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Hymn #428 I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
Introit
Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto Thee daily.
For Thou, Lord, art good and ready to forgive:
and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee.
Psalm. Bow down Thine ear, O Lord, hear me:
for I am poor and needy.
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
Lord, we pray Thee that Thy grace may always go before and follow after us and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and GradualGradual
The heathen shall fear the name of the Lord:
and all the kings of the earth Thy glory.
V. When the Lord shall build up Zion:
He shall appear in His glory. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: He is their Help and their Shield. Hallelujah!
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Ephesians Encouragement
Yesterday, I was studying for today since the Ephesians letter is so well known and easily bypassed. But this is quite dramatic. Paul worked with the Ephesians and was arrested in Rome, chained in a cell. He had some freedom in the last two years. Four of his letters are called the Prison Letters, because he wrote in confinement, a proud Roman citizen who would not give up the truth.
KJV Ephesians 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Paul was suffering the worst, with no complaining, urging his distant members to accept the glory in Jesus Christ, just as he said. So we have this letter of encouragement which is aimed at the Ephesians and circulated among the tiny number of Christians, whose numbers blossomed. Paul knew from his experience along the road, earlier, that the risen Christ could convert him from violent policeman to peaceful apostle and miracle-worker. Look carefully at the section for today and see how the wording is good for all of us and opposed to the typical language of today.
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
This is a great honor, to be named after Jesus Christ, the Son of God. That is an honor from the Son of God Himself, a title very few people use and most abuse. But we are believers in Him from Holy Baptism onward and enjoy a great blessing, whether we are suffering inwardly or outwardly. When we look over the phrases we see how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are together and yet emphasizing aspects of the Holy Trinity. I pray to the Good Shepherd first because He keeps us so close to Him, in protection and in swatting evil away. The Holy Spirit teaches and guides us in the Word, and the Father unites the Trinity. We can be in great agony, physical and emotional, and yet the Godhead watches over us.
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Believing in Him means living with Him, heart and soul -- through faith. There is nothing without faith in Jesus the Savior, which is why our country is torn up, corrupted, dishonest, drug-addicted, and inebriated - not to mention lacking in the Word of God, the Bible, and worship. But Christ is completely in us through faith in Him, a position no one else can have. All the world religions accept everything - really! - except the One, True, God - born of the Virgin Mary, God and man, miracle worker, Teacher, suffering Lamb of God, dying for our sins, risen from the dead, and Ascended into Heaven.
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
We know, believe, and feel the love of Christ. Faith in Him does not ask, "Am I good enough?" because faith in the Good Shepherd draws that love to us and passes it along to others. Faith is contagious and warming, energetic and attracting.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (I count 7), according to the power [dynamis, dynamite, Holy Spirit] that worketh [energy, efficacy] in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Can you picture the mind of Paul in the stinking cell with chains weighing him down? And yet he was the lever that produced the first letters of the New Testament - look at all of them, just by the titles.
Note - men of engineering and electricity. Power is the power of God, which He gladly gives us in His measure and time. It is not an abstract concept but the reality of how God conducts His work. Likewise is my favorite - energy - which is essential for all of us but especially for two men in that field. Literally "works in" means energy, which means the Holy Spirit is always (not sometimes) at work in the Word of God, whether blinding people or opening their eyes. That is why so many are mean, harsh, and ridiculing. By opposing the powerful Word of Jesus, they oppose the Messiah and all He does for us.
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
Hymn #657 Beautiful Savior
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
Hymn #657 Beautiful Savior
Prayers and Announcements
- In our prayers - Sarah and Ed Buck, Pastor Jim and Chris Shrader, Dr. Lito Cruz and family, notably Lynne.
- Dr. Kermit Way celebrated his 86th birthday.
- The parsonage mail is 1104 Letha Drive.
- The parsonage phone can reach many people.
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Ephesians 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power [dynamis, dynamite, Holy Spirit] that worketh [energy, efficacy] in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
KJV Luke 7:11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Lord God, heavenly Father, who didst send Thy Son to be made flesh, that by His death He might atone for our sins and deliver us from eternal death: We pray Thee, confirm in our hearts the hope that our Lord Jesus Christ, who with but a word raised the widow's son, in like manner will raise us on the last day, and grant us eternal life: through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen