Thursday Morning: 08 Aug 2019 – Ephesians 5:18-33 ~ Be filled with the Holy Spirit… at home.

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 – Ephesians 5:18-33 (NLT)

Living by the Spirit’s Power

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Spirit-Guided Relationships: Wives and Husbands

And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. And we are members of his body.

As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
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Morning Reflection:

Be filled with the Holy Spirit… at home.

“Be filled with the Holy Spirit… and submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
– Ephesians 5:18, 21 –

In yesterday’s reading, Paul exhorted us to live as Jesus lived and to love as Jesus loved – both of these involve the sacrifice of self and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Which is where we pick up today’s reading – Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit empowers us to imitate Christ, and it also manifests itself in thanksgiving and “making music to the Lord in our hearts.”

Then Paul moves on to another subject – the relationship between husbands and wives – or is it? He prefaces his remarks with – ” submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” If we follow his reasoning in Chapter 5, we can only live and love as Jesus lived if we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and loving like Jesus loved requires the sacrifice of self (submission to one another) for the good of those closest to us – our family – out of reverence for Christ.

Our families are the laboratories of our faith – our parents, spouses, and children are our nearest neighbors and they have been given to us by God. It’s easy to love everybody, but it’s tough to love those with whom we “rub elbows” every day. It requires the sacrifice of submission to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Questions for consideration:

What does your closest family look like? With whom do you “rub elbows” every day? Please explain.
Are all of your family believers? How does that affect your relationships with them? Please explain.
How does being a man or a woman affect your relationships within your family? Please explain.
What does the sacrifice of submission mean for you in practical terms? Please explain.
Where do you need the Holy Spirit’s help to live reverently for Christ in your family? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer – For Families

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you set the solitary in families: We commend to your continual care the homes in which your people dwell. Put far from them every root of bitterness, the desire of vainglory, and the pride of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, and true godliness. Knit together in constant affection those who, in holy matrimony, have been made one flesh; turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the hearts of children to their parents; and so enkindle fervent charity among us all, that we may evermore be joined to one another with bonds of loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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“It Is Well” – Kristene DiMarco | You Make Me Brave

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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: 01 Aug 2019 – Ephesians 2:1-10 ~ You are God’s masterpiece.

Thursday Morning

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

Opening (A Collect for Guidance – Thursday)

Morning Reading – Ephesians 2:1-10 (NLT)

Made Alive with Christ

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
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Morning Reflection:

We are God’s masterpiece.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,
so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
– Ephesians 2:10 –

Have you ever thought of yourself as God’s masterpiece – not as you were before you received God’s grace, but now as a new creation in Jesus Christ? Perhaps you think of yourself as a work in in progress. But Paul says – God has made believers alive, raised us up, and seated us with Christ. It’s a done deal – you are God’s masterpiece. And God wants to display you as an example of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness to those who are united with Jesus Christ.

What are the characteristics of God’s handiwork?

+ You are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
+ You have received God’s unmerited favor; it’s a free gift.
+ You have done nothing to earn, or deserve, God’s mercy.

And what is God’s purpose for you in all of this?

He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,
so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
– Ephesians 2:10 –

Questions for consideration:

If you look at today’s illustration, you will note the messiness of it all – the paint, the brushes, and the palette. But these are only the tools, or means, by which the artist creates a masterpiece, not the masterpiece itself. You are God’s masterpiece – stay focused on who God says you are, and what God has planned for you to do.

Why do you think it’s easier to see what’s wrong in our lives, instead of what’s right? Please explain.
You are God’s masterpiece; your identity is rooted in what he says about you? Do you believe that? Please explain.
How can you continually remind yourself of who God says you are? What role can daily Bible reading, prayer, worship, and sharing your life with other believers play in this? Please explain.
Can you think of a “good thing” that God wants you to do? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer – For Holy Thought

O God, without whose beauty and goodness our souls are unfed, without whose truth our reason withers: Consecrate our lives to your will, giving us such purity of heart, such depth of faith, and such steadfastness of purpose, that in time we may come to think your own thoughts after you; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

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“You Say” – Lauren Daigle

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Closing:

+ 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)

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

Thursday Morning: 18 Jul 2019 – 1 John 1:1-2:6 ~ Jesus: the Word of life.

Thursday Morning

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

Opening (A Collect for Guidance – Thursday)

Morning Reading – 1 John 1:1-2:6 (NLT)

Introduction

We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.

Living in the Light

This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.
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My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
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Morning Reflection:

Jesus, the Word of life.

We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen.
We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands.
He is the Word of life.
– 1 John 1:1 –

John begins this epistle by explaining his purpose: that we would enjoy the same fellowship with God as those who actually saw God – a fellowship that rests on the reality of Jesus Christ’s incarnation, and results in full joy for those who experience it. In today’s reading, John describes Jesus as the Word of life and outlines how to live in Him and for Him, now and forever.

