Calvary Chapel Wiesbaden

2012-01-08T22:24:00.001+01:00

New Years Day Part 2

8.1.2012 1 Peter 1: 6-9

Good morning everyone. It´s wonderful to see all of you here this morning. We thank God for everyone of you.

As most of you know….. at Calvary Chapel Wiesbaden….. We teach through the Bible verse by verse……

Today for our time in God's Word together …. Please turn to 1 Peter chapter 1…….

We're looking at verses 6 thru 9….. We are going to talk about Our future…… Future Joy……

1 Peter 1:6-9 NLT

6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:6-9 Neues Leben

6 Freut euch deshalb von Herzen! Vor euch liegt eine große Freude, auch wenn ihr für eine Weile viel2 erdulden müsst.

7 Dies dient nur dazu, euren Glauben zu prüfen, damit sich zeigt, ob er wirklich stark und rein ist. Er wird erprobt, so wie Gold im Feuer geprüft und geläutert wird - und euer Glaube ist Gott sehr viel kostbarer als bloßes Gold. Wenn euer Glaube also stark bleibt, nachdem er durch große Schwierigkeiten geprüft wurde, wird er euch viel Lob und Herrlichkeit und Ehre einbringen an dem Tag, an dem Jesus Christus der ganzen Welt offenbart werden wird.

8 Ihn liebt ihr, obwohl ihr ihn nie gesehen habt. Obwohl ihr ihn nicht seht, glaubt ihr an ihn; und schon jetzt seid ihr erfüllt von herrlicher, unaussprechlicher Freude.

9 Das Ziel eures Glaubens wird die Rettung eurer Seelen sein.

The Holidays are for many…… a time of great joy and celebration……. Family friends……. Gifts…… Looking back at a great year……. looking to the future…… filled with hope and excitement……. Great memories from my childhood fill my thoughts….. but for others……. It is a time of loss and sorrow and grief…… fear and not joy…..fills their thoughts…… many feel afraid for the future…… anything can happen….. hopelessness is all around us…..

How do you feel today?

There is wonderful joy ahead…..

Let me remind you about one of the most treasured chapters in all of God's Word... Luke the fifteenth chapter….. You don't need to turn to it……

In Luke15 our Lord Jesus tells three stories…… One of them is about a man who had a hundred sheep and lost one….. another is about a lady who lost a valuable coin….. another one is about a father who lost a son whom we now know as the prodigal son…… In each case the story represents salvation…… The lost sheep is found, the lost is coin is found, the lost son is found…… Each of them pictures a lost soul brought back to God, forgiven and blessed……

And in each story there is a common response……

In each case there was tremendous joy........

The thing that I want you to notice is that salvation and celebration go together……. Salvation and joy belong together……. Being made right with God is cause for joy.........

Now this salvation joy is Peter's theme……..

Look with me now at 1 Peter chapter 1…. He mentions salvation in verse 5, a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time……. In verse 9, the salvation of your souls……. In verse 10, as to this salvation the prophets have made careful search……. Three times from verse 5 to 10 he uses the word "salvation."

Salvation is an important element in Peter's letter…..

You will notice also in verse 6 that he talks about joy, "In this you greatly rejoice." In verse 8 at the end he says, "You greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory."

Now what I would conclude just very simply from that is that Peter has in mind here that we would not only understand salvation……. but joy……

Salvation….. which brings a deep joy….. is on Peter's heart in this passage…….

Isaiah writing in chapter 35 verse 10 said that the ransomed of the Lord will come with joyful shouting….. with everlasting joy……

He also said in chapter 61 that Christ was coming to give the oil of gladness……. look in verse 10 of that same chapter when he said, "I will rejoice greatly in the Lord for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation."

You also remember that when the angels announced the birth of Christ they said that there was a Savior coming and that His coming was bringing good news of great joy…… to all people…… Luke 2:10.

I want to remind us that deep and lasting joy is a result of God's gift of salvation…… And all of us who are saved should experience that joy…… That's why Paul exhorted the Christians in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 with these familiar words, "Rejoice always."

To the Philippians he said,

Phil 4: 4 "Rejoice always and again I say rejoice."

Why? Because joy and rejoicing are elements within the saving work of God……

Unfortunately……when sin comes into a believer's life joy departs…… We feel separated from God…… distant……but He has not moved…….We have……… as the scriptures say…… sin has separated us from God……

David wrote about that in Psalm 51:12 when coming out of the terrible sin of adultery and murder……. he cried out to God and said, "Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation."

Joy is an element of salvation…… it has built-in joy……. Joy that every believer should experience constantly……

Now the question that comes to our minds is how do we experience that joy?

Let's face it, most of us are not all the time filled with joy…… we're not all the time experiencing rejoicing……

What then is it that restores that joy?

Well that's exactly what we're going to find out from Peter in verses 6 through 9…..

It's important for Peter to bring up the subject of joy because his readers need to be reminded of it…… They are at a very difficult situation…..

