praise the one who preaches the Gospel ...
In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Aslan, the Lion blows
on the stone statutes liberating the prisoners, frozen in place by
the White Witch anyone who defied her or spoke of Aslan,.
(If you haven’t read this book, part of the Chronicles of Narnia,
written by C.S. Lewis, I encourage you to do so or rent the DVD.)
Light of Christmas:
Is the Life and Light of Humanity.
Darkness can not comprehend it.
John Bears witness to the Light.
(John 1:1-14)
In the LWW, Lucy, the youngest of the children, hiding in a wardrobe
pushes back through the fur coats falling into a winter scene were she
sees a Lamp Post. It is there that she meets Mr. Tumnus, a faun.
Edmund, the middle brother, looking for his sister also enters the wardrobe
and pushes through the coats falling into the wintery scene. He doesn’t see
the Lamp Post . When he meets the White Witch, she points to the
Lamp Post and says: "Do you see the Lamp? Straight beyond that,
is the world of men."
Many years later, after the four children have ruled as Kings and Queens
they come across the Lamp Post while hunting a mysterious white stag.
The Lamp Post lights the way back to their own world.
There is nothing about the origin of the Lamp Post, in this book.
It is the sixth book: The Magician’s Nephew which in some sense is
the first book of Chronicles of Narnia (Pre-Quill) which tells of the
creation of Narnia. A piece of a lamp Post from our world is brought
into another world by Queen Jadis, who we know her as the White Witch.
Just as Aslan is bringing Narnia to life, Jardis throws a piece of
Lamp Post at him, and, like a seed, which falls to the ground, it sprouts,
which eventually becomes the Lamp Post which shines in Narnia
eternally, day and night.
We learn Three Things about the Lamp Post:
1. It was there from the creation of the world.
2. It shines eternally.
3. It lights the way between the two worlds.
C.S. Lewis drew from Genesis 1:1-4a
1-2 First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see,
all you don't see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness,
an inky blackness. God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss.
3-4 God spoke: "Light!"
And light appeared.
God saw that light was good.
John 1:1-5 also captures the theme:
1-2 The Word was first,
the Word present to God,
God present to the Word.
The Word was God,
in readiness for God from day one.
3-5 Everything was created through him;
nothing—not one thing!—
came into being without him.
What came into existence was Life,
and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
the darkness couldn't put it out.
So do Psalms 27:1, 119:105:
1 Light, space, zest— that's God!
So, with him on my side I'm fearless,
afraid of no one and nothing.
105 By your words I can see where I'm going;
they throw a beam of light on my dark path.
God’s first creation of our world was LIGHT. LOGOS: WORD.
"It is the Eternal Principle of order in the universe,
which controls everything. Jesus was the WORD ...
intimately involved in the creation of the world – the eternal life –
which is the LIGHT of the world, brings light to all people.
Can anything grow without light? No.
We need light to live.
It is reason the people of Rattenberg are spending
$2.4 million to bring sunlight to the village.
They Cannot Create the Sun Light.
They can only REFLECT the sun light.
The light guides, brings life and warmth.
The WORD is God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures which are
"God Breathed" showing the light, so we know where we are walking.
It tells of God’s Power and Love.
Light shines in darkness releasing the those frozen into immovable statues
by evil, by corruption, sickness, despair and death.
Scriptures we read during Advent: ie:
Isaiah 9:2, 60:1-3 - tell of light-hope.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
light! sunbursts of light!
1-3 Get out of bed, Jerusalem! Wake up.
Put your face in the sunlight.
God's bright glory has risen for you.
The whole earth is wrapped in darkness,
all people sunk in deep darkness,
But God rises on you,
his sunrise glory breaks over you.
Nations will come to your light,
kings to your sunburst brightness.
The Light of Christmas is Jesus. - born as a baby who grows and becomes the Savior of the world. Without the cross, the birth is insignificant.
The Light of Christmas is an expression of God’s love.
Jesus Said: "You are lights . Reflecting my light to a dark world.
There is a story of girl in Sunday School who learned the scripture:
Let your light shine before others... (Matthew 5:14-16)
Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house;
be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
The next week the girl got into a fracas with another , causing an uproar Someone said to her:
"Don’t you remember the verse you learned last week? The girl blurted out:
"I have blowed myself out!"
CONCLUSION:
This Christmas falls on a Sunday. It has caused dilemma for some Churches.
Worship will interrupt family time. Many Churches are having only one
worship service. In almost every case,
where there is Associate Pastor, she or he is preaching.
Other churches cancelled their Christmas Eve services and encouraged their
members to attend Christmas Morning Worship.
One Church cancelled Christmas Morning Worship and is placing all their
focus on Christmas Eve.
The Word Christmas comes from the Mass (Worship) the Christ.
It was not a holiday. It was the Day of A Special Worship Service
celebrating the Birth of Jesus of Nazareth in the Village of Bethlehem,
the same city in which King David of Israel was born.
It is ironic then, that this special day is interrupting family time, this year.
One person said: "I was looking forward to spending Christmas with my
Christian Family. I have no biological family with whom to commemorate
this special day. That won’t be possible because my congregation will not
have a Sunday service."
I told this person: "You are to reflect the light of Christ wherever you are.
Why not volunteer your time. at a local mission serving others who also
don’t have family or place to live, on Christmas.
Christmas is about giving. Jesus gave his life for us. We give gifts to one another
in gratitude for his gift to us. Thus giving yourself to others will make your
Christmas very special for those you serve, reflecting Christ’s light, and you will
receive great joy seeing the smiles of joy on those you are serving."
May the Light of Christmas reflect through you wherever you spend
Christmas/Eve this December 24 & 25. If you attend a Christmas Eve
Candle Light service, notice how the darkness is dispelled by one candle
representing the Christ who said: I AM the light of the world.
Notice how taking that flame and passing it on to another,
to another and to another ... spreads the light.
Imagine taking that light with you wherever you go.
That is the most powerful way of illustrating the Light of Christmas.
By the way, the "Twelve Days of Christmas" are those that follow
December 25 ending on January 6 (Epiphany) which means:
revealing, manifesting or shining. It is the day Christians commemorate
the arrival of the Magi who followed the light of star to the baby Jesus.
They believed he was the King of the Jews.
May the Joy, Hope, Peace and Light fill your lives as you
continue celebrating and reflecting the Light of Christmas throughout
these coming 12 days and throughout 2012.
Hebrews 1:1-4, I Corinthians 16:13 (All Rights Reserved)
"LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS"(Christmas Sunday based on:
"Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe")
INTRODUCTION: Winter Solstice, December 22 , is shortest day of year -
Darkness dominates those living in the northern states and countries.
Imagine living without electricity. Some in the San Gabriel Valley,
California were without electricity for as much as six days as a result
of major windstorm. They, at least, had the light and warmth of sun during
the day. Imagine that happening in Alaska or Scandinavia.
It is no wonder they look forward to Spring.
"In The Bleak Mid-Winter" (Song)
In the bleak mid-winter, Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, Winter like a stone:
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter, Long, long ago.
Rattenberg, Austria’s smallest town (440 residents) lost 20% in the last
two decades. The reason: "Darkness." Nestled behind 3,000 ft.
Tyrol mountain range which blocks the Sun from November to February.
Imagine not having sunlight for 4 months. Thanks to new technology,
an Austrian Company will instal 30 heliostat mirrors on the sunny side
of the mountain, reflecting the light down into the village.
The cost: $2.4 million. It will provide "Hot spots" where people can gather
and soak up some rays. If it works, there are 60 other villages ready for it.
One person said: "It’s unpleasant to come here...It’s Dark and Cold."
I’m looking forward to the Coming of the Light."
One of the themes of Christmas is: Light.
The Light of Christmas: (A Hymn)
"Praise the One Who Beaks the Darkness"
- liberating light
frees prisoners
turning blindness into sight
Praise the one who preaches the Gospel ...
In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Aslan, the Lion blows
on the stone statutes liberating the prisoners, frozen in place by
the White Witch anyone who defied her or spoke of Aslan,.
(If you haven’t read this book, part of the Chronicles of Narnia,
written by C.S. Lewis, I encourage you to do so or rent the DVD.)
Light of Christmas:
Is the Life and Light of Humanity.
Darkness can not comprehend it.
John Bears witness to the Light.
(John 1:1-14)
In the LWW, Lucy, the youngest of the children, hiding in a wardrobe
pushes back through the fur coats falling into a winter scene were she
sees a Lamp Post. It is there that she meets Mr. Tumnus, a faun.
Edmund, the middle brother, looking for his sister also enters the wardrobe
and pushes through the coats falling into the wintery scene. He doesn’t see
the Lamp Post . When he meets the White Witch, she points to the
Lamp Post and says: "Do you see the Lamp? Straight beyond that,
is the world of men."
Many years later, after the four children have ruled as Kings and Queens
they come across the Lamp Post while hunting a mysterious white stag.
The Lamp Post lights the way back to their own world.
There is nothing about the origin of the Lamp Post, in this book.
It is the sixth book: The Magician’s Nephew which in some sense is
the first book of Chronicles of Narnia (Pre-Quill) which tells of the
creation of Narnia. A piece of a lamp Post from our world is brought
into another world by Queen Jadis, who we know her as the White Witch.
Just as Aslan is bringing Narnia to life, Jardis throws a piece of
Lamp Post at him, and, like a seed, which falls to the ground, it sprouts,
which eventually becomes the Lamp Post which shines in Narnia
eternally, day and night.
We learn Three Things about the Lamp Post:
1. It was there from the creation of the world.
2. It shines eternally.
3. It lights the way between the two worlds.
C.S. Lewis drew from Genesis 1:1-4a
1-2 First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see,
all you don't see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness,
an inky blackness. God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss.
3-4 God spoke: "Light!"
And light appeared.
God saw that light was good.
John 1:1-5 also captures the theme:
1-2 The Word was first,
the Word present to God,
God present to the Word.
The Word was God,
in readiness for God from day one.
3-5 Everything was created through him;
nothing—not one thing!—
came into being without him.
What came into existence was Life,
and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
the darkness couldn't put it out.
So do Psalms 27:1, 119:105:
1 Light, space, zest— that's God!
So, with him on my side I'm fearless,
afraid of no one and nothing.
105 By your words I can see where I'm going;
they throw a beam of light on my dark path.
God’s first creation of our world was LIGHT. LOGOS: WORD.
"It is the Eternal Principle of order in the universe,
which controls everything. Jesus was the WORD ...
intimately involved in the creation of the world – the eternal life –
which is the LIGHT of the world, brings light to all people.
Can anything grow without light? No.
We need light to live.
It is reason the people of Rattenberg are spending
$2.4 million to bring sunlight to the village.
They Cannot Create the Sun Light.
They can only REFLECT the sun light.
The light guides, brings life and warmth.
The WORD is God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures which are
"God Breathed" showing the light, so we know where we are walking.
It tells of God’s Power and Love.
Light shines in darkness releasing the those frozen into immovable statues
by evil, by corruption, sickness, despair and death.
Scriptures we read during Advent: ie:
Isaiah 9:2, 60:1-3 - tell of light-hope.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
light! sunbursts of light!
1-3 Get out of bed, Jerusalem! Wake up.
Put your face in the sunlight.
God's bright glory has risen for you.
The whole earth is wrapped in darkness,
all people sunk in deep darkness,
But God rises on you,
his sunrise glory breaks over you.
Nations will come to your light,
kings to your sunburst brightness.
The Light of Christmas is Jesus. - born as a baby who grows and becomes the Savior of the world. Without the cross, the birth is insignificant.
The Light of Christmas is an expression of God’s love.
Jesus Said: "You are lights . Reflecting my light to a dark world.
There is a story of girl in Sunday School who learned the scripture:
Let your light shine before others... (Matthew 5:14-16)
Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house;
be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
The next week the girl got into a fracas with another , causing an uproar Someone said to her:
"Don’t you remember the verse you learned last week? The girl blurted out:
"I have blowed myself out!"
CONCLUSION:
This Christmas falls on a Sunday. It has caused dilemma for some Churches.
Worship will interrupt family time. Many Churches are having only one
worship service. In almost every case,
where there is Associate Pastor, she or he is preaching.
Other churches cancelled their Christmas Eve services and encouraged their
members to attend Christmas Morning Worship.
One Church cancelled Christmas Morning Worship and is placing all their
focus on Christmas Eve.
The Word Christmas comes from the Mass (Worship) the Christ.
It was not a holiday. It was the Day of A Special Worship Service
celebrating the Birth of Jesus of Nazareth in the Village of Bethlehem,
the same city in which King David of Israel was born.
It is ironic then, that this special day is interrupting family time, this year.
One person said: "I was looking forward to spending Christmas with my
Christian Family. I have no biological family with whom to commemorate
this special day. That won’t be possible because my congregation will not
have a Sunday service."
I told this person: "You are to reflect the light of Christ wherever you are.
Why not volunteer your time. at a local mission serving others who also
don’t have family or place to live, on Christmas.
Christmas is about giving. Jesus gave his life for us. We give gifts to one another
in gratitude for his gift to us. Thus giving yourself to others will make your
Christmas very special for those you serve, reflecting Christ’s light, and you will
receive great joy seeing the smiles of joy on those you are serving."
May the Light of Christmas reflect through you wherever you spend
Christmas/Eve this December 24 & 25. If you attend a Christmas Eve
Candle Light service, notice how the darkness is dispelled by one candle
representing the Christ who said: I AM the light of the world.
Notice how taking that flame and passing it on to another,
to another and to another ... spreads the light.
Imagine taking that light with you wherever you go.
That is the most powerful way of illustrating the Light of Christmas.
By the way, the "Twelve Days of Christmas" are those that follow
December 25 ending on January 6 (Epiphany) which means:
revealing, manifesting or shining. It is the day Christians commemorate
the arrival of the Magi who followed the light of star to the baby Jesus.
They believed he was the King of the Jews.
May the Joy, Hope, Peace and Light fill your lives as you
continue celebrating and reflecting the Light of Christmas throughout
these coming 12 days and throughout 2012.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
TRUE GIFT
Dr. Glen A. Thorp Titus 3:4-8, Isaiah 9:2-11*
December 18, 2011 (All Rights Reserved)
INTRODUCTION: Song: Santa Claus is Coming to Town.
You better watch out, you better
not pout, you better not cry...
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He’s making a list and checking
it twice ... to find out who’s been
naughty or nice.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He knows when you are sleeping,
he knows when you are awake.
He knows when you’ve been bad or good.
So be good for goodness sake.
Refrain:
The concept of reward is a great motivation for children to behave &
do their chores. But is it in direct contrast to the Message of Christmas.
