Friday Morning Prayer:)… December 6, 2018

December 6, 2018 - 7 minutes read
O come! O come! Emmanuel!
And ransom captive Israel;
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
 
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall be born for thee, O Israel!
 
O come! Thou Rod of Jesse! free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o’er the grave.
 
O come! Thou Day-Spring! come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine Advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.[1]
 
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.[2]
__________
 
Who shall come in the fullness of time to gladden the hearts of men?  Who shall bring new joy to the world and the poor and lonely defend?[3]  O come! O come! Emmanuel!  This old hymn reflects the longing of every regenerate heart.  Another version of this hymn expresses the same desperation of the longing heart, “Draw nigh, draw nigh, Emmanuel.”[4]  God incarnate, the Shepherd to Israel and fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy−Our Lord Jesus.  He alone gladdens the human heart.  Jesus alone brings new joy to the world and the poor and lonely defends.  Jesus is God with us. 
 
 
The Messiah came for Israel and through the Jewish people, salvation has come to every person who genuinely believes.  “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”[5]  The Apostle John gives us an account of God in Christ, the Word who was with God in the beginning.  “The true light that gives light to every man [woman] was coming into the world.”[6]  Many did not receive him and even adamantly rejected him as the Messiah, even as he humbly offered salvation.  However, “…to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”[7]
 
 
Believe.  By faith alone, we are saved by God’s abundant grace through faith.  Jesus, God incarnate who died for the sins of the world, especially for those who believe.  In Christ, we are born of God anew!  I struggle with sinful behaviors, but will not be ruled by anything or anyone other than our gracious indwelling God.  Think about this supernatural truth beginning with the incarnation, to the cross, the resurrection, and the now indwelling Triune God through the Holy Spirit.  Amazing!  We rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel! God himself entered his own creation to create life anew through a relationship with God.
 
 
I am thankful for the joy of Christ, the assurance of salvation, the power of the Holy Spirit to live and work-out this great salvation we already share.   Without God’s mercy given through the first advent of Christ, we could not sing confidently today, O come! O come! Emmanuel!   Jesus will come and end Satan’s tyranny.  We pray for the “not yet.”  Our redemption is secure, yet not complete.  We continue to pray for the salvation of many, especially those we dearly love among our family and friends.  We pray O come! Thou Day-Spring! Please Lord, come and cheer our spirits by Thine Advent here; Please Lord, disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.  
 
 
Beloved, be encouraged by who you are in Jesus and what we have already attained through his mercy.  Join with family in Christ and grow in grace as we rejoice always.  In the midst of our sufferings, disappointments, sinful slips, discouragements, heartache, all that is mixed into the “already” that attempts to steal, kill, and destroy, remember the “not yet” that will come again−Our hope and motivation to persevere and overcome in Christ!
 
 
O come! Thou Key of David! come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery. 
 
 
O come! O come! Thou Lord of Might!
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times didst give the law,
In cloud, and majesty, and awe.
____________
 
 
 
Sisters are meeting to pray together.  First Baptist.  1912 Arnold Way.  Alpine, 0900.
 
You are invited.  The encouragement of gathering with like-minded, kind, full of grace gals who desire to love others and pray in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Go check it out! 
 
Brothers are meeting too!  Mt. View Bible.  2710 Alpine Blvd.  Alpine, 0730.
 
Join us!  It is always a joy to meet with brothers and express our shared faith.  We meet to encourage and pray as the Spirit leads.  No agenda, no requirements or expectations.  Only come with expectation to be loved by the living God through brothers in Jesus.  Don’t hesitate if your schedule allows… we close at 0830.