Fourth Advent December 19th 2010

A Very Snowy Christmas Season in Wiesbaden Germany
We Wish you God´s richest Blessings.

Luke 2: 8-20 NLT

8 That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, 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 terribly frightened, 10 but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! 11 The Savior-yes, the Messiah, the Lord-has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!"

13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others-the armies of heaven-praising God:

14

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and peace on earth to all whom God favors. [fn1] "

15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Come on, let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

16 They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 Then 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 quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.

19.12.2010 Fourth Advent

Luke 2: 21- end

Isaiah 9: 1 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.

......those who live in a land of deep darkness,
a light will shine.... His name is Jesus!



The Bible is full of real ...ordinary people.....people like us....people like you and me ...... sinners saved by Grace......I love the fact that Our Heavenly father sent the Good news to ordinary people.....even to sinners.......even to the lowest parts of society......Today we continue to look at the birth of Jesus......

JESUS was not born in a palace..... ......He was not born in the presense of the wealthy and powerful...rather he was born in a place very familiar to shepherds..........He was born in a stable.......a strange place for the KING OF KINGS and the LORD of LORDS to be born........ animals and shepherds were His first visitors....Shepherds.....

Let´s read the news of the birth of Jesus again !......




Luke 2: 8-20 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! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”



Luke 2: 8-12 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, Christus, der Herr - ist heute Nacht in Bethlehem, der Stadt Davids, geboren worden!
12 Und daran könnt ihr ihn erkennen: Ihr werdet ein Kind finden, das in Windeln gewickelt in einer Futterkrippe liegt!





Luke 2: 13-20 NLT

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: 13-20 Neues Leben

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 hat.
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.

v13.....the armies of heaven......a Heavenly army of mighty warriors..... no wonder that most people who saw an Angel were afraid..... they are not fat little cherubs...... They brought the GOOD NEWS.....they were proclaiming Peace on Earth ........ good will to men From God our Father ....our creator ..... Praising and worshipping God for His unfailing love..... at long last.... the Good news.....The Messiah....the redeemer is come......


v20......glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen........


Let´s continue on in the Text....beginning at Luke 2: 21.........


Luke 2: 21- 24 NLT

Jesus Is Presented in the Temple

21 Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.

22 Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23 The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.” 24 So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

Luke 2: 21- 24 Neues Leben

Jesus wird im Tempel geweiht

21 Als das Kind acht Tage später beschnitten wurde, gab man ihm den Namen Jesus - so wie der Engel ihn schon genannt hatte, bevor Maria schwanger wurde.
22 Dann kam die Zeit des Reinigungsopfers, das im Gesetz Moses nach der Geburt eines Kindes vorgeschrieben ist. Maria und Josef gingen mit ihm nach Jerusalem, um ihn dem Herrn zu weihen.
23 Denn im Gesetz des Herrn steht: Alle erstgeborenen Söhne müssen dem Herrn geweiht werden.
24 Sie brachten das Reinigungsopfer dar, wie es das Gesetz vorschrieb: »Ein Paar Turteltauben oder zwei junge Tauben.

v21.... 8 days later.......The exact day that the blood parts that help stop bleeding are ready to work.......

circumcised the 8th day.....

Leviticus 12: 2- 3 NLT

2 If a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son, she will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her menstrual period. 3 On the eighth day the boy’s foreskin must be circumcised.

Leviticus 12: 2- 3 Neues Leben

2 »Gib den Israeliten folgende Anweisungen: `Eine Frau ist nach der Geburt eines Jungen sieben Tage lang unrein, genauso wie bei ihrer Monatsblutung.
3 Am achten Tag soll der Junge beschnitten werden.

so Jesus might fulfill every requirement of the law .....

Named JESUS.....

v22.....purification offering....These offerings are also found in Lev 12......

"The circumcision and purification ceremonies were necessary.....They serve as a reminder that we are all born in sin.......Psalm 51...King David

Psalm 51: 5 NLT

5 For I was born a sinner-
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

Psalm 51: 7 Neues Leben

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

"Jesus could have been excused because He was not born in sin....... Yet, we see Him even as a baby,....... identifying with sinners,.....( like you and me)...... as He did at His baptism and on the cross.........

The correct reading of Luke 2:22 is "now when the days of their purification . . . were completed." Jesus was identified with sinners even as a baby"
Guzik, David. "Study Guide for Luke 2." Enduring Word. Blue Letter Bible. 7 Jul 2006. 2010. 18 Dec 2010.

