ADVENT MEDITATIONS

· To begin the advent journey. starts tomorrow: Advent (from Lat. adventus “coming”). A term often taken to designate either the incarnation of Christ or the Parousia, his second coming.

· ADVENT -is a time for reflective waiting and preparing for Jesus return, as we remember his first advent as our saviour from sin and restoring us a child of God.

Be Still in His Presence

§ Scripture

§ Expounding on the topic from scripture

§ Personal example /testimony

§ Song

§ Prayer

Psalm 37 " rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him". ( be silent. 2. be still (opp. to both speech and motion)

Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God"

John 15:4-5 Abide (menō), remain; stay; reside.) in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Expounding on the topic from scripture

§ Being still before the Lord is not something that I will confess that I have done very well or even been consistent with in my walk with the Lord.

§ For those of you who are like me and many others (Christians) resting and Waiting (especially Patient waiting) does not come easy.

§ We live in a world that expects things to happen immediately, instantaneously, Technology and especially the internet is a good example of being conditioned for instant response.

§ I can remember the days of dial-up (sure) 5 min or Longer to connect. Then you started a download, made a cup of coffee, put some bread in the toaster after about 10 min you take a look to see haw much of the 10 kilobits of information actually arrived! I a file takes more that a few seconds we get frustrated and wonder what’s wrong with this stupid internet! You know what I'm saying?

§ God tells us to REST/ABIDE IN HIM- WAIT- BE STILL

§ WE like doing. Lots of activity. (MINISTRY) That’s what we are called to do right. To Be Jesus’ Hands and feet in a hurting world to defeat the affects of satan wherever we see them. That means Action!

§ Can there be a balance-Is there even supposed to be a balance?? Between presence and service (resting in Him and service to Him).

§ Its very obvious Jesus went off by himself to spend time with Heavenly Father. Some amazing signs, wonders and miracles followed these times alone with Father.

Personal example /testimony

§ In the early days of my walk with the Lord, I thought it was about the doing , the serving. I knew I needed a relationship with Jesus. And there was although my identity (we hear a lot about identity these days) was wrapped up in what I did in ministry. In the parish as an associate priest, and all the function associated with it. I confess there was little resting and waiting on the Lord. Getting to know Him enjoying His presence. Even my reading of scripture was more Quota versus learning lessons of life from it!

§ My usual MO (modus operendi) was to embroil myself in doing. Most of the time it was Good. People saw what I was doing and would say nice encouraging things. I’d come up with ideas and invite Jesus to join me.

§ There were some successes but there were also many times I’d get frustrated when things didn’t go as I planned or get discouraged, disappointed. Etc.

§ Lately Father (past few years) has revealed to me that it is not the works (service) from me He wants but my presence with Him. He enjoys to spend time with me.

§ When I wake in the morning I am excited to be with Him in what ever He has for me. At night I am eager for Him to minister to me and speak to me.

§ To meditate on His word as He reveals things of His character and nature and especially as he shows me how much He loves me. And I can thank Father and tell Him I love Him too!

Can we be still in His presence, block out the earthly to hear the heavenly?

§ Song

§ Prayer

Song For The Bride (Brian Doerksen)

Verse

I have longed to hold you in My arms

And take all of your fear away

I will take your filthy rags

And make them clean if you'll receive My love

If you will receive My love

So wait for Me and hear My Spirit say

Chorus 2

In repentance and rest is your salvation

In quietness and trust is your strength

And rest is your salvation

In quietness and trust is your strength

Is your strength

2nd Talk December 1

Be still and HEAR HIS VOICE

Scripture

Jeremiah 33:3 “call to me and I will answer you.”

Job 33:14 For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it. NKJV

For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. NLT

Expounding on the topic from scripture

§ I asked our congregation one Sunday morning some weeks ago this question: Can you think of a time when you heard God speak? What did He say?

§ I didn’t get a lot of response. There were some nods, YES but no one gave a testimony to what God said!

§ The scriptures say God speaks to us: “again and again”. I believe it because God said it! How often today do we hear or recognize when God is speaking to us? In some ways many of us have lost the ability to recognize His voice. Or we wonder if what we are hearing is from the Holy Spirit or the flesh.

§ I’ll comment on our congregation: I believe Every Sunday morning as we Gather to Worship God is speaking. I believe God has things He wants to say to the whole Congregation but to our shame in many of our worship services the opportunity for sharing what God’s spirit is reviling to his people isn’t encouraged. 1 Thess 5:19,20 “Do not quench the spirit and do not despise prophecy”

§ I believe God is far from being silent. We can hear what the spirit is saying to the Church!

