Advent Week Three—Isaiah 9.6,7 His Awesomeness, Our Awe | Windborn Church Blog

 

Advent Week Three—Isaiah 9.6,7 His Awesomeness, Our Awe | Windborn Church Blog

Loving Jesus in the busy Christmas season

As a child we have a love hate relationship with the anticipation of Christmas' arrival. We love the decorations and getting ready to throw the best birthday party we can for the birth the baby Jesus. Ah but it is so hard to wait, we hate buying presents for others while we have to wait to see what Santa is going to bring us.

When we become adults all of this simply turns into tasks to cross off a list during the busiest time of year. That is why it is always good to receive the corrective of a simple Jesus focus. In the midst of being Martha's will we find time to be Mary's? It is good to have parties but do we remember we are throwing them to celebrate the birth of the Messiah. It is good to buy presents but do we remember we give gifts because the Father gave us the greatest gift of all, His Son.

The Mosaic Study Bible lists a compilation of verses, from the three year church liturgy cycle, to focus us during this season on actively anticipating Jesus' coming. I love the flow of the readings from those in exile waiting for God's blessings to our current day sufferings and waiting for God to take us home! May these Scriptural readings bless you in your relationship with Jesus.

• Zephaniah 3.14-20
  
• Psalm 126
  
• 1 Thessalonians 6.12-24
  
• Luke 3.7-22
  
• John 16.5-15
  
• Romans 8.18-30
  

You might want to consider the following application questions as you meditate on God's word:

• Listen—what is the Lord saying to you through this study?
  
• Adore—how can you love Jesus more through what you have learned?
  
• Obey—how can you cooperate with His leading; how does He want to move in your life as you apply these truths, on which you have been meditating?
  

Advent Week Two—Isaiah 9.6,7 His Grace, our Gratefulness

Theme's from Sunday:

• Jesus' grace enables us to walk in the Spirit and to be grateful.
  
• The nature of this child, the Son of God, being pre-existing God!
  
• The nature of Jesus' work: as lead by the Spirit, Jesus brings His justice among the nations.
  
• He calls us to Himself to provide rest through grace, we in turn call on Him (calling Him the wonderful names in Isaiah 9.6).
  
• Jesus as our High Priest listens to the Father and speaks to us, allowing us to walk/live by the Holy Spirit.
  

Corresponding passages to look up and study through the week:

• John 1.1-18—vs. 1 Jesus is eternal, He has always been; vs. 14, 16, & 17 Jesus came full of grace and truth.
  
• John 1.26-34—Jesus' baptism and anointing in the Holy Spirit.
  
• Isaiah 11.1-3a, 10—Spirit of the Lord on Jesus as He calls us to Himself.
  
• Isaiah 61.1-3 & Luke 4.14-21—Jesus' ministry bringing rest and healing.
  
• Exodus 29.42,43 & Hebrews 10.21—Jesus as our High Priest.
  

Remember, as you pray for the Holy Spirit to illumine your time in the Word:

• Listen—what is the Lord saying to you through this study?
  
• Adore—how can you love Jesus more through what you have learned?
  
• Obey—how can you cooperate with His leading; how does He want to move in your life as you apply these truths, on which you have been meditating?
  

Prayer and Absolution

"You raise the dead to life in the Spirit: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
You bring pardon and peace to the broken in heart: Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
You make one by your Spirit the torn and divided: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy."

"God, the Father of mercies, has reconciled the world to himself through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ, not counting our trespasses against us, but sending his Holy Spirit to shed abroad his love among us. By the ministry of reconciliation entrusted by Christ to his Church, receive his pardon and peace to stand before him in his strength alone, this day and evermore. Amen."

from Book of Common Prayer

Advent Week One—Isaiah 9.1-7 His Sovereignty, our Surrender

Theme’s from Sunday:

· In the midst of war and economic collapse: return to the Lord.

· Our God is a God of provision, stepping into our humanity to bring salvation and healing.

· He moves us from the darkness of our sins into His grace and light.

· With His sovereign military might, He can be trusted to handle our issues.

Corresponding passages to look up and study through the week:

· Isaiah 1—setting up the nature of Judah’s judgment.

· Isaiah 6—Isaiah’s calling.

· Isaiah 7—the sign of Immanuel, note that King Ahaz will not trust the Lord so Immanuel is actually a sign of judgment.

· John 12.37-50—Isaiah saw Jesus’ glory and the context of Jesus’ ministry.

· Matthew 4.12-17—Jesus’ calling into His light with repentance.

Remember, as you pray for the Holy Spirit to illumine your time in the Word:

· Listen—what is the Lord saying to you through this study?

· Adore—how can you love Jesus more through what you have learned?

· Obey—how can you cooperate with His leading; how does He want to move in your life as you apply these truths, on which you have been meditating?

A personalized philosophy of ministry statement regarding my complete dependence on God’s grace to fulfill my office <or> how in the world can any believer do good works (Titus 1.16; 2.3, 7, 14; 3.1, 8)

To be consumed by the good work God wants from me (2 Timothy 3.17) is to understand the persistence, diligence and demand (Philippians 2.12, 13) of the appointment to ministry (Ephesians 4.11-16) which flows from His calling of grace (Galatians 1.6, 15). That I may be motivated in what occupies me and the actions I undertake by the grace of Jesus (Galatians 2.21) that radically saved me; and that I may be motivated by yielding to the Holy Spirit's control of my life (Ephesians 3.16, 17, 20) so that the Holy Spirit may reflect the character of Jesus through me (2 Corinthians 3.18). Because only the good that is by constitution or nature reflective of the character of God (1 Peter 1.15, 16) can be beautiful, excellent, precious, praiseworthy, noble, virtuous or moral (Philippians 4.8, 9). This happens, primarily, as I diligently study the Scriptures that the Holy Spirit inspired (2 Timothy 3.16) and allow the Holy Spirit to transform (Romans 12.1, 2) my life and ministry (2 Timothy 4.2).

World Series champion Giants should keep contending - Tom Verducci - SI.com

World Series champion Giants should keep contending - Tom Verducci - SI.com

Oh really...

The Media Joke

Now the giants get some respect. Unlike before game 4 when the Fox pundits gave
Bumgarner no chance to beat the Rangers bats…oops.

No duh…the Giants had better pitching and hitting than anybody! They beat some good pitchers…admit it the Giants are not as bad as you thought and the baseball anointed messiah, Lee, is not as good as you thought.

What do you know, the wacked out media's anointed political messiah is lame too and going to have a sweeping referendum against him today! Horrible: media 0-2. Giants RULE!

How the Giants did it and where they will go from here - MLB - Sporting News

How the Giants did it and where they will go from here - MLB - Sporting News

Unbelievable bland analysis. This kind of lame-state the obvious reporting is what I expect from the Joe Buck's of the world.

MLB Playoffs: Two World Series losses could mark the end of Cliff Lee's brief run with the Texas Rangers - ESPN

MLB Playoffs: Two World Series losses could mark the end of Cliff Lee's brief run with the Texas Rangers - ESPN

Over Rated!

Giants aren't going away any time soon - MLB News - FOX Sports on MSN

Giants aren't going away any time soon - MLB News - FOX Sports on MSN

At least Timmy also wears bow ties...

No drought about it: Giants end 53 years of frustration by winning the World Series - latimes.com

No drought about it: Giants end 53 years of frustration by winning the World Series - latimes.com

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

The Man!

Joyous fans near and far cheer, savor the moment - Sacramento Sports - Kings, 49ers, Raiders, High School Sports | Sacramento Bee

Joyous fans near and far cheer, savor the moment - Sacramento Sports - Kings, 49ers, Raiders, High School Sports Sacramento Bee

Go Nuts

Game 5 breakdown: How the Giants got to Cliff Lee - USATODAY.com

Game 5 breakdown: How the Giants got to Cliff Lee - USATODAY.com

A little respect!

SF Giants say title is for their teams of past

SF Giants say title is for their teams of past

I love Will the Thrill's and JT's honesty.

The Official Site of The San Francisco Giants | SFGiants.com: Homepage

 

The Official Site of The San Francisco Giants | SFGiants.com: Homepage

Tozer Devotional

Good stuff to ponder.

Tozer Devotional

Bible Reading Bookmark

Here is a project I'm working on for church...

Feed on the Word of God

Listening to Jesus in His revealed Scripture.

First, begin with prayer

• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what He has for you in His truth.
  
• Read the passage you are going to study, slowly.
  
• What key phrase or word jumps out at you?
  

  
  

Second, meditate or study God's Word

• Seek after the meaning of the text that God inspired the human author to write.
  
• Ask questions of the text to help you comprehend the passage:
  
  • What does the text say? What are the key words?
    
  • What is the main point? What is the meaning of the text?
    
  • What truths are here? What ideas are supporting the main point?
    

    
    

Third, pray the text

• Respond by expressing your thoughts back to God.
  
• Adore Him, thank Him let His thoughts be your thoughts as you talk to Him in prayer.
  

  
  

Fourth, contemplate and apply the passage

• Memorize a verse or two of the passage that specifically spoke to you.
  
• How does this passage apply to your life? Is there something new to know, be or do from this passage? Is the Spirit leading to change a behavior in your life?
  
• Now that you have worked on the text, let the text work on you: rest in God's truth. Do not be in such a hurry to get on with your day. Hang out with Jesus!
  