"Let us now speak first of the purification. Luke makes it apply both to Mary and to Christ: for the pronoun of them, can have no reference whatever to Joseph." (Calvin)
Required sacrifice for purification

Leviticus 12:8 NLT

8 “If a woman cannot afford to bring a lamb, she must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons. One will be for the burnt offering and the other for the purification offering. The priest will sacrifice them to purify her, and she will be ceremonially clean.”

Leviticus 12:8 Neues Leben

8 Wenn eine Frau sich das erforderliche Lamm jedoch nicht leisten kann, soll sie stattdessen zwei Turteltauben oder zwei junge Tauben nehmen; die eine für das Brandopfer, die andere für das Sündopfer. Wenn der Priester auf diese Weise Wiedergutmachung für die Frau geschaffen hat, wird sie wieder rein sein.´«


2 doves were sacrificed.... they were poor..... not rich....... Jesus was not rich during his life on earth.....he became poor....for us......

2 Cor 8: 9 KJV
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

2 Cor 8: 9 Neues Leben
9 Ihr kennt ja die große Liebe und Gnade von Jesus Christus, unserem Herrn. Obwohl er reich war, wurde er um euretwillen arm, um euch durch seine Armut reich zu machen.


v23- 24..... Dedicate the first born.....


Redeem every first born....they are the LORD`S

tithe....

Exodus 13: 11-16 NLT

11 “This is what you must do when the Lord fulfills the promise he swore to you and to your ancestors. When he gives you the land where the Canaanites now live, 12 you must present all firstborn sons and firstborn male animals to the Lord, for they belong to him. 13 A firstborn donkey may be bought back from the Lord by presenting a lamb or young goat in its place. But if you do not buy it back, you must break its neck. However, you must buy back every firstborn son.

14 “And in the future, your children will ask you, ‘What does all this mean?’ Then you will tell them, ‘With the power of his mighty hand, the Lord brought us out of Egypt, the place of our slavery. 15 Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, so the Lord killed all the firstborn males throughout the land of Egypt, both people and animals. That is why I now sacrifice all the firstborn males to the Lord—except that the firstborn sons are always bought back.’ 16 This ceremony will be like a mark branded on your hand or your forehead. It is a reminder that the power of the Lord’s mighty hand brought us out of Egypt.”

Exodus 13: 11-16 Neues Leben

11 Wenn der Herr euch in das Land der Kanaaniter bringt, wie er es euch und euren Vorfahren mit einem Eid versprochen hat, und es euch gibt,
12 dann sollt ihr dem Herrn eure erstgeborenen Söhne weihen. Jedes erstgeborene männliche Tier sollt ihr außerdem dem Herrn opfern.
13 Jeden erstgeborenen männlichen Esel sollt ihr mit einem Lamm loskaufen. Wenn ihr ihn jedoch nicht loskaufen wollt, müsst ihr ihm das Genick brechen. Eure erstgeborenen Söhne dagegen müsst ihr loskaufen.
14 Wenn eure Söhne euch später fragen werden: `Was bedeutet dieser Brauch?´ Dann sollt ihr ihnen antworten: `Mit großer Macht hat der Herr uns damals aus der Sklaverei in Ägypten geführt.
15 Der Pharao wollte uns nicht ziehen lassen. Deshalb tötete der Herr alle männlichen Erstgeburten der Ägypter und ihrer Tiere. Darum opfern wir jetzt alle erstgeborenen männlichen Tiere dem Herrn, und die erstgeborenen Söhne kaufen wir los.´
16 Dieser Brauch soll euch - wie ein Zeichen auf eurer Hand oder an eurer Stirn - daran erinnern. Denn der Herr hat uns mit großer Macht aus Ägypten geführt.«


Luke 2: 25 - 27 NLT

The Prophecy of Simeon

25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel( Consolation of Israel). The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required,

Luke 2: 25 - 27 Neues Leben

Die Prophezeiung Simeons

25 In Jerusalem lebte ein Mann namens Simeon. Er war gerecht und gottesfürchtig. Simeon war vom Heiligen Geist erfüllt und wartete sehnsüchtig auf die Ankunft des Christus, der Israel Trost und Rettung bringen sollte.( "gottesfürchtig und wartete auf den Trost Israels(The Consolation of Israel)" Luther 1984)
26 Der Heilige Geist hatte ihm offenbart, dass er nicht sterben würde, bevor er den vom Herrn gesandten Christus gesehen hätte.
27 An diesem Tag führte der Heilige Geist ihn in den Tempel. Als Maria und Josef kamen, um das Kind dem Herrn zu weihen, wie es im Gesetz vorgeschrieben ist,

v25.... God fearer.....
Consolation of Israel.....Trost Israels......

