Welcome to a Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg
A Prayer for Labor Day link
O God, creator of the world,
of sun and moon and stars,
you chose to fashion us, your own,
your handiwork of love.
Indeed, we are your hands’ own work
and yet into our hands
you give the care
of every living thing.
In more ways than we can count
our work builds up
or tears apart what came
from your own hand.
Keep us faithful in preserving
all you’ve given
lest we harm the smallest part
of all you’ve made.
Give us good and honest work to do
and rest at each day’s end.
Give a fair and good day’s wage
for a good day’s work well done.
Give us work that nurtures and sustains
the ones who serve and those they serve.
Let those who labor work in peace,
in freedom without fear.
Give those in need a job to do
and to the tired well earned rest.
Let all our work and toil, Lord,
give glory to your name.
Amen.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
Luke 4:9-13 (NASB Bible Gateway)
Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; for it is written,
‘He will command His angels concerning You to guard You,’
and,
‘On their hands they will bear You up,
So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”
And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.
Eternal God and Father,
by whose power we are created and by whose love we are redeemed:
guide and strengthen us by your Spirit,
that we may give ourselves to your service,
and live this day in love to one another and to you;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
From An Australian Prayer Book (12.2)
The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.’
just a comment about the sermon. when the devil tempted Jesus and said he had power to give the kingdoms of the earth to whomever he wanted to, that was before Jesus was crucified. When Jesus rose from the grave, Jesus said: ” Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Matt 28:16-18 (KJV)
By doing the will of the Father Jesus got all that and more!
Also I am hoping that not only the knowledge of temptation is given me, but also the power to resist, I need a power greater than myself and my knowledge, I need Jesus to do this:
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. 7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.Zech 4:6-7 (KJV)
cause I keep falling for the same sin every time and I am tired of failing, I need Jesus to fight the enemy for me or through me.
“Repentance is as much a grace as faith”. Wow!
In all of the talk of prominent pastors and leaders and their downfalls, how often do we hear it said of them, “Oh, but they have such faith”?
When I hear it said, “Do you see how deep their repentance is, how they own up to their sins?” then I’ll know their faith was real, too.
When I am faced with the temptation to indulge in presumptive sins, I remember these words “but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” Which is the greater presumption? To believe that my God will forgive again or to presume that God is at work in me, giving me the strength to turn away? Good to think about those things today.
Sam H.
“When Jesus rose from the grave, Jesus said…’All power is given unto me in heaven and earth’ (Matt. 28:16-18). By doing the will of the Father, Jesus got all that and more!”
Great point Sam. One of the most difficult theological knots (in my opinion) is the timing of all the fulfillment promises of the Kingdom. When is the enemy totally defeated? When is the full power of Christ made manifest on earth? When are all the Messianic Kingdom promises fulfilled?
I’ve come to the conclusion that within individual hearts, the Kingdom of God reigns, but the worldwide Kingdom of God will only see fruition at the end times, when Christ shall end this ‘age of favor’ and usher in eternity through the resurrection, the judgment of the wicked, and the bestowing of eternal treasures on His people.
I agree with you that “All Power” is Christ’s, but not all that power is yet made manifest. That’s why there are wars, ISIS, and other horrific things in this world today.
Heather,
“Which is the greater presumption? To believe that my God will forgive again or to presume that God is at work in me, giving me the strength to turn away?”
Something, indeed, to think about.
@ Wade Burleson:
Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Heb 2:8-9 (KJV)
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 2 Thess 2:3-10 (KJV)
some of the people that Jesus encountered while in His ministry on earth were afflicted of the devil, like: And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? 17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him. Luke 13:16-17 (KJV)
not all were though, some afflictions and sicknesses were because of the peoples sins, some for the glory of God to be made manifest. (Mark 2:9)(John 9:2)
while I do not understand the mysteries of God and what He is doing, I take comfort in the fact that all the people thought that Jesus was defeated when He was led away to be crucified, but it was just God’s marvelous plan being worked.
“But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Cor 2:7-8 (KJV)”
I remember that all the seals opened in the last days in the book of revelation were authorized by God, God working out His plan for us through Jesus. The four horses in revelation were released from heaven not hell. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and even as nobody understood it at the death of Jesus Christ I think we wont understand it all as we go through turbulent times but we know just as He was raised from the grave so will we be, to our joy and salvation.
I appreciated your sermon, it really encouraged me to get up and keep going. no matter how things look to me down here, I pray we will keep seeking to do God’s will and not fall for the temptations, by His grace and power. God bless you in Jesus and in His Holy Spirit.
I hope its ok if I post this, its a reminder for us of the Lord Jesus’ compassion and ability to save, even in troubling times.
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Heb 2:10 (KJV)
He was there in those terrible days before the flood when the world was full of iniquity and violence. He gave instructions for the Ark and was inside with them when it was time. As Ann Graham Lotz pointed out, it doesn’t say “go into that ark over there”, it is spoken as by One already inside.
“And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark… Gen 7:1 (KJV)”
He saw the abuse when the Egyptians enslaved the children of Israel.
“And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; Ex 3:7 (KJV)”
Jesus was born on the earth during a very violent and evil time.
Matthew 2:16-18 the ruling king killed all the children in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under. Jerusalem was under an enemy occupation with soldiers in the streets. A man (John Baptist) could get beheaded just because of the request of a kings step daughter. Crucifixion was the sentence for theives. Matthew 27:38 Judgement was not fair, murderers got set free and innocent people were crucified if the mob mentality got out of hand. Matthew 27:26 (Barrabas and Jesus)
Jesus has been through it all before, He knows how to deliver us! He knows exactly what its like to be us in the midst of a murderous and adulterous generation. He promised the Holy Spirit would be in us instead of just with us so that nothing could separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. John 14:17
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32 (KJV)
But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. 5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. 2 Thess 3:3-5 (KJV)
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
2 Cor 1:8-10 (KJV)
post note because many of the wartburgwatch readers are abuse survivors. While God does use wars at times to accomplish His will and while sometimes His wrath is poured out, He made clear through Jesus that it is not His will that children be abused. Even in the old testament He was clear about His view of harming children and made clear it never was His will.
And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination… Jer 32:35 (KJV)
__
Sam,
Hey,
thanks 4 sharing.
Its simple really. Jesus is waiting for His enemies [1] to be made a footstool for His feet.
([1] they (His enemies) are not too happy about it..)
In the meantime He is like Joseph, filling up His Father’s barns. [1]
*
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ~ Jesus
Blessings!
Sopy
__
[1] visual process example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3l6oibZVfw
🙂
—