Wayne Alloway
Lincoln St Mark's UMC Blue River District | 
Kara James Hillhouse
Lincoln St Mark's UMC Blue River District |
This Week's Lectionary
4th Sunday of Advent – Purple or Blue
Sunday, 20 December 2015
Micah 5:2-5a
Luke 1:47-55
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-45
Lectionary Scriptures:
Micah 5:2 (3) Therefore he will give up [Isra’el]
only until she who is in labor gives birth.
Then the rest of his kinsmen
will return to the people of Isra’el.
3 (4) He will stand and feed his flock
in the strength of Adonai,
in the majesty of the name
of Adonai his God;
and they will stay put, as he grows great
to the very ends of the earth;
4 (5) and this will be peace.
If Ashur invades our land,
if he overruns our fortresses,
we will raise seven shepherds against him,
eight leaders of men.
5 (6) They will shepherd the land of Ashur with the sword,
the land of Nimrod at its gates;
only until she who is in labor gives birth.
Then the rest of his kinsmen
will return to the people of Isra’el.
3 (4) He will stand and feed his flock
in the strength of Adonai,
in the majesty of the name
of Adonai his God;
and they will stay put, as he grows great
to the very ends of the earth;
4 (5) and this will be peace.
If Ashur invades our land,
if he overruns our fortresses,
we will raise seven shepherds against him,
eight leaders of men.
5 (6) They will shepherd the land of Ashur with the sword,
the land of Nimrod at its gates;
and he will rescue us from Ashur
when he invades our land,
when he overruns our borders.
Luke 1:46 Then Miryam said,
“My soul magnifies Adonai;
47 and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior,
48 who has taken notice of his servant-girl
in her humble position.[Luke 1:48 1 Samuel 1:11; 2:1]
For — imagine it! — from now on, all generations will call me blessed!
49 “The Mighty One has done great things for me!
Indeed, his name is holy; 50 and in every generation
he has mercy on those who fear him.[Luke 1:50 Psalms 103:17; 111:9]
51 “He has performed mighty deeds with his arm,
routed the secretly proud,
52 brought down rulers from their thrones,
raised up the humble,
53 filled the hungry with good things,
but sent the rich away empty.
54 “He has taken the part of his servant Isra’el,
mindful of the mercy
55 which he promised to our fathers,
to Avraham and his seed forever.”
Hebrews 10:5 This is why, on coming into the world, he says,
“It has not been your will
to have an animal sacrifice and a meal offering;
rather, you have prepared for me a body.
6 No, you have not been pleased
with burnt offerings and sin offerings.
7 Then I said, ‘Look!
In the scroll of the book
it is written about me.
I have come to do your will.’”[Hebrews 10:7 Psalm 40:7–9(6–8)]
8 In saying first, “You neither willed nor were pleased with animal sacrifices, meal offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings,” things which are offered in accordance with the Torah; 9 and then, “Look, I have come to do your will”; he takes away the first system in order to set up the second. 10 It is in connection with this will that we have been separated for God and made holy, once and for all, through the offering of Yeshua the Messiah’s body.
Luke 1:39 Without delay, Miryam set out and hurried to the town in the hill country of Y’hudah 40 where Z’kharyah lived, entered his house and greeted Elisheva. 41 When Elisheva heard Miryam’s greeting, the baby in her womb stirred. Elisheva was filled with the Ruach HaKodesh 42 and spoke up in a loud voice,
“How blessed are you among women!
And how blessed is the child in your womb!
43 “But who am I, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy! 45 Indeed you are blessed, because you have trusted that the promise Adonai has made to you will be fulfilled.”
46 Then Miryam said,
“My soul magnifies Adonai;
47 and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior,
48 who has taken notice of his servant-girl
in her humble position.[Luke 1:48 1 Samuel 1:11; 2:1]
For — imagine it! — from now on, all generations will call me blessed!
49 “The Mighty One has done great things for me!
Indeed, his name is holy; 50 and in every generation
he has mercy on those who fear him.[Luke 1:50 Psalms 103:17; 111:9]
51 “He has performed mighty deeds with his arm,
routed the secretly proud,
52 brought down rulers from their thrones,
raised up the humble,
53 filled the hungry with good things,
but sent the rich away empty.
54 “He has taken the part of his servant Isra’el,
mindful of the mercy
55 which he promised to our fathers,
to Avraham and his seed forever.”
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John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for Micah 5:2-5a
Verse 2
[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.
Bethlehem — Bethlehem of Judah was called Ephratah, from the fruitfulness of the land where it stood: the word whence it is derived importing fruitfulness.
Art thou little — If thou art the least in other respects in this thou art honoured above them all.
Ruler — King and sovereign.
In Israel — Amidst the Israel of God.
Going forth — Whose generation, as he is the Son of God, equal with his father, is eternal.
Verse 3
[3] Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
He — God.
Give them up — To the Chaldeans.
She — The daughter of Zion, compared here to a woman in travail, shall be delivered out of captivity.
His brethren — The brethren of the Messiah. Those of Judah and Benjamin who were carried captive.
Verse 4
[4] And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
He — The ruler, the Messiah shall stand. This posture speaks the readiness, chearfulness, and stability of Christ, his government, and kingdom.
Feed — As a shepherd that diligently guides, preserves, and feeds his sheep.
By the strength — By his own almighty strength.
Of the name — By commission from the Father in whose name Christ came, preached, wrought miracles, and instituted his gospel church.
They — His church made up of converted Jews and Gentiles, shall continue; the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.
For — The church is so redeemed, and established, that Christ the Messiah might be glorified, throughout the world.
Verse 5
[5] And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.
This man — The Messiah.
The peace — Which is promised to the people of God; all their deliverances are not only for his sake, but effected by his power.
Shall tread in our palaces — Which Sennacherib did in all the cities of Judah, except Jerusalem.
We — Hezekiah, and with him the prophets and people, shall prevail with God to send deliverance.
Seven shepherds — A certain number put for an uncertain.
Verse 45
[45] And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Happy is she that believed — Probably she had in her mind the unbelief of Zacharias.
Verse 46
[46] And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And Mary said — Under a prophetic impulse, several things, which perhaps she herself did not then fully understand.
Verse 47
[47] And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour — She seems to turn her thoughts here to Christ himself, who was to be born of her, as the angel had told her, he should be the Son of the Highest, whose name should be Jesus, the Saviour. And she rejoiced in hope of salvation through faith in him, which is a blessing common to all true believers, more than in being his mother after the flesh, which was an honour peculiar to her. And certainly she had the same reason to rejoice in God her Saviour hat we have: because he had regarded the low estate of his handmaid, in like manner as he regarded our low estate; and vouchsafed to come and save her and us, when we were reduced to the lowest estate of sin and misery.
Verse 51
[51] He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath wrought strength with his arm — That is, he hath shown the exceeding greatness of his power. She speaks prophetically of those things as already done, which God was about to do by the Messiah.
He hath scattered the proud — Visible and invisible.
Verse 52
[52] He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
He hath put down the mighty — Both angels and men.
Verse 54
[54] He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
He hath helped his servant Israel — By sending the Messiah.
Verse 55
[55] As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
To his seed — His spiritual seed: all true believers.
Hebrews 10:5-10
Verse 5
[5] Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
When he cometh into the world — In the fortieth psalm the Messiah's coming into the world is represented. It is said, into the world, not into the tabernacle, Hebrews 9:1; because all the world is interested in his sacrifice.
A body hast thou prepared for me — That I may offer up myself. Psalms 40:6,etc.
Verse 7
[7] Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
In the volume of the book — In this very psalm it is written of me. Accordingly I come to do thy will - By the sacrifice of myself.
Verse 8
[8] Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Above when he said, Sacrifice thou hast not chosen — That is, when the Psalmist pronounced those words in his name.
Verse 9
[9] Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Then said he — in that very instant he subjoined.
Lo, I come to do Thy will — To offer a more acceptable sacrifice; and by this very act he taketh away the legal, that he may establish the evangelical, dispensation.
Verse 10
[10] By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Verse 39[5] Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
When he cometh into the world — In the fortieth psalm the Messiah's coming into the world is represented. It is said, into the world, not into the tabernacle, Hebrews 9:1; because all the world is interested in his sacrifice.
A body hast thou prepared for me — That I may offer up myself. Psalms 40:6,etc.
Verse 7
[7] Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
In the volume of the book — In this very psalm it is written of me. Accordingly I come to do thy will - By the sacrifice of myself.
Verse 8
[8] Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Above when he said, Sacrifice thou hast not chosen — That is, when the Psalmist pronounced those words in his name.
Verse 9
[9] Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Then said he — in that very instant he subjoined.
Lo, I come to do Thy will — To offer a more acceptable sacrifice; and by this very act he taketh away the legal, that he may establish the evangelical, dispensation.
Verse 10
[10] By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
By which will — Of God, done and suffered by Christ.
We are sanctified — Cleansed from guilt, and consecrated to God.Luke 1:39-55
[39] And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
A city of Judah — Probably Hebron, which was situated in the hill country of Judea, and belonged to the house of Aaron.
Verse 41
[41] And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
When Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary — The discourse with which she saluted her, giving an account of what the angel had said, the joy of her soul so affected her body, that the very child in her womb was moved in an uncommon manner, as if it leaped for joy.
Verse 45
[45] And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Happy is she that believed — Probably she had in her mind the unbelief of Zacharias.
Verse 46
[46] And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And Mary said — Under a prophetic impulse, several things, which perhaps she herself did not then fully understand.
Verse 47
[47] And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour — She seems to turn her thoughts here to Christ himself, who was to be born of her, as the angel had told her, he should be the Son of the Highest, whose name should be Jesus, the Saviour. And she rejoiced in hope of salvation through faith in him, which is a blessing common to all true believers, more than in being his mother after the flesh, which was an honour peculiar to her. And certainly she had the same reason to rejoice in God her Saviour hat we have: because he had regarded the low estate of his handmaid, in like manner as he regarded our low estate; and vouchsafed to come and save her and us, when we were reduced to the lowest estate of sin and misery.
Verse 51
[51] He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
A city of Judah — Probably Hebron, which was situated in the hill country of Judea, and belonged to the house of Aaron.
Verse 41
[41] And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
When Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary — The discourse with which she saluted her, giving an account of what the angel had said, the joy of her soul so affected her body, that the very child in her womb was moved in an uncommon manner, as if it leaped for joy.
Verse 45
[45] And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Happy is she that believed — Probably she had in her mind the unbelief of Zacharias.
Verse 46
[46] And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And Mary said — Under a prophetic impulse, several things, which perhaps she herself did not then fully understand.
Verse 47
[47] And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour — She seems to turn her thoughts here to Christ himself, who was to be born of her, as the angel had told her, he should be the Son of the Highest, whose name should be Jesus, the Saviour. And she rejoiced in hope of salvation through faith in him, which is a blessing common to all true believers, more than in being his mother after the flesh, which was an honour peculiar to her. And certainly she had the same reason to rejoice in God her Saviour hat we have: because he had regarded the low estate of his handmaid, in like manner as he regarded our low estate; and vouchsafed to come and save her and us, when we were reduced to the lowest estate of sin and misery.
Verse 51
[51] He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath wrought strength with his arm — That is, he hath shown the exceeding greatness of his power. She speaks prophetically of those things as already done, which God was about to do by the Messiah.
He hath scattered the proud — Visible and invisible.
Verse 52
[52] He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
He hath put down the mighty — Both angels and men.
Verse 54
[54] He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
He hath helped his servant Israel — By sending the Messiah.
Verse 55
[55] As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
To his seed — His spiritual seed: all true believers.
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The Upper Room Ministries
The Upper Room Ministries
PO Box 340004
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004, United States
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Sermon Story "God's Promises" by Gary Lee Parker with Scripture Micah 5:2 (3) Therefore he will give up [Isra’el]
only until she who is in labor gives birth.
Then the rest of his kinsmen
will return to the people of Isra’el.
3 (4) He will stand and feed his flock
in the strength of Adonai,
in the majesty of the name
of Adonai his God;
and they will stay put, as he grows great
to the very ends of the earth;
4 (5) and this will be peace.
If Ashur invades our land,
if he overruns our fortresses,
we will raise seven shepherds against him,
eight leaders of men.
5 (6) They will shepherd the land of Ashur with the sword,
the land of Nimrod at its gates;
and he will rescue us from Ashur
when he invades our land,
when he overruns our borders.
