December 1, 2021: Shalom!!!
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
JOHN 7:38
Prokeimenon. Mode 3. Luke 1: 46-48My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. Verse: For he has regarded the humility of his servant.
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians 4:1-12
Brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from unchastity; that each one of you know how to take a wife for himself in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the heathen who do not know God; that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we solemnly forewarned you. For God has not called us for uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. But concerning the love of the brethren you have no need to have any one write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do love all the brethren throughout Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, to do so more and more, to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you; so that you may command the respect of outsiders, and be dependent on nobody.
Holiness includes sexual purity (vv. 3-8), mutual love (vv.9, 10), and honest labor (vv. 11, 12)...As for knowing the Lord's Will, this passage comes through in brilliant simplicity...The Lord's will is our sanctification (v. 3), our being set apart to the Lord as His special possession...We are being sanctified as we walk with Him in faith and obedience...His Own Vessel: speaks of the entire human being (Romans 9:20-23; 2 Corinthians 4:7; 2 Timothy 2:20-21)-probably one's own self, perhaps one's wife (or husband)...In either case one's vessel/ must be possessed with purity, self control, and chastity: The bedrock practically of the Scriptures: In Paul's time and ours, we are to live quietly, mind our own business, and work hard...
"Daily Scripture Reading can be addictive: This leads to a reduction of anxiety and all worldly and earthly stressors or afflictions that surround us constantly...Daily Scripture reading and my personal relationship with Christ is what has changed me...Today He awaits you, if you are lost and broken, just seek Him whole heartedly that is what it takes...He will never leave you or forsake you just have the faith of a mustard seed plant the seed, He will do the rest, for He is Great and Steadfast love that endures forever!!!"
-JPCE Spiritual Talk
He causes it to come,
Whether for [a]correction,
Or for His land,
Or for mercy.
JOB 37:13
The Gospel According to Luke 20:1-8
At that time, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to Him, "Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority." He answered them, "I also will ask you a question; now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?" And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet." So they answered that they did not know whence it was. And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
THESE THINGS: Refers to Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem as the Messiah (Luke 19-35-38), the cleansing of the temple (Luke 19:45), and His preaching (Luke 20:1)...The elders confront Yeshua (Jesus) since it was the duty of the priestly descendants of Levi to manage the temple...While Christ was descended from Judah (Luke 3:33), yet He is the High Priest "according to the order of Melchizedek" (Psalm 109:4), a priestly line far greater than that of Levi, for His authority is from the Father in Heaven, The Lord of the Most High...
"Yeshua (Jesus) was given to us by the Lord of the Most High as the ultimate example: Christ is our salvation and He is also our High Priest...The Father's life giving spirit is what raised Yeshua from the dead conquering death by death, freeing us from eternal death and torment...Through Christ we can be healed and redeemed freeing us from the daily attacks and snares of the evil one...We should all strive to live Christ like maybe this can help turn this fallen world around for the time being, I will continue to pray for peace and love for all...My Lord is a God of free will and free choice, it seems our enemy of evil has other plans while we await the Second Coming of Our Lord and Savior, Christ our God!!!"
-JPCE Spiritual Talk
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
PSALM 32:1
December 1, 2021: A New Month: Time to Grow Spiritually New Beginnings!!!
2 Peter 2:2: Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation...
HEAVENLY FATHER, we yearn to grow in our faith...As Your children, we pray that we can mature spiritually into the men and women You want us to be...Nourish us with Your love and Your wisdom, and shelter us with Your heavenly parental care...
Today we commemorate:
Nahum the Prophet : https://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints?contentid=317
Philaret the Merciful of Amnia : https://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints?contentid=318
Ananias the Persian
Holy Father Theocletus the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Lacedaemonia
The Father is my hope. The Son is my refuge. The Holy Spirit is my protection. Holy Trinity, glory to You!
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen!