The 7th Sunday of Epiphany – 24 Feb 2019 – Luke 6:27-36 ~ on loving your enemies

Seventh Sunday of Epiphany

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

Opening Prayer

Compassionate God and Father, you are kind to the ungrateful, merciful even to the wicked. Pour out your love upon us, that with open and generous hearts we may reserve judgement and follow your way of compassion. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen
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“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” – Kingsway Music

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Gospel Reading: Luke 6:27-36 (NLT)

Love for Enemies

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
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Prayers of Intercession:

God of love and compassion: You are slow to anger and rich in mercy, hear our prayers –

+ For church leaders everywhere, that they exemplify the love of Christ for friends and enemies alike….

+ For believers everywhere, that we bless, pray for, and do good to those who hate us….

+ For believers suffering the effects of war and violence, that they be delivered from evil, return evil with good, and be strengthened in faith….

+ For believers in conflict with each other, that mercy replace enmity and forgiveness lead to peace….

+ For believers suffering hurt and injustice, that wounds be healed, wrongs be made right, and be Christ glorified….

+ For believers who are sick or troubled, that broken bodies, minds, or spirits be healed and that they be filled with the love of Christ….

+ For ourselves and those nearest us, that we love them as Christ loved us whether they deserve it or not….

God of love and compassion, have mercy on us and help us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Love Your Enemies” – Kyle Sigmon

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Blessing – Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to him who is able to do far more than all that we ask or imagine, according to his power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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

Saturday Morning: 23 Feb 2019 – John 16:1-15 ~ be warned, be encouraged

Saturday Morning

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

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.

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Morning Reading – John 16:1-15 (NLT)

Be Warned

“I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or me. Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

“But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

Be Encouraged

“There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’

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Morning Reflection:

Our task is to witness in the power of the Spirit to a hostile world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. – Steven J. Cole

In today’s reading, Jesus warns believers to expect opposition and rejection because we live in a virtue-signalling environment that is hostile to him and the Father who sent him. Why issue this warning?

Because telling the Truth invites persecution and can get us killed (vs 1-4)
Because it’s easy to lose our focus on God’s glory when we’re under attack (vs 5-6)
Because self-righteous people don’t want to hear the Truth about their sin, God’s righteousness, and the coming judgement (vs 7-11)

The good news is that Jesus has sent us his Spirit (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) to tell us what he has received from Jesus, and to speak directly to the heart of (convict) all those who listen.

Questions for consideration:

Who comes to mind when you think of unbelieving people – family, friends, neighbors, co-workers? In what way do they create a hostile environment to the good news of Jesus Christ? Please explain.
No one likes living in a hostile environment. In what way have you/do you “go along to get along” in order to avoid conflict? Please explain.
Has the Holy Spirit ever convicted you about sin, righteousness, and judgement in your own life? Yes/No – how did it go? Please explain.
Have you ever spoken to unbelievers about sin, righteousness, and judgement? Yes/No – how did it go? Please explain.
What do you believe the Holy Spirit is leading you to say and do? What would it cost you? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Come Holy Spirit: Speak to my heart about sin, righteousness, and judgement in my own life – forgive me, cleanse me and make me whole. Bring to mind unbelievers in my sphere of influence who need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. Prepare the way, and create an opportunity for me to tell them about Jesus. And overcome my avoidance of conflict and fear of rejection, so that I can speak to them with clarity and conviction. I ask this in Jesus’ name, and for the Father’s glory. Amen

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“Spirit Lead Me” – Michael Ketterer & Influence 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

Friday Morning: 22 Feb 2019 – John 15:12-27 ~ The world hates you, so love each other.

Friday Morning

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

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – John 15:12-27 (NLT)

Love Each Other

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.

The World Hates You

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’

“But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.”
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Morning Reflection:

The world hates you, so love each other.

+ Why does the world hate believers? Because the world hates Jesus –

believers belong to Jesus and are no longer part of it. (vs 19)
the world rejects Jesus and the one who sent him. (vs 21)
Jesus exposes the sin and guilt of the world. (vs 22)

You can see that I’ve reversed the order in today’s reading; the world’s rejection and hatred is not solely the reason that believers are called to love each other. However, it is true that if we are seeking acceptance and love, we should begin with believers.

+ How then are we to love each other? The same way Jesus loved us –

selectively – Jesus chose his friends, they didn’t choose him. (vs 16)
sacrificially – Jesus laid down his life for his friends. (vs 13)
obediently – Jesus’ friends live out his commands. (vs 15)
productively – Jesus’ friends tell others about him. (vs 27)

+ Telling others about Jesus is risky business. Lives lived in Christ threaten unbelievers; expect backlash. And backlash exposes our own hypocrisy, i.e. our inability to love others as Jesus loved us. The good news is – it’s not about us. Our testimony must point others to Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will help us.