They are under persecution…… They have been blamed for the burning of Rome….. They were despised and hated and rejected……

Turn to 1 Peter chapter 2….. verse 12

1 Peter 2:12 NLT

12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

1 Peter 2:12 Neues Leben

12 Achtet sorgfältig darauf, wie ihr unter euren ungläubigen Mitmenschen lebt. Selbst wenn sie euch eines Unrechts anklagen, wird sie euer einwandfreies Verhalten beeindrucken, und sie werden an Gott glauben und ihm die Ehre geben, wenn er kommt, um die Welt zu richten

In chapter 2 verse 19….. Peter is saying that they were having to suffer unjustly….. And Peter says "bear up under this unjust suffering."

In verse 20 it says they were being harshly treated and called upon to endure it with patience……

In verse 21 he says to them, "You've even been called for this purpose, Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps." He suffered and you will suffer as well……

In chapter 3 verse 9 he says

1 Peter 3:9 NLT

9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.

1 Peter 3:9 Neues Leben

9 Vergeltet Böses nicht mit Bösem. Werdet nicht zornig, wenn die Leute unfreundlich über euch reden, sondern wünscht ihnen Gutes und segnet sie. Denn genau das verlangt Gott von euch, und er wird euch dafür segnen!

Peter is saying that is they were doing evil to these Christians……. They were insulting these Christians…… But Peter said they were not to retaliate……

In chapter 3 verse 14 Peter says……

1 Peter 3: 14 NLT

14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats.

1 Peter 3: 14 Neues Leben

14 Doch selbst wenn ihr dafür leidet, dass ihr das Richtige tut2: Gott wird euch dafür belohnen. Also habt keine Angst und seid unbesorgt.

And he goes on to remind them to give a defense for the faith and the hope that is in them……. and sanctify the Lord God in their hearts…… And if need be….. accept suffering and trials…….

1 Peter 4 : 1a NLT Neues Leben

1 So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too.

1 Da Christus also körperlich gelitten hat, sollt auch ihr euch diese Haltung zum Vorbild nehmen und ebenfalls bereit sein zu leiden. Denn wenn ihr bereit seid, für Christus zu leiden

Chapter 4 verse 12…… don't be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you which comes upon you for your testing as though some strange thing were happening to you...... to the degree you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing so that at the revelation of His glory…… you may rejoice with exaltation……

Verse 14 tells us they were reviled for the name of Christ…… verse 16 says…..They were suffering….. as Christians……

We're not to be ashamed…. but to glorify the name of the Lord…… And verse 19 says that if you suffer, commit yourselves to God…… In chapter 5 verse 10…… we read…..

1 Peter 5:10 NLT Neues Leben

10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.

10 Gott hat euch in seiner Gnade durch Jesus Christus zu seiner ewigen Herrlichkeit berufen. Nachdem ihr eine Weile gelitten habt, wird er euch aufbauen, stärken und kräftigen; und er wird euch auf festen Grund stellen.

Now all of those verses let us know in no uncertain terms that they were in a very difficult time…… It was a time that easily could rob them of their joy….. They could have lost hope…..

And that is why Peter tells them to find joy in to their salvation…… reminding them of the blessedness of knowing God through Christ…… And that they should know joy in spite of all of that suffering……. These difficulties should not diminish their joy……

There is wonderful joy ahead……

Why do believers in the midst of trouble need to focus on to regain their joy?

Where do I go to find my joy when my circumstances are horrible……When I am feeling desperate……..

Joy is not a shallow brief emotion…… it is something very deep…… something tied to faith…… something tied to hope and love……

Joy does not come cheap….. it comes at great expense to God….. He laid up the treasure of joy in heaven through the sacrifice of Christ……

He provides that joy through all our trials….. by the ministry of the Spirit of God…… The Father gave us the Son and the Holy Spirit in order that we might experience joy…..

Joy is produced by things that are much deeper than the things that produce happiness…..

Happiness comes from positive events……. Joy comes from a deep down confidence that your life is hid with Christ in God…… Joy is connected with salvation……

We as believers have lost contact with joy ……we are often sad and discouraged……. not content with our lives……. Sour pickle Christians….. We are often unhappy with the way that the LORD is running our lives….. We need to rediscover our joy…..

Where do I look to rediscover that joy……

Our joy must come from deep within…… It's not related to our circumstances……. It's not related to what we're experiencing ……. Real Christians suffer sometimes…….

Our deep….lasting joy…… comes from confidence in certain things….. The first one, it comes from confidence in a protected inheritance.......

Turn back to our text for today …..1 Peter 1: 6-9

This is the first great truth that brings salvation joy…….

Notice verse 6…. "In this you greatly rejoice."

Rejoice in what? He is looking back to verses 3 to 5……

In this you greatly rejoice......... that word "greatly rejoice" is a very expressive term……. Jesus uses it in Matthew 5:12 in the Beatitudes and it's translated in the Authorized Version, "Be exceedingly glad."

