A Christmas Eve Message

 

[The following is the message of our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service of Sunday evening, the 24th of December and the 4th Sunday in Advent, 2023, at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  This celebration included much singing and the sharing of Holy Communion.  A recording of our service should be available on our YouTube streaming channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams.]

In the name of God our Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and His most Holy Spirit, let us worship our Lord.  Let us stand at the foot of His cross, and at the side of His manger cradle.  Let us bow down in humble adoration.  Amen.

14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

--Isaiah 7:14 (KJV)

God spoke to His prophet Isaiah and gave him these words nearly 700 years before the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ…

6 For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

--Isaiah 9:6-7 (NKJV)

Tonight we celebrate the last day of Advent and the coming of our Lord Jesus by lighting the Christ candle:

Rejoice, you people of God!  Shout Halleluiah, all you believers!  For this day the Word becomes flesh and dwells among us.  In Him is life, and the life is the Light of men.  The Light shines in our darkness, showing us the way to eternal life.

Tonight, the candles of hope, love, joy, and peace all blend their light together to focus our gaze upon the one true Light:  Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  Tonight, we celebrate the birth of Him in whom we place all our hopes, who loves us more than life and calls us to love, whose arrival brings great joy to all the world, and who promises a peace that will have no end.  Tonight, we light the candle of Christ to celebrate and honor His birth, and to light our way as we await His return.

Let us pray...  Savior Jesus, You bring hope, love, joy, and peace into this wretched world.  We await Your return when You will gather Your church to Your side and take us home to live with You in peace forever.  As we wait, let us be Your candle of hope, love, joy, and peace that shines throughout the world.  Come, thou long-awaited Jesus, come.  Amen.

From the 2nd verse of the 5th chapter of the prophet Micah’s book…

2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

--Micah 5:2 (NKJV)

The Apostle Luke tells of the birth of Jesus in the 2nd chapter of his Gospel account, verses 1 through 20…

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

--Luke 2:1-20 (KJV)

Is it appropriate that we observe the last supper our Lord enjoyed on this earth at the same time that we celebrate His birth?  The Gospel of Matthew tells us of wise men who traveled from the east to visit and worship the young child Jesus.  They brought Him gifts of gold, fit for a king; of frankincense, worthy of God; and of myrrh, used to prepare the body of royalty for burial.  So even at Jesus’ birth, His death was recognized and acknowledged.  Just as now, as we celebrate His birth while we remember the great sacrifice He made for us.

Let us pray…  Father God, we come before the table of our Lord Jesus to commemorate His last supper on this earth with His friends.  Not all of us are able to join together physically, yet we are together in Your Spirit.  So Father, in the name of Your Son Jesus, I pray that You bless the elements that Your children have before them, no matter what physical content they might hold.  Bless them to be the body and blood of our Lord when we eat and drink.  Bless them to His remembrance so that we never forget His sacrifice.  And bless us to better service to our Lord.  This we pray in the glorious name of Jesus our Christ.  Amen.

The Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Father in heaven, we thank You for this bread, not so much for the nourishment it might provide but for what it represents: our Savior’s body broken for us.  May we always remember Him when we eat.  In the name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

The body of Christ, broken for you.  Take and eat, in remembrance of Him

In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Father, as we did for the bread, we thank You also for this juice for what it means to us: the blood of our Lord shed for us.  May we always remember Him when we drink.  In the name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

The blood of Christ, shed for you.  Take and drink, in remembrance of Him

Father, we stand in awe of the remarkable sacrifice Jesus made for us, just so we might be saved.  Sometimes we just can’t understand how You could love us so much that You would give us eternal life if we just believe in Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Father, for as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, may we proclaim our Lord’s death till He comes.  In the glorious name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Just as the light from the Christ candle spreads throughout our sanctuary, the light that is Christ Jesus spreads from one person to the next, one follower to another, and someday, it will encompass the world.  Have no fear - the true Light that is Jesus can never be extinguished.

This is a holy night – the  night of our Savior’s birth.  As we prepare to return to our homes to spend time with our loved ones, let us keep the silence of the night and the peace of our heavenly Father in our hearts.

Go now in peace.  Amen.

Tidings of Great Joy

 

[The following is the message of our Christmas Eve morning service of Sunday, the 24th of December and the 4th Sunday in Advent, 2023, at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  A recording of our service should be available on our YouTube streaming channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams.]

“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”  (Luke 2:10b-11 (KJV))

Today we rejoice in the greatest gift we’ve ever been given, the gift of salvation through our Lord Christ Jesus.  This is indeed a day for great joy and rejoicing, for God is coming down to earth to be among us and to take away our sin.  Let us rejoice and give thanks to our Lord!

Let us come together now with one heart and one voice to worship our Father God.  In the glorious name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Today we celebrate the fourth Sunday in Advent by lighting the candle of Joy.

Scripture tells us that when Solomon was anointed as king, "All the people went up after him, and the people were playing on flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth shook at their noise."  When Jesus came to us as a baby, the angel that heralded His birth told us to “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”  What a joyful day it was, Lord Jesus, and what a joyful day it will be when you return to take us home.  The very earth will shake at Your coming.

We light the first candle to remind us of all our hopes being placed upon the coming Jesus, the second candle to feel the love of God that Jesus brings us, and the third candle for the endless peace Christ brings.  The fourth candle is our celebration of joy – the great joy to all people that came with our Lord’s birth, and the great joy for all believers that will be ours upon His return.

Let us pray...  Savior Jesus, You are all we need to have true joy in our lives.  We await Your coming and the great joy it will bring.  As we wait, let us share Your joy with those who may not know You.  Come, Lord Jesus, come.  Amen.

Hear the words of God spoken through His prophet Micah in chapter 5, verse 2 of the book bearing his name…

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,

Yet out of you shall come forth to Me

The One to be Ruler in Israel,

Whose goings forth are from of old,

From everlasting.”

--Micah 5:2 (NKJV)

The Apostle Luke tells of the birth of Jesus in the first 18 verses of the 2nd chapter of his Gospel account…

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

--Luke 2:1-18 (NKJV)

Hear now of a very special visit, by wise men who came from afar seeking the Messiah, from the 2nd chapter of the Apostle Matthew’s Gospel account, verses 1 & 2 and 7 through 11…

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

--Matthew 2:1-2, 7-11 (NKJV)

The gift of God, as told by the Apostle John in the opening chapter of his Gospel account, verses 1 through 5 and verse 14…

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

--John 1:1-5, 14 (NKJV)

Hear the words of God as spoken through His prophet Isaiah and recorded in the 9th chapter of the book bearing his name, verses 6 and 7…

6 For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

--Isaiah 9:6-7 (NKJV)

Family, Valentine’s Day may be the time for lovers, but I think Christmas is the time for love.  For it is the celebration of when God showed His great love for us by sending His Son into the world to offer us redemption of our sins.  And it is the holiday when, if we are fortunate and blessed enough, we gather our loved ones close around us, sharing in the warmth of love as we share in the giving of gifts.

I just love the Christmas story as the Apostle Luke wrote it.  The Jews expected their Messiah to come as a conquering hero, but it didn’t happen that way.  Just the opposite; He came as an innocent, vulnerable baby, attended to by cows and sheep and shepherds.  Mary and Joseph couldn’t even find decent lodgings for her to give birth in, and had to seek shelter in a stable.  And there the little Baby Jesus was born and laid in a manger, a feeding trough, the King of all kings.

It’s hard to imagine any more humble surroundings for the Son of God to be born into this world.  A stable complete with animals and, I’m sure, their smells.  Lowly shepherds, following the directions of an angel, came to visit and see the holy Infant.

Sometime later, we don’t know exactly when, a small group of very learned men, following a heavenly sign, traveled a great distance to see this newborn King.  And they, too, shared some wonderful, and expensive, gifts.

Jesus came to us because His Father sent Him, because His Father loves us this much.  He came as one of us so we could relate to Him.  He came humbly, lived humbly, so that we could learn to be humble, too.  And He went to the cross humbly, willingly, to carry out His Father’s plan of salvation for mankind.  This is a gift from God, the greatest gift.  All anyone has to do to benefit from God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice is to accept Jesus as their Lord.  That’s it – turn from our sin and accept Jesus as Lord, following Him, obeying His command.

Hold those you love close and near to you.  Let them know how much you love them, this Christmas time and all the time.  Love your Lord and keep Him close to your heart.  And treasure the greatest gift we have been given.

In the blessed name of Jesus. Amen.

Let us pray…  Father God, thank You so much for the greatest gift we could ever receive – the gift of everlasting life through Your Son.  Today and tomorrow we celebrate that birth of so long ago, when Jesus came to us as one of us, born of a woman just like us.  Even at His birth, His kingship and His sacrifice were foretold in the offerings He received from the wise men who sought Him.  Well, Father, wise men still seek Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ.  Thank You for choosing us to be among the wise.  Father, may the joy of this day carry on throughout the coming year.  And may the birth of the Prince of Peace bring peace to all the earth.  In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

And now, family, go in peace.  Let the joy of this day fill your heart and your entire being so that you glow with the beauty of Jesus for all to see.  Enjoy time with family and friends, but then let’s do as the shepherds did after they had seen the Christ Child.  Let us make widely known what we have been told about this child.  For unto all of us a Savior is born, Christ the Lord.

In the blessed name of Christ Jesus, the Son of God, our Lord and Savior.  Amen.

Peace On Earth

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday morning, the 17th of December and the 3rd Sunday in Advent, 2023, at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  A recording of our service should be available on our YouTube streaming channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams.]

Family, today we step into the third week of Advent.  In the past two weeks we embraced the hope that God gave the world when He sent His Son Jesus to redeem us of our sin by the sacrifice of the Spotless Lamb.  And we felt God’s love for the world and all mankind, that we might be reconciled with Him and live in His paradise forever, and the love of Jesus for us, that He would allow His mortal life to be ended, His blood to be shed, just for our salvation.  But before we get to the cross, we first need to visit the city of David and gaze down into a lowly manger.  What we see there will bring peace to our souls.

Our scripture reading this morning is one I will repeat next week, only with a few additional verses and in a slightly different version.  But this passage is especially meaningful today as we open our hearts to the Prince of Peace.  To get to this point, though, could be considered anything but peaceful.

Joseph had sought Mary’s father’s permission to ask for her to marry him.  The father agreed, Joseph asked, and Mary said “yes”.  So far so good.

In those days, a couple didn’t just run off a preacher or the local marriage authority; they didn’t even hop a plane for Vegas.  When a man and a woman were betrothed, they lived together for a certain period of time, usually set by the future bride’s father, and usually lasting about a year.  During this period, the man and woman would live together as man and wife, except that they would not consummate the marriage.  No sex; no fooling around; no hanky-panky under the covers or in the kitchen.

And then oops…  Mary becomes pregnant.  The angel Gabriel told her this would happen, that God’s Holy Spirit would come onto her and she would conceive a child that would be the King of kings.  When Joseph found out that Mary was suddenly with child, knowing he had nothing to do with the making of that baby, his first thought was that she had been unfaithful and had been with another man.  So in his eyes, he had two choices: he could parade her all around town and shame her for her indiscretion which would cancel their betrothal, or he could send her away to live where no one would know what happened and she would not suffer the shame.

Like I said…  this was not exactly a peaceful time, not for Joseph and Mary, anyway.  But Gabriel appeared to Joseph in a dream and gave him a third option.  Take Mary as your wife, accept the child and raise Him as your own.  I guess you could say that at this point, a peace did settle over Joseph, and he did just as Gabriel said.

But no good story would be totally without turmoil and drama, and this is certainly a good story.  So let’s see what happens next.  Please listen and follow along as the Apostle Luke tells his friend Theophilus about the birth of Jesus, as he recorded it in the 2nd chapter of his Gospel account, verses 1 through 14, I’ll be reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible this morning…

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

--Luke 2:1-14 (NKJV)

Let us pray…  Heavenly Father, You sent Your Christ Jesus into the world to offer salvation to all of mankind if we would only truly believe in Him, and in believing, to follow Him.  You sent Your angels to announce His birth and proclaim peace and goodwill among men.  Thank You, Father, for loving the world so much that You would send Your only begotten Son to rescue us from darkness and sin.  We believe in Jesus as Your Christ and we do try to follow Him and do as He commands.  But sometimes, Father, the pressures of this life overwhelm us.  Peace and goodwill seem like a quickly fading dream in this day where men are filled with hatred.  Please forgive us, Father.  Help us stand stronger in the face of adversity.  Help us weather the storm swirling around us.  You’ve shown us Your love, now please help us show our love by more closely following Your word.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better understand what You tell us this day.  Please protect us from those who serve Satan and carry out his evil deeds.  And Father, please keep us strong in our faith, of one mind and one purpose in our love, worship, and service, and healthy and safe in the days ahead.  This we pray in the precious name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

In the book, Marching Orders, J. K. Laney wrote that, "The Society of International Law, in London, states that during the last 4,000 years there have been only 268 years of peace in spite of good peace treaties.  In the last 3 centuries [300 years] there have been 286 wars on the continent of Europe alone.

