Come, Come, come to me
My Beloved
You are my crown
You are my glory
You are my Bride
People mock
The world scorns
But you are my people
The Bridegroom rejoices for his Bride
Your God rejoices over you
Reflection
Reflection on Luke 3:15-22
Scripture
The Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
Observation
People are filled with expectation about the Messiah and wonder if John is the one. John tells them the Messiah is yet to come. John baptises them with water but one is coming who will baptise the with fire and the Holy Spirit.
Because of his teaching and rebuking, Herod would later have John locked up.
Jesus comes to be baptised by John. The heavens open up and the Holy Spirit comes upon Him in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven affirms that Jesus is God’s Son.
Application
John’s ministry was all about Jesus. He was the one called to testify about the one to come and to build expectancy in people’s hearts.
We also share this calling. My life is not about my pleasure, my fame, my success. It’s all about testifying about Jesus, telling others about the glory of His grace.
Jesus brings us a baptism of fire and of Holy Spirit. We need to seek to receive this baptism, allowing the nature of God to surround us and fill us until we become just like Jesus.
Prayer
Lord baptise me in fire and Holy Spirit. Fill me with you so that I can demonstrate your grace in the world. Amen.
Reflection on Acts 8:4-17
Scripture
Then Peter and John laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Observation
Philip goes to Samaria and preaches the Good News. The crowds listen eagerly to the message which is backed up with great signs of healing and deliverance.
In that city, a practitioner of magic named Simon has a huge following. Many of his followers become christians and are baptised. Simon himself is saved and stays constantly at Philip’s side.
The apostles send Peter and John to investigate what is happening in Samaria. They discover that none of the converts has received the Holy Spirit, so they lay hands on them.
Application
Many christians have an incomplete experience of God. They may have received Jesus but the Holy Spirit remains a stranger to them.
It is not enough to simply ask Jesus into your heart. We need the fullness of the Holy Spirit to fulfil the calling that God has for us and to simply live out the christian life.
The Samaritans received Jesus, but until the apostles came and laid hands on them, they lacked power. Philip was doing the preaching, healing and demon removal. But after they received the Holy Spirit, the power of God was unleashed in every believer.
Prayer
Holy Spirit come and fill me. Baptise me and release your power in me. Amen.
Reflection on Psalm 29
Like a hurricane the Lord
Descends on the earth
His voice a roar
His breath a storm
Shatters rocks, fells trees
–
I watch and cry “Holy!”
The power, the glory, the majesty
Astounds me confounds me
I fall, afraid of my guilt
Aware of your love
Reflection on Isaiah 43:1-7
“Fear not” says the Lord
I made you
I formed you
My treasure
I will not let you go
–
In the storm I am there
In the raging fire
When your life falls apart
No one stands with you
I am there
Yahweh Beginning and End
–
I give nations for you
My Son, my Beloved Son
On the cross for you
Will I drop you now?
Will I leave you, my treasure?
Reflection on Matthew 2:1-12
Scripture
And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.
Observation
Jesus was born in Bethlehem during the reign of King Herod. Some wise men or Magi arrive in Jerusalem asking to see the newborn King of the Jews.
Herod is disturbed by this, so he calls together his advisors and asks them where the Messiah is to be born. “In Bethlehem,” they reply.
Herod tells the wise men that the King is in Bethlehem. He tells them to return and tell him exactly where they find him so that he too can worship the child.
So the wise men go to Bethlehem where they worship Jesus. They bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. When they leave, they go a different way as God warns them in a dream not to return to Herod.
Application
Even as a baby, Jesus is a threat to established power interests and rulers.
He presents all people- kings and priests, shepherds and carpenters- with a choice. Will you worship Him or reject Him? Will you receive His promise of eternity or banish Him from your life?
The choice is still there for each of us to make daily.
Prayer
Lord your kingdom is not like the kingdoms of this world. Help me to walk in the ways of your kingdom each day. Amen.
Reflection on Ephesians 3:1-12
Scripture
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Observation
Paul, now a prisoner for Christ, received a revelation of the mystery of God’s grace. This mystery was not made known to previous generations and is now only being revealed to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through Christ Gentiles and Israel are being made members of one body.
Paul became a servant of this gospel and received a grace to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. God’s intent is that through this church comprising both Gentile and Jewish believers in Christ, God’s wisdom will be revealed to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.
Application
God’s plan before the creation of the world was that all who believe in the Lord Jesus would be of one faith, one heart, one mind. God has torn down the divisions between Jew and Gentile, because in Christ all may be redeemed.
My salvation is no longer dependent on where I was born or whether I can fulfil a life of obedience to the law of God.
We live in a time of grace. God’s love is poured out on the world so that whoever believes in Christ may come confidently to the Father and receive eternal life.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for dying to pay the price for my sin. Amen.
Reflection on Isaiah 60:1-6
Scripture
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. ”
Observation
The Lord says to arise and shine for our light has come, the glory of the Lord is upon us. Darkness is over the whole earth, but the light of God is over His people.
The nations are drawn to the light. We lift up our eyes and see sons and daughters coming from afar. Then we will look and our hearts will be filled with joy.
Application
Jesus has come. He is the light of the world and He shines in the darkness that covers the world.
Our job as believers is to let out the light that is in us. We are to rise and shine.
There is no doubt that the world is trapped in the darkness of sin. As believers we must shine the light of Jesus into the darkness.
We can do this by loving the unlovely, caring for the lost and sharing the grace of God wherever we go.
Prayer
Lord, you are my light and my salvation. Help me to shine your light in the darkness. Amen.
Reflection on Luke 3:7-18
Scripture
John answered them, “I baptise you with water, but one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Observation
John’s message of repentance was very strong, but it was necessary to break through religious self-righteousness The people are to produce fruits of repentance in changed lives. It is no longer enough to claim to be children of Abraham.
People ask what they are to do. Those with spare clothes should give to those who have none. Tax collectors are to take only what is due to them. Soldiers must be content with their pay.
The Messiah is coming and He will baptise with Holy Spirit and with fire. Judgement is coming, and they need to get ready.
Application
We don’t like thinking about sin and judgement, but both are real.
We need to be realistic about our relationship with the Lord.
Everyone sins and so everyone is at the risk of judgement. We need to be saved from the harvest of our own wrong doing.
Like a man thrown overboard in the middle of the ocean, we cannot save ourselves.
But Jesus reaches down and brings the promise of forgiveness, if only we will accept the gift. Then our lives are changed and our salvation assured.
Prayer
Thank you Father for the gift of salvation. I could not rescue myself, but in Jesus you reached down and rescued me. Amen.
Reflection on Zephaniah 3:14-20
Scripture
The Lord your God is with you
He is mighty to save
He will take great delight in you
He will quiet you with His love
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Observation
The people of Israel are to rejoice for God has taken away their punishment. The Lord is King of Israel and He will not let the people come to harm.
The Lord is mighty to save and He rejoices over His people with singing. He will reverse all oppression, so that those who are scattered will be gathered and God’s people will be honoured throughout the earth.
Application
The Lord is mighty to save. He will save all those who trust in Jesus. We were headed for hell but now He has put us on the road to heaven. It’s all because of Jesus.
It is awesome to think that the Lord rejoices over me with singing. I am such a sinner! But He loves me and rejoices over me. It is hard to comprehend that the God who created the universe rejoices over me. I choose to believe in His awesome love and affection and receive His affirmation and joy.
Prayer
Lord I thank you for your awesome love. I thank you that you rejoice over me with singing. Amen.
New Life Narrabri 