It means to be exceedingly glad…… to be super abundantly happy in the deepest sense……. This has nothing to do with circumstances…… It is confidence in our forever…. And so he calls for great rejoicing……

The word is always used of spiritual joy….. never temporary earthly joy….. It's always used of joy that comes from a relationship with God…… never used of joy that comes from a relationship with anybody else…….

In the Greek, it has the idea of a continual exuberant joy and gladness……. You could translate it, "be jubilant... be exuberantly glad."

And so Peter calls for great rejoicing….. Over what?

We have to go back to verses 3 to 5

1 Peter 1: 3-5 NLT

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

1 Peter 1: 3-5 Neues Leben

3 Gelobt sei der Gott und Vater unseres Herrn Jesus Christus, denn er hat uns in seiner großen Barmherzigkeit das Vorrecht geschenkt, wiedergeboren zu werden. Jetzt haben wir eine lebendige Hoffnung, weil Jesus Christus von den Toten auferstanden ist.

4 Denn Gott hat für seine Kinder ein unvergängliches Erbe, das rein und unversehrt im Himmel für euch aufbewahrt wird.

5 Und in seiner großen Macht wird er euch durch den Glauben beschützen, bis ihr das ewige Leben empfangt. Es wird am Ende der Zeit für alle sichtbar offenbart werden.

Peter here is talking about a protected inheritance that everyone of us in Christ have with God…… God through His mercy has caused us to be born again unto a living hope…… and that is a hope that ever lives…… and that hope is that we will receive an eternal inheritance……

We can never be disqualified for we are protected by the power of God……. So we have a protected eternal inheritance…… In this, he says, you are jubilant….. filled to overflowing with joy……

Where are you looking for your joy? That's the question….. Are you looking for your joy in your circumstances?.....

It isn't there…… Circumstances will betray you…… The marvelous promise of God to every believer is that we have an eternal inheritance….. which is our ultimate glorification in final salvation…… It is presently reserved for us, securely held in heaven until the last day…… when we see Jesus face to face…… God the Father by mercy has granted to us the new birth…… It is the hope that fills our hearts……. In this you rejoice…… Beloved, get your eyes off this world…… Quit looking for your satisfaction here…… It's our eternal glory in heaven that should be our focus……

Paul said it, "Set your affections on things...... above," "not on things on the earth." Colossians 3……

Eternal salvation is reserved for you……..

Nothing can happen to it….. What a source of joy. …..

Paul in Romans 5:2 says, "We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."

That's why he says in Romans chapter 12 in verse 12, "Rejoicing in hope."

Because his hope is in the resurrection and his hope is generated by the indwelling Holy Spirit……

Now if you're going through trials in life….. instead of looking at this world with all of its problems…… Instead of looking at your problems….. you need to look at your future….. your forever future…… it is safe and certain…… Because of God´s mercy…..we have been given an eternal inheritance….. We can rejoice…….. we have a deep and lasting joy…….. joy that no circumstance can ever take away from us….

I'm not asking you to pretend to have a joy that isn't real…… I don't think you can manufacture joy…… I don't want you to deny pain…… I'm not asking you to deny suffering…… I'm not asking you to deny sorrow or deny trouble…… It's not going to go away…… But I am saying, decide which way you're going to look…….

If you want to rejoice…… look at your new life in Christ…… your hope, your wealth…… your security in Christ……

Don´t let yourselves be tormented by the darkness of difficult circumstances…. Look to your forever…..

The reason that so many Christians are miserable…… weighed down with burdens and guilt and unfulfilled aspirations…… is because they don't look at their glorious protected eternal inheritance…….. Our future is secure…… no matter what happens…… even if I am told tomorrow that I have cancer…….

Your joy……. now listen carefully…… must be in great part the joy of anticipation....... It´s going to get better…….. The Lord Jesus is coming……He will make everything right……..

W e understand anticipation…….. we often live with the joy of anticipation in an earthly sense……. You get all pumped up months and months and months before you go on vacation……. Usually the anticipation is better than the reality…… You're about three days into your vacation and you're saying to yourself, "Why am I spending all this money?" I expected more from this….. that's the way life is…… We have huge expectations about our earthly future……. We look forward to that school….that job……. that perfect husband…… that perfect wife…..We anticipate events and things……. and pretty soon they´re not what we thought they were........ Our anticipation turns to disappointment….. because the perfection was in our heads…….. Not real…….. But With the LORD…..the reality is far better than our expectations…..

God´s promises are better than anything we can imagine or think……..that´s something to look forward to……. focus on the joy of anticipation……

Joy……. it's not only how you view your future but it's how we must view our present………

Joy comes….. now listen carefully……. not in spite of trouble…… but because of trouble…… It comes through trouble…… How? Because trouble, verse 7, is the proof of your faith....... which is more precious than gold…….

God brings trials into our lives to prove our faith….. to refine our faith….. to purify us and to make us more like Jesus……

Look at verse 6…… we can learn a lot about troubles and trials here……

1 Peter 1: 6 NLT Neues Leben

6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.