So much for peace on earth.  But an unknown source gives us comfort by reminding us that, "Peace that Jesus gives is not the absence of trouble, but is rather the confidence that He is there with you always."  Apparently we will always have conflict, but we who believe will also always have Jesus and the peace He gives.

As another now unknown person once noted, "Safety consists not in the absence of danger but in the presence of God."  It is the peace of Jesus and the presence of God that allow us to feel safe and secure, even in trying times.

Our scripture reading this morning is very familiar to us, and to many others in the world, including non-Christians.  Jesus is well known in the world – even if everyone doesn’t believe He is God, they know of Him.  And many know the story of His birth as told by the Apostle Luke to his friend Theophilus.  They know about the decree from Caesar, the long trip to Bethlehem, the lack of accommodations, the manger, the shepherds.  They may even know about the angels, but probably don’t believe that part.  Believing that would mean they’d have to believe God had a hand in all this.

We believe, though.  We believe, and we know that the angel of the Lord appeared in the midst of the shepherds, with God’s glory surrounding him and spilling out over the shepherds.

“Do not be afraid.”  The first words out of the angels mouth, straight from God, were, “Do not be afraid”.  He continues by telling us the great news of our King’s birth, that He could be found in the lowliest of settings.  And while that news is the very best thing we could ever even hope to hear, those first words hold great meaning for us, too.  For they are part of God’s message to us.

“Do not be afraid”, God’s angel said.  The Prince of Peace, Isaiah called Jesus.  There is no need to be afraid because Jesus brings us peace.  Peace is the confidence we have that Jesus is always with us.  We are safe in the presence of God.

Sometimes it’s hard to completely separate Jesus’ birth from His death, especially since we celebrate both in the same year, and only three or four months apart.  I blame it on the visiting wise men from the east, who brought myrrh as a gift for the baby Jesus.  Myrrh was a resin usually mixed with oil and used to anoint the bodies of the dead in Jesus’ day.  So our Lord’s death was foretold at His birth.

And as His death drew near, He tried to prepare His disciples for what was to come.  Listen to what Jesus told them, as recorded by His beloved disciple John in the 14th chapter of his Gospel account, verses 25 through 27…

25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

--John 14:25-27 (NKJV)

“My peace I give to you.”  Think about what the world has to offer in terms of peace.  For one thing, worldly peace usually comes with terms.  You agree to our conditions and we won’t keep killing you.

But the main distinction of worldly peace is that it is always vey short lived.  Remember that little illustration I used earlier?  Only 268 years of peace out of the last 4000 years.  Peace treaties are broken almost as soon as they’re signed.

The world’s peace is practically worthless.  It’s no more than a brief respite, a chance to catch our breath before the battle resumes.  But the peace Jesus brings is everlasting.  It may not stop the war being waged around us, but it allows us to remain calm and at peace in the thick of it.  This is Jesus’ peace, the inner peace we are blessed with when we truly believe and fully trust our Lord.

Oh, and did you catch what Jesus told us there at the end?  “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”, Jesus said.  “Do not be afraid”, the angel said.  What do we have to fear in this life when we have Jesus with us?

A little closer to His appointment with the cross, Jesus again let us and His disciples in on what was going to happen.  John also recorded this in his Gospel account, in verses 32 and 33 of chapter 16.

And Jesus said…

32 "Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

--John 16:32-33 (NKJV)

“In Me you may have peace.”  Jesus told us all this to assure us, so that we can have peace in Him, through Him, by our faith in Him.  We may not still have the peace on earth the angel proclaimed at Jesus’ birth, but we have a better peace.  Through Jesus, we can be at peace with the earth and all that happens on it.  Our peace comes from within, from God’s Holy Spirit living in us, a gift from Jesus.  For Jesus is God, and God is good all the time.

In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord, the Son of God, who came to us, to redeem us, and to bring us peace in our hearts.

Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for spreading Your peace over us when we are in turmoil.  Thank You for calming the storms that rage within us.  Thank You for the safety we know in Your presence.  Thank You for the redeeming love You sent in the person of Your Christ, Your Son, Jesus.  Father, we admit that too often we let the troubles and turmoil of the world creep into our conscious thoughts and destroy our inner peace.  Too many times we allow our faith to be shaken by the brutal acts of mankind.  We forget that You are still in control.  Forgive us those times, please Father.  Please show us how to give of ourselves, to give of our love freely, unconditionally, sacrificially, so that others might know You through our love.  And please help us share our Lord Jesus with others so that they too may be saved by Your mercy and His sacrifice.  

Father, please shield us from Satan as he attacks our faith, trying to make us his own.  Help us be better servants, glorifying You in all we do so that the world can see You in us, through our deeds, in how we live.  And help us remain strong, faithful, and true to You in all things, no matter what the world throws at us or holds out before us.

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your commands, and seeking Your help to do so… [* pause *]

Lord Jesus, You came to give of Yourself and redeem us of our sin so that we might be seen as clean in our Father God’s eyes when we stand before Him at the last.  Along with redemption, You offered peace.  You never promised us peace in this life, peace as the world knows it.  No, just the opposite.  You assured us we would face trials and have tribulations.  But the peace You brought transcends this world.  It is an inner peace that allows us to face adversity and stand up to our trials.  Thank You, Jesus, for overcoming the world.  Thank You for washing us clean of our sin.  Thank You for giving us peace while the storm rages around us.   Please help us, dear Lord - help us be more like You.  Help us love all others and be patient with them.  Help us reach out to the non-believing world, sharing the Gospel message, showing Your love through our love.  Give us the words to say, show us the deeds to do to lead the lost to You.

And Jesus, please shield our minds and our hearts from Satan’s lies and the world’s empty promises.  Guide us around all the devil’s traps and snares.  Help us see though his temptations.  Please help us be faithful and true to You, putting all our trust in You, all our hope in You.  Heal the hurts that separate and divide us one from another.  Help us keep our focus on the things of heaven and the needs of others rather than on anything this life might offer.  This we pray in Your blessed name, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior.  Amen.

Redeeming Love

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday morning, the 10th of December and the 2nd Sunday in Advent, 2023, at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  A recording of our service should be available on our YouTube streaming channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams.]