No Exhortation with out Encouragment

Titus 2.12-14 provides such great encouragement from Jesus' ministry to us: the appearing of His grace, the imparting His holiness on us, how He is the only source of hope and it's all because of His sacrifice to die on the cross for our sins. In 2.15 Paul comands Titus to exhort God's people to obey (because the aurhority is Jesus'). Without encouragment the pastor cannot exhort. How sad, the pastor or Christian who wants the heavy hand of God as the center of the message without the encoragment of Jesus.

Grace worked out in the real world. The pastor/flock relationship.

In prep for this Sunday's sermon on Galatians 4.1-20 I was struck by how Paul's "real life" relationship with the churches in Galatia provide the field of application for all the great theology of the book. Simple though I know, but still in light of the opening verses of the chapter it is in a pastor/flock relationship, in the church, that the Trinity's adoption of us is experienced. When we commit to a local body and the structure the Lord has given to His church, we fully know how much He loves and provides for us. It is my opportunity as a shepherd to provide Jesus' care and a congregation member's opportunity to receive from Jesus. That reality makes it almost depressing when, in our consumer society, people bounce around from church to church and thus do not experience the fullness of body life that Jesus intends. Likewise it is sad when pastor act as ranchers and managers in the body and deprive Jesus' intent for the flock…there is another reason why Scripture refers to pastors as shepherds.

A prayer for your day from Titus 1.1

May Jesus be the object your faith.

May you rest in knowing that God choose you.

May you listen to Jesus as He reveals Himself to you.

May you know Jesus more and more.

May you allow Him, as the truth, change you.

May you follow as He leads you to look more like Him.

Loving Jesus' Appearing

I have been meditating on 2 Timothy 4.8 and the idea there of the crown of righteousness being awarded "to all who have loved His appearing." I wanted to dwell on this verse a bit so I did a word study on the use of "appearing" in Scripture. A starting observation: Jesus' appears refers to both His first and second coming (as I already have eluded). Here are some summary statements from the study in the following categories: Theology, what God has done or will do; possible emotional response to "love" His appearing; and other applications.

Theology—

• 2 Thessalonians 2.8 speaks of Jesus' power, at His return, to defeat Satan and his anti-Christ.
  
• 2 Timothy 1.10 reveals how God saves us with a holy calling, given by the Father to Jesus before time began.
  
• 2 Timothy 4.1 has the fantastic context of how the Holy Spirit uses Scripture in our lives. In Paul's argument he relies on God as judge of all, that Jesus came once and He's coming again, and that His rule and reign has been inaugurated (first advent) and will be finished latter (second advent).
  
• Titus 2.11-14, while a simple thought, let's not forget that grace is a work of God!
  

Emotional Response—

• 2 Thessalonians 2.8 Jesus is so worth loving as we long for the day that evil is conquered and He rights the wrongs of injustice.
  
• 2 Thessalonians 2.8 how amazing that I cannot come to Him so He came to me and imparted Himself in my life! May I humbly await His glory, my destiny.
  
• 2 Timothy 1.10 the great I AM, creator of the ends of the earth and still He shows and becomes the manifestation of God the Father's plan, wow.
  
• 2 Timothy 4.1 to have a teachable attitude and allow the Spirit to do His work in my life through Scripture. What fantastic motivation to preach Jesus: the timeless and eternal presence of Jesus.
  

Applications—

• 2 Thessalonians 2.8 no matter what the difficulty, HANG ON! the victory is Jesus'.
  
• 2 Thessalonians 2.8 to live and minister "well" as, in every moment, I practice the presence of God.
  
• 2 Timothy 1.10 in all the ways Jesus' speaks to me—I am to obey!
  
• 2 Timothy 4.1 preach the Word. Nothing else.
  

Closing Observations—

• It is interesting that all but one of these references are in the pastoral epistles. This then is huge, for my own walk with Jesus but also how I pastor.
  
• There is (in the background) the setting of suffering. Paul is saying "I've suffered", "don't be afraid of my suffering" and "join me, in my suffering". Specifically in 2 Timothy 1.8 the invitation is not to masochism, but an invitation to live boldly on Jesus' mission.
  
• I have applied the label of being "consumed by the good work" to all this pastoral motivation, from Titus 3.17.
  

SUMMARY STATEMENT: to have my affections set on the appearing of Jesus, as I long to hear Him speak to me!

The Abundance of Grace

"The redeeming work of Christ and the rightness He won for us together with the work of the Spirit in us as the power of the new life are spoken of as grace. It includes all that Christ has done and still does, all He has and gives, and all He is for us and in us. John says, "We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). The law was given by Moses, Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. "And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace" (John 1:16)."

—Andrew Murray in Covenants & Blessings

Grace Working in Us

"With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ".

—2 Thessalonians 1.11, 12

Read the context of verses 3-10 to see that Paul had "in mind" how God grows our faith so that we endure trial and because God is just in His holiness He will punish evil and reward those who persevere with His grace. As we pray for whatever requests we have may we be open to how God will work in us!

