Lee Daniel Johnson

I John 4: 2

 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

You have probably heard the word “antichrist” before.  Do you know what it means? The antichrist is someone who violently opposes Jesus, the true Christ.  The antichrist strives to hide the true person and work of Jesus.  The antichrist is a destroyer of faith, of lives and of hope. The antichrist leads people to destruction.  Therefore, it is important that we are aware of the antichrist and wise to his tactics so that we will remain strong in the one true faith.

The antichrist is the spirit that is in any teacher that denies the confession of God’s Word about Jesus, in particular Jesus’ incarnation, which means, His coming into the world in the flesh to save.  Why is this so significant?

When Jesus Christ came into the world, true God and true Man, He came in power to overcome the rule and realm of the evil one.  Jesus came forgiving sins (granting absolution instead of satan’s accusations), healing people of their diseases (granting hope rather than satan’s despair), and driving out demons (granting freedom in place of satanic possession.) 

The victory of Jesus in this world began at HIs temptation and continued throughout HIs ministry.  Therefore, the first step of the antichrist’s attack is to deny Jesus’ existence.  The antichrist denies the reality of Jesus’ entrance into this physical creation.  The doctrines of the antichrist intend to make the war over the Gospel a mere squabble over philosophical concepts rather than the physical realities of sin, death and devil – and Jesus true victory through His cross and resurrection.

Why is it important for us to know this?  We live in the real world, and so also is the substance of our faith is grounded in the real world!  The Christian faith isn’t a philosophy!  Jesus isn’t just a teacher or another historian figure. Jesus is true God and true man who came to save us. 

Therefore when we confess “I believe in Jesus Christ,” we mean  “I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord.”  We believe this Jesus came to save us though all that He did in the real world.  Jesus’ life, death, resurrection all happened.  And His coming again in glory to judge the living and dead will happen. 

Therefore, today we are warned of the antichrist so that we will be prepared.  The antichrist would still lie about the reality of Jesus coming into the world and strive to enslave people in fear.  In the face of this persistent lie, we confess the pure truth about Jesus Christ, true God and true man.  Jesus has overcome our sin, death and the devil. Because of this we live each day in faith, hope, love — without fear — anticipating Jesus’ coming again in glory to judge both the living and the dead.

Let us Pray, I thank you Heavenly Father for the clear confession of your Holy Word about your Son Jesus, who has truly come into the world in the flesh to save me.  I thank you for the warnings of your word about the lies of the antichrist who would cause me to doubt the physical reality of Jesus and what He did for me.  Strengthen my faith in you and my love for others.  In Jesus name, Amen. 

Scripture

I John 4: 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 

“Don’t believe everything that your hear.”  This is pretty common advice.  And it is good advice, especially when it comes to your faith in God and the real threat of false prophets. 

What is a false prophet?  A false prophet is someone who presents himself  as one speaking God’s Word, but is actually speaking his own ideas.  Why would anyone do that?  There are many reasons.  But, in the end, whether the reasons are intentional or delusional, the false prophet has a different god in his heart rather than the one true God.  The false prophet’s idolatry results in the ruin of many people

I John chapter 4 teaches us how to “test” the spirits.  The test begins with who God is, and in particular, that God has come in the flesh in Jesus.  Why would this be such a big deal?

Jesus is the heart of God’s saving work in the world.  Without Jesus, there is nothing left of the Gospel.  Once Jesus is removed, the empty shell of that religion can then be filled with anything.  False prophets have used this tactic to turn congregations into nothing more than promoters of political movements, or cults of personalities.  Where Jesus once was, they have inserted the idol of their own hearts.  Where God’s Gospel once brought eternal life, the false prophet has placed a false god that has nothing to offer. To distract people from the emptiness, the false prophet must promote one crisis of the moment after another.

This has actually happened among people and is happening around the world today.  How can you tell?  One simple thing I have found helpful is just to listen for the name of Jesus.  Is the name of Jesus used often?  Is the name of Jesus heard at all? If not, why not?  What other name has taken His place? The first thing that a false prophet does is remove the name of Jesus.

