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November 3 “Mansions”

Mansions

The blood drained from Peter’s face so that even his olive skin shone pale in the lamplight.
Jesus motioned for the men to get comfortable around the table where they had shared their last meal together. The mood was somber as Peter sat transfixed staring at nothing, his mind a blank and his heart barely beating. Jesus knew He had to somehow bring good news to the men He had chosen to take His Good News to the world.

The Future
He had to put all these impending disasters into a positive context. He could see far beyond the ordeal facing Him and the fear and confusion of His men. There was a better day coming—really, it was the point of all this. There was great joy to be had on the other side of all this sorrow. He must help them keep the faith in Him that was growing in their hearts.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”

This was the central issue: faith in Jesus. He was the link between the Old Covenant and the New, soon to be written in His blood. They had always believed in God. Now they must believe in Him, the Son of God, Messiah, long predicted, faithfully expected, and now among them. He must also be the Sin Bearer, Isaiah’s Suffering Servant. Jesus knew the disciples would witness things they could never bear. They would fail Him because there was not yet power available to them to stand this terrible storm. Soon the Holy Spirit would abide within their Calvary-cleansed hearts and they would indeed stand the storm. After their lives on this earth, their true lives would commence. He had to tell them.

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.”

He had to make it clear that this was not a parable or a metaphor or an illustration. These were the facts! It was all leading somewhere, somewhere wonderful and forever.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

As Jesus spoke the candles and lamps seemed to burn brighter as if fueled by the hope He was giving them. Questions remained. Thomas gave voice.

“Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

Jesus paused and looked at Thomas for a while before giving Him a huge smile. Thomas and the others had to smile back at Jesus as He said these words.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Just a flash of insight, a small foretaste of the ministry of the Holy Spirit to come, and they understood that Jesus was the way, and they had found Him. He was the truth and they knew Him. He was the life and somehow, He and they would live on. A large house with mansions for rooms—seemed entirely reasonable in that moment.

Scriptures:
John 14:1-6
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for the hope of glory. This life is the prelude to another, greater, more joyful one in heaven with You. Soon the great day will come and we will see You in the skies and be with Your there forever. We will be reunited with loved ones who have gone before us. We will be at peace in Your Presence forever in mansions You have prepared! Thank You, Lord for this Blessed Hope! Amen.

Song:
Mansion over the Hilltop
Words and Music: Ira Stamphill

1. I’m satisfied with just a cottage below
A little silver and a little gold
But in that city where the ransomed will shine
I want a gold one that’s silver lined

Refrain:
I’ve got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we’ll never grow old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold

2. Don’t think me poor or deserted or lonely
I’m not discouraged I’m heaven bound
I’m but a pilgrim in search of the city
I want a mansion, a harp and a crown

Refrain

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

pathoflifedevotions Uncategorized

November 2 “Commandment”

Commandment

The atmosphere in the upper room seemed to clear when Judas closed the door behind him.
A note sounding almost like hope appeared in Jesus’ voice. The men were glad to hear it.

“Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.”

It seemed another line had been crossed and a mission was on the verge of completion.

“Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me
… ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’

Just as their spirits began to rise, these words sent them crashing to the floor. Jesus was smiling broadly now as if He had something wonderful to tell them.

“…so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another;
as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

Now there were eleven.
They had struggled all their lives to keep the ten commandments and now there would be eleven of them. They could not share His smile. “Love one another?” This was not very specific. They could see no reason for such a smile and, to a man, declined to join Him in it.

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Could this 11th commandment actually make things simpler? Obviously the world would be a better place if people obeyed this commandment, but that was obviously impossible. This 11th commandment—love one another—will be the mark of the follower of Messiah? How could this be? People would still be like they always were. The powerful would do whatever it took to hold on to power. The poor would still be poor. If Jesus weren’t there to heal them, the sick and disabled would still be sick and disabled. Worst of all, the Romans would still be the Romans. How would affection for each other change the world? Panic began to set in among them. Peter voiced their united question.

“Lord, where are You going?”