If you closely read the Scripture Lessons cited above, you heard the
"Good News,"that in spite of humanities’ not being good, God gave
us the greatest gift possible, Himself.
I am amazed at how a "positive" idea is turned into reward or punishment.
"Last week late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel asked parents to submit
videos of their children opening an early Christmas present. However, to ensure that the children would give a disappointed reaction,
Kimmel asked parents to give their children a ‘terrible’ gift.
Parents got creative with the prank, wrapping up overripe bananas,
half-eaten sandwiches, hot dogs, batteries, and even a can of black beans.
In the submitted video footage, the children eagerly ripped open their
presents only to find that they had been duped. The children were
unimpressed with the gifts and offered unexpectedly hilarious reactions.
One child named Charlie squealed, ‘I don’t like this,’ after he unwrapped
a half used bottle of juice. Another little boy cried after opening a pink
activity book and said, ‘This is the worst present I ever got.’
One child asked for a refund while he threw a temper tantrum,
running around his house screaming"- (Christian Post)
This reminded me of one of the many Christmas Specials Repeats
on T.V. entitled: "The True Gift."
A young boy wakes up early on Christmas morning & dashes downstairs
to get a sneak peek at his gift. It was a sweat shirt ...
he had asked for skates. He became so angry that wrote a note
to his parents that he was running away. He took the gifts he had made
for his father & mother & threw them in the trash.
At that moment he was transported back to a Christmas in the sixth century
Germany. There he met a lady who had chosen not to go with the Magi
to visit the "Child King." Her excuse: "I have to clean my house."
She had been traveling the through the centuries ... Christmas to Christmas,
country to country seeking the meaning of the True Gift.
The story continued ... as the woman & the boy experienced the various
Christmas legends. Each legend, in one way or another had a "Good Side,"
Father Christmas, St. Nicholas etc. rewarded good behavior. Each legend
also had a "Bad Side." Black Peter, who harangued bad behavior.
The boy was being punished (taught a lesson) for running away from home,
the woman for giving excuses for not going to see the "Child King."
After many experiences, the boy finally learns that the True Gift
The Message of Christmas is that God came to this earth in the form of
a baby ... offering life, forgiveness & hope. God does not offer this gift
to only those who are good ... Rather it is offered to those who are bad.
As with any gift, one must accept it, open it &
use it if one is to receive the full benefits of the gift.
God’s True Gift is what we celebrate this week, December 25.
We are not commemorating Christmas because
we are remembering some "myth or legend."
We commemorate a historical event that took place in "Time & Space."
It is an event that gives us hope & allows us to experience
God’s True Gift!
Advent is a time to focus on the Hope of Christ’s birth & promised return.
The central theme & declaration of the Good News/Gospel is:
God’s forgiving grace & peace experienced by those accepting
God’s True Gift.
In response to the Good News, Christians, wherever they go,
point to the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:2-7*), and live with
that hope & peace in their daily lives.
Hope is not a "wish." "I hope to receive ..."
Not hope "I will win the Sweepstakes & $11 million."
Not hope (your favorite college team & your choice apponent)
will play in the 2013 Bowl Championship Series ).
Not even hope "for world peace."
Hope is the certainty that God will do what God says.
Even as God fulfilled all the promises ... of which you read ...
when God came in the form of the baby named Jesus.
Titus 2:11-14:
God's readiness to give and forgive is now public.
Salvation's available for everyone! We're being shown how to
turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take
on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting
right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day
when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears.
He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark,
rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people
he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.
It is when we accept God’s True Gift that we experience the
Transforming Power of God’s Coming in human form (Incarnation).
Two Lessons:
I. Jesus liberated us from the power & penalty of our rebellion.
Jesus purifies us so that we may live as God’s special people.
Jesus enables us to live as God’s peaceful people in the world
In Jesus we are recreated as New People – a New Creation.
The Old is left behind.
II. In Jesus we:
A. Renounce those things Separating us from one another ...
ie: lying, stealing, cheating, murder, adultery etc.
Strangling us with trivia & things which do not last.ie:
amassing nothing but material things, we must leave behind.
B. Acquire the shining virtues which:
- Marked Jesus’ life.
- Brought light into darkness.
- Allows us to live with prudence & reverence.
The dynamic of this new life is the expectation of Jesus’ return.
Advent is a time for preparing our lives & homes for the coming
of Jesus. In one way, we should always be prepared for Jesus’
coming and promised return.
CONCLUSION: When Jesus comes we will not be rewarded or
punished on whether we have been "naughty or nice."
We will be invited into God’s presence if we have
accepted God’s True Gift offered to us at:
The First Christmas & Good Friday."
God our Savior showed us his kindness and love,
He saved us, not because of the good things we did,
but because of his mercy. (Titus 3:4-5)
When God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in,
he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing
to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it
new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit.
Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously.
God's gift has restored our relationship with him and given us
back our lives. And there's more life to come—an eternity of life!
You can count on this ... Take a firm stand on these matters so
that those who have put their trust in God will concentrate on the
essentials that are good for everyone. (Titus 3:5b-8b)
We are still Naughty/Bad. We do not always live as God desires.
There still is injustice which leads to strife ... unrest ... selfishness ...
lack of peace. So while we wait for Jesus promised return
(the blessed hope) let us strife being God’s Hopeful & Peaceful
People by demonstrating & living: The Reconciliation,
Compassion & Justice we have received,
God’s True Gift given to us in Immanuel: (God with us).
"While at the mall a couple of years ago, my then four year old
nephew, Spencer, saw kids lined up to see Santa Claus.
Having been taught as a toddler that Christmas is the holiday that
Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, he asked his mom,
‘where's the line to see Jesus’? Becky Kelly inspired wrote a song:
Where’s The Line To See Jesus ...?
"Santa brought me presents, Jesus gave his life for me."
www.wheresthelinetoseejesus.com
The True Gift: ... "Jesus gave his life for me."
Will you receive or reject that True Gift?
* Isaiah 9:2-7 (All Scriptures are from The Message)
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
light! sunbursts of light!
You repopulated the nation,
you expanded its joy.
Oh, they're so glad in your presence!
Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration,
sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.
The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants—
all their whips and cudgels and curses—
Is gone, done away with, a deliverance
as surprising and sudden as Gideon's old victory over Midian.
The boots of all those invading troops,
along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,
Will be piled in a heap and burned,
a fire that will burn for days!
For a child has been born—for us!
the gift of a son—for us!
He'll take over
the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
Strong God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He'll rule from the historic David throne
over that promised kingdom.
He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing
and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living,
beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
will do all this.
December 18, 2011 (All Rights Reserved)
"TRUE GIFT"
(Fourth in an Advent Series)
INTRODUCTION: Song: Santa Claus is Coming to Town.
You better watch out, you better
not pout, you better not cry...
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He’s making a list and checking
it twice ... to find out who’s been
naughty or nice.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He knows when you are sleeping,
he knows when you are awake.
He knows when you’ve been bad or good.
So be good for goodness sake.
Refrain:
The concept of reward is a great motivation for children to behave &
do their chores. But is it in direct contrast to the Message of Christmas.
If you closely read the Scripture Lessons cited above, you heard the
"Good News,"that in spite of humanities’ not being good, God gave
us the greatest gift possible, Himself.
I am amazed at how a "positive" idea is turned into reward or punishment.
