Fourth Sunday in Advent: Luke 1:39⁠–⁠56

1 Cor 2:2 I determined not o know ANYTHING save J.C. and Him crucified – anything – my walk, faith, knowledge in Christ.

Gal 6:12-(14) God forbid that I should glory (BOAST) save in the cross of our Lord J.C. to whom the world is crucified to me and I unto the world

1 Jn 2:15 Love not the world (all in world – lust of eyes, flesh, pride)

We boast in what God the Father has done through His Son J.C.

Loved – so loved the world (lost people) – gave the most precious gift of His Son.

Ps 34:2 My soul shall BOAST in thee O Lord [1431 – make large, in estate, mind, honor) [3 – magnify]

Ha LAL [1984] (Haw-Lak 1980) To walk (continually) be conversant)

To be a clear sound – to shine – make a show – to boast – clamorously foolish – to RAVE ( raving fan – why?)

Celebrate – GLORY – give light – make fain self mad – against

Give in marriage

Praise = is the (effect) of being brought to faith, receiving what God has done for you.

The unblushing promises of reward – not deserved, yet nevertheless GIVEN

Magnify – Lk 1:47 My soul

[3170] make or declare, great, increase, extol

Ro 15:6-9 Glorify Lord – with MOUTH – (9) for His mercy [1392]

Ps 70:4 Those who seek thee say continually – Let God Be Magnified.

Daniel 4:18 Those who walk in (PRIDE) (Boast of themselves)

Why? Do they – boast = Rave?

Why? Because He has saved = ? From an our enemies

Delivered

What has he done?

Who is this that boasts in the Lord?

Those who have been brought – out – of darkness – in to His MARVEL-ous light.

Brought to faith – brought to receiving

Brought low – humble(d), hear and receive

Ps 68:19 benefits daily loaded up

Lam 3:22-23 Mercy – new

What are his benefits?

Brought to the marriage supper

Have become the Bride – made ready – by entrusting all (sanctification)

He has become her all (in all) where is He in all!

PRAISE – can never be law, flows from a heart full of gratitude

In fact, we may spend eternity thanking and praising Him.

Ps 84:4-5 blessed are they

DEAD don’t

Dead are not to be trusted

1 Sam 2:9 Silent in darkness.

Notes 11.29.09

1 Cor 2:2 I determined not o know ANYTHING save J.C. and Him crucified – anything – my walk, faith, knowledge in Christ.

Gal 6:12-(14) God forbid that I should glory (BOAST) save in the cross of our Lord J.C. to whom the world is crucified to me and I unto the world

1 Jn 2:15 Love not the world (all in world – lust of eyes, flesh, pride)

We boast in what God the Father has done through His Son J.C.

Loved – so loved the world (lost people) – gave the most precious gift of His Son.

Ps 34:2 My soul shall BOAST in thee O Lord [1431 – make large, in estate, mind, honor) [3 – magnify]

Ha LAL [1984] (Haw-Lak 1980) To walk (continually) be conversant)

To be a clear sound – to shine – make a show – to boast – clamorously foolish – to RAVE ( raving fan – why?)

Celebrate – GLORY – give light – make fain self mad – against

Give in marriage

Praise = is the (effect) of being brought to faith, receiving what God has done for you.

The unblushing promises of reward – not deserved, yet nevertheless GIVEN

Magnify – Lk 1:47 My soul

[3170] make or declare, great, increase, extol

Ro 15:6-9 Glorify Lord – with MOUTH – (9) for His mercy [1392]

Ps 70:4 Those who seek thee say continually – Let God Be Magnified.

Daniel 4:18 Those who walk in (PRIDE) (Boast of themselves)

Why? Do they – boast = Rave?

Why? Because He has saved = ? From an our enemies

Delivered

What has he done?

Who is this that boasts in the Lord?

Those who have been brought – out – of darkness – in to His MARVEL-ous light.

Brought to faith – brought to receiving

Brought low – humble(d), hear and receive

Ps 68:19 benefits daily loaded up

Lam 3:22-23 Mercy – new

What are his benefits?

Brought to the marriage supper

Have become the Bride – made ready – by entrusting all (sanctification)

He has become her all (in all) where is He in all!

PRAISE – can never be law, flows from a heart full of gratitude

In fact, we may spend eternity thanking and praising Him.

Ps 84:4-5 blessed are they

DEAD don’t

Dead are not to be trusted

1 Sam 2:9 Silent in darkness.

Sermon Notes - Don O'Connor - 11/29/09

(The message through Jennifer's ears.)

1 Cor. 2:1-2 (KJV) And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. [2] For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Have you determined? What have you determined? That is a daily thing. Did you forget what you determined, or have you ever determined this?

1 Cor. 2:2 (KJV) For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Matthew 19:16 (KJV) And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

Jesus said, "O, I love you, love you, love you, love you… I forgive all your sins." No, he told him to go sell all that he had and give it to the poor. But we still hang onto what we know. We are to know nothing save Jesus Christ, and what He has done for you. The rich ruler is rich in a lot of things today, perhaps. He's rich in knowledge, perhaps, but he goes away sad. "You didn't love him enough. You put a weight on him he couldn't bear." Jesus, loving him.... and the man went away sad. You can go away sad today if you mis-hear, or don't hear. A lot of times when you're talking to people, you have to tell them the truth because they are rich, very rich.

OBATHOTC, Page 31

Thesis 4 – Although the works of God are always unattractive and appear evil, they are nevertheless really eternal merits.

Therefore God’s revelation can take place only under the form of opposites, sub conrario. God does his alien and wrathful work before he does his proper and loving work: he makes alive by killing, brings to heaven by going through hell, brings forth mercy out of wrath.

We don't like that.

Thesis 4 – Although the works of God are always unattractive and appear evil, they are nevertheless really eternal merits.

Supposing I rebuke you, and it is a work of God. Supposing I reprove you and tell you no. That could be a work of God. You get angry because you didn't like that. You go away sad. You harden your heart more because it doesn't appear like it is God. We loving folk try to be amateur providences for people, because we wouldn't want anyone to go away sad. When they go away sad, what does the devil say to you? "You were too hard, too heavy. They needed love..." People live outside of Christ, setting of pennies when God wants to give us the kingdom. How much more would he give to us when we're poor. When the glass is full, nothing more can be poured into it.

On the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus stood up in the midst and asked if anyone was hungry. We just celebrated Thanksgiving (the feast of Tabernacles) and ate turkey, etc. until we were full. There is a food that won't fill your heart; a water that won't fill your thirst. Some of you had a good bottle, or two, or three of wine. That's good. Poverty is something we don't like by nature. And when Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, what is he talking about; who is he talking about?

Thesis 3:

Although the works of man always seem attractive and good, they are nevertheless likely to be mortal sins.

His wrathful work goes before his proper and loving works. He makes us alive by killing.

There is something in me that has to be killed every day, so the Christian life can be resurrected in me, daily. People spend their lives escaping God, finding some sort of life in what they do, what they watch, what they read and what they talk about - Babylon. I'm not saying you have to talk about religion all the time. In fact, the less you talk about religion, unless it is pure religion, the better.

The works of God always appear evil. Who wants to do the works of God? Who wants to do things that appear unattractive and evil? Who wants to be hated?

We're made poor. I love the story of the Syrophoenician woman. I hope everyone here is the Syrophoenician woman who has a vexed daughter. What does Jesus do to her? She thinks she's bad off until she comes to Jesus. He makes her worse off. First of all, he won't even talk to her. Son of David. Son of David, help me! Forget it. But it doesn't stop her because she is driven by something called love. It is not about herself. Son of David, give me a Cadillac! Is that really what you need? She is acknowledging that he is the Son of David. He must owe her something for amen-ing his word. But it only gets her to being a dog.

Jesus, when he spoke his first message, the people marveled. But, when he made the application, they wanted to kill him. He called me a dog. Dog is a metaphor.

Paul said, "I have determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified.