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As we reflect upon thi passage of Scripture from Micha, we first think about the Israelite who had their land taken away from them and qre in exile because of their disobedience to God. God comes to them through the words of the prophet Micah that God has not forgotten them, but still care and protecting them. God promises to send seven shephards to guide them into the path of God and His righteousness, but the eigth shepherd will be the Messiaah to redeem them from all of their sins. Secondly, we reflect on the events of Israel since this prophecy was spoken and written down that there came The Messiah who we know as Jesus. Jesus did not come in royalty, but in poverty to live and work among His people. Jesus not only performed the tasks as God promised the Messiah would do and be, but He so loved us that He gave up His life as a crucified criminal of the state and the religious community that He so loved. We saw the healings and heard His teachings which were the teachings of the Father through the Torah and Scriptures. He came and suffered a crutel death upon the Roman cross and was buried. Then as He, HImself, predicted that He was raised from the dead and continued teaching of His own live written in the Scriptures and the Torah until the time arrived that He ascended back to His Father promising that He would send His Spirit to remind them of His teachings of the Father He taught them as well as commisioning to teach and baptize other people in the threefold Name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Lastly, we look at this generation including ourselves where God has been revealed to us as the King of Peace although it appears that we desire to take our lives into our own hands to not live by His Holy, Love, and Peace, but to live by violence causing other people to take up their sword to take control of their lives. We have been given His teachings written down and confirmed through His Holy Spirit of our call to live and witness of His Love and Peace. We come to realize we have fallen short of His calling and return to Him as we take and eat His Body and drink His Blood through our participation of the Holy Sacrament of the Holy Eurcharist as Handed down from Jesus Himself. We come to receive more of His Holiness, Peace, and Love to live our lives as He has called us to live singing the Hymn "For the healing of the nations" by Author: Fred Kaan (1965)
1. For the healing of the nations,
Lord, we pray with one accord;
for a just and equal sharing
of the things that earth affords;
To a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word,
help us rise and pledge our word.
2. Lead us forward into freedom;
from despair your world release,
that, redeemed from war and hatred,
all may come and go in peace.
Show us how through care and goodness
fear will die and hope increase,
fear will die and hope increase.
3. All that kills abundant living,
let it from the earth be banned;
pride of status, race, or schooling,
Lord, we pray with one accord;
for a just and equal sharing
of the things that earth affords;
To a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word,
help us rise and pledge our word.
2. Lead us forward into freedom;
from despair your world release,
that, redeemed from war and hatred,
all may come and go in peace.
Show us how through care and goodness
fear will die and hope increase,
fear will die and hope increase.
3. All that kills abundant living,
let it from the earth be banned;
pride of status, race, or schooling,
dogmas that obscure your plan.
In our common quest for justice
may we hallow life's brief span,
may we hallow life's brief span.
4. You, Creator God, have written
your great name on humankind;
for our growing in your likeness
bring the life of Christ to mind,
that by our response and service
earth its destiny may find,
earth its destiny may find.
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Gary Lee Parker
4147 Idaho Street, Apt. 1
San Diego, California 92104-1844, United States
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The Upper Room Daily Devotion in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Our Refuge and Strength" for Saturday, 26 December 2015 - Scripture: Psalm 46:(0) For the leader. By the descendants of Korach. On ‘alamot [high-pitched musical instruments?]. A song:2 (1) God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
3 (2) Therefore we are unafraid,
even if the earth gives way,
even if the mountains tumble
into the depths of the sea,
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[The LORD] will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble.[Psalm 27:5 (NRSV)]
Eight minutes was the allotted time for two of us to share during one exercise in a devotional-writing workshop. But I alone needed more than eight minutes — not to mention a lot of courage — to share my innermost pain and struggle with a person I had just met. However, the words flowed easily as my partner and I each talked about a recent life challenge.
In our conversation, my pain resonated with my partner’s pain. I realized that my pain was no longer as debilitating as when I first experienced it. My partner and I found that we overcame pain not because time healed our wounds but because we sought shelter in God and drew strength from what we believed God can do in our personal circumstances.
Prayers and daily Bible reading comforted and encouraged us to remain firm in our faith. Family, friends, and church members prayed for us and with us and stood beside us in our worst moments of doubt and desperation. God showed us that we were never alone in our struggles.
The Author: Maritez Cruz (Quezon City, Philippines)
Thought for the Day: Pain lessens when we seek God’s refuge and strength.
Prayer: Almighty God, teach us to turn to you at the first sign of trouble rather than trying to bear our pain alone for you are our refuge and strength. Amen.
Prayer focus: SOMEONE FEELING ALL ALONE
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Contact Information:
Great Plains Episcopal Office
9440 E Boston, Suite 160
Wichita Kansas 67207, United States
316-686-0600
800-745-2350
info@greatplainsumc.org
____________________________
Great Plains Episcopal Office
9440 E Boston, Suite 160
Wichita Kansas 67207, United States
316-686-0600
800-745-2350
info@greatplainsumc.org
____________________________
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