6 Freut euch deshalb von Herzen! Vor euch liegt eine große Freude, auch wenn ihr für eine Weile viel2 erdulden müsst.

Notice please……trouble doesn't last…… Isn't that good to know? It doesn't last……. It's temporary……

Trouble is important……… It serves a purpose……. It is necessary……

You say, "What's the purpose? I don't get the purpose."

Well….. check out this list….

TROUBLE

1 To humble us……

2 to wean us from worldly things…… To help us look to heaven……

3 to reveal what we really love……

4 To teach us the value of God's blessing as over against the pain of life…… Trouble comes

5 to enable us to help others…… Trouble comes

6 to develop enduring strength in our character….. and sometimes trouble comes

7 to chasten us for our sin….. It serves a purpose…….

We see that purpose in 1 Peter 5:10….

1 Peter 5:10 NLT Neues Leben

God has a purpose in it…….. trouble brings pain…… Nobody ever denied that……

God knows about it, that's why He brings it……. sadness, sorrow, disappointment, anxiety…… trouble brings pain…..

trouble is supposed to be painful….

It's suppose to distress us... to drive us away from the world….. and to the Lord…… to purge our sins…… to refine us for greater usefulness……

Trouble comes in many forms….. Verse 6 says…..

1 Peter 1: 6b NLT Neues Leben

even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.

auch wenn ihr für eine Weile viel erdulden müsst.

The greek is very interesting here (greek) poikilos peirasmos…… troubles, trials….. in many forms……. it means many colored….. that´s a great word picture……

Trouble is many colored……

By the way, Peter uses that same word one other time…….. It´s when he describes the many colored grace of God….. that's a beautiful thought…..

Trouble is multi-colored and God's grace is multi-colored…….

Grace to match every trial……Trouble comes in many forms….. you just think you've gotten over one and another one comes……. But along with the trial is grace to match it……

Notice verse 6….

1 Peter 1: 6 NLT Neues Leben

6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.

6 Freut euch deshalb von Herzen! Vor euch liegt eine große Freude, auch wenn ihr für eine Weile viel2 erdulden müsst.

You greatly rejoice even though you are in trial…… The point being, trouble doesn't diminish joy…….

Why?

Verse 7……

1 Peter 1: 7 NLT Neues Leben

7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Now listen to this very carefully…… this is a profound truth. Peter says here's why trials don't take your joy……. trials produce joy……. because if you pass through the test….. your faith becomes proven…….

Trials prove the genuineness of our faith……. If you went through life and never had any trial…… never had any trouble……. If your faith was never tested…… you wouldn't know your faith was real….. That's basically what he's saying.

Trials come……They come like fire to burn the dross off the metal to see if there's something real there….. faith is really revealed in the trial…… And we become more like Jesus in the process……

God's purpose in trouble is to test your faith…… For who?

For Him? Does He need to test your faith?

No, He knows what's in your heart, right?

So who is the test going to benefit? Us.........

God tests the believer to reveal whether his or her faith is genuine…… Just like He tests gold and it mentions gold in verse 7 that's tested by fire….. Fire equals trials….. The gold is your real faith….. And when the fire comes and all the dross is burned off……. real faith is revealed…..

Think this through….. Your heart is grieved, okay? You're going through trouble, trial, suffering, pain….. you're feeling afraid and maybe a little hopeless….. The environment around you is collapsing….. Nothing is working out the way you want it to work out….. You're going through all kinds of pain and concern….. And you start to look around an escape hatch…… for somewhere to put your comfort….. Most people in the world put it in money, friends, booze, drugs, sex, revenge…… whatever…… And the trouble burns up everything……. because everything they put their trust in is also going to be consumed….. none of it lasts…… It will all burn in the fire….

The Christian rises above all that….. He rises above everything that is subject to change and decay and he casts his hope in the promises of God……

The Christians´ source of joy is permanent…..

When you go through a test….. if you rise above that by faith and hold on to Christ….. your faith is proven…… The point is, if you come out the other side of the test believing God….. trusting Christ…… then you know your faith is real......... What great comfort…….

Do you live with doubt in your life?

God knows you need more trials...... because that will prove your faith to you……

Beloved, welcome trials...... welcome testing…… Don´t complain about them…….. They are for our good…..

We have hope in God…. He has sent Jesus to redeem us to be with us…….. The God of the universe is our friend…..He is our hope……….Jesus brings us joy……. Because our hope is certain……… Jesus said…..I will never leave you…..I will never forsake you……. Like the old song……. What a friend we have in Jesus…….. There is wonderful joy ahead……..

We will spend eternity with the Lord….. Our best friend…. Our creator and redeemer…..

God sends us trials…… and the grace to get thru them……… Showing us that our faith is real……. Reminding us that we have nothing to fear….. there is wonderful joy ahead…….

Goals for this year….. Simply…….

To obey Jesus in these very difficult times……. No matter what the trials……

To proclaim the Good News…..

We have been sent on a mission…… by the LORD JESUS…..

