The Season of Advent | 4th Thursday 21 Dec 2023: Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26; 2 Samuel 6:1-11; Hebrews 1:1-4 ~ God has spoken to us through his Son.

The Season of Advent | 4th Thursday 21 Dec 2023

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

Opening:

O Lord Jesus Christ,
you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance
and prepare the way for our salvation:
Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries
may likewise make ready your way,
by turning the hearts of the disobedient
toward the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge the world,
we may be found a people acceptable in your sight;
for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

“In these last days [God]
has spoken to us through his Son.
(Hebrews 1:2)

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From Psalms: Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 – “For Ever I Will Sing the Goodness of the Lord” [JesComTV]

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OT Reading: 2 Samuel 6:1-11 (GW)

David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem

6:1 David again assembled all the best soldiers in Israel, 30,000 men. He and all the people with him left Baalah in Judah to bring God’s ark ⌞to Jerusalem⌟. (The ark is called by the name of the Lord of Armies, who is enthroned over the angels.) David and his men put God’s ark on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s home on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, were guiding the new cart. They brought it from Abinadab’s home, with Ahio walking ahead of the ark. David and the entire nation of Israel were celebrating in the Lord’s presence with all kinds of instruments made from cypress wood and with lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.

But when they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, the oxen stumbled. So Uzzah reached out for the ark of God and grabbed it. The Lord became angry with Uzzah, so God killed him there for his lack of respect. He died beside the ark of God.

David was angry because the Lord had struck Uzzah so violently. (That place is still called Perez Uzzah [The Striking of Uzzah] today.) David was afraid of the Lord that day. “How can the ark of the Lord come to my ⌞city⌟?” he asked. So David wouldn’t bring the ark of the Lord with him to the City of David. Instead, he rerouted it to the home of Obed Edom, who was from Gath. The ark of the Lord stayed at the home of Obed Edom from Gath for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed Edom and his whole family.

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David Danced – Middle-Eastern Duet Worship Song in Arabic & English

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NT Reading: Hebrews 1:1-4 (GW)

God Has Spoken to Us Through His Son

1:1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors at many different times and in many different ways through the prophets. In these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. God made his Son responsible for everything. His Son is the one through whom God made the universe. His Son is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact likeness of God’s being. He holds everything together through his powerful words. After he had cleansed people from their sins, he now holds the honored position—the one next to the majestic God [the Father] on the heavenly throne.

God’s Son Is Superior to the Angels

1:4 The Son has become greater than the angels since he has been given a name that is superior to theirs.

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Mary Did You Know? | From Nazareth | Hebrew – Arabic – English

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ O God, our heavenly Father: Pour out your Spirit on your faithful people in the Middle East, that your Son’s life-giving Gospel may be preached to every tribe and nation. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Lord of Heaven’s Armies, we pray for swift and total victory over all evil in the Holy Land. Set free the hostages, and deliver from bondage every person captivated by the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East. And finally, grant heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, diplomatically, and especially those who will restore Israel spiritually, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Hasten, O Father, the coming of your kingdom; and grant that we your servants, who now live by faith, may with joy behold your Son at his coming in glorious majesty; even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May the Lord, when he comes,
find us watching and waiting.

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

The Season of Advent | 3rd Wednesday 20 Dec 2023: Psalm 125; Malachi 3:16-4:6; Mark 9:9-13 ~ The Sun of Righteousness will bring healing.

The Season of Advent | 3rd Wednesday 20 Dec 2023

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

Opening:

““The Sun of Righteousness
will rise with healing in his wings
for you people who fear my name.”
(Malachi 4:2)

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From Psalms: Psalm 125 – Poor Bishop Hooper

those who trust in the lord
are like mount zion
which cannot be shaken
but endures forever

as the mountains surround jerusalem
so the lord surrounds his people
forever

for the hand of wickedness
will not rule the land of the righteous
lest the hand of righteous man
turn away toward wickedness

do good oh lord to those who are
those who are good

but those who turn to crooked ways
the lord will lead lead away

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OT Reading: Malachi 3:16-4:6 (GW)

316 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord paid attention and listened. A book was written in his presence to be a reminder to those who feared the Lord and respected his name.