What's that? How would that affect your relationships? There are two sides to that. If you love someone you might have to tell them something. They may get mad, or sad, or leave, and nobody likes it. You might have to, if you love them. No one can receive unless they are poor, and we must be brought to being poor.

What crucified Jesus is YOUR sin, and MY sin. It can't be EVERYONE'S sins. That's offensive if you really look at it. Before the earth the Lamb was slain. God so loved the world (he didn't love that intimidating world that causes people to lose their souls. Get yourself some new clothes. Hurry up! You're missing the sale. It starts at 4:30 in the morning. Get yourself a new car.).

No charge for this - latest Whitehorse Inn CD - is repeating something, the message of William Willimon. He is nailing some things. I'm so glad he's a Methodist, aren't you? He's talking about the church.

The latest White Horse Inn CD, with William Willimon.

A lot of preaching is as if people need to be enticed. Instead of saying, "Ok, do what you want."

American cultural framework there is no more purpose to a human being living than consumption. Christianity was never meant to be user friendly. Read the gospels. Willimon feels that the Methodist church is doing poorly with those under 30 because they have no cultural disgust. We have a generation of people bored with conventional modes of explanations of ourselves. Let us give you a little psychological, therapeutic definition of who you are, and if that doesn’t work let's give you a sociological definition of who you are.

We can't see the truth because we have our agenda blinding us.

Counter cultural - it is created through words. A lot of stuff I care about, the Bible doesn't care about at all. We are infinitely resourceful in trying to tame Jesus as though he never spoke law, or never said unless you eat my body and drink my blood, and 5000 left. The only ones left had nowhere to go.

At one point, if you're going to insist on certain things, maybe there is another church that would be open to you, and would appreciate your gifts, and where you can maybe marry off some of your children.

Trust - that is all God leads to give you everything. But, we've trusted in our own gods, the creations of our own minds, constructions of our own images, and we've tried to conform God to our images of God, rather than he conforming us to his image. "This isn't what we wanted. We want to hear the good news." The good news is always preceded by the bad news of Adam. Adam always needs to be drowned, he's such a fighter.

Babylon is what is happening today, and the merchants are sad this year. There's been a recession I heard. Credit is being cut off. People are actually saving money these days, and it is bad for the economy. Gold is now $1150 per ounce. People are trying to wedge inflation.

We've lost confidence in the preaching of the cross.

On Being a Theologian of the Cross. When you get organized and march off with your noble ideals, this is where it ends: You put Christ on the cross. (Your goodness. Your god-projects. Your wish dreams. You always end up crucifying someone who won't bow down to them or do enough for you.). Our aspirations of glory end up crucifying Christ afresh.

1 Cor. 2:1-2 (KJV) And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. [2] For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

People want to make a show. They want to be seen. Christ in his person, and in his office, is the sum and substance of the gospel. The gospel - the good news of what God has done.

Where would that lead someone? If someone heard and was determined to know nothing....

Praise the Lord! Why should I? Isn't that what people say every day? "Don't you see how screwed up, messed up, wiped out my life is? Don't you see how my family is, and you say, "Prays the Lord!"

Praise is the effect of being brought to faith - receiving what God has done for you. Determine to see Jesus, and determine in your mind to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified, then you'll have to stop and look at your own resources. Maybe you're quite capable of surviving another day, or another year, or another 20 years.

Some 2000 approx. years ago, under a man called Pontius Pilate, Christ was crucified, and his blood ever avails, a fountain that never runs dry. It flows from Emanuel, and corporate through you, his branches. Sinners who have been brought to poverty, and confess they are not worthy, and confess these wonderful words, and then he has everything to give us.

Right here in the Body of Christ, with weak members and sinners...

What is your heart towards sinners? It might depend on what you're hearing.