Get back our joy in the Lord…… so that we can fulfill our mission with joy…. just like Jesus!

Calvary Chapel Wiesbaden scripture for 2012

Hebrews 12:1-4 NLT

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

Hebrews 12:1-4 Neues Leben

1 Da wir von so vielen Zeugen umgeben sind, die ein Leben durch den Glauben geführt haben, wollen wir jede Last ablegen, die uns behindert, besonders die Sünde, in die wir uns so leicht verstricken. Wir wollen den Wettlauf bis zum Ende durchhalten, für den wir bestimmt sind.

2 Dies tun wir, indem wir unsere Augen auf Jesus gerichtet halten, von dem unser Glaube vom Anfang bis zum Ende abhängt1. Er war bereit, den Tod der Schande am Kreuz zu sterben, weil er wusste, welche Freude ihn danach erwartete. Nun sitzt er an der rechten Seite von Gottes Thron im Himmel!

3 Denkt an alles, was er durch die Menschen, die ihn anfeindeten, ertragen hat, damit ihr nicht müde werdet und aufgebt.

4 Immerhin habt ihr im Kampf gegen die Sünde noch nicht euer Leben opfern müssen.

Who for the joy that was set before him…. endured the cross!

Matthew 28: 18- 20 NLT

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28: 18- 20 Neues Leben

18 Jesus kam und sagte zu seinen Jüngern: »Mir ist alle Macht im Himmel und auf der Erde gegeben.

19 Darum geht zu allen Völkern und macht sie zu Jüngern. Tauft sie im Namen des Vaters und des Sohnes und des Heiligen Geistes und

20 lehrt sie, alle Gebote zu halten, die ich euch gegeben habe. Und ich versichere euch: Ich bin immer bei euch bis ans Ende der Zeit.«

We have Four assignments…….

1….. Proclaim the Good News

2….. Make disciples

3….. promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching….. sound faith….. be filled with love and patience……

4….. to demonstrate to this hopeless generation…..that we have been with Jesus………. He changes lives….. He forgives……we can have hope……..

The 3^rd assignment comes from Titus 2:1,2

Titus 2:1-2 NLT

1 As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. 2 Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience.

Titus 2:1-2 Neues Leben

1 Was immer du sagst, soll der gesunden Lehre entsprechen.

2 Lehre die älteren Männer, selbstbeherrscht, vorbildlich und besonnen zu leben. Sie sollen einen starken Glauben haben und liebevoll und geduldig sein.

2011-12-27T07:39:00.001+01:00

25.12.2011 Christmas

Good Morning and Merry Christmas.... We want you to know that we thank the LORD for everyone of you…..

I hope that you have had a good time celebrating with family and friends.....We spent Heilige Abend at Uli´s parents House....We have been coming to Germany for the holidays for many years.....and it is a wonderful time of good food and remembering God´s great mercy and unfailing Love.....

Luke 2: 8-11 NLT

8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!

Luke 2:8-11 Neues Leben

8 In jener Nacht hatten ein paar Hirten auf den Feldern vor dem Dorf ihr Lager aufgeschlagen, um ihre Schafe zu hüten.

9 Plötzlich erschien ein Engel des Herrn in ihrer Mitte. Der Glanz des Herrn umstrahlte sie. Die Hirten erschraken,

10 aber der Engel beruhigte sie. »Habt keine Angst!«, sagte er. »Ich bringe eine gute Botschaft für alle Menschen!

11 Der Retter - ja, Christus1, der Herr - ist heute Nacht in Bethlehem, der Stadt Davids, geboren worden!

Matt 12: 21 NLT

And his name will be the hope of all the world."

Matt 12: 21 Neues Leben

21 Und auf seinem Namen wird die Hoffnung der ganzen Welt ruhen.

Last year….. on the 23rd of December ... I spent the afternoon teaching English at Berlitz..... There were 11 of us... and I turned the talk to Christmas.....Usually I get a favorable response from students when they retell Christmas memories..... but last year... it was very painful... I asked each person a question and I got 9 very negative answers...... At best there was a little bit of nostalga as they remembered Christmas´s from the past ..... Not one of them was looking forward to the Holidays...... pain and disappointment was on every face .....

They had rejected the Babe in a manger.... He wasn´t a Savior to them..... there was no hope...... no feelings of joy or anticipation.... nothing........ Only darkness and depression...it was horrible....They are unemployed and living in the land of the shadow of death.... It was a powerful reminder of the Biblical truth...... there are many who have rejected the LORD JESUS......

They have not had a blessed Christmas..... they do not know anything of the Peace and joy that one finds at the foot of the Cross.....

This year as we have continued our study in Luke.... we have met many of the ordinary people that God revealed the Messiah to..... at his birth and during his earthly ministry as the son of man……

We met Simeon..... lead to the Temple by the Holy Spirit…… at exactly the right time to see His long awaited Deliverer... the Baby Jesus.... tradition says that he was very old...... about 110 years old....

