Friday Morning: 26 Jul 2019 – 2 John ~ Live in the Truth.

Friday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (A Collect for Endurance – Friday)

Almighty God, whose beloved Son first suffered pain and crucifixion before entering into glory: Mercifully grant that we, walking in his footsteps, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – 2 John (NLT)

Greetings

This letter is from John, the elder.

I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth—as does everyone else who knows the truth— because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever.

Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.

Live in the Truth

How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.

I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.

If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.

Conclusion

I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete.

Greetings from the children of your sister, chosen by God.
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Morning Reflection:

Live in the Truth.

How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth,
just as the Father commanded. I am writing to remind you, dear friends,
that we should love one another. – 2 John –

John wrote this epistle to urge his readers to continue to be obedient to God by responding positively to the truth of His revelation. He also wanted them to resist the inroads of false teachers who sought to distort this truth. John’s message is straight forward –

+ Love one another – we love each other best when we obey God’s will that His Word reveals.
+ Defend the truth – resist false teachers who distort the truth and deceive believers.

Questions for consideration:

If John were to meet you and your family would he find you and your family living according to the truth? Please explain.
How often do you and your family read the Bible? What have you learned about faith and practice over the past year? Please explain.
How can you defend the truth and love those who disagree with you at the same time? Please explain.
What would it take for you to grow closer God through his Son, Jesus Christ? How could God’s Word and Spirit help you? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer: For a Virtuous Heart (Thomas Aquinas) –

Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy thought can drag down; an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose can tempt aside. Bestow upon me understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and faithfulness that finally may embrace you. Amen.

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“Stand In Your Love “ – Bethel Music

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Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Thursday Morning: 25 Jul 2019 – 1 John 5:1-21 ~ God’s children: believe that Jesus is the Christ.

Thursday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (A Collect for Guidance – Thursday)

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: Guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our lives we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – 1 John 5:1-21 (NLT)

Faith in the Son of God

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. So we have these three witnesses— the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree. Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.

And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

Conclusion

I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.

We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.

And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.
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Morning Reflection:

God’s children: believe that Jesus is the Christ.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God.
And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.
– 1 John 5:1 –

What must we do to become a child of God? We must believe that Jesus of Nazareth is “the Christ” (i.e., the Anointed One whom God promised to provide as a substitute sacrifice for the sins of the world). What defines a Christian is his or her faith in Jesus Christ, not lifestyle, good works, or obedience to God.

Our brothers and sisters are those who believe that Jesus is the Christ. Even though we may have little in common with some Christians, we can still love them because we share the same Parent and are members of the same family.

So what do we have in common with other believers?

+ We love God and keep his commandments.
+ We believe God’s testimony that Jesus Christ is his beloved Son.
+ We believe that we can know the true God through faith in Jesus Christ.
+ We believe that we can live in fellowship with God and his Son, Jesus Christ.
+ We believe we can win the battle against this evil world through faith in Jesus Christ.
+ We believe that we have eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.
+ We believe that God hears and answers our prayers according to his perfect will.
+ We believe that God holds us securely so that we do not make a practice of sinning.

Questions for consideration:

Does your church (fellowship of believers) have a statement of faith that clarifies its beliefs? Why/why not? Please explain.
Most Christian churches around the world cite the Nicene Creed (325 AD) as a foundational document. Does this statement of faith represent what you and your church believes? Please explain.
Regarding John’s essential beliefs, do you believe that you can win the battle against this evil world through faith in Jesus Christ? Please explain.
Where are you currently fighting the battle against the world? Where do you need to ask for God’s help? Where do you need God to hold you securely? Please explain.

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Confession of Faith: The Nicene Creed (325 AD)

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, visible and invisible.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

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“This I Believe” – Hillsong Kiev

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Wednesday Morning: 24 Jul 2019 – 1 John 4:7-21 ~ God’s children: live in God’s love.

Wednesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (A Collect for Grace – Wednesday)

O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day: Defend us by your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin nor run into any danger; and that guided by your Spirit, we may do what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – 1 John 4:7-21 (NLT)

Loving One Another

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.

If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.
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Morning Reflection:

God’s children: live in God’s love.

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God.
Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.
But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
– 1 John 4:7-8 –

Have you ever wondered why there are so many conflicts and divisions among professed believers? Could it be that we are more interested in fixing one another (doctrinally, or behaviorally) than we are in loving one another? But how can we love people with whom we disagree?

“The love which the New Testament enjoins involves a consuming passion
for the well-being of others, and this love has its wellspring in God.” (Bruce)

Loving other believers is our response to God’s own love, and his loving activity in Christ and in the the Church.

+ God’s love expresses the nature and character of God; God creates in love, God rules in love, God judges in love.
+ God’s love was revealed to us by sending his Son to die that we might receive eternal life.
+ God’s love is produced in us by God’s Spirit; through whom we are born of God, and know God.