"Last week late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel asked parents to submit
videos of their children opening an early Christmas present. However, to ensure that the children would give a disappointed reaction,
Kimmel asked parents to give their children a ‘terrible’ gift.
Parents got creative with the prank, wrapping up overripe bananas,
half-eaten sandwiches, hot dogs, batteries, and even a can of black beans.
In the submitted video footage, the children eagerly ripped open their
presents only to find that they had been duped. The children were
unimpressed with the gifts and offered unexpectedly hilarious reactions.
One child named Charlie squealed, ‘I don’t like this,’ after he unwrapped
a half used bottle of juice. Another little boy cried after opening a pink
activity book and said, ‘This is the worst present I ever got.’
One child asked for a refund while he threw a temper tantrum,
running around his house screaming"- (Christian Post)
This reminded me of one of the many Christmas Specials Repeats
on T.V. entitled: "The True Gift."
A young boy wakes up early on Christmas morning & dashes downstairs
to get a sneak peek at his gift. It was a sweat shirt ...
he had asked for skates. He became so angry that wrote a note
to his parents that he was running away. He took the gifts he had made
for his father & mother & threw them in the trash.
At that moment he was transported back to a Christmas in the sixth century
Germany. There he met a lady who had chosen not to go with the Magi
to visit the "Child King." Her excuse: "I have to clean my house."
She had been traveling the through the centuries ... Christmas to Christmas,
country to country seeking the meaning of the True Gift.
The story continued ... as the woman & the boy experienced the various
Christmas legends. Each legend, in one way or another had a "Good Side,"
Father Christmas, St. Nicholas etc. rewarded good behavior. Each legend
also had a "Bad Side." Black Peter, who harangued bad behavior.
The boy was being punished (taught a lesson) for running away from home,
the woman for giving excuses for not going to see the "Child King."
After many experiences, the boy finally learns that the True Gift
is not what is given or received ...
It is the spirit in which the gift is given or received.The Message of Christmas is that God came to this earth in the form of
a baby ... offering life, forgiveness & hope. God does not offer this gift
to only those who are good ... Rather it is offered to those who are bad.
As with any gift, one must accept it, open it &
use it if one is to receive the full benefits of the gift.
God’s True Gift is what we celebrate this week, December 25.
We are not commemorating Christmas because
we are remembering some "myth or legend."
We commemorate a historical event that took place in "Time & Space."
It is an event that gives us hope & allows us to experience
God’s True Gift!
Advent is a time to focus on the Hope of Christ’s birth & promised return.
The central theme & declaration of the Good News/Gospel is:
God’s forgiving grace & peace experienced by those accepting
God’s True Gift.
In response to the Good News, Christians, wherever they go,
point to the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:2-7*), and live with
that hope & peace in their daily lives.
Hope is not a "wish." "I hope to receive ..."
Not hope "I will win the Sweepstakes & $11 million."
Not hope (your favorite college team & your choice apponent)
will play in the 2013 Bowl Championship Series ).
Not even hope "for world peace."
Hope is the certainty that God will do what God says.
Even as God fulfilled all the promises ... of which you read ...
when God came in the form of the baby named Jesus.
Titus 2:11-14:
God's readiness to give and forgive is now public.
Salvation's available for everyone! We're being shown how to
turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take
on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting
right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day
when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears.
He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark,
rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people
he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.
It is when we accept God’s True Gift that we experience the
Transforming Power of God’s Coming in human form (Incarnation).
Two Lessons:
I. Jesus liberated us from the power & penalty of our rebellion.
Jesus purifies us so that we may live as God’s special people.
Jesus enables us to live as God’s peaceful people in the world
In Jesus we are recreated as New People – a New Creation.
The Old is left behind.
II. In Jesus we:
A. Renounce those things Separating us from one another ...
ie: lying, stealing, cheating, murder, adultery etc.
Strangling us with trivia & things which do not last.ie:
amassing nothing but material things, we must leave behind.
B. Acquire the shining virtues which:
- Marked Jesus’ life.
- Brought light into darkness.
- Allows us to live with prudence & reverence.
The dynamic of this new life is the expectation of Jesus’ return.
Advent is a time for preparing our lives & homes for the coming
of Jesus. In one way, we should always be prepared for Jesus’
coming and promised return.
CONCLUSION: When Jesus comes we will not be rewarded or
punished on whether we have been "naughty or nice."
We will be invited into God’s presence if we have
accepted God’s True Gift offered to us at:
The First Christmas & Good Friday."
God our Savior showed us his kindness and love,
He saved us, not because of the good things we did,
but because of his mercy. (Titus 3:4-5)
When God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in,
he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing
to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it
new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit.
Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously.
God's gift has restored our relationship with him and given us
back our lives. And there's more life to come—an eternity of life!
You can count on this ... Take a firm stand on these matters so
that those who have put their trust in God will concentrate on the
essentials that are good for everyone. (Titus 3:5b-8b)
We are still Naughty/Bad. We do not always live as God desires.
There still is injustice which leads to strife ... unrest ... selfishness ...
lack of peace. So while we wait for Jesus promised return
(the blessed hope) let us strife being God’s Hopeful & Peaceful
People by demonstrating & living: The Reconciliation,
Compassion & Justice we have received,
God’s True Gift given to us in Immanuel: (God with us).
"While at the mall a couple of years ago, my then four year old
nephew, Spencer, saw kids lined up to see Santa Claus.
Having been taught as a toddler that Christmas is the holiday that
Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, he asked his mom,
‘where's the line to see Jesus’? Becky Kelly inspired wrote a song:
Where’s The Line To See Jesus ...?
"Santa brought me presents, Jesus gave his life for me."
www.wheresthelinetoseejesus.com
The True Gift: ... "Jesus gave his life for me."
Will you receive or reject that True Gift?
* Isaiah 9:2-7 (All Scriptures are from The Message)
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
light! sunbursts of light!
You repopulated the nation,
you expanded its joy.
Oh, they're so glad in your presence!
Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration,
sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.
The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants—
all their whips and cudgels and curses—
Is gone, done away with, a deliverance
as surprising and sudden as Gideon's old victory over Midian.
The boots of all those invading troops,
along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,
Will be piled in a heap and burned,
a fire that will burn for days!
For a child has been born—for us!
the gift of a son—for us!
He'll take over
the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
Strong God,
Eternal Father,
Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He'll rule from the historic David throne
over that promised kingdom.
He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing
and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living,
beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
will do all this.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
"SIGNS OF HOPE"
Dr. Glen A. Thorp: December 11, 2011
Isaiah 35:1-10, Luke 1:57-80 (All Rights Reserved)
"SIGNS OF HOPE"
(Third in an Advent Series)
INTRODUCTION:
Three years ago, our nation was excited & hopeful. The first African-American had been elected as President of the United States. After the elections of November, 2010, in his own words, Barack Obama said: "We received a shellacking."
This coming January 3, 2012 our nation, once again starts the whole procedure of electing leaders, including President & Vice-President to lead our nation for the next four years. My purpose is not to raise political issues, but to illustrate that placing hope in anything other than God is False Hope.
Advent is four weeks focused on the Hope of the One who came and promises to come again. We are reminded of the hope of the Prophets. Isaiah 35* is one such message of hope, an oasis between the wasteland of chapters 1-34, with its message of judgment on all nations including Israel & Judah & history of war, sickness famine.
God Never Allowed His People to Go Without Hope or Comfort. The same is true for us. God Will Never Leave Us Without Hope.