Today In our text…. We see the Saviors birth announced to Shepherds……

The great King David was a shepherd…… but normally shepherds were not highly valued…… they smelled………. They had a bad reputation…..they were thought to be untrustworthy…….. they were not allowed to testify in court….. they were defiled by their work….. They were not allowed in the temple…..The angels could have announced the birth of the Messiah…..The Savior of the world to the High priest….. or to Herod and the religious leaders of the land….. But no……

Jesus came to redeem all people…… even the lowest……… even people like me….. and you….. ordinary people……

Shepherds were necessary……. Sheep and goats were the main source of food and clothing for the Children of Israel…..

But there was something special about these shepherds…….. You see this is Bethlehem……the City of David and the place……. Very near Jerusalem that was also called the tower of the Flock….. it´s called Migdal Eder……

Migdal Eder is where the Prophet Micah said that the Messiah would be revealed…. Turn with me to Micah 4…..

Micah 4: 6-8 ESV

6 In that day, declares the LORD,

I will assemble the lame

and gather those who have been driven away

and those whom I have afflicted;

7 and the lame I will make the remnant,

and those who were cast off, a strong nation;

and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion

from this time forth and forevermore.

8 And you, O tower of the flock, ( Midgal Eder)

hill of the daughter of Zion,

to you shall it come,

the former dominion shall come,

kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.

Micah 4: 6-8 Neues Leben

6 Der Herr verspricht: »Der Tag wird kommen, an dem ich alle, die zerschunden sind, und alle, die ich in meinem Zorn verstoßen habe, sammeln werde. Und ich werde alle, denen ich Böses zugefügt habe, zusammenholen.

7 Ich will dafür sorgen, dass die Zerschundenen als heiliger Rest erhalten bleiben und die, die sich weit verlaufen haben, werde ich zu einem starken Volk machen. Dann wird der Herr vom Berg Zion als König über sie herrschen bis in Ewigkeit.

8 Und du, Wachturm auf dem Hügel von Jerusalem, wirst deine frühere Herrschaft wieder erlangen.

These humble shepherds were in the right place at the right time………to be the first to hear the Good News……… The Savoir…… The Messiah….. The hope……. The Light of the World……. they saw it with their own eyes they heard the Good News from the mouths of Angels……

There´s even more to this story…….You see these shepherds worked for the Temple……. The flocks that they cared for were special….. They were set apart…… destined for the temple as sacrifices…… sacrifices for sin and for thanksgiving to the LORD GOD……

At the base of the tower was a special place for the ewes that were about to give birth were taken to protect them and their new babies….. they must be protected from any injury……… because lambs for sacrifice had to be perfect…. Spotless……

What a fantastic place for the Lamb of God to be Born…….. The spotless lamb of God…… seen first by the shepherds….. their job life was to care for the lambs to be sacrificed….. let´s read further……

Luke 2: 12-20 NLT

12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,

and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Luke 2: 12-20 Neues Leben

12 Und daran könnt ihr ihn erkennen: Ihr werdet ein Kind finden, das in Windeln gewickelt in einer Futterkrippe liegt!«

13 Auf einmal war der Engel von den himmlischen Heerscharen umgeben, und sie alle priesen Gott mit den Worten:

14 »Ehre sei Gott im höchsten Himmel und Frieden auf Erden für alle Menschen, an denen Gott Gefallen hat2.«

15 Als die Engel in den Himmel zurückgekehrt waren, sagten die Hirten zueinander: »Kommt, gehen wir nach Bethlehem! Wir wollen das Wunder, von dem der Herr uns erzählen ließ, mit eigenen Augen sehen.«

16 Sie liefen so schnell sie konnten ins Dorf und fanden Maria und Josef und das Kind in der Futterkrippe.

17 Da erzählten die Hirten allen, was geschehen war und was der Engel ihnen über dieses Kind gesagt hatte.

18 Alle Leute, die den Bericht der Hirten hörten, waren voller Staunen.

19 Maria aber bewahrte alle diese Dinge in ihrem Herzen und dachte oft darüber nach.

20 Die Hirten kehrten zu ihren Herden auf den Feldern zurück; sie priesen und lobten Gott für das, was der Engel ihnen gesagt hatte und was sie gesehen hatten. Alles war so, wie es ihnen angekündigt worden war.

Look at verse 17 and 18…..

17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,

17 Da erzählten die Hirten allen, was geschehen war und was der Engel ihnen über dieses Kind gesagt hatte.

18 Alle Leute, die den Bericht der Hirten hörten, waren voller Staunen.

When they saw Jesus…… they went and told everyone……. The first missionaries…… humble dirty shepherds…… and all who heard were astonished…..

Now look at verse 20

20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

20 Die Hirten kehrten zu ihren Herden auf den Feldern zurück; sie priesen und lobten Gott für das, was der Engel ihnen gesagt hatte und was sie gesehen hatten. Alles war so, wie es ihnen angekündigt worden war.

These simple ordinary shepherds worshipped and praised God!

Ordinary people with a special assignment…….. Just like us…… we are ordinary people with a special assignment….