The next thing I listen for is what is mentioned about Jesus.  When Jesus came, God in the flesh, He came to offer Himself as the perfect Lamb of God.  Jesus is the one sacrifice for the Sins of the world.  God removes guilt through the cross of Jesus, and frees people to live their lives restored in faith towards God and love towards their neighbor. Through Jesus, God gives the resurrection of the dead, confidence on judgement day, and the joy of eternal life.  A false prophet not only avoids the use of the name of Jesus, but attached to it, replaces the work of Jesus with something else.  Instead of receiving an eternal gift from God’s grace, people are driven to focus on their own actions through the use of guilt as a tactic. Here again, look for cults of personality, political agendas, and a recycling of every false doctrine from history.  In the end, the false prophet has no Jesus, no cross, no forgiveness of sins, no resurrection from the dead, no confidence on judgement day, and no hope in eternal life.  In changing the message, the false prophet has no Gospel, no good news, no peace, only an unending harangue and burden of guilt.

“Many false prophets have gone out into the world.” God has not left us without defense.  In the clear warnings of the scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Jesus our Good Shepherd watches over His flock.  Therefore, we will remember this instruction from God’s Word.   We will test the spirits.  We will listen for the name of Jesus and the clear confession of what Jesus has done to save us, and with us, all the world.

Let Us Pray

I thank you Lord Jesus for coming into the world in the flesh to save me.  Guard and protect your church throughout the world from false prophets who deny your name.  Grant me your understanding to test the spirits, recognize your voice, and rejoice in your true Gospel. AMEN

Scripture. John 15: 13-14

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.

There are many kinds of friends.  There are the friends that we have at work.  Since we share time together in the workplace, it is good to be friendly and care for each other.  There are friends that we have in our neighborhoods.  In a similar way, it is helpful to have a neighborly friendship with those we see in the community.  While we may call all of these friends, there is something more.

Though they may be fewer in number, true friends are all together different.  True friends are friendly, fun to be around, and may even live in our neighborhood, or be in our workplace.  But, they are more.  A true friend has a quality that surpasses those of mere acquaintance.  Do you know what that quality is?  I think you do.

A true friend is willing to make a sacrifice for you.  Lighter friendships will only bear with so much sacrifice.  Sometimes, hardly any sacrifice at all.  Very quickly shallow friendships tire if they are not getting something in return.  This is not what we have seen in Jesus.

In the Hymn “What a Friend we have in Jesus” we are immediately met with the line “all our sins and griefs to bear.”  What would exhaust human friendship, didn’t exhaust the love of God in His Son.  Jesus came to bear our sins and our griefs on the cross.  There He removed them from our lives and carried our sorrows.  Through faith in Jesus we share in His resurrection from the dead. We have been given eternal life.

Jesus commanded us to think of friendship with each other in the same way.  That is how we are called to love one another, by remembering the pattern of our Lord’s life, death, and resurrection.  So, Jesus continues,

“You are my friends if you do what I command you.”  

What does that mean?  Jesus is showing us that friendship with God involves our own sacrifice!  We shouldn’t expect that God, who gave His life for us, has given us a faith that is nothing more than a fleeting fair-weather friendship to one another. 

God releases us from pride and self-centeredness.  He allows us to hear His commands and see the opportunities He lays before us. God calls us turn towards Him in faith and towards one another in Christian Love.

This is the true friendship that Jesus taught His disciples. As we grow in faith, we will hear the prophesy of Jesus fulfilled, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.”

Let us Pray

Lord I thank you for granting me the gift of faith so that I am truly your friend.  Please strengthen me each day in repentance and new life.  As you have given your life for me, I offer my life to you by following your commands of Christian love towards my neighbor.  In your name I pray.  AMEN

Scripture. John 15:12

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

What does it mean to love one another?  Love is the reason for many wonderful things in the world.  However, “love” can also be blamed for terrible things.  People, driven by their passions, are capable of truly horrible things.  So, what does Jesus mean when He tells us to love on another?