“But I will send you the Advocate — the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.” – John 15:26-27

Questions for consideration:

Why do you think that believers tend to hang out with each other? Please explain.
Do you have both believing and unbelieving friends? How does your relationship with them differ? Please explain.
Have you experienced backlash from unbelievers? Please explain.
Who comes to mind when you think of telling an unbeliever about Jesus? What hinders you? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Holy Spirit: Enlighten me with the truth of who Jesus is, and who I am in him. Change how I think about other believers, that I might welcome them as your chosen friends, appointed to give and receive the love of Jesus to one another. Help me recall all I have learned and experienced in my relationship with Jesus, that I might boldly bear witness to unbelievers – all to the honor and glory of the Father who sent him into the world. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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“Love Always Wins” – Michael W. Smith

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Closing:

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

Thursday Morning: 21 Feb 2019 – John 15:1-11 ~ “Apart from me you can do nothing.”

Thursday Morning

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

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – John 15:1-11 (NLT)

Jesus, the True Vine

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
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Morning Reflection:

Are you remaining in (abiding in, living in, staying joined to or untied with) Jesus Christ? The reason I ask, of course, is –

Jesus says: “Apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5b

+ What does it mean to remain in Christ? Brian Hedges offers three interwoven suggestions –

Connection – a union that is life-giving and fruitful
Dependence – a union that requires reliance on its source of life
Continuance – a union that requires maintenance with its source to sustain the flow of life

If you believe in Jesus, you are in him. You are united to him. You are connected to the life-giving branch. But no matter where you are on your spiritual journey, you can experience the reality of this connection to Jesus more and more. – Brian Hedges

+ How do we remain in Christ? How do we become more fruitful? How do we experience more of the joy that Jesus promises? How do we become more like Jesus?

By allowing Jesus’ teaching to become part of us, to transform our hearts and minds and will, to become infused onto our being. (vs 7)
By allowing Jesus’ love to overcome our fears, to conquer our doubts, to persevere in trials, and to live guilt-free with eternity in mind. (vs 9-10)

Our union with Christ is an intimate relationship that grows through time spent listening and learning, and through experience gained through loving and obeying.

Questions for consideration:

Rate your relationship with Jesus on a scale of 1-10 (close 1 and distant 10)? Please explain.
Do you want a closer relationship with Jesus? Yes/No/Maybe? Please explain.
How much time do you spend with Jesus, listening and learning? Please explain.
How has Jesus’ love and your obedience deepened your relationship with him, and been fruitful in your life and the life of others? Please explain.
What role does the Holy Spirit play in all of this? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Heavenly Father: Prune away the dead wood in my life and implant me into your Son, Jesus Christ, that his life might flow in me and through me and your Spirit might produce good fruit and loving service that glorifies you and advances your Kingdom. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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“Remain in Me”

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Closing:

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

Wednesday Morning: 20 Feb 2019 – John 14:25-31 ~ a gift of peace

Wednesday Morning

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

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Morning Reading – John 14:25-31 (NLT)

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit (Continued)

I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.

“I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.
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Morning Reflection:

Is there something on your mind that’s unsettling you today? Is there something on your heart that’s troubling you – a fear or anxiety, a sadness or sorrow, a relationship or family issue, a financial or work-related issue, the immorality and evil run rampant in society, the corruption and deceit of government, something else? Make up your own list; it’s not difficult because we are living in troubled times.

The good news is that Jesus has given us his peace for such a time as this.

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart.
And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.
So don’t be troubled or afraid.” – John 14:27

Two aspects of the peace that Jesus offers stand out in today’s reading –

+ Jesus has given us his Spirit (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby) – we are not alone, his Spirit is with us and in us:

to teach us everything, or make everything plain to us. (vs 14:26)
to remind us of everything that Jesus taught. (vs 14:26)

+ Jesus will come back again, in all his eternal glory:

to usher in the Day of Judgement, and right all wrongs. (vs 12:48)
to take us to the heavenly home he has already prepared for us. (vs 14:2)

Questions for consideration:

What’s troubling your heart? Is it the Holy Spirit stirring within you, or a deceitful spirit sent from the evil one? How do you tell the difference? Please explain.
What has the Holy Spirit taught you? What teaching, or command, of Jesus has the Holy Spirit brought to your attention? What did you do about it? Please explain.
When everything seems to be going wrong around you, how does the promise of Jesus’ glorious return affect you – strengthen or encourage you? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Almighty God: Our minds and hearts are troubled by all the ills that beset us and the world in which we live. In the midst of the chaos and confusion around us, we seek the peace of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

In his name, we give all our worries and cares to you! Give us the discernment to distinguish between the movement of your Spirit within us, and the wiles and deceit of the devil who seeks to destroy us.

And, by your grace, restore us, support us, and strengthen our foundation in Christ Jesus as await his glorious return. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
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“It Is Well” – Kristene DiMarco | You Make Me Brave