Next today we will meet Anna…. turn with me to ..... Luke 2: 36....

Luke 2: 36 - 38 NLT

36 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. 37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38 She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.

Luke 2: 36 - 38 Neues Leben

36 Im Tempel befand sich auch Hanna, eine Prophetin. Sie war eine Tochter Phanuëls aus dem Stamm Asser und schon sehr alt. Hanna war Witwe. Ihr Mann war nach nur sieben Jahren Ehe gestorben.

37 Jetzt war sie vierundachtzig Jahre alt und verließ den Tempel nie mehr, sondern diente Gott dort Tag und Nacht mit Fasten und Beten.

38 Als Simeon mit Maria und Josef sprach, ging sie vorbei und begann, Gott zu loben. Allen, die auf die verheißene Erlösung Israels warteten, erzählte sie von Jesus.

v 36 - 37........ Anna....she was very old.... 84...and a widow..... she was probably childless.... a curse to the Jews way of thinking.... she was very ordinary...... not royalty....

and yet she get´s to meet the KING OF KINGS and LORD of LORD`S

She was not related to the High Priestly family.... the fact that she was a widowed a such a young age was not considered to be a blessing.... but she was not bitter..... she was a great example to those around her.... because she devoted herself to serving and worshipping the LORD....

In verse 36 we see that Anna was a prophetess…… We don’t know in what capacity Anna was a prophetess…..

Perhaps it was in the way that she brought forth this specific word about Jesus……

Prophesy..... there are two ways to prophesy

1. foretelling.....saying what will happen in the future

2. forthtelling..... proclaiming the truth of scripture... proclaiming the Good News is also a form of prophesy... Anna prophesied in this way…….. telling everyone that the Messiah was born……… We don´t know if she also prophesied about the future….. but she was totally devoted to the LORD……..

Look at the last part of verse 37……

v37b….. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.

V37b….. verließ den Tempel nie mehr, sondern diente Gott dort Tag und Nacht mit Fasten und Beten.

Anna was active in the life of the temple..... a godly woman..... a true worshiper.... even though she had great sorrow in her life….. she was not bitter..... she looked for the redeemer... the comforter of Israel……The LORD was her whole life.... she was not missing something in her life....

Her life was full and blessed...... She was totally focused on the only thing that mattered .... The LORD GOD..... At long last as she trusted the LORD.... she got to see the Messiah......

She aged gracefully…… with her eyes on the LORD……waiting for his redemption…..

Anna´s devotion to the LORD... was proved by.....

1. her love for Jesus.............worshipping

2. her desire to tell others about him.........witnessing

that´s the way to age gracefully in the LORD.....

Anna…… a life well lived

1.....waiting for the redemption of Israel.....waiting for God to redeem and restore her life

2....worshipping God night and day......

3.....witnessing to others......

This godly woman served God with total devotion….She denied herself……..

Anna’s close walk with God is shown by her immediately recognizing and loving Jesus……. and by her desire to tell others about HIM…..She spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption……. Proclaiming…. And Prophesying……the Good News……

Luke 2: 39 - 40 NLT

39 When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. 40 There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.

Luke 2: 39 - 40 Neues Leben

39 Als Maria und Josef alles erfüllt hatten, was nach dem Gesetz des Herrn vorgeschrieben ist, kehrten sie nach Nazareth in Galiläa zurück.

40 Dort wuchs Jesus heran und wurde groß und kräftig. Er war mit Weisheit erfüllt, und Gottes besondere Gnade ruhte auf ihm.

v39..... What were the requirements of the Law

1.... Jesus´circumcision

2..... Jesus´ dedication to the LORD

Jesus was the first born....perfect.... no defects...... born of a virgin…. He was fit for the Priesthood

v39…. Nazareth.....

One of the Bible names for the Messiah is ....

The Branch..... The Netzer...... The Nazarene....

Jesus had to be born in Bethlehem...... he fulfilled prophesy by being born there...... it had to be so....

but he also fulfilled prophesy by growing up in Nazareth.....

Isaiah Identified the Messiah by that name in Isaiah 4:2

Zechariah also tells us something wonderful about the LORD JESUS…… THE Nazarene……. It´s in Zech 6: 12- 13..... let´s take a look.....

Zech 6: 12- 13 NLT

12 Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Here is the man called the Branch. He will branch out from where he is and build the Temple of the Lord. 13 Yes, he will build the Temple of the Lord. Then he will receive royal honor and will rule as king from his throne. He will also serve as priest from his throne, and there will be perfect harmony between his two roles.’

Zech 6: 12- 13 Neues Leben

12 Sag ihm: `So spricht der Herr, der Allmächtige: Da ist ein Mann, der Spross4 genannt wird, denn unter ihm wird es sprießen und er wird den Tempel des Herrn bauen.

13 Ja, er wird den Tempel des Herrn bauen; er wird königliche Ehren empfangen, seinen Thron einnehmen und dort herrschen. An seinem Thron wird ein Priester dienen5, und zwischen beiden wird vollkommene Eintracht sein.´

This is the prophesy that tells us about JESUS role as great High Priest and KING of KINGS.....