Comforter and deliverer....redeemer


Luke 2: 28 - 35 NLT

28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,

29 “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,
as you have promised.
30 I have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared for all people.
32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”


Luke 2: 28 - 35 Neues Leben

28 war Simeon dort. Er nahm das Kind auf seine Arme und lobte Gott und sagte:
29 »Herr, nun kann ich in Frieden sterben! Wie du es mir versprochen hast,
30 habe ich den Retter gesehen,
31 den du allen Menschen geschenkt hast.
32 Er ist ein Licht, das den Völkern Gott offenbaren wird, und er ist die Herrlichkeit deines Volkes Israel!«
33 Josef und Maria staunten, als sie hörten, was Simeon über Jesus sagte.
34 Simeon aber segnete sie und sagte zu Maria: »Dieses Kind wird von vielen in Israel abgelehnt werden, und das wird ihren Untergang bedeuten. Für viele andere Menschen aber wird er die höchste Freude sein.
35 Auf diese Weise wird an den Tag kommen, was viele im Innersten bewegt. Doch auch durch deine Seele wird ein Schwert dringen.«

We have seen His Salvation....we have been comforted..... we are sent into the World to tell the Good News..... there is hope ....! there is forgiveness there is comfort and redemption....

Luke 2: 36 - 40 NLT

The Prophecy of Anna

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.

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: 36 - 40 Neues Leben

Die Prophezeiung Hannas

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.
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.

Luke 2: 41 - 52 NLT

Jesus Speaks with the Teachers of the Law

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. 43 After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, 44 because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.

45 When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. 46 Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

48 His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”

49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant.

51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.

52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

Luke 2: 41 - 52 Neues Leben

Jesus spricht mit den Gelehrten

41 Jedes Jahr zum Passahfest zogen seine Eltern nach Jerusalem hinauf.
42 Als Jesus zwölf Jahre alt war, nahmen sie auch wieder am Fest teil.
43 Nach den Feierlichkeiten machten sie sich auf den Heimweg nach Nazareth, doch Jesus blieb in Jerusalem zurück. Zuerst vermissten seine Eltern ihn nicht,
44 weil sie annahmen, dass er sich bei Freunden unter den anderen Reisenden befand. Doch als er am Abend immer noch nicht erschien, begannen sie, bei ihren Verwandten und Freunden nach ihm zu fragen.
45 Da sie ihn nirgends finden konnten, kehrten sie nach Jerusalem zurück, um dort nach ihm zu suchen.
46 Nach drei Tagen endlich entdeckten sie ihn. Er saß im Tempel inmitten der Lehrer, hörte ihnen zu und stellte Fragen.
47 Alle, die ihn hörten, staunten über sein Verständnis und seine klugen Antworten.
48 Seine Eltern wussten nicht, was sie davon halten sollten. »Kind!«, sagte seine Mutter zu ihm. »Wie konntest du uns das antun? Dein Vater und ich waren in schrecklicher Sorge. Wir haben dich überall gesucht.«
49 »Warum habt ihr mich gesucht?«, fragte er. »Ihr hättet doch wissen müssen, dass ich im Haus meines Vaters bin.«5
50 Doch sie verstanden nicht, was er damit meinte.
51 Daraufhin kehrte er mit ihnen nach Nazareth zurück und war ihnen ein gehorsamer Sohn. Seine Mutter bewahrte all diese Dinge in ihrem Herzen.
52 So wuchs Jesus heran und gewann an Weisheit. Gott liebte ihn, und alle, die ihn kannten, schätzten ihn sehr.

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.....
we need to look forward to the Cross to understand what Simeon said to Mary......Our redeemer came to suffer and to die.....as Isaiah prophesied so long ago......

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.... Do you remember another of Jesus´great.... great.....great.... great..... grandmother´s..... Bathsheba.....He cried out to God for forgiveness..... He remembered God´s Unfailing Love and Mercy.....