Following Jesus
There was no place for Him to go, not in this world at least. Rome ruled the whole world; there was no escape. Jesus turned to look into Peter’s eyes. It seemed to the fisherman that another line was about to be crossed.

“Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”

Peter objected to this discouraging prophecy.

“Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”

It was more than a boast. It was deepest desire of Peter’s heart and Jesus knew this. Standing face to face, man to man, Jesus asked a life-changing question.

“Will you lay down your life for My sake?”

No one spoke as the air in the upper room thickened. The supply of oxygen was suddenly insufficient. Peter swallowed hard and straightened his shoulders as if to answer this question with the force of his will. Jesus placed his hand on the stiffened shoulder of His friend and spoke quietly.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.”

Peter was stunned and embarrassed. How did He know? He knew everything. Jesus gathered the Eleven around the table to hear the most important talk He had ever presented to them.

Scriptures:
John 13:31-35
So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus help me live the 11th commandment! To love You and Your people without reservation. To give myself to Your service, to Your church and Kingdom. Any talents I may have came from You. I want to return them to You as skills You can use to build Your Kingdom. I want to please You in all things. I want to be known as a believer in You and a follower of You and Please Lord, make the evidence of this be my love for others.
Amen.

Song:
Old Time Religion
Traditional

Give me that old time religion,
Give me that old time religion,
Give me that old time religion,
It’s good enough for me.

Makes me love ev’ry body,
Makes me love ev’ry body,
Makes me love ev’ry body,
It’s good enough for me.

Give me that old time religion,
Give me that old time religion,
Give me that old time religion,
It’s good enough for me.

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

TheJesusStory devotions are also found at KingdomWinds.com.

pathoflifedevotions Uncategorized

November 1 “Night”

Night

First, evil thoughts entered the heart of Judas and then, the devil himself.
The sun had slipped beneath the western horizon hours before. Darkness lay on the land like an impenetrable fog, unbroken except for the meager lights filtering through open windows. Flames from candles and oil lamps tried as best they could but could only push back the night for a few inches each.

Ready to Listen
None of the men could remember any other time when Jesus exhibited this mood. There was a note of sadness in His voice they had never heard before. He seemed resolved to impending events, whatever surprises they might hold for the rest of them. If He was ready and they were with Him and led by Him, surely they were ready too. One sign they could read with no misunderstanding—Jesus had things to tell them that night. Of this they were sure. Each man, with his feet so recently washed and dried by Jesus, was fully awake now and ready to hear what Jesus had to say

A line had been crossed.
A sequence of events had begun and there was no way to stop them from continuing. One of their number had, for reasons unknown, decided to betray Jesus to the authorities. It is useless to try and determine the motives of Judas. We are sure of only this: Satan was the one who beguiled the treasurer of the group. In the closeness of the night, as shadows on the wall danced with the flames of lamps and candles, Jesus revealed the moment to all of them.

“He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.”

All individual conversations ceased. In the ensuing silence, heads began to swivel left and right, each man seeking indications in the eyes of the others of who the traitor might be. Many had feared this very thing from outsiders but never from within their company. Suddenly the silence broke in a chorus of questions from eleven of the Twelve. Jesus set the context.

“…I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass,
you may believe that I am He.”

The issue was the same as always—do you believe Jesus is Messiah? If so, then all of the prophesies must come to pass. He spoke of His Father and of their unbreakable unity. To receive Him was to receive His Father. The thought of betrayal from within this hand-selected group broke Jesus’ heart. The disciples wanted to ease His pain and to declare their own innocence.

John, the Beloved
John was closest to Jesus and asked the question that filled the mind of each man.

“Lord, who is it?”

Jesus gave John a sign; it would be the one to whom he gave a morsel of bread. With that, Jesus dipped the bread into a cup of oil mixed with wine and gave it to Judas. When the betrayer ate the bread, the light in his soul went out. In its place came darkness and the presence of one too evil to contemplate. Jesus sensed the exchange.

“What you do, do quickly.”