“They will be mine,” says the Lord of Armies. “On that day I will make them my special possession. I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then you will again see the difference between righteous people and wicked people, between the one who serves God and the one who doesn’t serve him.

The Day of the Lord Brings Judgment

4:1 “Certainly the day is coming! It will burn like a furnace. All arrogant people and all evildoers will be ⌞like⌟ straw. The day that is coming will burn them up completely,” says the Lord of Armies. “It won’t leave a single root or branch.

“The Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings for you people who fear my name. You will go out and leap like calves let out of a stall. You will trample on wicked people, because on the day I act they will be ashes under the soles of your feet,” says the Lord of Armies.

Remember What God Has Done and Will Do

4:4 “Remember the teachings of my servant Moses, the rules and regulations that I gave to him at Horeb for all Israel.

“I’m going to send you the prophet Elijah before that very terrifying day of the Lord comes. He will change parents’ attitudes toward their children and children’s attitudes toward their parents. If not, I will come and reclaim my land by destroying you.”

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Days Of Elijah – Paul Wilbur

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NT Reading: Mark 9:9-13 (GW)

9:9 On their way down the mountain, Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen. They were to wait until the Son of Man had come back to life. They kept in mind what he said but argued among themselves what he meant by “come back to life.” So they asked him, “Don’t the experts in Moses’ Teachings say that Elijah must come first?”

Jesus said to them, “Elijah is coming first and will put everything in order again. But in what sense was it written that the Son of Man must suffer a lot and be treated shamefully? Indeed, I can guarantee that Elijah has come. Yet, people treated him as they pleased, as Scripture says about him.”

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Worship over Jerusalem in Arabic-Hebrew-English – “Lord of Glory” – Malachi 4:2 “Sun of Righteousness”

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May the Lord, when he comes,
find us watching and waiting.

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

The Season of Advent | 3rd Tuesday 19 Dec 2023: Psalm 125; 2 Kings 2:9-22; Acts 3:17-4:4 ~ Jesus Messiah will bring times of refreshing.

The Season of Advent | 3rd Tuesday 19 Dec 2023

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

Opening:

“Then times will come
when the Lord will refresh you.
He will send you Jesus,
whom he has appointed to be the Christ.”
(Acts 3:20)

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From Psalms: Psalm 125 – “Not Be Moved” – James Block

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OT Reading: 2 Kings 2:9-22 (GW)

2:9 While they were crossing, Elijah asked Elisha, “What should I do for you before I’m taken from you?”

Elisha answered, “Let me inherit a double share of your spirit.”

Elijah said, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me taken from you, it will be yours. Otherwise, it will not.”

As they continued walking and talking, a fiery chariot with fiery horses separated the two of them, and Elijah went to heaven in a windstorm.

When Elisha saw this, he cried out, “Master! Master! Israel’s chariot and horses!” When he couldn’t see Elijah anymore, he grabbed his own garment and tore it in two ⌞to show his grief⌟. Then he picked up Elijah’s coat (which had fallen off Elijah), went back, and stood on the bank of the Jordan River. He took the coat and struck the water with it. He asked, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” As he struck the water, it divided to his left and his right, and Elisha crossed ⌞the river⌟.

The disciples of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him from a distance. They said, “Elijah’s spirit rests on Elisha!” Then they went to meet him and bowed in front of him with their faces touching the ground. They said to him, “There are 50 strong men here with us. Please let them go and search for your master. Maybe the Lord’s Spirit lifted him up and dropped him on one of the hills or in one of the valleys.”

Elisha answered, “Don’t send them ⌞to look⌟.” But the disciples kept urging him ⌞to send the men⌟ until he was embarrassed. So he said, “Send them.” They sent 50 men who searched for three days without finding him. They returned to Elisha in Jericho, where he was waiting. He said, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”

Elisha Purifies Jericho’s Water

2:19 The people of the city ⌞of Jericho⌟ told Elisha, “This city’s location is as good as you will ever find. But the water is bad, and the land cannot grow crops.”