Jesus speaks very clearly so that we will not follow our own passions and somehow think we are doing his will.  He tell us to love one another “as I have loved you,”  Jesus directs us to His own example so that we will have a true pattern to follow.

We do need Jesus’ pattern!  Due to our fallen nature, we struggle to love one another as we ought.  Our own desires and motives can easily eclipse godly love in our lives.  We lose our way and fail in our love for others.  How can we remember Jesus’ love for us? 

The pattern of the services of God’s house show us God’s love.  As we enter God’s house of prayer, we spend time in silent prayer.  Why is this?  We enter God’s presence to listen to His word.  Silence is proper before one whose Words bring life.  Therefore we begin in silence, and pray for an open heart to God’s Word.

Next, we turn to the Lord in repentance for our sins.  God’s love is seen in this, that while we were sinners Christ died for us.  The Word of God shows us our sins and need for a Savior.  In love, God does not destroy us.  Rather, he calls us to return to Him with all our hearts.  The absolution of God, Jesus’ very Words of forgiveness spoken from the cross, calm our hearts and allow us to experience His love.

As the service progresses we hear the Words of God as recorded in the Holy Bible.  We see in various ways how humanity has sinned and how we have failed our Lord.  But, the point of it all, is that God is faithful. He comes to us as our Savior, and through Jesus death on the cross and resurrection shows us the full measure of His love.  We never tire of this message, nor do we outgrow our need for the Gospel.

As we kneel at the altar, we receive the body and blood of Jesus offered for the forgiveness of our sins. Here we have a personal encounter with God.  God forgives our sins and transforms our whole being.  God the Holy Spirit empowers a new life in us that can truly care for others.  

“…as I have loved you” is the pattern of the Divine service lived out in communities across the nation and around the world.  May the love of God that you experience in Jesus be the pattern of your love towards all people.

Let us pray

Lord Jesus, I thank you for leaving me a pattern of love to follow in the service of your church.  Strengthen my faith and reception of your mercy so that I may love others as you have loved me.  In your name I pray,  AMEN

https://youtu.be/Tevlqmvx5Nc

Scripture. John 15:

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

The expression “blank check” refers to a check that is signed, but the amount has been left the blank.  The person who receives this check has thus been given complete freedom of action.  And this is also why you have probably never been given a blank check!  

Complete freedom of action among sinners is a recipe for disaster.  Our selfish motives quickly overcome higher goals for the benefit of others.  This is why our government works with a system of checks and balances.  This is also why corrupt governments around the world today cause so much pain, poverty, and oppression.  Sinners can’t handle a blank check.

Sir John Dalberg-Acton is best known for the remark, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men…” Why then would Jesus give His disciples a blank check?  Can we really “ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you?”

Yes!  But, only, as God’s Word clearly states,  if you abide in Jesus and His Words abides in you.  If you are not abiding in Jesus through faith, and if His Word has no place in your heart, then God will certainly NOT answer such prayer.  God will not allow His power to further evil, or lead to your own damnation through sin.

But, as we are in Christ Jesus through faith, and His Word abides in us, we will never be without what we need to accomplish His purposes.  The blank check is real in these ways.

First of all, the blank check is real when we go to Jesus confessing our sins.  The priceless gift of forgiveness was purchased by our Lord for us through His suffering and death.  If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  

Secondly, as we have been forgiven, so God sets us free from slavery to sin and allows us to walk freely in His Will.  The fears and desires that drive sinners to ruin are replaced with the urgings of God the Holy Spirit that lead to eternal life.  The dissipation that wastes human energies through sin are overcome and a generous and productive attitude reigns in our hearts.  Instead of seeing all that we have as a means to get our way in life, we see all that we have is God’s way of accomplishing good in this world now, and perfection in the life that is to come.

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”  The outcome of God’s blank check in our lives is that people meet the reality of the Gospel through us.   By this, God is glorified and all people at last can rejoice.