Judas was shocked but he should not have been. Of course, Jesus knew! Of course He did. Was this permission to do what was in His heart to do? Deception clamped the man’s mind like a vice. Wiping the oil and wine from his lips, Judas stood to his feet and left the upper room. A dark wind seemed to follow him out the door. Some of the eleven, trying to make the best of this turn of events, thought Judas was on an errand for Jesus.

John concludes the scene with the simple declaration,

“And it was night.”

So true. So very true.

John 13:18-30
“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.
Isaiah 60:1-3 NKJV
Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus there is a darkness in this world. The Prophet Isaiah called it a “deep darkness.” It is more than the revolving of the earth, turning away from the sun. This is the darkness of men’s souls turning away from You. You are the Light of the World. You lit the fuse that kindled the sun. Your mighty angels light the night as do the stars of heaven. Your Word is a lamp and a light to guide me through this darkness. Help me walk in the Light so that those who see me can also see You, the way out of this dark night. Amen and Amen.

Song:
Here I Am to Worship
Words and Music: Tim Hughes

1. Light of the World You stepped down into darkness
Open my eyes Let me see
Beauty that made This heart adore You
Hope of a life Spent with You

Refrain:
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

2. King of all days Oh, so highly exalted
Glorious in Heaven above
Humbly You came To the earth You created
All for love’s sake became poor

Refrain

Bridge:
I’ll never know how much it cost To see my sin upon that cross
I’ll never know how much it cost To see my sin upon that cross
I’ll never know how much it cost To see my sin upon that cross
I’ll never know how much it cost To see my sin upon that cross

Refrain

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

TheJesusStory devotions are also found at KingdomWinds.com.
pathoflifedevotions Uncategorized

September 8 “Temple”

Temple

Marketplaces murder worship.
When worship leaders trade the prophetic for the profitable, they make a truly terrible bargain. They destroy the worship before it can traverse from the earthly to the heavenly. The songs, the confessions, the well-rehearsed gestures, and the beautiful vestments all become commodities stained with human pride and disqualified for the courts of heaven.

The Angry Jesus
The gospels relate only a very few incidents where Jesus showed public anger. Each of them involved the desecration of the true worship of Jehovah or the abuse of power. Why did the apostasy of the Temple anger Jesus so? Perhaps it was because Jesus remembered the Throne Room of God in Heaven. The tabernacles and temples the Jewish people built for worship were patterned after the Throne Room of God in heaven–His Throne Room! (Hebrews 8:3-6) False worship desecrated this holy pattern.

Also, false worship did not deliver the promises of God to the people who came to worship with sincere hearts. They would come in obedience but go away unchanged, still laboring in their guilt and pain. Jesus had such great love both for the Temple and the people, this daily failure broke His heart. He would walk these same streets in power. He would heal and deliver in this same Temple Court. The wilderness would be His school and His healing station. But on this day, near the time of Passover, the power of God was missing from the House of God.

Jesus struck at the most visible representation of the apostasy—the Temple merchants. They were profiting from the sale of animals for use as sacrifices in the Temple, a severe desecration of the Holy Place.

With Whip in Hand
The sounds of worship—cymbals, chants, silver trumpets and ram’s horns—mixed with the sounds of commerce—animals and auctioneers, coins and clamorous hucksters, pickpockets and pious priests—greeted Jesus in the Temple courts.

“He made a whip of cords, (and) He drove them all out of the temple.”

Never was a there such a day in the Temple Courts. He shouted as He drove them out.

“Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”

His disciples were used to the commercial chaos in the Temple but today they ran for cover like everyone else. Some of them, though, could see His point though they had never before considered it. They remembered a verse from childhood.

“Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”

The Counter-Punch
After a time, things settled down and after a moment, beggar, thief, merchant, and priest alike, all scrambled to recover the scattered coins and corral the liberated livestock. The leaders made a quick huddle, elected a spokesman and challenged Jesus.

“What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?”

Seemed reasonable—a man has to have some sort of authority to create such a ruckus. Jesus answered with a whole new thought.

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

The leaders looked at each other and broke out laughing. They reported the facts—This Temple was 40 years in the construction and still unfinished—raise it up in three days? Laughter erupted all around.