Family, today we enter into the second week of Advent.  Last week we embraced the hope that God gave the world when He sent His Son Jesus to redeem us of our sin by the sacrifice of the Spotless Lamb.

This, my brothers and sisters, is the ultimate act of love – the love of God for the world and all mankind, that we might be reconciled with Him and live in His paradise forever, and the love of Jesus for us, that He would allow His mortal life to be ended, His blood to be shed, just for our salvation.  Today we celebrate this love, this wonderful, sacrificial, undeserved love.

The scripture passages I was led to for this morning comes from three different places and two different authors of the Gospel accounts.  All three passages are the words of Jesus, with the first as recorded by the beloved Apostle John, the second recorded by the Apostle Mark, and the third by John again.  You can see the book, chapter, and verse numbers in your bulletin and on the screens.

But before we get to that, I like us to remember a time much earlier, as Moses led the children of Israel through the wilderness.  Very often during this 40 year hike, the people rebelled against God and against the leadership of Moses.  They cursed Moses for making them leave Egypt just to die in the wilderness, seemingly forgetting their previous lives as slaves.

One of these times, God decided to give them a little lesson, just to make a point.  He sent poisonous snakes into their camps to bite them.  Some versions describe them as fiery serpents because the venom from their bites would burn like fire and bring death to the victim, and many of the people died.  Realizing this was a direct result of their sin against God, the people pleaded with Moses to pray for relief.

God responded by telling Moses to cast a serpent out of bronze and lift it up on a pole.  Anyone who had been bitten could simply look upon that serpent and they would not die.  Just look upon the uplifted serpent and be saved.  I wanted to give us this little reminder because Jesus refers to that incident in our reading.

So without further ado, let’s hear what our Lord has to say this morning.  Please listen and follow along as our Lord Jesus speaks to us about love, as I read from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…

J3:14 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

M12:30 “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

J13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

--John 3:14-17; Mark 12:30-31; John 13:34-35 (NKJV)

Let us pray…  Heavenly Father, You sent Your Christ Jesus into the world to offer salvation to all of mankind if we would only truly believe in Him, and in believing, to follow Him.  Thank You, Father, for loving the world so much that You would send Your only begotten Son to rescue us from darkness and sin.  We believe in Jesus as Your Christ and we do try to follow Him and do as He commands.  But sometimes, Father, the pressures of life overwhelm us and, like those ancient Israelis, we rebel against You.  We forget what our life was like before Your freed us from slavery to sin.  Please forgive us these times, Father.  Help us stand stronger in the face of adversity.  You’ve shown us Your love, now please help us show our love by being better servants.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better understand what You tell us this day.  Please protect us from those who serve Satan and carry out his evil deeds.  And Father, please keep us strong in our faith, of one mind and one purpose in our love, worship, and service, and healthy and safe in the days ahead.  This we pray in the precious name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

The source of what I am about to relate to you is unknown, but it is very fitting to today's theme:

Dr. Mitchell was impressing upon us that we are not under the Law when we're in Christ, but we're under a new law -- the law of LOVE.  He used this to illustrate:  In America there is a law stating a woman must take care of her child.  So, a man comes to a new mother's home.  He says, "Are you taking care of your baby?  The Law says you have to."  The woman, tenderly holding her baby, said, "I don't need a law to make me take care of my baby."  Why?  Because she loves her baby!  She feeds him, holds him, changes him because she loves him.  I no longer need the Law because I'm under Christ -- a law of love.

God gave us ten simple commands, handed down by Moses as the Law.  And almost immediately we began to break them.  We create idols in our lives, things that we devote our time and resources to, things we cherish above all others, things we worship.  We harbor hatred in our heart for those not like us, who don’t agree with us, who don’t look like us.  We envy others for what they have that we don’t have, for the better life we think they enjoy, for their nicer, newer things.

God knew we could never fully obey His Law, but He loves us just like that new mother loves her child.  So He sent His own Son Jesus to fulfill the Law for us.  God sent His love in the person of Jesus.  We who believe are now under the law of love.  Let us live the love of Christ, the law of love.

The first part of our scripture reading contains the most well-known verse in all the Bible: John 3:16.  But it also contains the reference I spoke of earlier, and there is a reason Jesus mentioned it.

Think for a moment about the premise of that event.  Here were people, probably in the thousands, who had been bitten by poisonous snakes and were suffering horrible pain and dying.  And what were they told could cure them?  Simply look up at the bronze replica of the snakes that bit them that had been erected on a pole.  How silly does that sound?!?  But it worked, and those that did look upon the bronze serpent were cured and saved.  This worked because God said it would.  It worked through faith, through the belief that what God said would indeed happen.

So Jesus is making two points by bringing this up.  The first is that He will soon be lifted up on a pole, too, just like that bronze serpent.  He will be lifted up on a cross.

And the second goes along with the first.  Those who have the faith in Jesus, who believe that God gave Him to the world that the world might be saved, those who look upon Him with faith and belief will be spared from death and saved.  This is God’s love for us, that He would give us the faith to believe, and that He would give us Jesus to have faith in.

And then Mark recorded Jesus reminding us of the greatest commandment, to love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength.  God has proven His love for us; so now we should give our love to Him in return.  Our full love – heart, mind, soul, and body.

And how do we show Him our love?  By loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.  Jesus says this is the second greatest commandment.  This should tell us that the most important thing we can do is to love – to love God and to love each other.  And Jesus confirms this in the last part of our reading when He gives us a new commandment to love one another.  We are to love one another just as He loves us: unconditionally, sacrificially.

Now we have to be a little careful not to read that last passage too casually.  When Jesus tells us that folks will know we are His followers if we love each other, some may take that to mean we only have to love other believers.  Well, Jesus Himself clarifies this, as recorded by the Apostle Luke in chapter 6 verses 27 through 37 of his Gospel account…

27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful."

--Luke 6:27-37 (NKJV)

We are to not only love other believers, but also our enemies, even those who hate us.  We are to bless those who curse us, and pray for those who use us for their own gain.  If we just love those who love us, then we’re no different from the rest of the world.

And our Golden Rule is in there.  Did you hear it?  “Just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.”  We are to love and be kind just as God loves and is kind, even to the unthankful and the evil.  We are to be merciful, just as God is merciful.  After all, where would we be if God had not extended His mercy upon us?

One way to look at this is that our love should not be fickle.  We shouldn’t choose who we going to love, who we’re going to help, and especially not based on how much they love us or might be able to help us in return.  No, our love should be more like God’s love.  Hear what the prophet Isaiah has to say about God’s redeeming, unfailing love, from chapter 63 of the book bearing his name, verses 7 through 9…

7 I will tell of the Lord’s unfailing love.

I will praise the Lord for all He has done.

I will rejoice in His great goodness to Israel,

which He has granted according to His mercy and love.

8 He said, “They are My very own people.

Surely they will not betray Me again.”

And He became their Savior.

9 In all their suffering He also suffered,

and He personally rescued them.

In His love and mercy He redeemed them.

He lifted them up and carried them

through all the years.

--Isaiah 63:7-9 (NLT)

God knew that Israel would indeed betray Him again, as they did when they betrayed His Son, sent to save them all.  But yet, He loved them still.  He became their Savior, sending them His Christ.  In their suffering He suffered.  He shares in our suffering, too.  And in His vast love and mercy He redeemed us.  He lifts us up when we have stumbled and fallen.  He carries us in His arms all the years of our lives.

God is good.  His love, poured out through Christ Jesus, redeems us of our sin and sets us free.  Let us love our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength.  And let us love all others as much as we love ourselves, as much as Jesus loves us.  In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord, the Son of God, who came to us, to redeem us, because God loves us.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for having mercy upon us when we are unmerciful.  Thank You for loving us when we are unlovable.  Thank You for the redeeming love You sent in the person of Your Christ, Your Son, Jesus.  Father, we admit that too often we fail to love as we should.  Too many times we allow our biases, our hatreds, our intolerances to get in the way of our love, blocking it from those who may need it the most.  Forgive us those times, please Father.  Please show us how to give of ourselves, to give of our love freely, unconditionally, sacrificially, just as Jesus loves us.  And please help us share our Lord Jesus with others so that they too may be saved by Your mercy and His sacrifice.  

Father, please shield us from Satan as he attacks our faith, trying to make us his own.  Help us be better servants, glorifying You in all we do so that the world can see You in us, through our deeds, in how we live.  And help us remain strong, faithful, and true to You in all things, no matter what the world throws at us or holds out before us.

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your commands, and seeking Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, You came to us as an expression, a sign, of our Father God’s love.  You showed Your love of the Father by doing everything He asked of You.  And because of Your love for us, we are redeemed.  Thank You, Jesus, for washing us clean of our sin.  Thank You for showing us what love looks like.   Please help us, dear Lord - help us be more like You.  Help us love all others, even those who hate us and wish us harm.  Help us reach out to the non-believing world, sharing the Gospel message, showing Your love through our love.  Give us the words to say, show us the deeds to do to lead the lost to You.

And Jesus, please shield our minds and our hearts from Satan’s lies and the world’s empty promises.  Guide us around all the devil’s traps and snares.  Help us see though his temptations.  Please help us be faithful and true to You, putting all our trust in You, all our hope in You.  Heal the hurts that separate and divide us one from another.  Help us keep our focus on the things of heaven and the needs of others rather than on anything this life might offer.  This we pray in Your blessed name, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior.  Amen.

He Comes

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday morning, the 3rd of December and the 1st Sunday in Advent, 2023, at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  A recording of our service should be available on our YouTube streaming channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams.]

Family, the season of Advent allows us time to prepare for the coming of our Lord Jesus.  He came to us as one of us, as a mortal man, yet still God.  He came as a tiny, vulnerable baby, born in the most humble of settings.

We celebrate that birth on December 25th each year, although it more likely occurred in mid-September.  There are a couple of theories as to why the December date was chosen, with one being that it coincided with a Pagan celebration of that time.  The early church was heavily persecuted, so tried to hide their celebration of the birth of Christ by holding it during the Pagan event.

That seems to be the more popular theory, but the one I think may be more likely involves Jesus’ birth being aligned with His death.  An early church scholar determined that Jesus died – He was crucified - on March 25th.  And according to early Christian tradition, the Annunciation of the birth of Lord – when the angel Gabriel announced it to Mary – was the same as the date of His death, March 25th.  A normal pregnancy is nine months.  So nine months from March 25th is December 25th.

But no matter the reason, in four weeks we will celebrate our Lord coming into this world.  And Advent gives us the opportunity to prepare ourselves for His coming.

There is another time when we were told to get everything ready for Jesus to come.  And this one occurred when He was already an adult, just as He was about to begin His ministry.

Please listen and follow along to the first 6 verses of the 3rd chapter of the Gospel account of the Apostle Luke, as read from the New Living Translation of our Holy Bible…

1 It was now the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius, the Roman emperor. Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea; Herod Antipas was ruler over Galilee; his brother Philip was ruler over Iturea and Traconitis; Lysanias was ruler over Abilene. 2 Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time a message from God came to John son of Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness. 3 Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. 4 Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,

“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!

Clear the road for Him!

5 The valleys will be filled,

and the mountains and hills made level.

The curves will be straightened,

and the rough places made smooth.

6 And then all people will see

the salvation sent from God.’”

--Luke 3:1-6 (NLT)

Let us pray…  Heavenly Father, You sent Your Son Jesus into the world to offer us all the wonderful gift of salvation.  He came to us, not as a conquering hero but as a tiny baby, born of a mortal woman.  He came like us, as one of us, so that we could easily relate to Him.  Thank You, Father, for loving us so much that You would not spare even Your own Son to save us.  We believe in Jesus as Your Christ and we do try to follow Him and do as He commands.  But sometimes, Father, we just get too caught up in the struggles of life, too beaten down by an uncaring world, that we just don’t do what we know we should do, and we do what we know we shouldn’t.  Please forgive us these times, Father.  We do appreciate all the blessings You pour out over us, and we pray that You will continue to bless us.  Please help us get ourselves ready for Your Son’s coming, as we look to celebrate His birth, remember the start of His ministry, and anxiously await His return.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better understand what You tell us this day.  Please protect us from those who serve Satan and carry out his evil deeds.  And Father, please keep us strong in our faith, of one mind and one purpose in our love, worship, and service, and healthy and safe in the days ahead.  This we pray in the precious name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

Martin Luther once preached on the great missionary works of Paul and Barnabas, and of the terrible argument between them that caused them to part ways.  Of this Luther wrote the following:

“Here it appears either Paul or Barnabas went too far.  It must have been a violent disagreement to separate two associates who were so closely united.  Indeed, the text indicates as much.  Such examples are written for our consolation: for it is a great comfort to us to hear that great saints, who have the Spirit of God, also struggle.  Those who say that saints do not sin would deprive us of this comfort.  Samson, David, and many other celebrated men full of the Holy Spirit fell into grievous sins.  Job and Jeremiah cursed the day of their birth; Elijah and Jonah were weary of life and desired death.  No one has ever fallen so grievously that he may not rise again.  Conversely, no one stands so firmly that he may not fall.  If Peter (and Paul and Barnabas) fell, I too may fall.  If they rose again, I too may rise again.”