Personal example /testimony

§ Many times, I asked God this ,” I said Lord help me to hear you clearly. I want to hear your voice”!

§ The TRUTH is God was speaking to me all along but I wasn’t listening. It’s probably more accurately to say I didn’t know how to listen.

§ One block I had to hearing God was that I was expecting an AUDALBE voice. Most often It does happen that way. But because that’s how we expect to receive information from another person that’s how we expect it from God.

§ I know that Jesus has been speaking to me again and again but often I didn’t realize it. Sometimes I realized it well after the fact and sometimes at the very time I needed to hear his direction and council.

§ I have been keeping a spiritual journal for some time. I’ve said that I have been asking Father to speak to me clearly that I may know it! I looked back over the journal recently and realized Father was speaking to me OFTEN but I didn’t recognize Him! The reason I believe was because I wasn’t spending quality time with Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit.

§ There are many voices vying for my attention and yours I’ll bet!

§ In order To Hear what God’s spirit s telling me I have to tune out many other voices.

§ Bill Johnson quote: “In order to connect our minds to the frequency on which God is speaking, we have to take a posture of listening by dialing down the voice of our own thoughts and waiting to hear Him.”

§ Men’s group-Thursdays-book by Bill Johnson-senior pastor of Bethal Church Redding California.

§ Men’s group Conversation – chapter “possessed by the Promises of God will strengthen you”.

§ Men’s group Conversation – We were talking about Christian Meditation. One man, almost desperate plea of "how do you clear your mind of so many thoughts and concerns and worries. Personal concerns, my work, family issues. Etc.!

§ It’s not about clearing our minds so That our minds are blank (void of thought) but more Meditating - to focus one’s thoughts on: reflect on or ponder over Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

§ (reflecting on the Lord Himself.) His goodness, blessings, provisions, love, grace.

§ Etc. Philippians 4:8 Whatever is true, whatever is honorable etc.

§ Spirit filled life study bible 1:2 meditates, hagah (hah-gah); Strong’s #1897: To reflect; to moan, to mutter; to ponder; to make a quiet sound such as sighing; to meditate or contemplate something as one repeats the words. Hagah represents something quite unlike the English “meditation,” which may be a mental exercise only. In Hebrew thought, to meditate upon the Scriptures is to quietly repeat them in a soft, droning sound, while utterly abandoning outside distractions. From this tradition comes a specialized type of Jewish prayer called “davening,” that is, reciting texts, praying intense prayers, or getting lost in communion with God while bowing or rocking back and forth. Evidently this dynamic form of meditation-prayer goes back to David’s time.

§ call to me and I will answer you.” God is faithful to his promise.

I expect all of us really want to hear God answer us when I talk with Him. Do we position ourselves in that place to listen?

He Is Here Brian Doerksen

He is here, He is near us In our hearts, in our lives, in our midst He is here, He is near us Calling us to trust in Him Cast your every care On the One who gave you life Lay your burdens down At His feet Open up your heart To the living Word of God He is love He is love

3rd Talk December 1

Be still and Discern His Ways

§ Scripture

§ Expounding on the topic from scripture

§ Personal example /testimony

§ Song

§ Prayer

§ Exodus 33:11-18 -Read it! God spoke to Moses face to face! As a friend. That’s so Awesome! Psalm 103:7 (NKJV) He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

§ Moses asked: “ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor (GRACE) with you.

§ God talked to Moses face to face, Moses experienced God’ miraculous power, yet there seems to be something more he was seeking from God. I WANT TO KNOW YOU! He wanted an intimate knowledge of God Himself.

§ Moses Saw His power, heard His promises, been in His presence, He wanted God’s person! to know His nature.

§ God answered his request vs 19: I will make all my goodness pass before you!

§ Do you remember Philips Question to Jesus? John 14:8:10 “ Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” And Jesus’ reply: “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.”

§ Philips question sounds familiar to Moses question.

§ In another place John 15:15 Jesus told his disciples “I no longer call you servants but Friends”.

§ Jesus showed His disciple the very nature of Father! And Holy Spirit is revealing Fathers nature to us His person.