The Branch.... the Netzer...the Nazarene.....

our great high priest and King forever.....

Close

We have seen and heard Jesus......we have been redeemed.....

We should tell everyone the Good News.......We should be constantly praising and glorifing God in everything that we say and do......

We are here on Earth for a purpose.....Jesus said all authority in Heaven and Earth is given to me.....Go into all the World..... make disciples......

We are here in the body for a purpose...... we are members of one another...we belong to each other.... we are here in the church so that we can love and encourage each other....pray for each other...... cover each others sins with love..... and mercy and forgiveness...... we have the blessing of bearing one anothers burdens...... we can lighten each others load.....Even though we are ordinary people..... sinners saved by Grace..... because of His unfailing LOVE......we have a savior.....

We are celebrating the birth of the Savior....Jesus the Messiah!!!

but we must remember ..... The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the Whole world was born to die.....

To die....... to redeem us.....He came to die so that we could live with Him forever......What unfailing LOVE..... What Mercy......

David understood this so very well..... He was a real person ordinary .....not perfect... a sinner saved by grace....As we celebrate communion together....let´s remember this babe in a manger came for us...... to take the punishment for our sins.... to die for our sins....so that we could be forgiven.... He came to Redeem us and to give us everlasting peace and Joy..... to wash us white as snow....

Here´s what David wrote.....

Psalms 51: 7- 12 NLT

7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Oh, give me back my joy again;

you have broken me-

now let me rejoice.

9 Don't keep looking at my sins.

Remove the stain of my guilt.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.

Renew a right spirit within me.

11 Do not banish me from your presence,

and don't take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me again the joy of your salvation,

and make me willing to obey you.

Psalms 51: 7 -12 Neues Leben

7 Denn ich war ein Sünder - von dem Augenblick an, da meine Mutter mich empfing.

8 Dir gefällt ein Herz, das wahrhaftig ist; und im Verborgenen lehrst du mich deine Weisheit.

9 Wasche von mir ab meine Sünden1, und ich werde ganz rein werden; wasche mich, und ich werde weißer sein als Schnee.

10 Gib mir meine Freude zurück und lass mich wieder fröhlich werden, denn du hast mich zerbrochen.

11 Sieh meine Sünde nicht mehr an und vergib mir meine Schuld.

12 Gott, erschaffe in mir ein reines Herz und gib mir einen neuen, aufrichtigen Geist.

1 Cor 11: 23- 26 NLT

23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you.[f] Do this to remember me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

1 Cor 11: 23- 26 Neues Leben

23 Das Folgende hat der Herr selbst gesagt, und ich gebe es euch so weiter, wie ich es empfangen habe: In der Nacht, als er verraten wurde, nahm Jesus, der Herr, einen Laib Brot,

24 und nachdem er Dank gesagt hatte, brach er ihn und sprach: »Das ist mein Leib, der für euch hingegeben wird6. Tut das zur Erinnerung an mich.«

25 Ebenso nahm er nach dem Abendmahl den Weinkelch und sprach: »Dieser Kelch ist der neue Bund zwischen Gott und euch, besiegelt durch mein Blut. Wann immer ihr daraus trinkt, tut es zur Erinnerung an mich.«

26 Denn jedes Mal, wenn ihr dieses Brot esst und aus diesem Kelch trinkt, verkündet ihr den Tod des Herrn, bis er wiederkommt.

Let´s pray......

Christmas Eve 24.12.2011

2011-12-24T11:50:00.004+01:00

Isaiah 9: 2 NLT

2 The people who walk in darkness

will see a great light.

For those who live in a land of deep darkness,

a light will shine..

Isaiah 9: 1 Neues Leben

1 Denn das Volk, das in der Dunkelheit lebt, sieht ein helles Licht. Und über den Menschen in einem vom Tode überschatteten Land strahlt ein heller Schein.

Luke 2: 1-18 NLT

1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.

6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,

and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Luke 2: 1-18 Neues Leben

1 Zu jener Zeit ordnete der römische Kaiser Augustus eine Volkszählung im ganzen Römischen Reich an.

2 Dies war die erste Volkszählung; sie wurde durchgeführt, als Quirinius Statthalter von Syrien war.

3 Alle Menschen kehrten in ihre Heimatstadt zurück, um sich für die Zählung eintragen zu lassen.

4 Weil Josef ein Nachkomme Davids war, musste er nach Bethlehem in Judäa, in die Stadt Davids, reisen. Von Nazareth in Galiläa aus machte er sich auf den Weg

5 und nahm seine Verlobte Maria mit, die hochschwanger war.

6 Als sie in Bethlehem waren, kam die Zeit der Geburt heran.

7 Maria gebar ihr erstes Kind, einen Sohn. Sie wickelte ihn in Windeln und legte ihn in eine Futterkrippe, weil es im Gasthaus keinen Platz für sie gab.