We might read of the great works of the holy men and women in our bible, of the marvelous acts they performed, and wonder, "What hope is there for me?  I can't do what they did.  I can't fight major battles or perform miracles.  I just go out and work a normal job every day, live a normal life."

But family, these people are our hope.  All these holy people were flawed, every one of them.  All have sinned, Paul tells us; all have fallen short.  Yet all rose again to great things.  And all to show that we too may rise again.

As I mentioned last week, we’re going to take a break from the Apostolic letters until after the first of the year.  For today we enter into Advent and its four Sundays leading up to our celebration of the birth of our Lord and Christ Jesus.  The very word “advent” means a coming into place or being; arrival.  And our Advent (capital “A”) season looks ahead to the coming, the arrival, of Jesus as a mortal man.

But according to many, His birth did not mark the first time Jesus came to earth.  If we pay attention when reading our Old Testament, we will see where the “Angel of the Lord” came often to help or advise certain people, like Abraham and Lott, for instance.  It is a very popular belief that the pre-incarnate Jesus was the Angel of the Lord.  In other words, Jesus came and walked among us on numerous occasions before He took on human flesh.

And we also celebrate another coming of Jesus from right before His crucifixion, when He rode triumphantly into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday.

Today’s scripture passage looks at the time immediately before Jesus began His ministry, as He approached John the Baptist at the River Jordan.  People came from Jerusalem and all the surrounding region to be baptized by John there at the Jordan, where he preached a message of repentance.  “Repent and be baptized!”, John would shout.  “Turn from your sins and turn to God to be forgiven.”

As Isaiah had predicted, John was preparing the people for the Lord’s coming.  And yes, Jesus was indeed coming to the river to be baptized, but this isn’t the coming John was warning the people to be prepared for.  It’s the repentance, the turning from our sins, that John was concerned with.  We need to clear the road for our Lord, the road that leads to our hearts.  Level the mountains and fill in the valleys in our up-and-down relationship with God.  Straighten the curves and smooth out the rough places in our lives.  We need to get right with our Lord, for in Him is our only hope.

Let’s back up to the event behind the Advent season – the birth of Jesus.  God made us a promise before sending His Son to us, telling us what His Christ would, and would not, do.  Isaiah recorded this promise for us in the 42nd chapter of his book of prophesy, verses 1 through 4, and he included the instructions that the Father gave His Son in verses 5 through 9.  God spoke through Isaiah, saying…

1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,

My Chosen One in whom My soul delights!

I have put My Spirit upon Him;

He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.

2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice,

Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.

3 A bruised reed He will not break,

And a dimply burning candle He will not extinguish;

He will bring forth justice for truth.

4 He will not fail nor be discouraged,

Till He has established justice in the earth;

And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”

5 Thus says God the Lord,

Who created the heavens and stretched them out,

Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it,

Who gives breath to the people on it,

And spirit to those who walk on it:

6 “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness,

And will hold Your hand;

I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,

As a light to the Gentiles,

7 To open blind eyes,

To bring out prisoners from the prison,

Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.

8 I am the Lord, that is My name;

And My glory I will not give to another,

Nor My praise to carved images.

9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,

And new things I declare;

Before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

--Isaiah 42:1-9 (NKJV)

Can you hear our hope in this passage?  This is Jesus, God’s Chosen One, His Servant, who has God’s own Spirit within Him.  When God says He will bring justice to the Gentiles, He means that Jesus will open God’s kingdom to all peoples, to all who will believe, and not just to the house of Israel.  He will not break us when we weaken, nor extinguish our inner fire when our spirit is running low.  And He will not fail in the mission God has given Him.  He will not fail us.

What’s more, God promises to be with Jesus as He goes about His work, for He has called His Son into a service of righteousness.  And He promises us that Jesus will be His new covenant with us, to all people.  He will open our eyes to the truth.  He will free us from the prison of sin.

The Apostle Paul elaborates on this a bit and gives us more reason to hope.  Hear what Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, in chapter 15 verse 4 and chapter 5 verse 5…

15:4 Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

--Romans 15:4, 5:5 (NKJV)

The scriptures were saved for us to give us hope, and hope does not disappoint.  This is not the hope that the world knows, which more often than not does indeed leave us disappointed.  “Gee, I hope the Panthers win another game this year.”  That’s the world’s idea of hope.  But with God, our hope is an assurance, not a wish.  We can be assured of what God has promised because His love has been poured out in our hearts by His own Holy Spirit who was given to us when we accepted Jesus as our Lord.

So as we enter the season of Advent, we wait anxiously, expectantly, for our Lord to come, for He is our hope, our only hope.  Isaiah predicted the coming of Jesus, God's Messiah.  John announced it in the wilderness.  Jesus came and brought salvation.  He will come again, to bring judgment.  And all the world will see Him.

Let us prepare ourselves for His coming.  Whether we are looking back to His birth, in the present as we go about the mission He assigned us, or toward some tomorrow when He comes again, let us get right with God and be doing our Lord’s work.  For this is our only hope.  Jesus is our only hope.  And He comes.

In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord, the Son of God, who came to us before and will come for us again.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for giving us hope.  This life can be tough, Father.  The uncaring world would just as soon see us crushed as to allow us to live.  Satan constantly tries to pull us away from You.  Too often we are beaten down, then lifted up only to be knocked down again.  But because of Your love for us and mercy over us, You give us hope.  You give us hope through Your Son Jesus who allowed Himself to be sacrificed that we might be saved.  Thank You, Father, for so wonderful a gift.  Thank You for our hope, for our faith, for salvation through Jesus.  We admit that too often we fail to differentiate ourselves from the rest of the world.  Too many times we don’t carry out our mission on earth when we have the opportunity to do so.  Forgive us those times, please Father.  Please show us all the many ways we can still serve no matter what condition we ourselves are in.  And please help us to not be afraid to share our Lord Jesus with others so that they too may be saved by Your mercy and 

His sacrifice.  And Father, please shield us from Satan as he attacks our faith, trying to make us his own.  Help us be better servants, glorifying You in all we do so that the world can see You in us, through our deeds, in how we live.  And help us remain strong, faithful, and true to You in all things, no matter what the world throws at us or holds out before us.

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your commands, and seeking Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, You came to us as one of us – born of a woman in the most humble of settings.  Then throughout Your mortal life and Your ministry on earth, You served us just as God through Isaiah promised You would.  And You still serve as our only hope of freedom from the chains of our sin, our only hope of eternal life in heaven.  You came once and delivered on God’s promise, offering salvation to the world, a world that shunned You, that crucified You.  You will come again some day, this time to judge the world.  This, too, is God’s promise.  Thank You, Jesus, for providing us the very foundation of our hope.  By our faith, we accept You as our Lord and are redeemed.   Please help us, dear Lord - help us be more like You in our daily interactions with others.  Help us share our reason for hope with them so that they too might be saved.  Give us the words to say.  Show us the deeds to do.  Help us lead the lost to You.  Help us reach out to the non-believing world, sharing the Gospel message, showing Your love through our love.

And Jesus, please shield our minds and our hearts from Satan’s lies and the world’s empty promises.  Guide us around all the devil’s traps and snares.  Help us see though his temptations.  Please help us be faithful and true to You, putting all our trust in You, all our hope in You.  Heal the hurts that separate and divide us one from another.  Help us keep our focus on the things of heaven and the needs of others rather than on anything this life might offer.  This we pray in Your blessed name, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior.  Amen.

Faith in Action

 

[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday morning, the 26th of November, 2023, at Pilgrim Reformed Church.  A recording of our service should be available on our YouTube streaming channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/@pilgrimreformedchurch1992/streams.]

Family, it’s amazing to realize that Thanksgiving is now past and Christmas is just around the corner.  In fact, next Sunday is the beginning of the Advent season, when we prepare for the coming of our Lord.

But I don’t want us to lose sight of the letter that the Apostle James wrote to the early church, especially since we skipped it last week.  And I also plan to set the letter aside again until after the first of the year.  So I’d like to jump back in for just a spell and finish up chapter 2.

Now, just to refresh our memory…  James is one of Jesus’ earthly brothers, so he would have been very familiar with our Lord.  They probably played and wrestled together as boys, and I’d bet they had many conversations as they grew and matured into men.  So James would have enjoyed a different insight into Jesus than the rest of the disciples, a perspective shared by only one other disciple: Jude, another brother.

So far, James has told us to resist the ways of the world, for the devil will try to destroy our faith.  He encouraged us to live out the word of the Gospel message in our daily lives.  Then he echoed the warning Jesus gave, that we would definitely experience trials in this life, but by living the word, and not reacting as the world does, we can show others the power of faith.  And in the first part of the second chapter, he gave us a little lecture on showing favoritism when dealing with other people.

This morning James is going to challenge us to put our faith into action.  Please listen and follow along to verses 14 through 26 of the 2nd chapter of James’ letter, and I’ll be reading from the Living Bible version of our Holy Bible this morning…

14 Dear brothers, what’s the use of saying that you have faith and are Christians if you aren’t proving it by helping others? Will that kind of faith save anyone? 15 If you have a friend who is in need of food and clothing, 16 and you say to him, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat hearty,” and then don’t give him clothes or food, what good does that do?

17 So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. You must also do good to prove that you have it. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good works is no faith at all — it is dead and useless.

18 But someone may well argue, “You say the way to God is by faith alone, plus nothing; well, I say that good works are important too, for without good works you can’t prove whether you have faith or not; but anyone can see that I have faith by the way I act.”

19 Are there still some among you who hold that “only believing” is enough? Believing in one God? Well, remember that the demons believe this too — so strongly that they tremble in terror! 20 Fool! When will you ever learn that “believing” is useless without doing what God wants you to? Faith that does not result in good deeds is not real faith.

21 Don’t you remember that even our father Abraham was declared good because of what he did when he was willing to obey God, even if it meant offering his son Isaac to die on the altar? 22 You see, he was trusting God so much that he was willing to do whatever God told him to; his faith was made complete by what he did — by his actions, his good deeds. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say, that Abraham trusted God, and the Lord declared him good in God’s sight, and he was even called “the friend of God.” 24 So you see, a man is saved by what he does, as well as by what he believes.

25 Rahab, the prostitute, is another example of this. She was saved because of what she did when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. 26 Just as the body is dead when there is no spirit in it, so faith is dead if it is not the kind that results in good deeds.

--James 2:14-26 (TLB)

Let us pray…  Heavenly Father, once again we thank You for assuring that we would have Your word to read and study, even thousands of years after it was recorded by the men and women You inspired.  Thank You for these letters from those who walked with Your Son and knew Him best, and especially the ones His brothers wrote and sent out to the early church.  We today can still take guidance, instruction, encouragement, and warning from them, and for this we thank You.  But sometimes, Father, we just get too caught up in the struggles of life to take the time to open our Bibles and seek to know You better through Your word.  Please forgive us these times, Father.  We do thank You for all You bless us with, including Your word.  Please help us find the time to be with You more.  And please help us better grasp and understand what we read.

Speak to us now, Father, that we might hear Your voice through Your Spirit within us and better understand what You tell us this day.  Please protect us from those who serve Satan and carry out his evil deeds.  And Father, please keep us strong in our faith, of one mind and one purpose in our love, worship, and service, and healthy and safe in the days ahead.  This we pray in the precious name of Your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

Indira Gandhi was quoted in the April 1990 issue of Bits and Pieces magazine saying, “My grandfather once told me that there are two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit.  He told me to try to be in the first group; there was less competition there.”

We've all seen instances of some folks taking credit for the work of others.  Or of some doing just token work for a photo op or for good public relations.  I think those are the more disgusting, serving in the soup kitchen food line just long enough to get their picture in the news before pulling off their apron and gloves and leaving.

This is not what James had in mind when He called us to service.  Nor is it what Jesus meant when He told us to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, and clothe the naked.

True service is not concerned with personal recognition, and indeed shuns it.  True service is all about giving, about sacrifice, about putting others above self.  True service is putting our faith into action and showing the love of Jesus to a world so desperately in need of love.  Let’s be sure to follow Gandhi’s advice and be in the group that does the work and not the one that just takes the credit.