Is. 35: 3-4 When our hands are feeble, & knees give way ...
When hearts are filled with fear ...
God says: Be strong, do not fear,
I will Come ... I AM With You!
1. Historical Event.
As time drew near for the Israelites to return to their homeland, it was important to remember the lessons of their ancestors. The coming Exodus would be greater than the first when they were liberated from Egypt. Inspired by the H.S., Isaiah exhausts the picture of a stricken earth, shrouded in smoke from the smoldering ruins, haunted by wild beasts, empty of all human life, the stench of the slain, clinging to the very soil drenched with rotten death. In Contrast ...
One passes from a sense of despair to hope, thanksgiving, beauty & joy, "oracle of divine redemption." The homecoming would be glorious, traveling on the Kings Highway. God’s Coming makes the desert blossom.
2. King’s Highway.
God said: "This is the WAY." (Isaiah 30:21)
The Will of God is that all find it.
Jesus said: I AM the Way ...
Luke 1:57-80 Is the story of John, son of Elizabeth & Zachariah -
(Read the passage.** Also printed at end of this blog.)
Notice the wonder interaction about naming the baby & why Elizabeth said & Zachariah wrote: "He is to be called JOHN." (Luke 1:13-17)
John’s mission was to Prepare the Way for the Messiah.
- he lived a life of strict discipline.
- he rebuked evil wherever he saw it.
- his message was: repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.
- he had nothing to loose, especially after baptizing Jesus.
- his career ended in disaster ...
- he fearlessly & defiantly spoken against Herod Antipas of Galilee, who during a trip to Rome had seduced his sister-in-law. Returning home he dismissed his wife, & married his sister-in-law whom he lured away from his brother.
John publically & sternly rebuked Herod.
- Herod took revenge & had John thrown into the dungeon of the fortress Machaerus near the Dead Sea. For anyone that would be a terrible fate, but for John, a child of desert; where all his life he had lived in open space, with wind blowing on his face & the spacious sky for his roof; being confined by four walls in an underground dungeon must have been almost un-bearable.
- John sent his disciples to ask Jesus, Are you the one who was to come, or
should we expect someone else? (Matthew 11:3)
- Danger of following a dream that is only a dream.
Gave his life in preparing the Way, had it been in vain?
Did John expect a military take over! Judgement!
- Jesus answered: Go back & report to John what you hear & see. The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and good news is preached to the poor. Notice how this is a fulfilment of Isaiah 35:5.
- You are not following just a dream. You are following me.
Jesus was the only person who could ever demand without qualification & condition to
be judged not by what he said, but what he did. The same is true today.
- Jesus says: Look at what I can do for you.
See what I have done for others.
- What Jesus did in Galilee he still does today.
3. Picture of Final Kingdom.
Isaiah 35 is a beautiful picture of the final kingdom in which God will establish Justice & destroy Evil. This is the world we can anticipate when all creation will rejoice.
Isaiah pictures the days when life will be peaceful and relationships will be made right. Carmel & Sharon were regions of thick vegetation & fertile soil. They were symbols of productivity & plenty.
Isaiah 35:8-10 "Highway of Holiness" is the way that those in right relationship with God will take from the desert of suffering to Zion (Jerusalem).
It is found only by following God.
As they/we travel God’s Highway, they/we will be protected from the wicked & harmful animals. Jesus said: I will go and prepare a place for you, so that where I AM you may be also. God will be with us. God never stops at simply pointing the way, God is the Way & always beside us.
Jesus said to John & to us: Maybe I don’t do what you expect me to do. But the powers of evil are still being defeated, by unanswerable love. Sometimes Jesus doesn’t meet our expectations or doesn’t act as rapidly as we expect.
CONCLUSION:
We are living in the Age to Come.
We live in Hope. Not a dream, but reality.
Signs of Hope even in world in turmoil.
Celebrate the Birth of the One who brought hope!
Are you a member of God’s Kingdom?
Are you placing your hope in someone or something other than God?
Are dreams your hope?
If so, all you need do is say:
"Jesus, I can’t do it on my own. Love is non existent in my life. Please take over my life & give me hope & peace Give me the assurance & hope of your love that transforms.
Then you will be truly ready when Jesus comes to permanently set up his kingdom.
Following a School Bus, I thought
"Not too much Change since buses were first introduced."
Their purpose is to Transported students to & from school in safely, comfort, joy & hope. Unfortunately, accidents occur & the purpose is interrupted.
Advent is a time for remembering & Anticipating.
Even though we live in the "Age to Come.," we also still live in the "This Age" where we still are affected by those things that in the "Age to Come" will no longer exist.
We may not know the future. We know who holds the future.
C.S. Lewis’ The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Chronicles of Narnia
writes of an Unlikely hero, Eustace, bumbling Cousin.
If you know the story, when Eustace falls overboard & is struggling Aslan says:
... I Am With You.
Fear not! Strengthen weak hands, feeble knees. (Isaiah 35:5)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Isaiah 35:1-10
1-2 Wilderness and desert will sing joyously, the badlands will celebrate and flower—
Like the crocus in spring, bursting into blossom,
a symphony of song and color.
Mountain glories of Lebanon—a gift.
Awesome Carmel, stunning Sharon—gifts.
God's resplendent glory, fully on display.
God awesome, God majestic.
3-4Energize the limp hands,
strengthen the rubbery knees.
Tell fearful souls,
"Courage! Take heart!
God is here, right here,
on his way to put things right
And redress all wrongs.
He's on his way! He'll save you!"
5-7Blind eyes will be opened,
deaf ears unstopped,
Lame men and women will leap like deer,
the voiceless break into song.
Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness,
streams flow in the desert.
Hot sands will become a cool oasis,
thirsty ground a splashing fountain.
Even lowly jackals will have water to drink,
and barren grasslands flourish richly.
8-10There will be a highway
called the Holy Road.
No one rude or rebellious
is permitted on this road.
It's for God's people exclusively—
impossible to get lost on this road.
Not even fools can get lost on it.
No lions on this road,
no dangerous wild animals—
Nothing and no one dangerous or threatening.
Only the redeemed will walk on it.
The people God has ransomed
will come back on this road.
They'll sing as they make their way home to Zion,
unfading halos of joy encircling their heads,
Welcomed home with gifts of joy and gladness
as all sorrows and sighs scurry into the night.
**Luke 1:57-80
57-58When Elizabeth was full-term in her pregnancy, she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives, seeing that God had overwhelmed her with mercy, celebrated with her.
59-60On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and were calling him Zachariah after his father. But his mother intervened: "No. He is to be called John."
61-62"But," they said, "no one in your family is named that." They used sign language to ask Zachariah what he wanted him named.
63-64Asking for a tablet, Zachariah wrote, "His name is to be John." That took everyone by surprise. Surprise followed surprise—Zachariah's mouth was now open, his tongue loose, and he was talking, praising God!
65-66A deep, reverential fear settled over the neighborhood, and in all that Judean hill country people talked about nothing else. Everyone who heard about it took it to heart, wondering, "What will become of this child? Clearly, God has his hand in this."
67-79Then Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he came and set his people free.
He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives,
and in the very house of David his servant,
Just as he promised long ago
through the preaching of his holy prophets:
Deliverance from our enemies
and every hateful hand;
Mercy to our fathers,
as he remembers to do what he said he'd do,
What he swore to our father Abraham—
a clean rescue from the enemy camp,
So we can worship him without a care in the world,
made holy before him as long as we live.
