ADVENT # 1 -- Remembering the ENTRANCE of The LORD JESUS CHRIST into Human History

The 24 Days of the Advent Season

WE ARE . . . 

~ Built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets ~

with CHRIST being the Chief Cornerstone+

For through HIM+ we both have access

in one SPIRIT unto The FATHER.

Ephesians 2:18

Christmas ~ CHRIST’S mass, from the Latin church ~ is NOT about a holiday time of gift-giving and parties with friends and families.

A PURIFIED THANKS-GIVING

ADVENT # 3 -- Continuously Being CLOSE to The FATHER

  In the beginning was The WORD+

John 1:1

In the beginning was . . . but this WAS is not the English “was”, as an action which took place in the past and ended there.  

In English, the corresponding verb – in meaning --  would be translated as “was continuously BEING.”

ADVENT #4 -- WHO faithfully reveals the CHARACTER of GOD our FATHER ?

In the beginning was The WORD+

John 1:1

THE   WORD+  . . . not just “a” word, but a definite, specific WORD+ is in focus here. This WORD+, this LOGOS+,  was continuously BEING , continually existing at the first of all time, TIME as we know it.

ADVENT #5 -- The BRIGHTNESS of HIS Glory . . . The EXPRESS IMAGE of HIS ESSENCE

Who+ being the brightness of HIS Glory, and the express image of HIS person, and upholding all things by the word of HIS power, when  HE+ had by HIMSELF+  purged our sins, sat down on the Right hand of the MAJESTY on High: HEBREWS 1:1-3, excerpts

Advent #6 -- The Warning from the LIGHT-HOUSE

In the beginning, was  The WORD+

 And The WORD+ was with GOD

And The WORD+ was GOD.

John 1:1

 BECAUSE The LORD JESUS has the same identical character as Our Heavenly FATHER, we have this confidence:

HE+ will never leave us nor forsake us, as Scripture tells us.

ADVENT # 10 ~ NO CESSATION OF LIFE !

In HIM+ was Life; and the Life was the Light of men.

John 1:4

ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων

Translated literally: 

In HIM+, LIFE was continuously being, and furthermore,

the LIFE  was continuously being the LIGHT of men.

What an astounding ABSOLUTE ! 

What an absolute JOY, as well !

ADVENT #11 ~ The UNCONQUERED LIGHT+ of The World

And the light shineth in darkness;

and the darkness comprehended it not.  John 1:5

The Literal rendition of this verse: 

And The LIGHT in the darkness SHINES

and the darkness did not overpower it.

WHERE was this darkness ?

ADVENT # 12 ~ WHY Did HE+ Come ? ~ 1 John 3:8

He that committeth sin is of the devil;

for the devil sinneth from the beginning.

For this purpose the SON+ OF GOD was manifested, that HE+ might destroy the works of the devil.

 1  John 3:8

SISTER YUEN of SHANGHAI PAID THE PRICE TO FOLLOW CHRIST

Sister Yuen of Shanghai

“If anyone comes to ME+ and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be MY+ disciple.”
Luke 14:26

ADVENT #2 -- Back to Our Heavenly FATHER

In The Beginning . . . John 1:1

In the beginning . . . of WHAT ? of the earth ? of the heavens ?  of man ?  of time ?
Our minds can hardly conceive of a world without “time”.

ADVENT 9 ~ The DIVINE CHARACTER of The FATHER and HIS SON+

OUR FATHER’S CHARACTER

[ YES . . . it is in the GREEK ! ]

Advent # 9

 The Greek word “charactAr” is only used ONE TIME in Scripture . . .  in Hebrews 1:3. 
( Can you guess the English word derived from this Greek Word ? )

SHOES are for WEARING .... not for showing

An Example of Christian Training in Humbleness and Humility

Katie,  an  adorable  little girl, about 5 or 6, was always glad to see visitors come, especially us. Soon after we arrived and news items exchanged, Katie eagerly ran to her Mother to whisper something in her ear.  Mother  leaned down to hear her little daughter’s request.

The  visitors were  a bit surprised to see Mother’s  face becoming  solemn, as she  shook her head.  Quietly, Mother said to her, “No, Katie.  Shoes are for WEARING,  not for showing.” If I hadn’t been sitting right next to the Mother, I would have never heard the exchange.

Little  Katie  was sorely disappointed . . .

The FIRST LIE . . .

BRONZE SERPENT ON A POLE 

OVER-LOOKING THE WILDERNESS

Numbers 21:9

. . .  The SERPENT  said unto the woman, 

Ye shall not surely DIE . 

Genesis 3:4
KJV

SPIRITUAL WARFARE #4 : Natural-Mindedness Will Kill You !

by Samson7Able

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the SPIRIT of GOD:

for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

1 Corinthians 2:14

+  +  +

Do you think, O Christian, that your natural-minded, well-reasoned, and cautiously-clever ways are going to save you and your family from the wrath of satan ? 

Section 3 ~ From the APOSTLES ~ The LITURGY of The WORD

Let us hear The WORD of The LORD spoken by the Apostles:

 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before 

of the Apostles of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. 

Jude 1:17

Section 4 ~ LITURGY of The WORD ~ Lift UP Your HEARTS and LAMB+ of GOD

SECTION 4 - LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS and LAMB+ of GOD  

[Ancient Hymns of the Early Christians ]

This section includes worship from the Early Christians.  These words will be familiar to many because these early hymns are based in Scripture.

The LITURGY of The WORD+ . . . a Personal Discipline of Worship through The SCRIPTURES

The LITURGY of The WORD 

~  How the Early Christians Worshipped ~

A LITURGY is an order of worship to be used for morning or evening prayer, individually or in a family or with a group. It is designed for PARTICIPATORY worship. That is, no-one goes to sleep nor has time to let his mind wander away from worshipping The LORD. 

Section 12 ~ The BENEDICTIONS -- The Liturgy of The WORD

Section 12 -- The Benedictions

Liturgy of The Word , part 12

[ Any or all of these  Scriptural Benedictions may be said, chanted, or prayed to close the Worship.  ]

 Phileman, vs 25

The Grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST be with your spirit.

( And also with yours. )

Section 11 ~ The INVITATION TO CHRIST ~ The LITURGY of The WORD

Section 11 ~ The INVITATORY

The Liturgy of The Word, part 11

[ These verses are sung in an easy chant. Start at a low pitch and increase the pitch slightly higher as you go from verse to verse. ]

1 Timothy 1:15

CHRIST JESUS came into the world to save sinners . . .

of whom I am chief.

LORD, be merciful to me, a sinner.