Jesus did not explain that He was talking about a different Temple—His own body. He threw down the whip and departed the Temple; His men followed silently. The strength in His stride quenched the laughter like water thrown on a fire.

Scriptures:
John 2:13-12
Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
Hebrews 8:3-6 NKJV
For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Your House is still to be a House of Prayer and nothing else—the prayers of praise, worship, adoration, intercession, faith and desperation. May we always keep Your House pure and free from lesser concerns. You have promised to meet with us when we pray, when we call out to You. You pledged to inhabit our praise and be enthroned upon our worship. I know You are faithful to these promises. Help me be faithful in prayer. Amen.

Song:
The Lord Is in His Holy Temple
Words: Habakuk 2:20; Music: George F. Root

The Lord is in his holy temple,
The Lord is in his holy temple;
Let all the earth keep silence,
Let all the earth keep silence before him –
Keep silence, keep silence before him.

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

TheJesusStory devotions are also found at KingdomWinds.com.
pathoflifedevotions Uncategorized

July 26, “Good”

Good

In life there is doing “good” and being good; these things are not always found together.
A songwriter can write a good song without being a good person. A good person may be totally unable to write a good song. Go figure. Good works and goodness are not always companions.

“What Must I Do?”
Tradition calls him, “The Rich Young Ruler.” He had it all (to his way of thinking) but somewhere inside there was a void possessions and position and power did not fill. So He came to Jesus with this question:

“Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

As was His practice, Jesus answered the young man’s question with a question:

“Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.”

This was the central question. Life was not so much about doing “good” as it was about being good and only ONE is GOOD, God Himself. The implication was that if Jesus was truly GOOD and not just a man doing “good,” He must be of God. From God? God? But this was never spoken; it remained a subtext in this conversation. We, however, will bring it to the surface shortly.

Doing Good vs. Doing Well
When we do something well it means our technique was effective; it does not mean that what was done was good. A really rotten tune can be played really well and a great tune may be poorly played. This is an important distinction.

The rich man was talking about good deeds, thinking that in some heavenly ledger they were recorded and accrued interest with time and repetition like money invested. However, this belief did not fill the empty place in his soul. Jesus answered him in that context:

“You know the commandments…”

He gave him a quick list. The man was prepared with his report, “Yes.” He had checked these things off his “to do” list regularly.” He folded his arms, smiled, and waited for an answer, thinking, “Impressive! No?”  Jesus did not answer right away so the man elaborated, locking eyes with Jesus,

“All these things I have kept from my youth.”

Jesus returned the man’s gaze until the proud smirk on the man’s face melted and forced him to study the dust at his well-shod feet. When Jesus finally spoke, the man bravely looked up to see a smile on Jesus’ face. Perhaps the answer to the nagging, never spoken question in his heart was forthcoming.

“You still lack one thing.”

Excitement charged the man’s heart—an overlooked command? Some neglected good he could do? Some service to God and man…”

“Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

The smile never left Jesus’ face, but the hopes of the young man were crushed. He could afford any price for anything but he could not afford this. He disappeared into the crowd before they could see his tears.

More than Deeds
The song of the Old Covenant was “God is good and His mercy endures forever!” Jesus was God in the flesh, a mystery beyond all mysteries. He did “good” because He was GOOD. He still does and he still is. True riches stored in heaven accrue to our eternal reward not just because we do good things but because God is Good and He has promised to reward us.

Scriptures:
Luke: 18:18-23 NKJV
Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.'” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
Micah 6:8 NKJV
He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
Revelation 22:12-14 NKJV
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You are good and Your mercy endures forever! You very name is Faithful and True. You have imparted Your earth-tested goodness to me, tried in the fires of satanic temptation and found true. I could never have earned such goodness but I can live in its power and victory. You have anointed me to do GOOD in Your name and for Your glory. This is what I will do today. I will do justly, walk humbly with You! Lord, You are Good and Your Mercy endures forever. Amen.

Song:
God Is so Good
Traditional

God is so good! God is so good!
God is so good, He’s so good to me.

God answers prayer. God answers prayer.
God answers prayer. He’s so good to me.