And you, my child, "Prophet of the Highest,"
will go ahead of the Master to prepare his ways,
Present the offer of salvation to his people,
the forgiveness of their sins.
Through the heartfelt mercies of our God,
God's Sunrise will break in upon us,
Shining on those in the darkness,
those sitting in the shadow of death, Then showing us the way, one foot at a time,
down the path of peace.
80The child grew up, healthy and spirited. He lived out in the desert until the day he made his prophetic debut in Israel.
Isaiah 35:1-10, Luke 1:57-80 (All Rights Reserved)
"SIGNS OF HOPE"
(Third in an Advent Series)
INTRODUCTION:
Three years ago, our nation was excited & hopeful. The first African-American had been elected as President of the United States. After the elections of November, 2010, in his own words, Barack Obama said: "We received a shellacking."
This coming January 3, 2012 our nation, once again starts the whole procedure of electing leaders, including President & Vice-President to lead our nation for the next four years. My purpose is not to raise political issues, but to illustrate that placing hope in anything other than God is False Hope.
Advent is four weeks focused on the Hope of the One who came and promises to come again. We are reminded of the hope of the Prophets. Isaiah 35* is one such message of hope, an oasis between the wasteland of chapters 1-34, with its message of judgment on all nations including Israel & Judah & history of war, sickness famine.
God Never Allowed His People to Go Without Hope or Comfort. The same is true for us. God Will Never Leave Us Without Hope.
Is. 35: 3-4 When our hands are feeble, & knees give way ...
When hearts are filled with fear ...
God says: Be strong, do not fear,
I will Come ... I AM With You!
1. Historical Event.
As time drew near for the Israelites to return to their homeland, it was important to remember the lessons of their ancestors. The coming Exodus would be greater than the first when they were liberated from Egypt. Inspired by the H.S., Isaiah exhausts the picture of a stricken earth, shrouded in smoke from the smoldering ruins, haunted by wild beasts, empty of all human life, the stench of the slain, clinging to the very soil drenched with rotten death. In Contrast ...
One passes from a sense of despair to hope, thanksgiving, beauty & joy, "oracle of divine redemption." The homecoming would be glorious, traveling on the Kings Highway. God’s Coming makes the desert blossom.
2. King’s Highway.
God said: "This is the WAY." (Isaiah 30:21)
The Will of God is that all find it.
Jesus said: I AM the Way ...
Luke 1:57-80 Is the story of John, son of Elizabeth & Zachariah -
(Read the passage.** Also printed at end of this blog.)
Notice the wonder interaction about naming the baby & why Elizabeth said & Zachariah wrote: "He is to be called JOHN." (Luke 1:13-17)
John’s mission was to Prepare the Way for the Messiah.
- he lived a life of strict discipline.
- he rebuked evil wherever he saw it.
- his message was: repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.
- he had nothing to loose, especially after baptizing Jesus.
- his career ended in disaster ...
- he fearlessly & defiantly spoken against Herod Antipas of Galilee, who during a trip to Rome had seduced his sister-in-law. Returning home he dismissed his wife, & married his sister-in-law whom he lured away from his brother.
John publically & sternly rebuked Herod.
- Herod took revenge & had John thrown into the dungeon of the fortress Machaerus near the Dead Sea. For anyone that would be a terrible fate, but for John, a child of desert; where all his life he had lived in open space, with wind blowing on his face & the spacious sky for his roof; being confined by four walls in an underground dungeon must have been almost un-bearable.
- John sent his disciples to ask Jesus, Are you the one who was to come, or
should we expect someone else? (Matthew 11:3)
- Danger of following a dream that is only a dream.
Gave his life in preparing the Way, had it been in vain?
Did John expect a military take over! Judgement!
- Jesus answered: Go back & report to John what you hear & see. The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and good news is preached to the poor. Notice how this is a fulfilment of Isaiah 35:5.
- You are not following just a dream. You are following me.
Jesus was the only person who could ever demand without qualification & condition to
be judged not by what he said, but what he did. The same is true today.
- Jesus says: Look at what I can do for you.
See what I have done for others.
- What Jesus did in Galilee he still does today.
3. Picture of Final Kingdom.
Isaiah 35 is a beautiful picture of the final kingdom in which God will establish Justice & destroy Evil. This is the world we can anticipate when all creation will rejoice.
Isaiah pictures the days when life will be peaceful and relationships will be made right. Carmel & Sharon were regions of thick vegetation & fertile soil. They were symbols of productivity & plenty.
Isaiah 35:8-10 "Highway of Holiness" is the way that those in right relationship with God will take from the desert of suffering to Zion (Jerusalem).
It is found only by following God.
As they/we travel God’s Highway, they/we will be protected from the wicked & harmful animals. Jesus said: I will go and prepare a place for you, so that where I AM you may be also. God will be with us. God never stops at simply pointing the way, God is the Way & always beside us.
Jesus said to John & to us: Maybe I don’t do what you expect me to do. But the powers of evil are still being defeated, by unanswerable love. Sometimes Jesus doesn’t meet our expectations or doesn’t act as rapidly as we expect.
CONCLUSION:
We are living in the Age to Come.
We live in Hope. Not a dream, but reality.
Signs of Hope even in world in turmoil.
Celebrate the Birth of the One who brought hope!
Are you a member of God’s Kingdom?
Are you placing your hope in someone or something other than God?
Are dreams your hope?
If so, all you need do is say:
"Jesus, I can’t do it on my own. Love is non existent in my life. Please take over my life & give me hope & peace Give me the assurance & hope of your love that transforms.
Then you will be truly ready when Jesus comes to permanently set up his kingdom.
Following a School Bus, I thought
"Not too much Change since buses were first introduced."
Their purpose is to Transported students to & from school in safely, comfort, joy & hope. Unfortunately, accidents occur & the purpose is interrupted.
Advent is a time for remembering & Anticipating.
Even though we live in the "Age to Come.," we also still live in the "This Age" where we still are affected by those things that in the "Age to Come" will no longer exist.
We may not know the future. We know who holds the future.
C.S. Lewis’ The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Chronicles of Narnia
writes of an Unlikely hero, Eustace, bumbling Cousin.
If you know the story, when Eustace falls overboard & is struggling Aslan says:
... I Am With You.
Fear not! Strengthen weak hands, feeble knees. (Isaiah 35:5)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Isaiah 35:1-10
1-2 Wilderness and desert will sing joyously, the badlands will celebrate and flower—
Like the crocus in spring, bursting into blossom,
a symphony of song and color.
Mountain glories of Lebanon—a gift.
Awesome Carmel, stunning Sharon—gifts.
God's resplendent glory, fully on display.
God awesome, God majestic.
3-4Energize the limp hands,
strengthen the rubbery knees.
Tell fearful souls,
"Courage! Take heart!
God is here, right here,
on his way to put things right
And redress all wrongs.
He's on his way! He'll save you!"
5-7Blind eyes will be opened,
deaf ears unstopped,
Lame men and women will leap like deer,
the voiceless break into song.
Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness,
streams flow in the desert.
Hot sands will become a cool oasis,
thirsty ground a splashing fountain.
Even lowly jackals will have water to drink,
and barren grasslands flourish richly.
8-10There will be a highway
called the Holy Road.
No one rude or rebellious
is permitted on this road.
It's for God's people exclusively—
impossible to get lost on this road.
Not even fools can get lost on it.