Here´s what David wrote.....


Psalms 51: 1- 19 NLT

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
3 For I recognize my shameful deeds-
they haunt me day and night.
4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just.
5 For I was born a sinner-
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
6 But you desire honesty from the heart,
so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.
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.
13 Then I will teach your ways to sinners,
and they will return to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,
that I may praise you.
16 You would not be pleased with sacrifices,
or I would bring them. If I brought you a burnt offering,
you would not accept it.
17 The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit.
A broken and repentant heart, O God,
you will not despise.
18 Look with favor on Zion and help her;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will be pleased with worthy sacrifices
and with our whole burnt offerings;
and bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.



Psalms 51: 1 -19 Neues Leben

1 Für den Chorleiter: Ein Psalm Davids aus der Zeit,
2 als der Prophet Nathan zu ihm kam, nachdem David mit Batseba Ehebruch begangen hatte.
3 Gott, sei mir gnädig um deiner Gnade willen und vergib mir meine Sünden nach deiner großen Barmherzigkeit.
4 Wasche mich rein von meiner Schuld und reinige mich von meiner Sünde.
5 Denn ich bekenne meine Sünde, die mich Tag und Nacht verfolgt.
6 Gegen dich allein habe ich gesündigt und getan, was in deinen Augen böse ist. Darum wirst du Recht behalten mit dem, was du sagst, und dein Urteil über mich ist gerecht.
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.
13 Verstoße mich nicht aus deiner Gegenwart und nimm deinen Heiligen Geist nicht von mir.
14 Lass mich durch deine Hilfe wieder Freude erfahren und mach mich bereit, dir zu gehorchen.
15 Dann will ich die Gottlosen2 deine Wege lehren, damit die Sünder zu dir zurückkehren.
16 Vergib mir, dass ich Blut vergossen habe, Gott, mein Retter, dann werde ich singen und jubeln über deine Vergebung.
17 Herr, öffne meine Lippen, damit ich dich lobe.
18 Mit Schlachtopfern bist du nicht zufrieden, sonst hätte ich sie dir gebracht und auch Brandopfer würdest du nicht annehmen.
19 Das Opfer, das dir gefällt, ist ein zerbrochener Geist. Ein zerknirschtes, reumütiges Herz wirst du, Gott, nicht ablehnen.
20 Hilf und erbarme dich über Zion, baue die Mauern Jerusalems wieder auf.
21 Dann wirst du an unseren Opfern wieder Gefallen finden und mit unseren Brandopfern zufrieden sein. Dann werden wir wieder Stiere auf deinem Altar opfern.

Celtic Woman / Chloe Agnew - ''O Holy Night''

First Advent November 28th

From left to right: Maggie, Nathaniel, Michelle
Jesus is the Light of the World
We have started a new series; The Gospel of LUKE
Join us as we study the Word of God together

Isaiah 9:1-2 NLT

1 Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.

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.

THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION
(Fellowship and Celebration Foto´s are under the sermon )

Sunday the 21st of November 2010
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
"Be joyful always; Pray continually; GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

The Protestant Reformation began in 1517 (the year Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the All Saints Church in Wittenberg, Germany). The original Protestant Reformation, which actually began in 1517, spread rapidly throughout the known world.

It effected governments and religious organizations everywhere it went. In 1534, the English King Henry the VIII issued the Act of Supremacy, which made the king the head of the national church in England, which in turn greatly weakened the Roman Catholic hold over England. Then in 1558, under Queen Elizabeth I, (Henry the VIIIth's daughter by Anne Boleyn [1507-1536]) the Church of England became independent.

The Church of England is known as the Anglican Church, and includes many different church groups today to include the Church of Wales, the Church of Ireland, the Anglican Church of Canada, the Episcopal Church of Scotland, and the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States.

The Anglican church was moving farther away from the Word of God.....the Bible as the rule of faith and practice...But also in England there was a group of Protestants who believed that the Bible was the final authority in all manners of life, and that the organized church was not the final authority..... These Bible believing Protestants were known as Puritans..... They were called Puritans because they desired to purify the Church of England..... But even before 1600, some of the Puritans decided that they could not reform the Church of England from within...... so they separated from the Church of England and set up congregations of their own...... These people were known as Separatists....... because they separated themselves from the apostasy and false doctrine of the organized church....they held firmly to the Bible as the guide for church and theological matters.....grace alone ....faith alone.....scripture alone..... One group of Separatists, under the leadership of William Brewster, held Bible meetings in the village of Scrooby.......... English officials persecuted them....they were imprisoned for a short time....any time in prison in those days was very hard.......... and in 1608 Brewster and his group fled from England and settled in Leiden, Holland......