Elisha said, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it.” They brought it to him. He went to the spring and threw the salt into it. Then he said, “This is what the Lord says: I have purified this water. No more deaths or crop failures will come from this water.” To this day the water is still pure, as Elisha had said.

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Days of Elijah – Robin Mark [Jesus Church]

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NT Reading: Acts 3:17-4:4 (GW)

3:17 “And now, brothers, I know that like your rulers you didn’t know what you were doing. But in this way God made the sufferings of his Messiah come true. God had predicted these sufferings through all the prophets. So change the way you think and act, and turn ⌞to God⌟ to have your sins removed. Then times will come when the Lord will refresh you. He will send you Jesus, whom he has appointed to be the Christ. Heaven must receive Jesus until the time when everything will be restored as God promised through his holy prophets long ago.

“Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will send you a prophet, an Israelite like me. Listen to everything he tells you. Those who won’t listen to that prophet will be excluded from the people.’ Samuel and all the prophets who followed him spoke about these days. You are the descendants of the prophets and the heirs of the promise that God made to our ancestors when he said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendant all people on earth will be blessed.’ God has brought his servant back to life and has sent him to you first. God did this to bless you by turning every one of you from your evil ways.”

Peter and John’s Trial in Front of the Jewish Council

4:1 Some priests, the officer in charge of the temple guards, and some Sadducees approached Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. These religious authorities were greatly annoyed. Peter and John were teaching the people and spreading the message that the dead will come back to life through Jesus. So the temple guards arrested them. Since it was already evening, they put Peter and John in jail until the next day.

But many of those who had heard the message became believers, so the number of men who believed grew to about 5,000.

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I Am Not Ashamed Of The Gospel – Heritage Singers [KJV 1611 Gospel Music]

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of the Israeli Defense Forces. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May the Lord, when he comes,
find us watching and waiting.

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

The Season of Advent | 3rd Monday 18 Dec 2023: Psalm 125; 1 Kings 18:1-18; Ephesians 6:10-17 ~ Stand your ground against the devil’s strategies.

The Season of Advent | 3rd Monday 18 Dec 2023

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

Opening:

“Put on all the armor that God supplies.
In this way you can take a stand
against the devil’s strategies.”
(Ephesians 6:11)

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From Psalms: Psalm 125 – Sons of Korah [Ed Sullivan]

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OT Reading: 1 Kings 18:1-18 (GW)

Elijah Comes to King Ahab

18:1 A while later in the third year of the drought, the Lord spoke his word to Elijah: “Present yourself to Ahab. I will allow rain to fall on the ground.” So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.

The famine was particularly severe in Samaria. Ahab sent for Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. Obadiah was a devout worshiper of the Lord. (When Jezebel was killing the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had hidden 100 prophets in caves. He put 50 prophets in each cave and kept them alive by providing bread and water for them.) Ahab told Obadiah, “Let’s go throughout the countryside to every spring and stream. If we can find grass, then we can keep the horses and mules alive and not lose any animals.” So they split up in order to cover the entire countryside. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went the other way by himself.

Obadiah was on the road when he met Elijah. Obadiah recognized him and immediately bowed down to the ground. “Is it you, my master Elijah?” he asked.

“Yes,” Elijah answered him. “Tell your master that Elijah is here.”

Obadiah asked, “What have I done wrong to make you hand me over to Ahab to be killed? I solemnly swear, as the Lord your God lives, my master has searched for you in every region and kingdom. When people would say, ‘He isn’t here,’ my master made that kingdom or region take an oath that they hadn’t found you.

“Now you say, ‘Tell your master that Elijah is here.’ This is what will happen: When I leave you, the Lord’s Spirit will take you away to some unknown place. I’ll tell Ahab, but he won’t be able to find you. Then he will kill me.

“I have been faithful to the Lord since I was a child. Haven’t you heard what I did when Jezebel killed the Lord’s prophets? Haven’t you heard how I hid 100 of the Lord’s prophets in caves? I hid 50 prophets in each cave and provided bread and water for them. Now you say that I should tell my master that Elijah is here. He will kill me.”

Elijah said, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord of Armies whom I serve lives, I will present myself to Ahab.”

So Obadiah went to tell Ahab.