No lions on this road,
no dangerous wild animals—
Nothing and no one dangerous or threatening.
Only the redeemed will walk on it.
The people God has ransomed
will come back on this road.
They'll sing as they make their way home to Zion,
unfading halos of joy encircling their heads,
Welcomed home with gifts of joy and gladness
as all sorrows and sighs scurry into the night.
**Luke 1:57-80
57-58When Elizabeth was full-term in her pregnancy, she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives, seeing that God had overwhelmed her with mercy, celebrated with her.
59-60On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and were calling him Zachariah after his father. But his mother intervened: "No. He is to be called John."
61-62"But," they said, "no one in your family is named that." They used sign language to ask Zachariah what he wanted him named.
63-64Asking for a tablet, Zachariah wrote, "His name is to be John." That took everyone by surprise. Surprise followed surprise—Zachariah's mouth was now open, his tongue loose, and he was talking, praising God!
65-66A deep, reverential fear settled over the neighborhood, and in all that Judean hill country people talked about nothing else. Everyone who heard about it took it to heart, wondering, "What will become of this child? Clearly, God has his hand in this."
67-79Then Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he came and set his people free.
He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives,
and in the very house of David his servant,
Just as he promised long ago
through the preaching of his holy prophets:
Deliverance from our enemies
and every hateful hand;
Mercy to our fathers,
as he remembers to do what he said he'd do,
What he swore to our father Abraham—
a clean rescue from the enemy camp,
So we can worship him without a care in the world,
made holy before him as long as we live.
And you, my child, "Prophet of the Highest,"
will go ahead of the Master to prepare his ways,
Present the offer of salvation to his people,
the forgiveness of their sins.
Through the heartfelt mercies of our God,
God's Sunrise will break in upon us,
Shining on those in the darkness,
those sitting in the shadow of death, Then showing us the way, one foot at a time,
down the path of peace.
80The child grew up, healthy and spirited. He lived out in the desert until the day he made his prophetic debut in Israel.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
"HOPE: All Will See"
Dr. Glen A. Thorp December 4, 2011
Luke 3:1-6, Philippians 1:3-11 (All Rights Reserved)
"HOPE: All Will See"
(Second in an Advent Series: “Prepare the Way”)
INTRODUCTION: Two years ago Jeannie and I spent almost two weeks preparing for the arrival of my sister and brother-in-law with whom we had a wonderful five days. We wanted the house clean, the garden as beautiful as possible and the front door re-finished. If we did this for family members imagine what we would have done if we knew Jesus was going to stay with us?
Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus, both his birth in Bethlehem, of which we read about last Sunday. Advent is a promise of his return. Today we look at theHope: of salvation, completion His work ...
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see...All these people were still living by faith when they died
They did not receive the things promised. (Hebrews 11:1, 13)
Read Malachi 3:1-3* (End of Message)
It had been centuries since these words had been spoken. Micah was the last of the Prophets to appear among Israel. Now John, the Baptist is summoned by God to give up his secluded life in the desert and act as God’s mouthpiece. He proclaimed the hope that the Messiah/Christ was coming soon.
The crooked roads shall become straight,the rough ways smooth. (Luke 3:5)
You may have read or heard of the famous words uttered by the Welsh Journalist Henry Stanley who searched throughout Africa for a Scottish Missionary. Upon finally finding the Missionary, Stanley uttered his now famous words, “Doctor Livingstone I Presume?”
When Dr. David Livingstone was working in Africa as a medical missionary, a group of friends wrote to him saying, "We would like to send other men to you. Have you found a good road into your area yet?"
Dr. Livingstone wrote back and said, "If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all." Livingstone wanted men who were willing to pay the price of following Jesus.
In John’s day, before a king took a trip, messengers would tell those he was planning to visit to prepare the roads for him. Similarly John told his listeners make their lives ready for the Messiah to come to them.
He was concerned for the state of their hearts not the state of roads. “Mend not your roads, but your lives.”
During the Coronation Service in Westminster Abbey of Queen Elizabeth II, (1952), after all the guest had been seated, a squad of cleaners unexpectedly emerged with brushes & vacuum cleaners and proceeded to sweep the carpets so that they would be spotless for the coming of the Queen. “The King is Coming!” Hope ... Ready?
“All Will See God’s Salvation ...” (Luke 3:6)**
Luke, the Historian, places John clearly in Time & Space. With historical aptitude Luke gives a full chronology for John’s public appearance. Approximately, six months later Jesus approaches John for baptism. Luke is concerned that full light fall on Christ. John’s divine
charge was to act openly as a forerunner of Christ.
The emergence of John was one of the hinges on which history turned.
No fewer than six different ways given.
1. Tiberius Caesar, successor to Augustus, 2nd Emperor.
(14 A.D. - 37 A.D. --15th year 29 A.D.) Rome.
2. Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea, 26-36 AD Palestine
In one sentence Luke gives a panoramic view of the division of the Kingdom which had once belonged to Herod the Great until he died in 4 B.C.
3. Religious situation: Annas & Caiaphas.
Only one High Priest at a time. Romans appointed Priests.
Annas was High Priest (7-14 AD but succeeded by
four sons & Caiaphas, Son-in-law. Annas was the power behind the
Priesthood. Why Jesus was brought before to Annas when arrested.
(John 18:13)
During this time conditions in the world and Palestine were dark and desperate. In the reign of Tiberius Caesar moral degeneration and political chaos characterized the Roman Empire, which in the course of time brought about its downfall. Chaos was also present in the religious life of the God’s people. (Priests arbitrarily deposed and replaced by Romans - Political Peace.) During this dark and desperate period John Came ...
“Prepare the Way by Repenting, receiving forgiveness of sin and being baptized.” Repentance has two sides:
Turning away from sin and turning toward God. Do both.
As we prepare for Christ’s coming, continue asking God to point out areas that need forgiveness and put your trust in God alone to guide you.
Focus on Jesus, listen afresh to his words and respond obediently to his direction. You are not an outsider.
No one wanting to follow Jesus will be left out.
All mankind will see God’s salvation.
This does not mean that all who see will respond. John 1:6-18
(He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all those who received him, to those who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God. - v. 12)
Revelation 1:7 Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him.
Even those who pierced him;
and all the peoples of the earth will
mourn because of him.
So shall it be! Amen.
Unlike preparing for the visit of my sister & brother-in law, who we knew were arriving on Thanksgiving morning, We neither know the time or the day of Jesus’ Coming. Hope is assurance he will come.
It could be any time. Imagine that you knew for certain he would come on this December 25. How would you prepare? When he comes all will see him. Will you be ready for him? Will you be scuring around?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Malachi 3:1-3
1 "Look! I'm sending my messenger on ahead to clear the way for me. Suddenly, out of the blue, the Leader you've been looking for will enter his Temple—yes, the Messenger of the Covenant, the one you've been waiting for. Look! He's on his way!" A Message from the mouth of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
2-3 But who will be able to stand up to that coming? Who can survive his appearance?
He'll be like white-hot fire from the smelter's furnace. He'll be like the strongest lye soap at the laundry. He'll take his place as a refiner of silver, as a cleanser of dirty clothes. He'll scrub the Levite priests clean, refine them like gold and silver, until they're fit for God, fit to present offerings of righteousness. Then, and only then, will Judah and Jerusalem be fit and pleasing to God, as they used to be in the years long ago.