The Separatists (Puritans) feared that a war would break out between Holland and Spain.......They longed to return to their English way of life, yet they wanted to keep their own type of worship, which was based upon the Bible......

the new land of America appealed to them, and some English merchants even agreed to finance a trip to America....... In July, 1620, Brewster led a group of Separatists (Puritans) back to England. Then in September, 1620, they set sail for America in the Mayflower..... The Mayflower sailed alone from Plymouth, England, with 102 passengers, including women and children........ It was a very rough journey of 65 days (a little over two months). They had expected to land somewhere within the limits of the original grant of the Virginia Company, but error in navigation led them to the New England region......... Adverse winds and shoals off Cape Cod forced the Mayflower to stay north......... They dropped anchor in what is now Provincetown Harbor, Massachusetts, inside the tip of Cape Cod on November 21, 1620. (November 11, according to the calendar then in use).

The Puritan leaders were uncertain of their legal position because they were in an area without authority....... They also knew they would need discipline among themselves......They were not all christians....the group that gave tthem the money and supplies to go to America wanted them to take skilled adventurers along..... To solve these problems, the 41 men aboard met and signed the Mayflower Compact, the first agreement for self-government in America...... They elected John Carver as their first governor. ......The Mayflower Compact was the birth of popular constitutional liberty...... In the cabin of the Mayflower, humanity pronounced its rights and instituted government on the basis of "just and equal laws for the general good, all for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith."...... The eternal truths they held in their hearts reversed the course of human history and eventually found magnificent expression in the Declaration of Independence.......

William Bradford, in his writings tells how the weary immigrants, making safe harbor on the desolate shore of Cape Cod,..... "Fell upon their knees and blessed ye God of heaven, who had brought them over ye vast and furious ocean."

They believed that God had called them to this great mission.... they thought of themselves as strangers and Pilgrims..... coming to a new land of religious freedom and opportunity....They had survived a very difficult trip across the Atlantic in the late fall.....They knew that the Lord had spared their lives.....He gives us every breath!...


Even though they were tired and weary, they also knew that winter would be setting in ..... .They were forced to take refuge on an island in Plymouth Harbor during a blinding snowstorm......

Then on December 21 1620, they landed at Plymouth....... There they found a stream with clear pure water...... They found some cleared land, and a high hill that could be fortified...... Cleared land.... but no inhabitants.....The Puritans decided this would be their new home.......there wasn´t time to build homes before winter...so they spent the winter on board the Ship....

First winter on board ship
The dying times......

The first year in the new land was extremely difficult for the Puritans...... Poor and inadequate food, strenuous work, and changeable weather made the settlers susceptible to sickness...... ......Bradford called these times the dying times...... only three adult married women survived.....
The cold, snow and sleet was exceptionally heavy, interfering with the workers as they tried to construct their settlement...... March brought warmer weather and the health of the Pilgrims improved but many had died during the long winter........ Of the 110 Pilgrims and crew who left England, less that 50 survived the first winter.

The Pilgrims’ daily existence was a life-or-death battle to overcome constant hunger, sickness, and exposure to the elements..... Crudely assembled houses made of mud daub were their only shelter from the icy New England weather......

Every meal was portioned out meticulously...... The death toll, a constant reminder of their fragility, rose steadily....... At one point only five men were well enough to care for the sick......They were also sick..... each day the one who was the least sick..... took care of the worst... and buried the Dead......

Despite their tribulations,..... the Pilgrims thanked the Lord every day..... petitioning Him for rehabilitation.......
Samoset and Squanto

On an early spring Sunday morning in 1621...... during an ordinary Sunday worship service.........an Indian walked into the little village and introduced himself to the startled people as Samoset......,...... an Algonquin Indian chief......

The Lord had sent tangible evidence that He had heard their prayers....... A Indian who spoke English!!..... Samoset assessed their hopeless situation and returned 2 weeks later with another Indian named Squanto........

The Pilgrims, who had warred with Indians before and lived with a continuous fear of being attacked by them...... were astonished by their new friends’ eagerness to provide much-needed assistance.....God had taught these two Indians to speak English.... and sent them to help the Pilgrims.....

