Be assured that Satan wants to keep the Gospel of Jesus from being proclaimed in this world.
It was Satan that led the nations of Judah and Israel to reject God’s Word and silence God’s Prophets…but God sent Amos.
It was Satan that led the Jews to have Paul arrested for proclaiming Christ. Paul refused to be silent. He told his captors about Jesus and this made others bold to speak. People’s motives for sharing Christ may be wrong…but God can still bless the message.
It was Satan that first distracted Martha. When she heard the word of Christ, she found real lasting comfort.
The Godly Attitudes that are exalted in the Scriptures must seem insane to the ungodly world in which we live. AVOID Humility – Our society encourages pride in ourselves, our wisdom, strength and wealth. God discourages this type of pride, calling upon us to boast that we know and trust in Him. AVOID Suffering – Our society encourages us to go with the flow to avoid trouble. God tells us not to fear those who persecute, but rejoice when we suffer for Him. Society says look out for number one; God says – Look out for one another. AVOID Religion – Our society tells us not to talk about what we believe. Jesus tells us not to be distracted from it, but to relish every opportunity to listen to Him
This Sunday we look back on Jesus’ Coming and Birth when we light the Bethlehem Candle. In our Scripture Lessons we look forward to His Coming in Glory! Join us!
There is so much deception in this world.Fear not, God has equipped us to deal with it. He has promised to deliver us and has in His Son. He has given us His Word so that we are not deceived. He has given us every reason to offer praise and thanksgiving.
Our Bible Lessons each have something to do with patience.
The Prophet Malachi – the last OT Prophet – reveals that even God’s patience has limits. Judgment is Coming. When persecuted we should pray for patience and thank the LORD that we are counted worthy to suffer for Him. God’s patience ran out for those who rejected the Savior when He came…the evidence is in the fact that not one stone remains upon another.
New…we human beings are enthralled with new, especially the newest and the greatest things. If you don’t think so, just wait until the next new I-Phone comes out and people lose their minds.
Our Gracious Creator God has promised new too. New Relationship, New Heavens — He promises us a new heaven and a new earth, a new relationship with God by faith, and a new life without sin and death. Glimpse of New — In the Revelation, the Apostle John was given a glimpse of New in Christ. Nothing Old in New — Jesus tells us what that New Life will be like…and what it won’t be like.
The Roman Church of Martin Luther’s day – and our own – teaches that men can make satisfaction for (make up for) sins by their actions and by obedience to certain church made rules and activities. This is not what God’s Word declares.
The Israelites broke God’s Law. God sent His Son – not to establish new rules to live by – but to save sinners from sin.
Christ has fulfilled God’s Law. We sinners are warned not to return to what can only condemn us.
Jesus set us free from sin and from death. We rely upon Him alone for Heaven.