Should you know Christ and Him crucified, and I could talk on this subject for seven years and not exhaust any of it, by the grace of God, it leads you some place. It leads you to an inheritance in Christ, and then your eyes off of yourself and looking to Jesus. Sometimes we have to be Jehoshaphat, surrounded by insurmountable enemies, because we still think we can do something and are so proud we think we don't need any help. You start at the circle of nearness, where we are at every day. Strength: Who are your friends? Who have you picked and hosen to be friends with? Who are your brothers and sisters? Who and what do they need? What do they need to hear proclaimed? What is your proclamation? I have determined to know nothing save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Imagine the disciples; they're crazy. "Did you have to say that?" "Send her away, she's causing a scene." You're making us look bad. Another time they brought a sick man to Jesus' disciples and they couldn't heal him. Who are you bringing people to? Jesus? Where is he? He is in all and through all. "Well, I don't want that particular group, and I don't want that group, and I've narrowed my group down to one person.

What would be the benefits of determining noting save Christ and him crucified? He has many benefits for the Bride. Is there anyone here crazy enough to receive an inheritance?

The world is into selling images. Don't you like to see cars? They're having some big sales at the end of the year. $2000 off of a Mercedes, with rebates. You can get $2-$3 thousand cash, if you just go into debt $50,000, with equity.

You can be part of it through the lust of your eyes, the lust of your flesh and the pride of life.

The rest of my life I want to be brought back to the gospel: Why He died, and who he died for. Christ has his law everywhere. First of all, it is in every man's heart. Part of God's law is to let you get away with breaking it. You might have a law of being good, but deep down in your heart, you know it ain't right.

Where will this lead? It depends on what you think of Christ and Him crucified. He has forgiven the world, but who will forgive it? No one will receive Jesus Christ until they're brought to it, and that appears as the devil. When God begins to work on your soul, he must first appear as the devil, and bring you down to hellishness.

The crucified? What does that mean? That is what we preach. You'll preach what you see and what you hear; what's been giving you, and what brings you back to sanity when you're condemned - your Savior. People come in our door and see our picture of Jesus and love it, like Peter Worowski, and some walk out as fast as they can because they came from churches filled with doves. It will get real. One day you might even sell Him out when you sell out your brother or sister, turn your back on them, give up on them, or turn your back on them. Christ is all, in all. Is he your all, in all, or is he your all in some? Are you picking and choosing? He can show up in opposites; what you didn't expect.

Jesus always visits us with the thought of bringing us through this suffering. The ultimate end of that is marriage - the marriage supper of the lamb, and you can enter into that right now, if you believe the truth that he has done it all, and married you. He doesn't look for beauty when he marries us; he knows what he's getting.

You can preach all the love, love, love you want, and you might even feel good about yourself, when you go away, the devil will say, "You preach too much gospel," or "You preach too much law." When you enter into those confrontations because you love, it is better to be hated. People don't know why they hate you when they hate you. There was one person who had a case against me and I had never met them, but they knew someone I had met. People don't even know why or who they hate. They're accusing, blaming and slandering because they haven't heard about themselves. They haven't heard about who killed Jesus. They haven't heard that inasmuch as ye have done it... They haven’t heard about forgiveness, because they don't need any.

Where determining could lead:

Galatians 6:3 (KJV) For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Have you ever thought you were something? Smart? Cute? That would all be vanity. Christ has no comeliness, or beauty. Right now you're hiding your faces from Him, and your minds are spacing out. It is too painful. If you're meditating on knowing nothing save Jesus Christ and he crucified, there is an implication that there is a lot to know. When you begin to mediate on that you'll see a lot. What does it mean that Christ died for me, for you? It might mean more than we thought. It might mean that that is the ultimate thought in the whole universe, and we'll spend a lifetime finding out.

Galatians 6:3-7 (KJV) For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. [4] But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. [5] For every man shall bear his own burden. [6] Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. [7] Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

The presupposition is that there's a good possibility we could be deceived. When you take the gospel as license for sinning, and he will forgive you continually, which is true if you're broken hearted and wretched....

Galatians 6:7 (KJV) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Do you know any human beings today that are reaping death? They're walking around in a body, kind of, but what have they been sowing? I'll leave that to your imagination.