Squanto told the Pilgrims of his voyages across the ocean and his visits to England and Spain. ......It was in England where he had learned English.....

God had prepared Squanto for a very special mission.....Just like Joseph was sent the Egypt to save the Children of Israel....Squanto was taken to Europe twice to prepare him the rescue the Pilgrims.....

Squanto's importance to the Pilgrims was enormous and it can be said that they would not have survived without his help....... It was Squanto who taught the Pilgrims how to tap the maple trees for sap...... He taught them which plants were poisonous and which had medicinal powers...... He taught them how to plant the Indian corn by heaping the earth into low mounds with several seeds and fish in each mound...... The decaying fish fertilized the corn....... He also taught them to plant other crops with the corn. .....


These two Indians introduced the Puritans to Massasoit, the chief of the Wampanoag tribe that controlled all southeastern Massachusetts at that time. .....Governor Carver and the chief exchanged gifts and arranged a treaty of peace..... Shortly afterward, the Mayflower and its crew sailed back to England, leaving the Puritans on their own. Then Governor Carver died, and William Bradford became governor of the colony.


That summer of 1621 was beautiful. Much work went into the building of new dwellings, and ten men were sent north up the coast in the sailing shallop to conduct trade with the Indians. Squanto once again acted as their guide and interpreter. It was a successful trip, and that fall's harvest provided more than enough corn to see them through their second winter.

The pilgrims were brimming over with gratitude, not only to Squanto and the Wampanoags who had been so friendly, but to their God. In Him they had trusted, and He had honored their obedience beyond their dreams. So, Governor Bradford declared a day of public Thanksgiving, to be held in October.

Massasoit was invited, and unexpectedly arrived a day early-with NINETY Indians! Counting their numbers, the Pilgrims had to pray hard to keep from giving in to despair. To feed such a crowd would cut deeply into the food supply that was supposed to get them through the winter.

But they had learned one thing through their travails, it was to trust God implicitly. As it turned out, the Indians were not arriving empty-handed. Massasoit had commanded his braves to hunt for the occasion, and they arrived with no less than five dressed deer, and more than a dozen fat wild turkeys! And they helped with the preparations, teaching the Pilgrim women how to make hoecakes and a tasty pudding out of cornmeal and maple syrup......... Finally, the Indians showed the Pilgrims a special delicacy: how to roast corn kernels in an earthen pot until they popped, fluffy and white - POPCORN!........

The Pilgrims in turn provided many vegetables from their household gardens: carrots, onions, turnips, parsnips, cucumbers, radishes, beets, and cabbages........ Also, using some of their precious flour, they took summer fruits which the Indians had dried and introduced them to the likes of blueberry, apple, and cherry pie.........

It was all washed down with sweet wine made from the wild grapes. A joyous occasion for all! Between meals, the pilgrims and Indians happily competed in shooting contests with gun and bow...... The Indians were especially delighted that John Alden and some of the younger men of the plantation were eager to join them in foot races and wrestling....... There were even military drills staged by Captain Standish. ......Things went so well (and Massasoit showed no inclination to leave), that Thanksgiving Day was extended for three days..........

One month later, in November, a full year after their arrival, the first ship from home dropped anchor in the harbor leaving off a cargo at Plymouth: thirty-five more colonists. In the air of celebration that followed, no one stopped to think that these newcomers had brought not one bit of equipment with them-no food, no clothing, no tools, no bedding........

In the cold light of the following morning, a sobering appraisal by Bradford, Brewster, and Winslow was taken, and a grim decision was reached: they would all have to go on half-rations through the winter, to ensure enough food to see them into the summer season, when fish and game would be plentiful.........

5 grains of corn

That winter they entered into a time of starving.....

With all the extra people to feed and shelter they were ultimately reduced to a daily ration of Five Kernels of corn a piece........

In contrast to what happened at Jamestown,...... where they were driven to despair,...... the people of Plymouth turned to Christ, and not one of them died of starvation.......

When spring finally arrived (1623), They were well aware that they needed at least twice as much corn as their first harvest. The first planting would be for common use while the second planting would be for private use.

After the first planting, a dry spell set in that turned into a 12 week drought. The crops withered - along with the hopes of the pilgrims......

