Ephesians 4:11-15 ~ building up

 

Ephesians 4:11-15

And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

to equip the saints for the work of ministry,

for building up the body of Christ,

until we all attain to the unity of the faith

and of the knowledge of the Son of God,

to mature manhood,

to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Rather, speaking the truth in love,

we are to grow up in every way into Him Who is the Head, into Christ.

To understand the Fullness of God
we find God will:

Give,
Equip,
Grow!

Creating a unity in the faith

To maturity from speaking the truth with Love.

Grow in every way.


God is giving us a Purpose statement of Life.
                 To know the fullness of God.

A God Given Purpose Statement. Filled with Grace and Mercy and Graciousness; God does not say rudely to, "mature." Instead, we find Scripture emphasizes the placement of His ideas, the working of God for our growth. Billy Graham said with such joy, "I've read the last page of the Bible, it is going to turn out alright." Our Father, the Almighty God, never tells anyone, like Gideon, to quit asking, stop talking, and do the last paragraph of the Chapter.  Each year, we are entrusted with God's Only Son as an infant. God has the Church year work each verse of His Word.  We live by every Word of God.

Our Father God is an Awesome God.

Abba, Father,

Each day we rise to find Your willing Blessings.

The Blessings given to us to see in those we Love.

God is blessing our nation. The people seeking Jesus first.

Thank Jesus. Amen.

We pray 

to rise

 to shine for Your Glory.

In the Name of Jesus Christ,

Your Son.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You Lord Jesus 

Hebrews 3:14 ~ For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end

Hebrews 3:14

For we have come to share in Christ, 

if indeed we hold our original confidence 

firm to the end.

And wouldn't The Blues Brother say the same thing? 

1 Thessalonians 3:6-8

Now that Timothy has come to us 

from you, 

and has brought us the good news of your 

faith and love 

and reported that you always remember us kindly 

and long to see us, 

as we long to see you— for this reason, brothers, 

in all our distress and affliction 

we have been comforted about you through your faith. 

For now 

we live,

 if you are standing fast in the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 2:15-17

So then, brothers, stand firm 

and hold to the traditions

 that you were taught by us, 

either by our spoken word or by our letter.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ 

Himself, 

and God our Father, 

Who loved us 

and 

gave us eternal comfort 

and 

good hope 

through grace, 

comfort your hearts 

and 

establish them 

in every good work 

and word

I was reading last year's post about the somber faces at Christmas. Last year the children were happy and the adults glum. This year we've seen a few. But really, over all, people have HOPE.  The grumpy and the malingerers, are malingering, and this is what Bob Cratchit and Ebenezer Scrooge's nephew Fred wait to see.

In the Christmas Story, God has set all of the Scriptures to strive towards - - The Lord God Almighty entrusts us, again, with the hope His Only Son, a human and frail infant, will be tenderly loved. 

Bob Cratchit and Ebenezer's nephew Fred are truly Jesus, waiting to see those around Him grow towards warm hearts. To bloom where planted. To bring more Heaven to earth to do His Good Will.

Consider the outline of Fred's quotes:

• "I'll keep my Christmas humour to the last"
• "I mean to give him the same chance every year, whether he likes it or not."
• "I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time… as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time… the only time… when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely"
• "Let him in!"
• "Merry Christmas, Uncle!"

Abba, Father,

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, 

stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to Agree in the Lord. 

Yes, I ask you also, true companion, 

help these women, 

who have labored side by side with me 

in the gospel 

together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, 
whose names are in the Book of Life.

Rejoice in the Lord always; 

again I will say, 

Rejoice. 

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. 

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, 

but in everything by prayer and supplication 

with thanksgiving 

let your requests 

be made known to God. 

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, whatever is true, 
whatever is honorable, 

whatever is just, 

whatever is pure, 

whatever is lovely, 

whatever is commendable, 

if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, 

think about these things. 

What you have learned and received and heard and seen

—practice these things, 

and the God of peace will be with you.

We will learn each day in Advent

to prepare

our hearts

to have Jesus dwell there.

And our preparations for Christmas

will be calm and Joyful.

Learning to keep Christmas in

our hearts

every day.

And in doing so,

not to have Holiday Hangover,

Languish of Lallydoogle Christmas.

Instead 

The Joy of The Birth of Jesus Christ

in our Hearts

every day.

To be the one

Praying more Heaven on earth

Seeing more Heaven on earth

Being more Heaven on earth

and daily expecting

He Loadeth us with His Benefits,

for our Thanksgiving

in His Glory.

Jesus covering all the believers of the world. 

Jesus guiding the Nation 

and nations trusting in Him.

