100; A Child Bearing Age?

Genesis 17 KJV: 2nd Sunday of Lent; Both Abraham and Sarah laughed at the promise of God that they would bear a child in their old age.

The Sacrifice: Abraham's Only Son?

Genesis 22:1-18 KJV; 1st Sun of Lent; The sacrificial lamb: the only Son.

The Beloved Son Forgives

Genesis 50:15-21 KJV; 16th Sunday after Pentecost; The beloved sons forgive. Joseph forgave his brothers. Jesus forgives us.

Jesus Is The Christ

13th Sun after Pentecost:; Matthew 16:13-20 KJV; The confession of the faithful is that Jesus is the Son of God. He is the Christ!

Against All Hope

Romans 4:13-25 KJV; Epistle Reading for 2nd Sunday after Pentecost; There is hope by faith in the life giving sacrificing of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Faith Keeps Us Moving Forward

Hebrews 11:6-8 KJV; Fear would stop us in our tracks. But, faith will overcome all fears and keep us moving in the way the Lord would have us go.

Without The Law We Would Not Be Sinners

Romans 4:13-17; 2nd Sunday in Lent; Some would do away with the law altogether in or not to feel guilt or shame.

I Cannot Come

Genesis 12:1-9 KJV - Abram left his country, his kindred to go the land that God had promised. Is there anything you would not leave behind to go where the Lord leads you?

Rejoice You Are Not A Victim But A Victor!

Isaiah 52:7-10 KJV; Rejoice!  You are not a victim; but, a victor through Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord!

Attached To The Vine

Matthew 3:5-12 KJV; Attached to the vine, who is Jesus the Christ, we produce good fruits. Without the abiding presence of the Spirit of Christ we can do nothing good.

By Faith Alone!

Reading and brief meditation on Hebrews 11:1-16 KJV; Through faith alone we receive the promises of God. By faith alone we are heirs of the Kingdom of God.

He Will Have Mercy On The Righteous

Reading from Genesis 18:20-33 KJV - He would save the city for 10 righteous people; but, he could not find 10 righteous. They sought after their own desires and did not pay heed to the desires of the Lord.

The Lord Tells Abraham What He Is About To Do

Genesis `8:17-19 KJV Why did the Lord reveal His plan to Abraham? For the rest of the story listen again tomorrow...

Strangers Are Welcomed: Jesus Is Welcomed

Reading from Genesis: 18:1-19 KJV When we welcome strangers are we welcoming angels unaware or maybe we are welcoming Jesus.

Before Abraham Was, I Am

Trinity Sunday reading from John 8:48-59 KJV and brief message. They attacked Jesus because he said before Abraham was, I am.

Social Justice Vs. Justice

Repent and be Baptized for the Forgiveness of Sins

And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

                                                                   (Luke 1:3-14 KJV)

John the Baptist, the one who came to announce to the world that Jesus was the Christ, came calling people to change their ways and to be baptized. They came by the hoards to hear and to be baptized. 

And... they came. They heard the message about what they needed to do in regards to repentance. They heard that they were to do God's will by doing good; by doing no harm against their neighbors. 

Sadly, we (at least I) have been witnessing an uptick these last few years in not so much global animosity; but, crimes against our neighbors. Much of it seems to be out of jealousy; of not getting what we want right now. These store owners are rich so we can take their livelihood by breaking in and looting or burn their buildings to the ground. It is called, by some, social justice.  But, is there justice if a local business loses that business they have built from the ground with much hard work and long hours? Is it justice when the employees lose their livelihood?  Is it justice when a person has no vehicle and has to walk much farther to get to the grocery store or pharmacy or to get to another job? And... just because it may be a big name store that doesn't mean that it's not franchised by a neighbor at a very high cost or that the damage that's done to the business costs their employees their livelihoods as well. Is it justice when an angry person goes out and terrorizes and kills people who they may not even know? Is it justice that those who do harm to others are quickly released just to turn around and do more harm to others?

There seems to be a difference today between social justice and actual justice. The social justice of today isn't always concerned with how innocent people are caught up in the harm that is being done. Harming innocent people in any way is not justice. Real justice does no harm in word or deed.

Unfortunately, some of the harm being done has to do with the media and our government officials just stirring up animosity for ratings or political gain.  

It is past time to hear John the Baptist's call to repent and receive forgiveness for our sins. It is time to turn around and do the will of God; doing no harm. Let us give thanks that through Christ Jesus we can indeed turn around and live life in a new way helping and supporting others rather than destroying them.

God help us all to repent and be baptized into the Body of Christ that we might follow in his way by the power of the Spirit of Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Faith Alone In Christ Alone

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

                                                                                 (Gal 3:3-7 KJV)

We are indeed foolish if we think that we can be saved by keeping the law for not a one of us can keep the law perfectly. There is only way to be saved. We are saved by grace through faith in the promises of God. We are saved by faith in that Jesus died for us; for our sins.

Just as Abraham was saved by his faith in the promise of God so shall we all be saved by faith. And, where exactly would we expect our faith to come from? It comes from hearing the Word of God. Faith comes from hearing the promises. How can anyone possible believe something that they have not heard? As our reading for Transfiguration Sunday reminded us; "Listen to him." (Matt 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35) Listen to him!

Rejoice, oh sinner, by faith alone in Christ alone you have been redeemed to live  in peace; to live in the presence of Almighty God for all of eternity.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Sing His Praise

PSALM 47 KJV

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.

He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.

Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.

For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.

God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.

+++

Sing praises to God with a joyful spirit for He is the King of all the earth. He sits on His throne above all princes of the people and He reigns above all of them.  

There are many who would like to control our lives; but, they cannot for we have been freed from bondage by the blood of God's only begotten Son Jesus the Christ.

Thank the Lord and sing praises to Him for He has done a marvelous thing!

God' Peace - Pr. J.

We Cannot See It; Yet We Believe It

Romans 8:28

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

                                                                         (Heb 11:1, 3-8, 11 KJV)

Faith is seen in the ability to believe what we do not see. It is a gift from God. (Eph 2:8) 

Our forefathers believed God even though they could not and some never did see the promises that God fulfilled. It didn't matter. God was and is God and they believed His word. They trusted Him. Life was not always easy for them. But, they had faith that God would fulfill His promises and they knew that God was with them always.

There are days when even Christians today wonder if they will ever see the promises that we have heard but have not seen fulfilled. But, we remember that Abraham did have so many descendents that none but God can count. Sara did have a child in her old age.  And... well... the promise that we read and hear throughout the old testament of a savior; a kind; that too has been fulfilled.  

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."

                                                                                       (Gal 4:4-7)

This Son has fulfilled the law for us. This Son is the one in whom our faith lies for he has redeemed us and made us to be children of God; that we should inherit our places in the Kingdom of God living in the peaceful presence of God. Although, this Kingdom is not visible; we have faith. We believe the testimony of those who witnessed his life; his death, and his resurrection. We have faith; we know in our hearts and minds that we have received the promises of God through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Covenants With God

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

"And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her."

                                                                              (Gen 17:1-7, 15-16 KJV)

They were very, very elderly! And... God blessed Abraham and Sarah. God promised Abraham that he would make him exceeding fruitful. He also promised Sarah that she would be fruitful and bear a son even in her old age.

God has since made a covenant which included those of us who were not of Abraham's tribe. He has promised us eternal life in His Kingdom.  He has blessed us mightily by giving to us His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ, who sealed a new covenant between God and humankind with his blood.

"And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." 

                                                                             (Luke 22:19-20)

This new covenant has been sealed for all who would believe in the one who shed his blood for us.

God's Peace - Pr. J.