Standing for and Living Lives of Grace, Graciously

As I was preparing for next week's sermon on Galatians 1.11-2.14 I thought of an interesting juxtaposition between the kind of graciousness in the William Barclay quote below and standing up for grace. In Galatians, Paul accounts of standing up to Peter for the freedom of grace i.e., not adding Jewish works to salvation. We cannot possibly speak the truth in love without the Holy Spirit's leading us to do so graciously. Paul accounts for this later on in chapter 5 with the fruit of the Spirit. Even in difficult matters, standing for Jesus is to be done in such a way that we can be called peace makers (see Matthew 5.9). May we reflect the beauty of Jesus' calling us by grace by standing for and living lives of grace, graciously!

The Great Need for Graciousness

"...live in such a way that loveliness and the graciousness of the truth is plain for all to see. The defeat of error depends not on skill in controversy but in the demonstration in life of the more excellent way."

—William Barclay
commentary on 2 Timothy 3.8, 9

Love, Faithfulness, Righteousness & Peace

"Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other" Psalm 85.10.

Praise the Lord, that Jesus our Emmanuel reveals the compassion and loving kindness of our great heavenly Father (John 15.13-17)! Praise the Lord, that the Holy Spirit our advocate reveals the holiness sanctifying work of our amazing heavenly Father (John 16.13-15 & 17.17)!

“Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

Jesus finishes his parable of the sower with these words (Matthew 13.1-23). When the disciples don't get the point (Luke 8.9 & Mark 4.10,11) Jesus quotes Isaiah 6. Ah, the seeing and hearing but not understanding line…what!?

I've been reading a collection of sermons on the gospel of John by AW Tozer titled And He Dwelt Among Us. In chapter 3 Tozer discusses the notion that Jesus made the world and yet the world does not recognize Him (John 1.10). Ah, the seeing and hearing but not understanding line.

The parallel and Tozer's writing are so beautiful I had to ask Regal Books for, and was granted, permission to post the chapter on our church web site. Here's the link to the Windborn Church site. Ah, may the seeing and hearing but not understanding line NOT apply to us as we listen and obey with following when our Good Shepherd calls us by name!

Defined by Jesus’ Grace Even in Difficult Times

Today I noticed what I had previous written on the side bar of this blog. That my intent on this blog (which is a conversation no more, no one is paying attention and participating in posting) is "to discuss the intersection of grace and missional(ity) in a lost and hurting world". Standing in this junction is Jesus. Without Him being the vine, we branches have no ministry. For a lost and hurting world, we are to show them what it looks like to entrust our own losses and hurts to Him. Because turmoil hangs around all of us, we that are being sanctified by grace, ought not be defined by anxiety but by the peace that is Jesus, as our Prince.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" 2 Timothy 1.7 (NKJ). "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4.6,7 (TNIV). Did you catch that? As we are in Jesus, it is His job to guard our hearts and minds. Our amazing God, working in such wonderful ways in our soul, truly "transcends all understanding"! In our lives, in our churches, for the lost and hurt—may we allow Jesus to guard our lives and may we remember to abide in Him.

The Spirit's Lead through Prayer

Consider the following quote regarding a pastor's philosophy of ministry.

A "tendency is to thoroughly popularize the ministry. He is no longer God's man, but a man of affairs, of the people. He prays not, because his mission is to the people. If he can move the people, create an interest, a sensation in favor of religion, an interest in Church work— he is satisfied. His personal relation to God is no factor in his work. Prayer has little or no place in his plans."
-- EM Bounds in Preacher and Prayer.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Breath in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy.

by Augustine of Hippo

John 10's Notice to Me: a Pastor

Quote from Matthew Henry's Commentary

"The under-shepherds, who are entrusted to feed the flock of God, ought to be careful and faithful in the discharge of that trust; magistrates must defend them, and protect and advance all their secular interests; ministers must serve them in their spiritual interests, must feed their souls with the word of God faithfully opened and applied, and with gospel ordinances duly administered, taking the oversight of them. They must enter by the door of a regular ordination, and to such the porter will open; the Spirit of Christ will set before them an open door, give them authority in the church, and assurance in their own bosoms. They must know the members of their flocks by name, and watch over them; must lead them into the pastures of public ordinances, preside among them, be their mouth to God and God's to them; and in their conversation must be examples to the believers."

Penitential Prayer

O Lord and Master of my life,
take from me the spirit of sloth,
despair, lust of power and idle talk;
grant rather the spirit of chastity, humility,
patience, and love to Thy servant.
Yea, O Lord and King,
grant me to see my own transgressions
and not to judge my brother,
for blessed art Thou, unto ages of ages.
O God, cleanse me, a sinner.
--Ephraim of Syria (Turkey/306-373)