Alleluia, 

we are the people of Jesus. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You Lord Jesus

You are God 

Zechariah 1:7-17 ~ The Lord answered gracious and comforting words

When Jesus taught, He usually sat to speak with His People. 

Ever since Abraham, God has listened with great interest to the prayers of His People, especially for Mercy. 

The Plans and the Ways of God are Good. God's Righteous Justice and Judgment.

Prior Christmas in Bethlehem

Zechariah 1:7-17

Zechariah 1:7-17!

On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying, 8 “I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.

9 Then I said, ‘What are these, my lord?’ The angel who talked with me said to me, ‘I will show you what they are.’

10 So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, ‘These are they whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.’

11 And they answered the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, ‘We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.’

12 Then the angel of the Lord said, ‘O Lord of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these seventy years?’


13 And the Lord answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.

14 So the angel who talked with me said to me, ‘Cry out, Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. 15 And I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little, they furthered the disaster.

16 Therefore, thus says the Lord, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the Lord of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. 17 Cry out again, Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.’”

Why would God answer graciously and have comforting words?

The heart of the prayer, God would not answer bold and willfulness, nor answer those who do not tremble to blaspheme God in His Glory.

We find this conversation has the following points to consider:

God's opinion is sought and is considered. The Lord God has been sought.

Pride and Arrogance is left behind. Evil doing and folly is not part of the conversation with God. The Anger of God is considered.

Righteousness of God - God did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others.

Why God would answer Abraham. Abraham had mercy for others! Many times.

It was God's plan to rescue righteousness - like Lot, who was greatly distressed by the sensual direction of many wicked people. The Scriptures say rape happened often. Some of the Biblical accounts said brutal gang rape and murder, people dragged from their homes by gangs.  The Bible records truth, not fantasy of the best foot forward.

Our Father God,
The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials,
and to keep the unrighteous under punishment.
We are not to be indulgent with areas to cause harm to souls,
nor despise the authority of God.

Nehemiah 8:9-12

9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, 

“This day is holy to the LORD your God; 

do not mourn or weep.”

 For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 

10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, 

for this day is holy to our Lord. 

And do not be grieved, 

for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 

11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, 

“Be quiet, for this day is holy; 

do not be grieved.” 

12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink 

and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, 

because 

they had understood the words that were declared to them.

As the Word was printed, people became on fire for God. And Christmas Ham was greeted... as a terrible indulgence. Christmas was too joyous.  Too indulgent. A far swing from Joy.

Even today, we have people who really Love Jesus and don't like Christmas.

We are asked to deal all the time with differences between people and denominations.

I was raised being told not to be so silly as to think December 25th was Christ's Birthday. After all, Coptic Christians celebrate January 7th. Coptics don't eat meat more than 150 days a year as fasting is part of belief.

How would Jesus deal with the Difference?

The Coptic Church deals with differences - graciously.  

Mark 6 When Jesus sent His Disciples two by two, Jesus instructed to keep things simple. No Staff for Authority. No dietary bread. No incentive for greed.

8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.

Matthew 10:10
Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.

Luke 22:35
Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you out without purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Nothing," they answered.

When the Opulence seems to erase Christ from Christmas?

Psalm 47

1 Clap your hands, all you nations;

shout to God with cries of joy.

2 For the Lord Most High is awesome,

the great King over all the earth.

3 He subdued nations under us,

peoples under our feet.

4 He chose our inheritance for us,

the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.

5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,

the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;

sing praises to our King, sing praises.

7 For God is the King of all the earth;

sing to him a psalm of praise.

8 God reigns over the nations;

God is seated on his holy throne.

9 The nobles of the nations assemble

as the people of the God of Abraham,

for the kings of the earth belong to God

He is greatly exalted.

Always there are differences

God placed Jesus with an unwed Mother in a Barn. Jesus lived in Egypt, healed the Canaanite woman's child. The Magi arrived from the East. The New Church held Suzanna from Herod's Household. Simon the Zealot against Rome. Fishermen. Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.

Colossians 4:6

Let your conversation be always full of grace, 

seasoned with salt,

 so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Romans 12:18

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone.

Abba, our Father God,

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

the Father of compassion 

and the God of all comfort

He comforts us in all our troubles, 

so that we can comfort those 

in any trouble 

with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 

For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, 

so also 

our comfort abounds through Christ.

Blessed be Jesus. 

Given to us by our Father God. 

Covering us, 

covering those we love. 

Jesus covering all the believers of the world. 

Jesus guiding the Nation 

and nations trusting in Him.

Alleluia, we are the people of Jesus. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You,  Lord Jesus

You are God