Al's Devotional

Beloved, There are sermons, and then there are exceptional sermons.  This is an exceptional sermon, so much so that I am including the sermon as a printout attachment because it is worth passing on.  These are the examples of Jesus to the nations of who we are, and what we need to be doing. ~Al And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.   Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.  And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.  And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.  But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.  And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.  ...

Beloved, Whenever I read  quotes in my morning devotions, I try to find out who wrote them, and who they were.  This morning I was introduced to Marianne Farningham, a most remarkable lady from well over a hundred years ago.  I find that she was, among other things, a writer of hymns.  I added one after her quote, below. God Bless you this day, ~Al And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.  And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.   L uk 2:25 -26     And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;  And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but se...

  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord . Luk 2:8 -11     This angel is the first evangelist   He is a type of what gospel-preaching should be. 1. His message is good news. The gospel not a threat nor a law, but news of salvation. 2. To all the people—not merely to an elect few. To all classes—not merely to the intelligent and refined. 3. The cause of this joy proclaimed is the advent of Christ, i.e. , the Messiah, the Anointed One, the great High Priest who makes atonement for the past sin...

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.   Joh 14:1   I. THE SORE OF THE WORLD IS TROUBLE AND ITS CURE IN FAITH.   The seat of trouble is not in anything outside of us. It is the passions. Work, wakefulness, losses, bereavements, life's burdens and battles are not troubles. They are discipline. While the passions are in right and healthful play all these things may befall a man, and yet he may be wholly untroubled. On the other hand, a man may be surrounded by all that can minister to his comfort and dignity, and yet be troubled. In the latter case the man's passions are tossed about as the sea is when a tempest is on it; in the other case, they are serene as the lake in the fastnesses of a mountain.   1. The cause of all our trouble is the want of harmony between our wills and God's will. Let them accord, and then nothing in heaven or earth or hell can trouble us. But when we beat ourselves again...

The Ministries of the Spirit   Almost as far-reaching is John's change of emphasis in recording the promised functions of the Spirit in the interadvent years, as not the Spirit of power bestowing "gifts" and capacities for ser-vice, but the Spirit of truth revealing Christ more perfectly to the ongoing church. This ministry in the realm of truth is expounded in the upper room discourse with exceptional fullness.  1. Comforter —Counselor . The root idea here is anyone-friend, neighbor, family member, priest, or professional advocate (British, Queen's Counsel; American, Counselor) — who in an emergency is "called alongside to help" in whatever way the need requires. From this root idea spring several shades of meaning. The friend who hurries to one's side in trouble "comforts" in a general way, though sympathy, pity, and the emotional sharing of pain was not the intended meaning when KJV/AV chose the title "Comfort...