"Well, that doesn't sound like Jesus to me, you'll reap what you so." "Love doesn't allow people to reap. Love is an amateur providence." If you still want to see someone hurt, you're still a weirdo.

Galatians 6:8-10 (KJV) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. [9] And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. [10] As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

YOU - do good, especially to those who are in church. Get rid of the walls and the only thing you'll do is freeze, but it will still be church.

Galatians 6:11-12 (KJV) Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. [12] As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

I'm getting to something here.

Galatians 6:13 (KJV) For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

How many of your have tried to get people to keep the law? You preach law, but I have no hope in anyone doing it. They're like you; they can't keep the law, even if they're Christians, and sometimes they're not but they pretend to be, even they can't keep the law. Romans 7 - they love the law. The world hates the law. The Christian loves the law, tries to keep the law, but finds another law in his members.

Galatians 6:14 (KJV) But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Human beings are built so they are going to boast or glory in something. What is there to boast in then? What is there to talk about? Today, I'll talk about lunch, just until I eat it. Yesterday it was about the pie that was left. That's not my life, however.

Galatians 6:14 (KJV) But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

If you meditate on knowing nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, you can know that the whole world has been crucified to you and you to the world. Three parts of the world: Creation, intimidate and manipulation.

What God hates is the intimidation that reduces men down to pawns.

The prophets speak today. What do they say? "O, King, live forever." "Did not my hands create Babylon?" Have a diamond; they're forever. Don't misunderstand me; I'm not against engagement rings.

Galatians 6:14 (KJV) But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Benefit: The world has been crucified unto me and I unto the world. The earth is always praising the Lord. "I heard the ocean say, "I receive my first wave, from the hand of God I flow." Poetry goes beyond the walls of your reason.

An inheritance for you who believe him; you who have been brought to faith, and who have been given the gift of faith. "I'll receive. I'll come back. I'm starving." The man would never have come back if God sent out food stamps. How many of you would be here if you received a $70,000 inheritance last week?

1 Cor. 2:2 (KJV) For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Luke 1:46 (KJV) And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

The Lord put something in her; something that would be for a sign for the rise and fall of many in Israel.

Luke 1:47 (KJV) And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

My spirit and rejoice in God, and boast in God your Savior, on the cross. Starting with Moses and the Prophets it tells how Christ was persecuted, was hated. To boast in nothing but Christ, and to know nothing but Christ, is to know him as your Savior, today.

Luke 1:48 (KJV) For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

What is your estate today? The proud can't receive. They know a lot of things except Christ and Him crucified.

Luke 1:49-51 (KJV) For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. [50] And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. [51] He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

The proud are scattered in their minds; they can't center on anything or anyone but themselves. They are looking for someone to be conquered or ruled over. You're either my slave and you'll bow down to what I think, or you don't exist to me.

Luke 1:52 (KJV) He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

Where might all this lead? I'm talking about a person who, by the grace of God, whom God has brought to an end. The end becomes my beginning; the alpha and the omega. He is the end of all your glory projects. He is the end of everything that is, save Him. He wants to be the end of your condemnation, your fears, worries, doubts, etc. He is the end of your anger, and more. Then He becomes the beginning of your peace and joy. Stop trying not to fulfill the lusts of the flesh; instead, be led of the spirit. BE - you are led of the spirit. As far as the spirit realm, we have determined to know nothing save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Does that exclude the law? No, he was crucified because of the law. He was the greatest sinner the world has ever known because he took with him your sins and my sins, and the sins of the whole world. Now God and forgive and be a god of Justice and a god of truth who says the wages of sin is death. For you who have been brought to faith, I have fulfilled that law and the sentence of death I took out on my Son.

Is God a child abuser? No. Determine to know nothing save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. How many of you have determined and forgotten what you determined? That's okay. God will bring you back to that. Who else did he die for?

If you look at the cross, you have to look at the gifts of the cross, the law of the cross, and then you become a theologian of the cross. You have a whole book that tells you how he acts. He sees and calls things as they are. Jesus comes to say, "Go sell everything you have." He says all kinds of evil things, evil to the natural man. He smells like death. If you're one of his disciples, you will smell like death, to some, and life to others, to those God has been working on.

