Sunday, December 14, 2014 Third Sunday of Advent CALL TO WORSHIP; Behold, the dwelling of God is with us and He will dwell with us and we shall be His people. God Himself shall be with us and be our God. Through Christ we have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now , therefore, we are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and the household of God. Glory be to God on high! Let us worship together! THE INVOCATION: Father, prepare our hearts for your coming. Quiet the stirrings within and calm to busyness without. Renew us with your Spirit. We are ready, Lord....ready for Christmas. Ready to hear the cries of our injured neighbor; ready to extend our hands to a fallen brother or sister; ready to sit with a hurting friend and ready to comfort a grieving child; ready for you. With open hearts, we receive the Christ Child into our lives today. Amen. PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Holy and merciful God, in your presence we confess our failure to be what you created us to be. You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from your ways, in wasting your gifts, in forgetting your love. By your loving mercy, help us to live in your light and abide in your ways, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior. Hear now our silent prayers of confession.... Hebrews 1:1-14New International Version (NIV) God’s Final Word: His Son 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. The Son Superior to Angels 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”[a]? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”[b]? 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”[c] 7 In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.”[d] 8 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”[e] 10 He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. 12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”[f] 13 To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”[g]? 14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Luke 1:19New International Version (NIV) 19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. Luke 1:26New International Version (NIV) The Birth of Jesus Foretold 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, Luke 2:15New International Version (NIV) 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Matthew 1:20New International Version (NIV) 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. The Characters of Christmas Angels: Gabriel and Company: Gabriel means God is my strength. Other spellings of Gabriels name include Jibril, Gavriel, Gibrail, and Jabrail. Main Characteristics: Gabriel is known as the angel of revelation. God often chooses Gabriel to communicate important messages. People sometimes ask for Gabriels help to: clear away confusion and achieve the wisdom they need to make decisions, obtain the confidence they need to act on those decisions, communicate effectively to other people, and raise children well. Symbols: Gabriel is often depicted in art blowing a horn. Other symbols that represent Gabriel include a lantern, a mirror, a shield, a lily, a scepter, a spear, and an olive branch. Ads Miracle Prayer Requests christianprayercenter Go Here If You Need A Blessing. Thousands Will Pray for You. 3-Minute Chakra Test chakrahealing Take the Free Chakra Test to Find Out Which of Your Chakras Are Weak Official Rosetta Stone® rosettastone/LanguageSale A New & Improved Way to Learn! Save $300 Off + Free Shipping. Angel Prayer Miracles Prayer to Saint Michael Find a Prayer Archangel Gabriel Energy Color: White Role in Religious Texts: Gabriel plays an important role in the religious texts of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. The founder of Islam, the prophet Muhammad, said that Gabriel appeared to him to dictate the entire Qur’an. In Al Baqarah 2:97, the Qur’an declares: “Who is an enemy to Gabriel! For he brings down the (revelation) to thy heart by Gods will, a confirmation of what went before, and guidance and glad tidings for those who believe. In the Hadith, Gabriel again appears to Muhammad and quizzes him about Islam’s tenets. Muslims believe that Gabriel gave the prophet Abraham a stone known as the Black Stone of Kaaba; Muslims who travel on pilgrimages to Mecca, Saudi Arabia kiss that stone. Muslims, Jews, and Christians all believe that Gabriel delivered news of the upcoming births of three famous religious figures: Isaac, John, and Jesus. So people sometimes associate Gabriel with childbirth, adoption, and raising children. Jewish tradition says that Gabriel instructs babies before they’re born. In the Torah, Gabriel interprets the prophet Daniel’s visions, saying in Daniel 9:22 that he has come to give Daniel “insight and understanding.” Jews believe that, in heaven, Gabriel stands besides God’s throne at God’s left hand. God sometimes charges Gabriel with expressing his judgment against sinful people, Jewish beliefs say, as God did when he sent Gabriel to use fire to destroy the ancient city of Sodom that was filled with wicked people. Christians often think of Gabriel informing Mary that God has chosen her to become the mother of Jesus Christ. The Bible quotes Gabriel as telling Mary in Luke 1:30-31: “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” During the same visit, Gabriel informs Mary of her cousin Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John the Baptist. Mary’s response to Gabriel’s news in Luke 1:46-55 became the words to a famous Catholic prayer called “The Magnificat,” which begins: “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” Christian tradition says that Gabriel will be the angel God chooses to blow a horn to wake the dead on Judgment Day. The Bahai faith says that Gabriel is one of God’s manifestations sent to give people, like the prophet Baháulláh, wisdom. May the Lord, mighty God, bless and keep you forever; Grant you peace, perfect peace; faith in every endeavor. Lift your eyes and see Gods face and Gods grace forever. May the Lord, mighty God , bless and keep you forever.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 00:22:14 +0000
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