God loves me so! God loves me so!
God loves me so! He’s so good to me.

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

TheJesusStory devotions are also found at KingdomWinds.com.
pathoflifedevotions Devotions, June 18

June 30 “Confession”

Confession

It was time to share His power and authority with the 12 men He had chosen.
Jesus did exactly that—He gave all 12 of them the power to preach the gospel and heal the sick. He put them under an order of strict discipline regarding provisions for the campaign and deportment among those who supported or refused to support them. We don’t know if they traveled in teams or alone, but they did exactly as Jesus commanded and His power indeed went with them and they saw the same results as they had seen with Jesus.

Herod
A campaign like that generates news. When the stories got to King Herod, the king didn’t know what to think. Theories were presented:

  • John was back.
  • Elijah or another long-dead prophet had risen from the grave.

Jesus alone was enough of a threat to peace and order; 12 men acting in His name and in His power was a crisis.

Time for a Rest
Although the flow of power is divine, ministry takes a toll on the human frame. Jesus took His men to a deserted place near Bethsaida, to hear the details of their ministry and to get some much-needed rest. It was not to be. Somehow news of their location got out and the multitude found Jesus. He let the disciples rest while He taught the people and healed them of their various diseases and impairments.

Time for a Meal
As the day was passing, the disciples suggested Jesus should close down the meeting and send people back to town. This was not to be either. Jesus told His men,

“You give them something to eat.”

Jesus organized the people into groups of 50 and seated them on the ground. He took the meager menu items and blessed them, giving them to the disciples to distribute. As they did, they saw the blest food multiply in their hands as they gave it away! In a short while the crowd of 5000 men, not counting women and children, was filled as were 12 baskets of leftovers.

The Confession
When the people were gone, Jesus retreated from the men a little distance to be alone to pray. When they had caught their breath, the men gathered to Him quietly, not wishing to disturb Him. All of them, Jesus included, were thinking of the events of this remarkable day. Jesus asked the men what people were saying about Him—specifically, what theories existed as to His identity. When all the standard answers were offered a silence fell, each man thinking the unthinkable. Jesus asked them who they thought He might be.

A soft voice spoke from among the 12. It was unusual for Peter to speak so quietly but His words were so full of meaning, they did not need volume to have an impact. Dr. Luke gives us the most economical version of Peter’s confession.

“The Christ of God.”

Never have four words meant so much. This confession is the power behind the power and the truth behind the truth. Many will admit that if Jesus really existed, He was a great teacher or philosopher or humanitarian, but they shrink back from the truth. This confession is the dividing line between believers and unbelievers. To confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One, the Suffering Savior, and Triumphant Lord is to worship and witness all at once. In its light all goodness is possible and all evil can be overcome.

Scriptures:
Luke: 9:1-26
Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece. “Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. Herod said, “John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?” So he sought to see Him. And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.” But He said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.” For there were about five thousand men. Then He said to His disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of fifty.” And they did so, and made them all sit down. Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them. And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” So they answered and said, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.” And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.” Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I confess with the ancient church: “I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.” I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.”

Song:
Crown Him with Many Crowns
Words: Matthew Bridges; Music: George J. Elvey

1. Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless king through all eternity.

2. Crown him the Lord of life, who triumphed o’er the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife for those he came to save;
his glories now we sing who died and rose on high,
who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.

3. Crown him the Lord of love; behold his hands and side,
rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty, glorified;
no angels in the sky can fully bear that sight,
but downward bends their burning eye at mysteries so bright.

4. Crown him the Lord of years, the potentate of time,
creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail! for thou hast died for me;
thy praise shall never, never fail throughout eternity.