Let us pray

I thank you Heavenly Father for your generous love in giving me all things necessary through the ministry of Jesus my Savior.  Please lead me daily in repentance and faith so that I will remain in Jesus.  May your word be in my heart throughout today.  In your abundant blessings to me, your will is done, and you are glorified.  AMEN

Scripture. John 15:5

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Have you ever felt empty?  Sometimes the demands around us are greater than what we have in us to give.  When this happens, we may feel our lives are an impossible burden.  This is especially true if you are called to care for others in your home, church, workplace, or community.  If you have ever felt this way, I have good news for you. 

Jesus teaches that the power to care for others isn’t in us.  All good things are in Him.  He is the vine.  The responsibility to care for others isn’t ours directly.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd, not us.  Our caring for others is Jesus’ caring for them.  As we are connected to God’s power, we are enabled to do what is truly necessary.  It is God who cares for all people.

This important shift is necessary to address a common error in our thinking.  If we begin to think that we are the  “Jesus”, that we are the vine, that we are the ones meeting all the needs of others in our little worlds, we will crash into our limitations and find ourselves empty.  

The result of this is that we may very well give up, collapse, and end up doing nothing at all!  Like a branch that is cut from a vine, we wither and are good for nothing.  This feeling is very common.  What should we do?

When we, as God’s people, feel overwhelmed it is important to first connect to the true vine, our Savior Jesus, through faith.  We should examine if we are serving for other reasons than those that come from faith.   Are we being tempted by personal gain? Are we being tempted by our pride?  These are sins which lead to emptiness.  God is in charge.  Jesus is the true vine.  If we are connected to Him we are given His wisdom and motivation.

When we are at the end of our rope, God calls us to repent of our sins. To those who come to Him in faith, God gives His forgiveness through the cross of Jesus. God gives the faithful humility that teaches them to wait for the Lord’s answer to our prayers.  Jesus leads us to trust in His strength, and accept His Will.  He leads us to set aside goals that are not His, and desires that drain us of His Joy.

Through daily connection to God in HIs Word, prayer, and the gifts of God through His church, God will make us abundantly fruitful.  This is how Jesus said it. “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”  Trust in Jesus’ words, and know that you will not be left empty.  He cares for you.

Let us pray.

I ask you Lord to lead me in repentance when I feel empty, stuck, and my life has become less fruitful.  I thank you for your forgiving Love and for being my Good Shepherd.  Help me to trust in you and your promises of provision for all my needs and the needs of all people.  Today, I serve in your strength alone.  AMEN

Scripture. John 15:3-4

3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

Have you ever wondered if you were up to a challenge?  One of the greatest challenges to athletes is mental, and not physical.  I remember a time, long ago, when I was asked by my softball team to be the pitcher.  It was just a church team and I was just a kid.  They were giving me a chance to try out pitching.  But, there was something else going on as well.

Being a pitcher is challenging.  It isn’t just throwing the ball that is difficult.  Pitching in front of a crowd, and not wanting to let down your team with bad pitches — that’s the real challenge!  I could see that I was being given a chance to pitch.  But, pretty soon I could see that no one else want that “opportunity.”  

I wonder if the disciples felt “up” to the challenge of following Jesus.  I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that they had some reservation, especially when it came to their own abilities.  The perfection that they had seen in Jesus, must have caused them to look at themselves and tremble.  

Having good sense of our imperfection is called humility.  The Law of God shows us our sin so that we will know the truth and be humble before Him.  In faithful repentance we are then allowed to see our Savior who has truly come to save us through His death on the cross and resurrection.

As we continue to listen to the teachings of Jesus in faith, God prunes and cleans us spiritually through repentance and forgiveness.  He cultivates the new life of faith in us.  This is God’s work in us. Through this miraculous work, God makes us His new creation.