No one has to do anything anymore.

Psalm 34:6-7 (KJV) This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. [7] The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

Psalm 34:1 (KJV) A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.

I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Why is it that Christians, those born of the spirit, bless the Lord at all times and his praise is continually in their mouth?

Definition of Praise: halal, Hebrew 1984, Strong's ; a primitive root; to be clear (origin of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causative to celebrate; also to stultify :- (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool (-ish, -ly), glory, give [light], be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, [sing, be worthy of] praise, rage, renowned, shine.

Benefits of praise: The presence of the Lord is in praise. No wonder the devil wants to shut our mouths. The Captain of the Hosts is in the midst of praise. Like Jehoshaphat, we can come to where we see that the mountain is so big; the thing we want to hold onto is so big,

Prayer: Letting God know my will and getting him to do it. On the other hand, the Lord is the Lord.

Why is it that Christians, those born of the spirit, bless the Lord at all times and his praise is continually in their mouth? The new creation; when he's riding the horse.

Raving - Good wives, good cooks, good homemakers, do you have any raving fans? You men in business, why do you have raving fans? Serve them, interpret their dreams, give to them more than they expect, give them a wonderful experience, solve their problems, do something completely amazing for them.

Can there be anything more amazing than Christ and Him crucified. The Bride is the recipient of everything. You're not coming with empty hands. You got to bring all your sins today, to your husband. He wants them all. There could be a righteousness, or goodness that you have that distinguishes you. It could be a lot of things. That's why it's good to say our unknown sins too. We like to hide our sins and not look at them. How many of you were selfish last week? I still believe that God intercedes for us with groanings.

Psalm 34:2 (KJV) My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

My raving fan is for Jesus and what he has done: He'd washed away all my sins, doubts and fears.

1 Cor. 2:2 (KJV) For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Praise is the effect of bring brought to faith and receiving what God has done for you; the unblushing promises of reward God has given you, the exceedingly precious promises he's undertaking on your behalf the rest of your life.

That doesn't mean there won't be rain. In that God is working, softening the ground of your heart so that more seed can go in.

To magnify is to make great - to increase. I don’t believe you can praise and magnify the Lord if you have to. It is the result of receiving the gift of faith, and then the life of the Christ becomes your life - ecstatic - receiving much more than you wanted to receive, because God gives you gifts for everyone else. He's given you his mind and it is a mind that empties itself first of all of the reputation it has in the world.

Romans 15:6-9, Psalms 68:19, Lam 3:22-23

The spirit and the bride say come. Who is to come? Ye that are heavy laden. Those who are bearing a burden. God delights to take us out of our straight places where we are shrunken down and bring us into his large place.

The heart that is full of gratitude is the one that believes what God has given to us and will yet give us. I've determined to know nothing save what He has done for me and for you. No wonder praise, haw lal is in their mouth.

To look on the cross then, and to know nothing except Christ died for our sins and rose for our redemption. He is my righteousness. The exchange: Christ, my Lord, you are my righteousness, just as I am your sins.

I believe there is forgiveness in the community of saints where the Word of God is proclaimed with human mouths. What is there to do then? Nothing. You're in a community where Christ dwells, and he has placed his absolution in the mouths of those in the community.

The Lord hears our cries. Some days it seems like heaven's doors are locked, but I want you to know he hears our cries. Old Black gospel song; "he may not get there when we want him, but he'll get there right on time."

Perhaps you're sad as you walk on the road today. Jesus will show up as you're sad in your reason and your blindness, and maybe he'll bring a law and rebuke you for being slow of heart to believe. If you believe, you have all you want. Your faith has made her whole. Where is my faith? In Jesus. But he may not get there when you want him, but he'll get there right on time. There they were, sad. He just rebuked them. Some people can't deal with it; they're too proud. He sends them in another direction, to the church. They're too late. He's already been there. They wanted to announce the good news to their brothers, but he had already been there. He can even be in your mouth.