§ What I find AWESOME with a double “A” is that I can know God , and God wants to know me in an intimate and close way. John 14:If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

§ LIFE VERSUS- 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love. NKJV

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. ESV

Psalm 25 “Show me your ways O Lord. Teach me your paths, lead me in your truths and teach me.”

§ LIFE VERSUS-These versus 1 Corinthians and The psalm 25 (Psalm for Advent 1-tomorrow) are some of my life versus. (probably have some of your own). I include Ephesians 4:2 with these as well. They were the main versus I hung on to while going through a particular desert season in my life a few years ago.

§ All of scripture is so wonderful. The love for the scriptures is such a wonderful gift from God.

§ I have learned that to know My Lord in the persons of Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit I have to be intentional about spending time with Him (not just reading His word, not just praying for things, his help! but sitting in the quietness with him getting to know his person (way).

§ making changes in my life (habits in my life) so I can spend the time necessary to seek the Lord and to know Him more intimately.

§ Mention some of the changes I made! TV, selective of what I listen to in music, literature I read.

§ With the Holy Spirits help showing me what I need to change and given me the strength to do it. It meant I had to change my habits Its when we spend time with the lord Calling to Him, in prayer, meditating on His word expecting God to change us with what the spirit reveals to us,

This Advent Season, if you do have a time set aside for you and the Holy family, that’s awesome. Press into the Lord even more, seek more of Him. If you aren’t then I encourage you to be diligent in turning off the TV a bit earlier, to put down that novel you’ve been reading, what ever else might distract you and spend some good time with the Lord. Be STILL in His presence, LISTEN for His voice speaking to you, LEARN His ways.

Matthew 11: 29-30 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Show Me Your Way (Brian Doerksen)

I don't want to take the selfish road

I don't want to walk the path of pride

I only want to follow where You lead

I only want to please You with my life

Show me Your Way oh Lord

Banish my fear in perfect love

Show me Your Way oh Lord

§ 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love. NKJV

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love. ESV

§ Psalm 25 “Show me your ways O Lord. Teach me your paths, lead me in your truths and teach me.”

§ Vs 13 Moses Wanted to see God’s Glory but God said you cannot see my face and live. show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight

Advent (from Lat. adventus “coming”). A term often taken to designate either the incarnation of Christ or the Parousia, his second coming.

· ADVENT -is a time for reflective waiting and preparing for Jesus return,

· ADVENT – is definitely a time we are embodying joy, faith, peace, and love we have been freely given by Jesus at his first coming that we celebrate on the 25th.

· (We Anglicans remember these characteristics of a faithful life in Jesus as we celebrate a liturgy and light a candle each Sunday in Advent)

· We also proclaim that Advent is a time to slow down, to Reflect on Jesus 1st coming. Giving thanks to Heavenly Father who loves us so much that He came to each of us in Jesus to make us one with Him and Father. (UNITE Me/US to the Holy family)

· to open our hearts to receive the Gift of the Divine in our lives, and to share our own lives with one another, for there is no greater gift that we can give…

· Anglicans follow a liturgy every week until Christmas expressing each of these

· Advent is a journey, which invites us to sojourn more deeply within ourselves.

§ Men’s group-Thursdays-book by Bill Johnson-senior pastor of Bethal Church Redding California.

§ Men’s group Conversation – chapter “possessed by the Promises of God will strengthen you”.

§ We were talking about Christian Meditation. One man, almost desperate plea of "how do you clear your mind of so many thoughts and concerns and worries. Personal concerns, my work, family issues. Etc.!

§ It’s not about clearing our minds. That our minds are blank but more Meditating - to focus one’s thoughts on: reflect on or ponder over Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

§ (reflecting on the Lord Himself.) His goodness, blessings, provisions, love, grace.

§ Etc. Philippians 4:8 Whatever is true, whatever is honorable etc.

§ I have learned of late with the time I spend with Father in conversation is to speak His word back to Him.

§ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

§ Job 33:14- 16 For God does speak—now one way, now another— though no one perceives it. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds,

§ Vs 16-17 he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn them from wrongdoing

§ Acts 2:17”And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

§ Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days;

§ And they shall prophesy.”

§ This verse is a OT quote from prophet Joel. Interesting.. I am hearing more people are talking about dreams they are a Having them and knowing that God is speaking to them. Even if they aren’t sure what God may be saying to them.

§ I myself hear Holy Spirit speaking to me through Dreams. Some I understand. What it has done for me is God reassuring me He is listening and answering. He is patient.

Related Media

Related Sermons