Thus made new, we are clean, as Jesus told His disciples.  As we remain connected to Him in faith, we are clean!  How is this done?  God’s work is accomplished in us as we receive His gifts, gifts  in His Word, remembering the promises of  our Baptism, and regularly receiving the Lord’s Supper.  Through these means, commanded by our Lord, we are made fruitful by His power.  God who created all things, continues to create a new heart and life in us daily.

So, are you up to the challenges that you are facing? Through faith in Jesus, yes !  As Christ is Risen, so shall He strengthen us all in all things to accomplish His Will.

And this is His will:  

That all people will know the truth about themselves and repent.  That all people will know the truth about God in Jesus and believe.

That all people through faith in Jesus will have eternal life in the end.

That all people will through faith in Jesus live their eternal life today, in faith towards God and in love towards one another.

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus, strengthen me when I feel that I am not up to the challenges that I face today.  Help to take my eyes off my own inability, and instead confess my imperfections, and trust with all my heart in your power to save.  I thank you for forgiving my sins, and cleaning my life of all that detracts from your perfect love.  I thank you also, that you are able to meet the challenges in my life.  I look forward to what you will do in me today.  May I be a fruitful branch in you, the true vine.  AMEN

The Lord’s Prayer

Scripture. John 15: 1-2

I Am the True Vine

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

When gardening it seems counterintuitive to me that anyone would want to remove branches from a vine.  After all, if a vine is growing well, then it seems like removing branches will only cause it to struggle and become weaker.  However, the opposite is true, if done properly.  

How does one properly prune a vine?  I had to look it up!  This is what I found.  Pruning must be done at the right season.  Pruning during the growing season can cause the vine to suffer and bleed sap.  Pruning during the late winter is better because the sap isn’t running in the stems, growth isn’t stimulated too early (and suffer from a late frost) and the cuts are better able to heal.  Pruning of small stems can be done in the growing season, which may help deter some disease, but that brings us to the other point that doesn’t always make good sense.  Pruning of the inexperienced vinedresser usually isn’t hard enough.  Light pruning will not make the vine respond vigorously.  Light pruning leaves too much unfruitful wood, and results in less grapes and more disease.  

As I was reading about vine dressing, I couldn’t help but see the connection that Jesus was teaching about how God the Father cares for us.  His will is that we would be fruitful and our faith would lead to eternal life.  Often the very things that we cling to in this life distract us from Him and the good things that God would put into our lives.  When we don’t get our way, we struggle.

But, these trials have the effect, if we trust in the Lord, of causing us to turn to Him.  In turning to the Lord, we are connected to the one who can increase our faith.  As our faith grows vigorously, and we become abundantly fruitful in faith, we rejoice in faith and life.

Jesus is the true vine. Through Jesus and His death on the cross and resurrection we have the gift of eternal life.  At our baptism we were grafted in to Jesus and are now His branches.  Jesus promises that we will be healthy and fruitful because our heavenly Father will continue to care for us, prune away all that is harmful and distracting, and prepare us for the joys of eternal life.

One more thing.  We have a wisteria vine that is presently climbing up the posts of our back deck pergola.  I have heard that the wisteria as a vine has a strong growth response to pruning.  My grandchildren visited in the early Spring and the vine ended up with more than a little mischievous pruning.  I’ll let you know how the vine looks later this season!

Let us pray

Lord God heavenly Father, thank you for your continual care for me throughout this life.  Help me during times when I must undergo pruning to see in all things, even the difficult times of my life, your fatherly divine goodness and mercy.  Strengthen my faith that I may bear the fruit that you desire, and rejoice in life everlasting.  In Jesus name.  AMEN

Scripture. Luke 24:48-49

48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Do you like to wait?  Probably not!  No one likes to wait in line, or at the doctor’s office, or be be put “on hold” on the telephone.  Waiting is more than just boring.  It makes you feel helpless, and even worse, unimportant. 

But, there is a kind of waiting that is important to practice.  That kind of waiting is the one commanded in the Bible.  “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”  Psalm 27:14

No matter how confident we may feel in ourselves, or how much we are struggling with impatient urges, the Lord is the only one who can sustain us in our faith and life.  We must wait for the Lord.

Waiting in faith places proper respect in our hearts and minds for the role of God in directing our steps in life.  Waiting in faith acknowledges that God is working out His will in His own good time.  Waiting in faith is trusting that God has a role in the present situation we face.  Waiting in faith is trusting in God’s love.

The disciples were witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.  Jesus was sending them to share the Gospel with all the world.  There has never been, nor will there ever be, better news for the world.  Through Jesus death on the cross, God intends to forgive the sins of all who trust in Him.  

Through Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, eternal life is ours through faith.  The disciples had experienced the personal and tangible evidence of Jesus’ life and resurrection.  They were ready and anxious to share the good news.  But, just being ready and fired up isn’t nearly enough.

Only God can accomplish God’s works.  The disciples had to wait, and at the right time God the Holy Spirit would enter them in power to fulfill God’s will for their ministry.  

If God worked with His disciples through waiting, what about us?  Is there something in waiting for us as well?  We will most certainly face waiting in many ways. And since we know that the Lord is directing our lives, we can also be certain that we are not waiting for nothing.  God is hearing our prayers, working out His Will for us, and preparing us to meet life in His strength through faith.  

Rather than feeling devalued or helpless, faithful waiting reminds us of the Lord, His Love, and the example of the saints in the Bible who waited on the Lord.  As it is written, “but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Let us pray

I thank you Lord for hearing me when I pray to you and allowing me the gift of faithful waiting.  Be with all people who are struggling in sorrow, or illness, or trouble, or anxiety.  Help us all to trust in your unfailing love in Jesus and to wait in faith for your answer to our prayers.  In your name I pray. Amen

Scripture. Luke 24: 46-48

46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 

It is common to avoid religion and politics in polite social circles.  Often this is pretty sound advice.  Both topics live at the core of our being and occupy a place of significance.  But, for this reason the important conversations must not always be avoided.  Especially, conversations regarding faith have eternal significance. Considering this, how does Jesus’ command given to the apostles to be His witnesses apply to individual Christians today?  

The key to understanding a faithful response to this question is in understanding who you are.  First of all, the command was given to the disciples.  They were the ones who were actual eye witnesses of Jesus’ ministry and His resurrection from the dead.  For the disciples to tell others what they had seen Jesus do was necessary.  The eyewitnesses had to speak out.  Because of their faithful witness then, and God the Holy Spirit’s power in their ministry, we believe today!  We are thankful that the disciples were empowered to fulfill Jesus’ command to proclaim this: “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,  and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

But, what about us today?  God still calls pastors to carry out the ministry of the Word among us.  Pastoral ministry is multiplied in missionaries, teachers, and church workers who extend the grace of God by sharing the Gospel.  God the Holy Spirit grants His servants the faith to share the truths of Jesus ministry for the life of the world.  

And this is where our experience comes in.  We in the church continue to receive the benefit of God’s gifts to create and sustain our faith.  Our faith, after all, isn’t something that we have created on our own.  Our faith comes through the means of God’s Word, the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper and the pastoral care that we receive in a local congregation.  

There it is!  This is what we have to share!  We share the blessings that we have received and seen and heard in church as gifts from our Lord Jesus Himself.  We are in this way witnesses! We are called to share the gifts that we have received and the joy of knowing God’s love in Jesus for all people.  

God the Holy Spirit will continue to strengthen His church, His pastors, and His church workers to be faithful in proclaiming the Gospel to all nations.  God will continue to strengthen His people who receive His gifts to share the joy of their faith with all people.  And God the Holy Spirit Himself will carry the message forward through HIs church, with power, so that even the most tightly closed mind will have the opportunity of hearing the Gospel and being saved.  

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus I thank you for caring for me through your church here on earth.  I praise you for the gift of my baptism, the preaching of your Word, your presence in Holy Communion, and the faith that you sustain in me.  Help me to share the joy that you have placed within me in the times and places and with the people of your choosing.  I ask this in your name.  AMEN