** Luke 3:1-6
1-6 In the fifteenth year of the rule of Caesar Tiberius—it was while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea; Herod, ruler of Galilee; his brother Philip, ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias, ruler of Abilene; during the Chief-Priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—John, Zachariah's son, out in the desert at the time, received a message from God. He went all through the country around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of life-change leading to forgiveness of sins, as described in the words of Isaiah the prophet:
Thunder in the desert!
"Prepare God's arrival!
Make the road smooth and straight!
Every ditch will be filled in,
Every bump smoothed out,
The detours straightened out,
All the ruts paved over.
Everyone will be there to see
The parade of God's salvation."
Philippians 1:1-11
1-2 Paul and Timothy, both of us committed servants of Christ Jesus, write this letter to all the followers of Jesus in Philippi, pastors and ministers included. We greet you with the grace and peace that comes from God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ.
3-6 Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God's Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
7-8 It's not at all fanciful for me to think this way about you. My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the time I was thrown in jail, put on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All along you have experienced with me the most generous help from God. He knows how much I love and miss you these days. Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does!
9-11 So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.
Luke 3:1-6, Philippians 1:3-11 (All Rights Reserved)
"HOPE: All Will See"
(Second in an Advent Series: “Prepare the Way”)
INTRODUCTION: Two years ago Jeannie and I spent almost two weeks preparing for the arrival of my sister and brother-in-law with whom we had a wonderful five days. We wanted the house clean, the garden as beautiful as possible and the front door re-finished. If we did this for family members imagine what we would have done if we knew Jesus was going to stay with us?
Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus, both his birth in Bethlehem, of which we read about last Sunday. Advent is a promise of his return. Today we look at theHope: of salvation, completion His work ...
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see...All these people were still living by faith when they died
They did not receive the things promised. (Hebrews 11:1, 13)
Read Malachi 3:1-3* (End of Message)
It had been centuries since these words had been spoken. Micah was the last of the Prophets to appear among Israel. Now John, the Baptist is summoned by God to give up his secluded life in the desert and act as God’s mouthpiece. He proclaimed the hope that the Messiah/Christ was coming soon.
The crooked roads shall become straight,the rough ways smooth. (Luke 3:5)
You may have read or heard of the famous words uttered by the Welsh Journalist Henry Stanley who searched throughout Africa for a Scottish Missionary. Upon finally finding the Missionary, Stanley uttered his now famous words, “Doctor Livingstone I Presume?”
When Dr. David Livingstone was working in Africa as a medical missionary, a group of friends wrote to him saying, "We would like to send other men to you. Have you found a good road into your area yet?"
Dr. Livingstone wrote back and said, "If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all." Livingstone wanted men who were willing to pay the price of following Jesus.
In John’s day, before a king took a trip, messengers would tell those he was planning to visit to prepare the roads for him. Similarly John told his listeners make their lives ready for the Messiah to come to them.
He was concerned for the state of their hearts not the state of roads. “Mend not your roads, but your lives.”
During the Coronation Service in Westminster Abbey of Queen Elizabeth II, (1952), after all the guest had been seated, a squad of cleaners unexpectedly emerged with brushes & vacuum cleaners and proceeded to sweep the carpets so that they would be spotless for the coming of the Queen. “The King is Coming!” Hope ... Ready?
“All Will See God’s Salvation ...” (Luke 3:6)**
Luke, the Historian, places John clearly in Time & Space. With historical aptitude Luke gives a full chronology for John’s public appearance. Approximately, six months later Jesus approaches John for baptism. Luke is concerned that full light fall on Christ. John’s divine
charge was to act openly as a forerunner of Christ.
The emergence of John was one of the hinges on which history turned.
No fewer than six different ways given.
1. Tiberius Caesar, successor to Augustus, 2nd Emperor.
(14 A.D. - 37 A.D. --15th year 29 A.D.) Rome.
2. Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea, 26-36 AD Palestine
In one sentence Luke gives a panoramic view of the division of the Kingdom which had once belonged to Herod the Great until he died in 4 B.C.
3. Religious situation: Annas & Caiaphas.
Only one High Priest at a time. Romans appointed Priests.
Annas was High Priest (7-14 AD but succeeded by
four sons & Caiaphas, Son-in-law. Annas was the power behind the
Priesthood. Why Jesus was brought before to Annas when arrested.
(John 18:13)
During this time conditions in the world and Palestine were dark and desperate. In the reign of Tiberius Caesar moral degeneration and political chaos characterized the Roman Empire, which in the course of time brought about its downfall. Chaos was also present in the religious life of the God’s people. (Priests arbitrarily deposed and replaced by Romans - Political Peace.) During this dark and desperate period John Came ...
“Prepare the Way by Repenting, receiving forgiveness of sin and being baptized.” Repentance has two sides:
Turning away from sin and turning toward God. Do both.
As we prepare for Christ’s coming, continue asking God to point out areas that need forgiveness and put your trust in God alone to guide you.
Focus on Jesus, listen afresh to his words and respond obediently to his direction. You are not an outsider.
No one wanting to follow Jesus will be left out.
All mankind will see God’s salvation.
This does not mean that all who see will respond. John 1:6-18
(He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
Yet to all those who received him, to those who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God. - v. 12)
Revelation 1:7 Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him.
Even those who pierced him;
and all the peoples of the earth will
mourn because of him.
So shall it be! Amen.
Unlike preparing for the visit of my sister & brother-in law, who we knew were arriving on Thanksgiving morning, We neither know the time or the day of Jesus’ Coming. Hope is assurance he will come.
It could be any time. Imagine that you knew for certain he would come on this December 25. How would you prepare? When he comes all will see him. Will you be ready for him? Will you be scuring around?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Malachi 3:1-3
1 "Look! I'm sending my messenger on ahead to clear the way for me. Suddenly, out of the blue, the Leader you've been looking for will enter his Temple—yes, the Messenger of the Covenant, the one you've been waiting for. Look! He's on his way!" A Message from the mouth of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
2-3 But who will be able to stand up to that coming? Who can survive his appearance?
He'll be like white-hot fire from the smelter's furnace. He'll be like the strongest lye soap at the laundry. He'll take his place as a refiner of silver, as a cleanser of dirty clothes. He'll scrub the Levite priests clean, refine them like gold and silver, until they're fit for God, fit to present offerings of righteousness. Then, and only then, will Judah and Jerusalem be fit and pleasing to God, as they used to be in the years long ago.
** Luke 3:1-6
1-6 In the fifteenth year of the rule of Caesar Tiberius—it was while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea; Herod, ruler of Galilee; his brother Philip, ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias, ruler of Abilene; during the Chief-Priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—John, Zachariah's son, out in the desert at the time, received a message from God. He went all through the country around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of life-change leading to forgiveness of sins, as described in the words of Isaiah the prophet:
Thunder in the desert!
"Prepare God's arrival!
Make the road smooth and straight!
Every ditch will be filled in,
Every bump smoothed out,
The detours straightened out,
All the ruts paved over.
Everyone will be there to see
The parade of God's salvation."
Philippians 1:1-11
1-2 Paul and Timothy, both of us committed servants of Christ Jesus, write this letter to all the followers of Jesus in Philippi, pastors and ministers included. We greet you with the grace and peace that comes from God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ.
3-6 Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God's Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
7-8 It's not at all fanciful for me to think this way about you. My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the time I was thrown in jail, put on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All along you have experienced with me the most generous help from God. He knows how much I love and miss you these days. Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does!
9-11 So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.
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