In the words of Edward Winslow:

"These and the like considerations moved not only every good man privately to enter into examination with his own estate between God and his conscience, and so to humiliation before Him, but also to humble ourselves together before the Lord by fasting and prayer......

To that end, a day of prayer and fasting....was appointed by public authority,........

But, O the mercy of our God, who was as ready to hear, as we were to ask!........ For though in the morning, when we assembled together, the heavens were as clear and the drought as like to continue as it ever was....... yet (our exercise continuing some eight or nine hours) before our departure, the weather was overcast, the clouds gathered on all sides........

On the next morning distilled such soft, sweet, and moderate showers of rain, continuing some fourteen days [!] and mixed with such seasonable weather, as it was hard to say whether our withered corn or drooping affections were most quickened or revived, such was the bounty and goodness of our God!" .......

The yield that year was so abundant that the Pilgrims ended up with a surplus of corn....... which they were able to use in trading that winter with northern Indians, who had not had a good growing season......

That fall a second Day of Thanksgiving was planned, ........and Massasoit was again the guest of honor, and this time he brought his principal wife, three other sachems, and 120 braves!..... Fortunately he again brought venison and turkey, as well........

The occasion was described by one of the Adventurers, Emmanuel Altham, in a letter to his brother:

"After our arrival in New England, we found all our plantation in good health, and neither man, woman or child sick... in this plantation is about twenty houses, four or five of which are very pleasant, and the rest (as time will serve) shall be made better... the fishing that is in this country, indeed it is beyond belief ... in one hour we got 100 cod ....And now to say somewhat of the great cheer we had at the Governor's marriage........

We had about twelve tasty venison , besides others, pieces of roasted venison and other such good cheer in such quantities that I wish you some of our share....... For here we have the best grapes that ever you saw, and the biggest, and divers sorts of plums and nuts ... six goats, about fifty hogs and pigs, also divers hens ... A better country was never seen nor heard of, for here are a multitude of God's blessing." ........

What Altham neglected to mention was the first course that was served: on an empty plate in front of each person were five kernels of corn ... lest anyone should forget.......

The Pilgrims’ humble response to their affliction is evidenced by their many writings which expressed deeply thankful hearts...... We can learn countless lessons about sincere thankfulness from their example......

God commands us to live a life of gratitude and thanksgiving......

I Thes. 5:16-18 NLT
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
I Thes. 5:16-18 Neues Leben
16 Seid immer fröhlich.17 Hört nicht auf zu beten.18 Was immer auch geschieht, seid dankbar, denn das ist Gottes Wille für euch, die ihr Christus Jesus gehört.

There are five points that I would like to bring out of this story.....

1) Being thankful motivates us to look for His purpose in our circumstances.

2) A grateful heart reminds us of our constant dependence upon God.....

3) Gratitude increases our trust in God.......

4) A thankful spirit teaches us to rejoice in every situation.......

5) Thankfulness transforms our anxiety into the peace of God........


By teaching our children to have grateful hearts, we can prepare them to respond gracefully to life’s trials.

The impact of thankfulness can extend to every area of life......

1) Being thankful motivates us to look for His purpose in our circumstances.

When we consider the Pilgrims’ story, we can see God’s hand directing their course all the way from England to the New World. We can see how He strengthened them and enabled them to settle a new land. If we’re perceptive and truly thankful we can see His guiding hand shaping our own lives in the same manner.......

2) A grateful heart reminds us of our constant dependence upon God.....

It changes our attitude toward life. When the Pilgrims thanked the Lord regardless of their destitution and entreated Him to supply their needs, they were able to respond positively to daunting situations and overcome great obstacles. When we thank Him for everything, big and small, we begin to realize that there is nothing we possess that we have not been given.

3) Gratitude increases our trust in God.......

When the Pilgrims set sail for America, they couldn’t see the new land. They had to trust The Mayflower’s compass implicitly...... Likewise, when they arrived at Plymouth Rock they had no foreknowledge of what would sustain their lives from then on...... They had to trust God for everything from food and shelter to a secure future for their families..... When we’re thankful for His constant provision, trusting Him with our lives becomes easier......

4) A thankful spirit teaches us to rejoice in every situation.......