James poses some tough questions in our scripture passage this morning.  What’s the use, he asks, of saying we have faith and calling ourselves Christians if we don’t do anything to prove it?  What distinguishes us from anyone else out there?  What about us would allow someone to tell the difference between us and a non-believer?

Someone may answer, “they will know we are Christians by our love”, but how can they see our love if we’re not showing it in some way?  We can say we love others, but what does that prove?  James asks what good is it to see someone who is hungry and needs better clothing and simply say, “stay warm and eat well”, but not help them in their need?  What good does that do?  What good does it do to say we love others without doing anything to show them our love?

And then James slams home his point:  It isn’t enough to just have faith; we must also do good works to prove that we do have faith.  Otherwise our faith is dead.

Yes, it is true that the prophet Habakkuk tells us – and the Apostle Paul reminds us – that the just live by faith.  And Jesus Himself told us that if we only believe in Him, we will have everlasting life and be with Him for all eternity.  Well, James reminds us that even the devil and his demons believe in Jesus and know He is the Son of God, but they’re not going to heaven because of what they do, how they act.

By our faith we have the Spirit of God abiding within us, and the fruits of the Spirit are evident in our actions and deeds.  What we do shows who we are, what we’re made of, far better than a million words ever could.

And speaking of the Apostle Paul, in much of his writings and his speeches he tells us that salvation comes only by God's mercy and grace and through Jesus the Christ.  But he also tells us what God intended us to do with our faith.  Please listen to what Paul wrote to the Ephesian church family in verses 8 through 10 of the 2nd chapter of that letter…

8 Because of His kindness, you have been saved through trusting Christ. And even trusting is not of yourselves; it too is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good we have done, so none of us can take any credit for it. 10 It is God Himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago He planned that we should spend these lives in helping others.

--Ephesians 2:8-10 (TLB)

There you go.  We are saved by God’s goodness and grace through our faith in Christ Jesus – by our belief in Him and trusting in Him.  But this faith is not something we can take credit for, because it too is a gift from God.

And here’s the kicker.  God has given us new lives with the intent that we spend these lives in service to others, helping others.  This was God’s plan for us from the beginning, that we should spend our lives on this earth helping others.  And this is what James is getting at when he admonishes us to put our faith into action.

Our faith is the key to our salvation, but our works are the proof of our faith.  Our works are the outer sign of our inner faith, just as our baptism is the outer sign of our inner belief.

Jesus told us to believe in Him so we will not perish.  He invites us to believe and follow Him.  Doesn’t the act of following Jesus imply that we do as Jesus did when He walked among us?  And what did Jesus do?  He helped people.  He cured them of diseases and infirmities.  He taught them the truth of God and His kingdom, trying to see that everyone might be saved, even those who hated Him.  Jesus did good works and He encourages and calls us to do good works, too.

Listen to what He told us in His Sermon on the Mount as recorded by the Apostle Matthew in the 5th chapter of his Gospel account, verses 14 through 16…

14 “You are the world’s light — a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see. 15-16 Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father.”

--Matthew 5:14-16 (TLB)

I bet you never thought of that as a call to service.  The Apostle John said that in Jesus was life, and the life was the light of men; the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness can not overcome it.  Jesus has passed that light on to us, into us, when we accepted Him as our Lord and God sent His Holy Spirit to live within us.  And He calls us to let that light shine for all to see, so that they too might praise our heavenly Father.  Let the light shine in the glowing of our good deeds.

Now please understand that not all good works require physical labor.  As we age or suffer some debilitating illness or injury, we may no longer be capable of much physical activity.  In fact, we may be at the point of needing help ourselves rather than providing help to others.  But that doesn’t mean we have to stop doing good.

Not being able to get out and around much anymore shouldn’t stop us from letting our light shine.  We can make phone calls, or send emails or texts or greeting cards.  We can smile at folks we pass, wave at them.  And if we get the chance, we can tell them about Jesus and what He means to us.  If nothing else, we can pray for others, giving their needs to God.

God gave us faith – it’s a wonderful gift.  But like many gifts, we put it to its best advantage by using it.  So let’s put our faith in action.  In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord, the Son of God, who set the example for us.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Almighty God, thank You for giving us the faith to believe in Jesus as Your Son, Your Christ sent to redeem us of our sin.  Without Him and His great sacrifice, we would be lost and doomed to eternal death.  Thank You for Your loving mercy and grace.  Thank You for salvation through Jesus and our use of the faith You give us.  And thank You for all the opportunities You give us to put our faith into action by reaching our and helping others.  Too often, though, Father, we don’t take advantage of those opportunities.  Too many times we are afraid of what others might think of us, or we worry that we might get it wrong and make matters worse, or we think we’re just not able to get out and do much of anything to serve You.  Forgive us those times, please Father.  Please show us all the many ways we can prove our faith no matter what condition we ourselves are in.  And please help us to not be afraid to share our Lord Jesus with others so that they too may be saved by Your mercy and His sacrifice.  

And Father, please shield us from Satan as he attacks our faith and tries to pull us away from You.  Help us be better servants, glorifying You in all we do so that the world can see You in us, through our deeds, in how we live.  And help us remain strong, faithful, and true to You in all things, no matter what the world throws at us or holds out before us.

Please hear us now, Father, as we pause for just a moment to speak to You through Your Spirit within us, promising to be more obedient to Your commands, and seeking Your help to do so…

Lord Jesus, throughout Your short ministry on earth, You carried out the will of God in serving others.  You healed the people of their illnesses and infirmities.  You rid them of demons and evil spirits.  You saved them from eternal pain and suffering.  And in Your last act of faith, You took all our sins upon Yourself and carried them to the grave.  Thank You, Lord, for putting Your faith and Your love into action.  By our faith, we accepted You as our Lord, and as such, we should not hesitate to do Your bidding,   Please help us, dear Lord -- help us be more like You in our daily interactions with others.  Help us recognize their needs and help take care of them.  Help us see what we can do, even if we are no longer physically able to lend a helping hand.  And especially please help us reach out to the non-believing world, sharing the Gospel message with the lost, showing them Your love through our love.

And Jesus, please shield our minds and our hearts from Satan’s lies and the world’s empty promises.  Guide us around all the devil’s traps and snares.  Help us see though his temptations.  Please help us be faithful and true to You, putting all our trust in You, all our hope in You.  Heal the hurts that separate and divide us one from another.  Help us keep our focus on the things of heaven and the needs of others rather than on anything this life might offer.  This we pray in Your blessed name, Christ Jesus our Lord and our Savior.  Amen.