Monday, November 22, 2010

I Advent: 28 November 2010

Torah: Deuteronomy 30:10-20
Prophet: Isaiah 40:1-11
Writing: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Psalm: 139
Epistle: I Tim 3: 1-16
Gospel: Luke 3:1-20
Collect: El Shadai, you raised up your prophet, John the Baptist to preach repentance and to prepare the path for Yeshua and the kingdom. So prepare our hearts and minds that our Adonai Yeshua may find a home from where through us he may reign and prepare the world for his future return. This we ask through our Adonai Yeshua who lives and reigns with you and the Ruach haKodesh, one God in shekina glory everlasting. Amen.

22 November: Dear Lord, you gave your servant Clive S. Lewis wonderful ability to proclaim your kingdom, love of you, and spiritual truths through the written and spoken word. Raise up in this and every generation authors who truly love you and proclaim you through word and action. This we ask through Yeshuah haMoshiach who himself used parables to proclaim the truth of the kingdom. Amen. (white)

23 November: Heavenly Father, you raised up your servant Clement to be Bishop of Rome and to reestablish the ecclesiastical authority in Corinth. Help our Bishops to remember that to be bishops apart we must be Bishops together, conforming our lives and doctrine to your most holy scriptures. This we ask through Yeshuah who resisted Satan by using the words of the Old Testament. Amen. (white)

24 November: Your name, O Lord, is great and above every name! You are the head over all things. In you the fullness of God is pleased to dwell and makes peace by the blood of your cross. Fall before him for he is Lord of lords and King of kings! Amen.


25 November: Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

26 November: O Lord, your ways are not our ways. We most often hold grudges against our opponents and seek our own revenge for every offense. Forgive us, O merciful Savior, for withholding forgiveness. Help us to love those who
do not love us so they may find your grace irresistible. This we ask through our Lord and Saviour Yeshua haMoshiach, who lives and reins with you and the Ruach haKodesh, one God in glory everlasting. Amen.

27 November: Forgive your church, O Lord, when she does not proclaim the word which you have called her to do. We most often sing about The Great Commission and overlook the needy and suffering. May our righteous sounding words match our deeds for the sake of HaMoshiach and those in need of hope. Amen.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Ezequiel 16:1-63: October 31, 2010

This lesson was written as a powerful warning to the nation of Israel. As such it shows that only God cares for Jerusalem. It was God who clothed Israel (remember, clothing is often a symbol of deeds, and clean luxurious clothing stands for good deeds, showing that even our good deeds come from God, and that only God can cover our evil nature, as Messiah's blood covers our evil nature and saves us.

Instead of thanking God, Israel turns to other gods (this is the symbol of prostitution). She even uses the things God gave her to worship false gods. Even worse, she sacrifices her children to those false gods!Even the Phillistines are shocked at her behaviour!

Brothers and sisters, does this description make you think. As well as describing Jerusalem, does it not describe the country we live in? God has blessed this country greatly, and we take those blessings and build houses and buy cars, but we forget the orphan and widow. Children are sacrificed on the altar of convenience by abortion. Other children are sacrificed because no-one has time to take care of them. Sports, money, drugs, exercise, leisure, have these not become the drugs upon which we squander what God has given us. God promised judgment to Jerusalem. Do we think that we shall avoid it. I think not.

The good news in this is twofold. God will not forget the covenant he made with Israel. There is still a role for the Jews to play, and they will come to know Yeshua as Messiah, Lord and Saviour. There is also hope for us, but we must repent and change our ways. Why do we give our enthusiasm and cash to entertainers? Why do we have time to party, but not have time to tell people that Yeshua came into the world to save sinners. Where are you? Are you wasting God's gifts on the idols of this world, or are you working to save sinners and build up other Christians.