The apostle Paul............. wrote,

2 Cor. 4:15-18 NLT

15 All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.
16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.


2 Cor. 4:15-18 Neues Leben

15 Das alles ist zu eurem Besten. Und wenn Gottes Gnade immer mehr Menschen zu Christus führt, wird auch der Chor derer, die ihm danken, immer lauter, und Gott wird immer mehr Ehre erwiesen.
16 Deshalb geben wir nie auf. Unser Körper mag sterben, doch unser Geist wird jeden Tag erneuert.
17 Denn unsere jetzigen Sorgen und Schwierigkeiten sind nur gering und von kurzer Dauer, doch sie bewirken in uns eine unermesslich große Herrlichkeit, die ewig andauern wird!
18 So sind wir nicht auf das Schwere fixiert, das wir jetzt sehen, sondern blicken nach vorn auf das, was wir noch nicht gesehen haben. Denn die Sorgen, die wir jetzt vor uns sehen, werden bald vorüber sein, aber die Freude, die wir noch nicht gesehen haben, wird ewig dauern.

v 15... All of this is for your benefit.....trials?.... yes.....loss?.... yes....

v 16....We Never give up...... Can you say that..... I have times when I am ready to give up.....but time and again.....sometimes at the last minute......God steps in to our circumstances and pours grace out on our lives......He often uses the believers to bless and care for each other.....

v17.....For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long.....glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

v18... don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.......


The Pilgrims lived out these verses in a real living trial of death and loss.....God sent a special servant to them Squanto....God showed them His grace and Mercy....He showed them His unfailing love.....
His CHESED( Hebrew).....His unfailing love....time and again.... He does the same for us too.....The question is do we see it.....?

God´s grace continues unending.... America has sent more missionaries and more help to suffering people than any other country on the face of the Earth....

5) Thankfulness transforms our anxiety into the peace of God........

The Pilgrims had many reasons to fear for their lives...... Thanking God in good times and in bad times helped them to celebrate His faithfulness to them He filled their hearts with peace.... the peace that passes understanding.... ....
When we focus our attention on God’s provision for us....His blessing and protection..... we begin to see the world through a Christ-centered lens......It helps us to accept whatever the LORD puts into our lives....


Thanksgiving — the word only has meaning when we can attach it to behavior demonstrated in real life...... The Pilgrims gave us their blessed holiday so we could remember how God answered their prayers with rich abundance. .....But we aren’t constrained to experiencing true thankfulness vicariously...... When we meditate on God’s wondrous provision for us..... He gives us every breath......

By focusing our attention on God and what He is teaching us throughout life, we can, like the Pilgrims, be thankful for even the most simple things......

William Bradford and Edward Winslow and other men of intense spiritual conviction were representative of the considerable number of men and women who were unwilling to compromise their spiritual beliefs ......They stood firmly on the word of God!!!

Their desire was to build a new home where they could serve the God of the Bible....... and raise their children to know and love God .......

All true thanksgiving is based on the knowledge and application of the Word of God.....All true happiness is based on the knowledge and application of the Word of God.....

Therefore, I challenge you.......I challenge myself....... to make a greater effort than we ever have before........ to be consistent in our learning of the Word of God....... in our reading of the Word of God......and in our application of the Word of God to our own lives....... That is our duty, that is to be our life as a believer in Jesus Christ......

And if we desire true happiness and true contentment in this life.....we must learn to be thankful in all things.....trusting God to take care of us..... to help us........ and to bring all things together for our good and His Glory......


Let´s pray.........

Father, this story of the Pilgrim's faith and your love and grace brings us to our knees before you....... Help us to learn to depend on you as they did and to examine our lives confessing and repenting of our sins each day - knowing that you are able to give us the power to live Holy lives....... Father, my sins are not hidden from you, but let me recognize them now in your presence...................... Lord I repent of these sins, please give me strength to turn from them when I am tempted, in the name of your Holy Son Jesus, Amen.

Sunday the 14th of November

Sunday Oktober 31st Reformation Day

Foto: In front Valerie and Suzanne, in back Mike and Brian!

Brian Harrington brought The Word today, Suzanne translated. We had a wonderful time studying God´s Word and fellowshipping together!
Thanks for coming to minister in Wiesbaden!

Scripture of the Week!

Sunday Worship the 24th of October

Street Outreach Saturday the 23rd!

Scripture of the Week

Street outreach Calvary Chapel Wiesbaden

Calvary Chapel Wiesbaden and the Evangelical Alliance

Worshipping and Witnessing for JESUS

This Saturday the 23rd at Mauritius Platz

Come and help!