“Since no one in all humanity is beyond the reach of our Savior’s sacrificial death,
no brother or sister should be beyond our sacrificial love.” (Hodges)

Questions for consideration:

Have you ever experienced conflict, or division, in the Church? How was it resolved? Please explain?
How could the conflict, or division, have been mitigated by sacrificial love? Please explain.
What part did you play (if any) in the conflict? Is there anyone with whom you need to be reconciled? Please explain.
How can you grow closer to God and, in so doing, “grow more perfect” in love? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer: For Daily Growth (Richard of Chichester) –

Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ, for all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me, and all the benefits thou hast given me. O most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother: Grant that I may see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, and follow thee more nearly, day by day. Amen.

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“How Deep The Father’s Love For Us” – Selah

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Tuesday Morning: 23 Jul 2019 – 1 John 3:13-4:6 ~ God’s children: love like Christ.

Tuesday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening (A Collect for Peace – Tuesday)

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries, through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – 1 John 3:13-4:6 (NLT)

So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.

And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

Discerning False Prophets

Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception.

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Morning Reflection:

God’s children: love like Christ.

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us.
So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
– 1 John 3:16 –

Love like Christ: Jesus laid down His life once, therefore we ought to lay down our lives repeatedly in self-sacrificing love. John’s concern is to encourage obedient and active love from believers.

+ Demonstrates a believer’s true character, or righteousness.
+ Relieves a believer’s guilt in not being able all needs no matter how generous.
+ Reminds believers that God judges our real motives because he looks at our hearts.

Answered Prayer: “There is nothing mechanical or magical about prayer. For it to be effective, the will of the intercessor needs to be in line with the will of God; and such a conformity of wills is brought about only as the believer lives in Christ.” (Smalley)

Questions for consideration:

Can you think of examples when you sacrificed your self-interest for the good of others? Please explain.
When you think of the needs of the people in your sphere of influence, or believers around the world, which ones touch your heart? How have you responded? Please explain.
When you consider that God knows our motives – “to him all hearts are open, all desires known, and from him no secrets are hidden” – does that comfort you? Please explain.
When you pray, do you want what you want or what God wants? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer: Love So Easy and So Hard (John van de Laar) –

Can it be that easy, Jesus?

Can it be that hard?
That what You want for us is just to love
and be loved?

Is it possible that even those who have tried the hardest,
signed on the dotted line,
sat for years in classes
and strained their eyes from reading,
dressed in all the most appropriate garments,
and spoken with only the most measured words…
that these can miss You?

How can it be when those who have hardly tried at all,
who have damaged themselves and others so much,
that in the end they have nowhere else to turn
but to throw themselves on Your grace…
that these are the ones You search out?

How do we make sense of this, Jesus?
How do we love so scandalously, so inclusively?
How do we allow ourselves to be loved enough,
that all our hard and sharp edges
grow soft and round?

Help us to find the humility and courage,
the boldness and grace,
that in our loving and being loved,
we may somehow ignite our world with a compassion so fierce
that violence and abuse,
rejection and condemnation,
neglect and greed
become unthinkable.

Amen.
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“The Greatest Commands” – Atrium singing at Embassy Suites in Huntsville, Alabama. Exposure Youth Camp 2015.

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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Monday Morning: 22 Jul 2019 – 1 John 3:1-12 ~ God’s children: will be like Christ.

Monday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (A Collect for the Renewal of Life – Monday)

O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness during the day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Morning Reading – 1 John 3:1-12 (NLT)

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.

Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.

Love One Another

This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous.
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Morning Reflection:

God’s children: will be like Christ.

Dear friends, we are already God’s children,
but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears.
But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.
And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.
– 1 John 3:2-3 –

Once again, John addresses the life of believers between the ages – “we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be when Christ appears.” But one thing we do know – God’s children will be like Christ – we will fully reflect his image.

It’s because of this eager expectation of Christ’s imminent return – and our transformation into the Christ-like people we were created to be – that we are motivated to not make a practice of sinning, to do what is right, and to love other believers. In fact, John says, these are the proof that we truly are children of God – saved by grace, through faith, to become like Christ.

Questions for consideration:

All of us sin and fall short of the glory of God. But God’s children receive forgiveness through confession and true repentance, and do not make a practice of sinning. So how are you doing? Is there something you need to stop thinking, feeling, or doing? Please explain.
We belong to God, not this world – we are the children of God – and that inevitably brings us into conflict with the values and practices of worldly people, people who belong to the devil. As a child of God, where have you run into conflict with the world’s values and practices when you tried to do what’s right in God’s sight? How have you responded? Has the Holy Spirit helped you? Please explain.
God’s people are made up of a wide variety of people with different personalities, lifestyles, and traditions. When you think of believers in your circle of influence, who are the easiest to love? And who are the most difficult to love? Where do you need God’s help in loving difficult believers? Please explain.
What would it take for you to become more Christ-like now? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer: For Union with Christ (Anima Christi) –

Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, hear me. Within thy wounds hide me. Permit me not to be separated from thee. From the wicked foe defend me. In the hour of my death call me, and bid me come to thee, that with thy saints I may praise thee for ever and ever. Amen.

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“Christ Be All Around Me” – Gabriel Hughes.

https://youtu.be/AEsr_8N6FN0?rel=0
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Closing:

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen