Showing posts with label Advent Series - 2017. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Advent Series - 2017. Show all posts

Monday, December 25, 2017

Matthew 2:1-11 | Advent Joy: Worship the King Who Comes for All in Cradle, on Cross, and with Crown + December 23, 2017







The Wise Ones Believed in Jesus, Our Emmanuel, and Worshiped Him


He lies in a manger, yet He rocks the whole world. He is bound with swaddling bands, yet He breaks the bonds of sin. Before He could speak He taught the wise men and converted them.

+ St. John Chrysostom, 392 A.D.

Gold, as to a king; myrrh, as to one who was mortal; and incense, as to a God.
+ Origen, early 200s A.D.

It is not known who these wise men were. Their names and dwelling place are both kept from us. We are only told that they came "from the east." Yet these wise men in Matthew 2:1-11 show us that there may be true servants of God in places where we should not expect to find them. The Lord Jesus has many "hidden ones," like these wise men. But their names are in the book of life, and they will be found with Christ on the day of His appearing. It is well to remember this. We must not look around the earth and say hastily, "All is barren." The grace of God is not tied to places and families. The Holy Spirit can lead souls to Christ without the help of any outward means. Men and women may be born in dark places of the earth, like these wise ones, and yet like them be made "wise for salvation."

These wise men believed in Christ when they had never seen Him; but that was not all. They believed in Him when the scribes and Pharisees were unbelieving; but that again was not all. They believed in Him when they saw Him as a little infant on Mary's knees, and worshiped Him as King. This was the crowning point of their faith. They saw no miracles to convince them. They heard no teaching to persuade them. They saw nothing but a newborn infant, helpless and weak, needing a mother's care like any of us. And yet when they saw that infant, they believed that they saw the divine Savior of the world! "They bowed down and worshiped Him" (v. 11).

We read of no greater faith than this in the whole volume of the Bible. It is a faith that deserves to be placed side by side with that of the penitent thief. The thief that saw someone dying the death of a criminal, and yet prayed to Him, and "called Him Lord." The wise men saw a newborn baby on the lap of a poor woman, and yet worshiped Him, and confessed that He was Christ. 

+ Bishop J.C. Ryle, 1856 A.D.

Christmas Welcome

Bienvenido! Akwaaba! Mirë se vjen! خوش آمدید Bem-vindos! 歡迎光臨! Céad míle fáilte! 

We invite you to hear and respond to the history-altering, world-restoring, personally-transforming Christmas message that the Christ child is Jesus, the God who saves us from our sins, our Immanuel, the God who comes to be with us now and forever. Consider with us what the poet John Donne said, "The cradle to the cross is an inseparable line;" and wonder with us this Christmas Eve's Eve how Jesus came to be  the greatest gift of salvation we could ever receive.

 Advent Scriptures | Matthew 2:1-11

Lord's Prayer | Praying for Jesus' Kingdom Impact in Us and in Worcester

O Come All Ye Faithful
By John Francis Wade
1751 A.D.

 O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!

O come ye, O come ye
To Bethlehem;

Come and behold Him
Born the King of Angels:
O come,
Let us adore Him, (3x)

Christ the Lord!

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning;

Jesus, to Thee be
All glory given!

Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing!

O come,
Let us adore Him, (3x)

Christ the Lord!


Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
By Charles Wesley 
and George Whitfield
1739 A.D.

Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
“Christ is born in Bethlehem.”
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

By Isaac Watts
1719 A.D.

All of heaven and
All creation sing
The wonders of His love!

Joy to the World ,
The Lord has come!

Let earth
Receive her King;

Let every heart
Prepare Him room,

And Heaven
And nature sing,

And Heaven
And nature sing,

And Heaven, and Heaven,
And nature sing!
(Refrain)

He rules the world
With truth and grace,

And makes
The nations prove
The glories of
His righteousness,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders, wonders,
of His love!
(Refrain)

 The Cradle and the Cross
By Austin Stone Worship
2013 A.D.

Oh the beauty and the loss
Of the cradle and the cross,
The Son of God so humbly
Sent for us.
Into darkness came the light,
Faith of fathers became sight

When the Christ arrived
To save the fold of God.

Humanity embraced,
He left a perfect place,
The prize of God in
Lowly manger lay.
Angels shout with joyous song,
Saints and sinners sing along

In the highest place, Glory, Gloria!

Emmanuel, God with us!
The Lamb of God slain for us!
Finally, our hope’s secured
By the beauty of
The cradle and the cross.

The Creator of the stars,
Then in flesh received the scars

On the cross He paid
The debt of sinners earned.
And even death could not Him hold,
Peace on earth we see unfold
As the risen Christ
Ascends in victory!
(Chorus)

Stars and angels
Sing around You,
Gloria!

Hearts unfold like
Flowers before You,
Gloria!
Joyful, joyful
We adore You,
Gloria!
(Chorus)

 Silent Night
By Jospeh Mohr
1818 A.D.

 Silent night, holy night, 
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon virgin
Mother and child,
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace. 

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.

O Holy Night
By Placide Cappeau
1847 A.D. 

 O holy night, 
The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night
Of the dear Savior’s birth;
Long lay the world
In sin and error pining,
'Till He appeared
And the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope
The weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks
A new and glorious morn;
Fall on your knees, 
Oh hear the angel voices!
O night divine!
O night when Christ was born.
O night, O holy night,
O night divine.

 Truly He taught us 

To love one another;
His law is Love 
And His gospel is Peace;
Chains shall He break,
For the slave is our brother,
And in His name 
All oppression shall cease,
Sweet hymns of joy 
In grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us 
Praise his Holy name!
Christ is the Lord!
Oh praise His name forever!
His pow'r and glory, 
Evermore proclaim!
His pow'r and glory, 
Evermore proclaim!

Benediction

The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city (coming down out of heaven from God), and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more; people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever. ... “Look, I am coming soon ... I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. ... “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!


Christ is all,

Rev. Mike “Sully” Sullivan

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Location: Worcester, MA, USA

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Matthew 1:18-25 | Advent Love: God Is Faithful to Us Through It All + December 16, 2017


"Jose y Maria" by Everett Patterson




Peace | "Jose y Maria" and the Courage to Believe He Knows Who We Are and What Will Give Us Peace


Consider what the announcement of the angel means to Joseph. Mary is pregnant, and Joseph knows he is not the father. He decides to break off the engagement, but the angel shows up and says, “Marry her. She is pregnant through the Holy Spirit.” But if Joseph marries her, everybody in that shame-and-honor society will know that this child was not born nine or ten months after they got married; they will know she was already pregnant. That would mean either Joseph and Mary had sex before marriage or she was unfaithful to him, and as a result, they are going to be shamed, socially excluded, and rejected. They are going to be second-class citizens forever. So the message is “If Jesus Christ comes into your life, you are going to kiss your stellar reputation good-bye.” All of Joseph’s friends are going to say, “Either you got her pregnant before you were married, or she was unfaithful to you.” The truth isn’t something his friends will understand and, therefore, they will always think he’s either crazy or gullible ("She is pregnant through the Holy Spirit?"). Today, in non-Western countries a profession of Christian faith can be dangerous to your life. And in Western countries there is, increasingly, ridicule and contempt for those holding to historical Christian beliefs. All this takes courage to face. I know this is intimidating, but it’s also an adventure. He made us. He knows who we are, what we were made for, what will give us peace. That means we cannot know who we are until He comes into our lives and then, through obedience to Him, learn our true identity and purpose.

+ Timothy Keller, Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ

 He. Will. Save. God. With. Us. A carpenter dreams about the birth of God. Mary has her angelic visitation to hear of the Incarnation. Joseph gets the stinging betrayal of her swelling abdomen. He gets to lie awake at night wondering what a guy like him is doing in a mess like this. No unassuming angel shows up for him until he's already made up his mind and heart to mercifully let her go. There is always that – we are not spared of all trials, but we are always spared of the trials that have no gifts. God always gives God. Hush away the hurry, the worry. We can always have as much God as we want. That's what Joseph's angel says – that what is stretching Mary's skin is God. (What is always stretching us is God.)

 + Ann Voskamp, The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas 

 Advent Scriptures | Matthew 1:18-25; Isaiah 54:10

Lord's Prayer | Praying for Jesus' Kingdom Impact in Us and in Worcester


By Charles Wesley
1744 A.D.

Come Thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free.
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art.
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Joy to those who long to see Thee,
Day-spring from on high appear.
Come Thou promised Rod of Jesse,
Of Thy birth we long to hear.
O'er the hills the angels singing,
News glad tidings of a birth.
Go to Him your praises bringing,
Christ the Lord has come to earth.

Come to earth to taste our sadness,
He whose glories knew no end.
By His life He brings us gladness,
Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
Leaving riches without number,
Born within a cattle stall.
This the everlasting wonder:
Christ was born Lord of all.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King.
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious Kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal spirit,
Rule in all our hearts alone.
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

By Austin Stone Worship
2012 A.D.

A day, a day of promise, 
A hope to end our woe, 
A day that tells of triumph
Against our vanquished foe!

In flesh His entrance humble,
The swaddling clothes His robe,
The meek displayed in power,
The Prince of Peace now known!

Let angels shout the triumph
As mortals raise their voice,
"Behold the Son of heav'n and earth,
The King of Kings is born!"

 A day, a day of glory,
When Jesus calls us home.
Our glorious King eternal
Returning for His own!

 Gloria, gloria, gloria,
Our King has come!

 O Come, O Come Emmanuel
By anonymous monks
Translated by John Mason Neale
800s A.D., 1800s A.D.

 O Come, O Come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

 Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

 O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny,
From depths of Hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o'er the grave.
(Chorus)

 O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
(Chorus)

 O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
(Chorus)

 O come, Desire of nations, bind
In One the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
(Chorus)

 The Cradle and the Cross
By Austin Stone Worship
2013 A.D.

Oh the beauty and the loss
Of the cradle and the cross,
The Son of God so humbly
Sent for us.
Into darkness came the light,
Faith of fathers became sight

When the Christ arrived
To save the fold of God.

 Humanity embraced,
He left a perfect place,
The prize of God in
Lowly manger lay.
Angels shout with joyous song,
Saints and sinners sing along

In the highest place, Glory, Gloria!

 Emmanuel, God with us!
The Lamb of God slain for us!
Finally, our hope’s secured
By the beauty of
The cradle and the cross.

 The Creator of the stars,
Then in flesh received the scars

On the cross He paid
The debt of sinners earned.
And even death could not Him hold,
Peace on earth we see unfold
As the risen Christ
Ascends in victory!
(Chorus)

 Stars and angels
Sing around You,
Gloria!

Hearts unfold like
Flowers before You,
Gloria!
Joyful, joyful
We adore You,
Gloria!
(Chorus)

What Child Is This
By William Chatterton Dix
1865 A.D.

What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and donkeys are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spears shall pierce Him through,
The cross He bore for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The babe, the Son of Mary.

 This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary.

By Isaac Watts
1719 A.D.

All of heaven and
All creation sing
The wonders of His love!

Joy to the World ,
The Lord has come!

Let earth
Receive her King;

Let every heart
Prepare Him room,

And Heaven
And nature sing,

And Heaven
And nature sing,

And Heaven, and Heaven,
And nature sing!
(Refrain)

No more let sins
And sorrows grow,

Nor thorns
Infest the ground;

He comes to make
His blessings flow

Far as the curse
Is found,

Far as the curse
Is found,

Far as, far as,
The curse is found!
(Refrain)

He rules the world
With truth and grace,

And makes
The nations prove
The glories of
His righteousness,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders, wonders,
of His love!
(Refrain)

Apostles' Creed 
390 A.D.

I believe in God, 
the Father almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ,
His only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
,
born of the virgin Mary.

suffered under Pontius Pilate, 

was crucified, dead, and buried;

He descended to hell.

The third day He rose again!

He ascended to heaven

and is seated at the right hand
of God the Father almighty;
from there He shall come
to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic* Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins, 

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

*Catholic stands for Jesus' Church
"according to the whole,"
across time, cultures, and nations,
that He establishedand continues to build by His
grace, truth, and resurrection power. 

Benediction

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them a light has shone. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. + Isaiah 9:2, 6

 Next post: Matthew 2:1-11 | Advent Joy: Worship the King Who Comes for All in Cradle, on Cross, and with Crown

Christ is all,

Rev. Mike “Sully” Sullivan

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Location: Worcester, MA, USA
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