Elijah and the Prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel

Ahab went to meet Elijah. When he saw Elijah, Ahab said, “Is that you, you troublemaker of Israel?”

18:1 Elijah answered, “I haven’t troubled Israel. You and your father’s family have done it by disobeying the Lord’s commands and following the various Baal gods.

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Show Your Power – Live Vineyard Worship [taken from Spirit Burn – Live from London]

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NT Reading: Ephesians 6:10-17 (GW)

Put On All the Armor That God Supplies

6:10 Finally, receive your power from the Lord and from his mighty strength. Put on all the armor that God supplies. In this way you can take a stand against the devil’s strategies. This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world. For this reason, take up all the armor that God supplies. Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days. Once you have overcome all obstacles, you will be able to stand your ground.

So then, take your stand! Fasten truth around your waist like a belt. Put on God’s approval as your breastplate. Put on your shoes so that you are ready to spread the Good News that gives peace. In addition to all these, take the Christian faith as your shield. With it you can put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Also take salvation as your helmet and God’s word as the sword that the Spirit supplies.

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Spiritual Warfare | Put on the Armor of God – Inspirational & Motivational Video

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May the Lord, when he comes,
find us watching and waiting.

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

The Season of Advent | 3rd Saturday 16 Dec 2023: Psalm 126; Habakkuk 3:13-19; Matthew 21:28-32 ~ Faithfulness triumphs over feelings.

The Season of Advent | 3rd Saturday 16 Dec 2023

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

Opening:

Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures
to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn,
and inwardly digest them,
that by patience and the comfort of your holy Word
we may embrace and ever hold fast
the blessed hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

““His son replied, ‘I don’t want to!’
But later he changed his mind and went.”
(Matthew 21:29)

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From Psalms: Psalm 126 – Poor Bishop Hooper

when the lord restored
the fortunes of zion
we were like those who dream
then our mouth was filled with laughter
and our tongue with shouts of joy joy joy
then they said among the nations
the lord has done great things for them
the lord has done great things

restore our fortunes lord
like streams in the desert

those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy

he who goes out weeping
carrying the seed
will come home with joyful shouting
bringing in his sheaves

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OT Reading: Habakkuk 3:13-19 (GW)

3:13 You go out to save your people,
to save your anointed.
You crush the leader of the wicked household,
stripping him bare from head to toe. Selah
You pierce the leader of his gang with his own arrows.
His soldiers come like a violent storm to scatter me.
They are arrogant like those who secretly eat up the poor.
You march with your horses into the sea,
into the mighty raging waters.

I have heard, so there’s trembling within me.
At the report my lips quivered.
A rotten feeling has entered me.
I tremble where I stand.
I wait for the day of trouble
to come to the people who will attack us.
Even if the fig tree does not bloom
and the vines have no grapes,
even if the olive tree fails to produce
and the fields yield no food,
even if the sheep pen is empty
and the stalls have no cattle—
even then,
I will be happy with the Lord.
I will truly find joy in God, who saves me.
The Lord Almighty is my strength.
He makes my feet like those of a deer.
He makes me walk on the mountains.

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Even Then – Micah Tyler [Debora Gomez]

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NT Reading: Matthew 21:28-32 (GW)

A Story about Two Sons

21:28 “What do you think about this? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go to work in the vineyard today.’

“His son replied, ‘I don’t want to!’ But later he changed his mind and went.

“The father went to the other son and told him the same thing. He replied, ‘I will, sir,’ but he didn’t go.

“Which of the two sons did what the father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Tax collectors and prostitutes are going into God’s kingdom ahead of you. John came to you and showed you the way that God wants you to live, but you didn’t believe him. The tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. But even after you had seen that, you didn’t change your minds and believe him.

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It Begins | “Zeh Matkhil” (Live) [Worship Session]@SOLUIsrael]

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ Almighty God our Savior, you desire that none should perish, and you have taught us through your Son that there is great joy in heaven over every sinner who repents: Grant that our hearts may ache for a lost and broken world. May your Holy Spirit work through our words, deeds, and prayers, that the lost may be found and the dead made alive, and that all your redeemed may rejoice around your throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

May the Lord, when he comes,
find us watching and waiting.

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

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