+ Jesus: The Word of life. He existed in the beginning of all things, and was revealed to us – the Word became flesh and lived among us – so that through him we can have fellowship with God and one another.

+ His Message: God is light. John emphasizes the light of God’s holiness – God exposes darkness and reveals and condemns sin. Those who live in sin and darkness are excluded from fellowship with God,

+ His Followers: Live in the light. Fellowship with God requires more than agreement with certain “essentials” of faith, it requires living by faith and obedience to the truth that has been revealed in Jesus Christ, i.e. living as Jesus lived, and loving as Jesus loved.

+ His Blood: Cleanses us from sin. But living as Jesus lived ,and loving as Jesus loved, is a tall order. And the more we know, the more we realize how far short we fall. The good news is God has provided a remedy for our sin – the blood of Christ.

+ His Advocacy: Restores our righteousness. Jesus Christ is our defense attorney before God the Father. Since He is righteous, He is our perfect Advocate before God. Further, not only does Jesus plead our case, He also pays the debt – Jesus Himself is the satisfaction for our sin.

+ His Mercy, Grace and Love: Motivates us to live as Jesus did. Obedience to the commandments and teaching of Jesus demonstrate that we are living in Him and have fellowship with God – Father, Son, and Spirit.

Questions for consideration:now

Do you see yourself as a person who is living in the light as God is in the light?” What does that mean for you? Please explain.
What does confession mean to you? How is confession worked out in your tradition? How often do you confess your sins before God? What would it take to repent of your sins – to leave the darkness and walk in God’s light? Please explain.
Where in your life do you need to make an adjustment to live as Jesus lived and love as Jesus loved? What would it cost you to make this adjustment. Please explain.

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Morning Prayer:

Prayer of Confession –

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Declaration of Pardon:

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Believe the good news of the Gospel, in Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
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“Doxology//Amen “ – Phil Wickham

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Closing:

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

Thursday Morning: 11 Jul 2019 – 1 Peter 4:1-19 ~ Live for God and Expect Suffering.

Thursday Morning

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

Opening (A Collect for Guidance – Thursday)

Morning Reading – 1 Peter 4:1-19 (NLT)

Living for God

So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.

Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead. That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.

The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Suffering for Being a Christian

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? And also,

“If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?”

So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.
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Morning Reflection:

Live for God and Expect Suffering

So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right,
and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.
– 1 Peter 5:19 –

Once again, Peter calls us to live for God – even if it involves physical suffering – after the example of Jesus Christ. In suffering with Christ, our sinful desires are replaced with the desire to do God’s will. So then, how shall we live for God?

+ Reject evil things – such as immorality and lust, drunkenness and wild parties, and idol worship.
+ Pursue godly things – earnest and disciplined prayer, deep love for other believers, and hospitality to those in need.
+ Serve one another – use your spiritual gifts of speaking and helping with all the strength and energy that God supplies, all to his glory.

And, don’t be surprised by suffering, rather be glad. Why?

+ Suffering makes us partners with Christ in his suffering.
+ Suffering with Christ will result in seeing the joy of his glory when it is revealed.
+ Insults as a Christian result in the blessing of God’s Spirit resting on us.
+ Suffering for being a Christian removes all fear of God’s final judgement.

“We may not always understand what God is doing,
but we know that He is doing what is best for us. We do not live on explanations;
we live on promises.” (Warren Wiersbe)

Questions for consideration:

In living for God, what are some evil things that God is calling you to reject? What are some godly things that God is calling you to pursue? Please explain.
Have you faced suffering for being a Christian? What form did it take? Please explain.
Do you identify with Christ in any of your suffering? How has suffering shaped your life for the better? Please explain.
What promises of God do you find most helpful when faced with suffering? Please explain.

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Morning Prayer: For Persecuted Christians –

Sovereign God, we worship You and we acknowledge that You know all those who suffer in Your name.

We remember those who are imprisoned for their faith and ask that they would join with the Apostle Paul to see that even though they remain captive, their chains have furthered the gospel, not frustrated it. May they inspire and embolden their fellow believers to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

God of all comfort, for those who are tortured both in body and mind, give them the grace to endure and to see their suffering as part of following in Christ’s footsteps.

Merciful God, for those asked to pay the ultimate price; who are martyred because of their love for You, may they truly know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death.

Father God, for those who are widowed and orphaned may they know the comfort that comes from Your promised presence even when they walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

May they be strengthened by Your Spirit, enabling them to rejoice with the psalmist as they proclaim that the Lord will not abandon them in death.

Heavenly Father, we ask that You would make us ever mindful of our brothers and sisters around the world who need us to stand with them as they suffer in Your name.

Teach us what it means to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony; we pray that we would not love our lives so much as to shrink from death. O Lord, hear our prayer.

Faithful God, we trust in Your promises and pray that You would strengthen us and empower us to live godly lives and endure suffering after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You in unity with the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.
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“O God, Do Thou Sustain Me” – The Overholt Family