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

TheJesusStory devotions are also found at KingdomWinds.com.
pathoflifedevotions April 18, Devotions

April 25 “Family”

Family

It took courage for Jesus to claim to be Messiah.
It took even more courage for Him to make this claim in His hometown synagogue. There was trouble at home. We don’t know when Joseph died but he is no longer mentioned in the narrative. Mary and her other children seemed to be divided in their opinion of Jesus. There is no doubt that Mary believed in Jesus and everything He said and did. After all, she had been visited by angels. She knew that Joseph was not the father of Jesus; He had been a true miracle child. Some claim that Mary and Joseph never consummated their marriage. The evidence in this passage disputes that. Mary and Joseph had four sons and more than one daughter. We are not given the breakdown of who believed in Him and who did not but it seems Mary was in the minority.

Unbelieving Family
It was all very hard to believe. It is likely that the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth before their marriage was like a dark cloud over the family. Small towns have long memories. Mary’s other children had to live with suspicions and snide remarks their whole lives. Perhaps they thought it would be better when Jesus finally left home. It was not to be. He didn’t leave quietly and fade into obscurity in some other town. No, He was preaching heresy and performing magic tricks all the way to Jerusalem and back. Why didn’t He just go away and stay away?

In the synagogue at Nazareth, the leaders gave Jesus one more chance; they invited Him to speak. As He spoke the inherent authority in His voice, manner, and message was undeniable. People quizzed Him about the miracles rumored to accompany Him everywhere. Was it all true? Either Jesus or someone else assured them it was all true. The people were astonished.

“Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?”

Obviously they were skeptical. They knew this man! He had always been on the strange side. He never disobeyed His parents. He never got in trouble as a child, unless some other boy lied about Him. He was always respectful and His carpentry work was without peer. Many of them had objects in their homes He had made for them. He had only one fault—He didn’t know His place. All of this notoriety was unseemly for a carpenter’s son.

Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary?
And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
And His sisters, are they not all with us?
Where then did this Man get all these things?”

This embarrassed Mary and broke Jesus’ heart. Then it got worse. From Luke we learn that at that time, or perhaps at a similar time, the good people of Nazareth rose up and sought to throw Jesus off a nearby hill. Jesus stopped them with a look, exited through the middle of them and no one dared oppose Him. His conclusion?

“A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”

The Price of Unbelief
The sick people of Nazareth went to bed that night with no divine touch to relieve their pain. The blind people still could not see,  the deaf ones could not hear, nor did those infested with demons find release. Why? Because these people refused to believe. How foolish. How tragic.

Scripture:
Matthew 13:53-58
Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Luke 4:28-30
So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I believe. You said the work of God is to believe. I believe all of your story: born of a virgin, a life without sin, an atoning death, a spectacular resurrection, and Your ascension to the Throne of Heaven. I believe it all. As the angel said to Mary, “with God nothing is impossible.” I believe in Your will for my life. I believe You will be with me throughout the day ahead. I believe. I believe. That makes us family! Amen.

Song:
Only Believe
Traditional

Only believe. Only believe.
All things are possible, only believe.
Only believe. Only believe.
All things are possible, only believe.

Lord, I believe. Lord, I believe.
All things are possible, Lord I believe.
Lord, I believe. Lord, I believe.
All things are possible, Lord I believe.

Jesus is here. Jesus is here.
All things are possible, Jesus is here.
Jesus is here. Jesus is here.
All things are possible, Jesus is here.

Only believe. Only believe.
All things are possible, only believe.
Only believe. Only believe.
All things are possible, only believe.

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

TheJesusStory devotions are also found at KingdomWinds.com.
pathoflifedevotions Devotions, March 18

March 31 “Forgiven”

Forgiven

Unbelievably, when we repent of our sins and believe in Jesus, we are actually forgiven!
It seems too simple, too good to be true, but it is the truth—the Gospel truth. Jesus was always a step ahead of His critics; they were no match for Him in the brains department.

Back to Nazareth
He and the disciples crossed back across Galilee and journeyed south to Nazareth. As so often happened, friends of a paralyzed man brought the poor guy to Jesus. The crowd got ready to see another healing miracle, including the scribes who were trying figure out what to do next. If He were simply a healer through some mystical connection with God, that was no threat to them. If they could enlist Him as an ally, He might even be useful to them.

When Jesus saw the faith of the paralytic’s companions, His commendation was a surprise:

“Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

The watchful scribes all took the same deep breath and had the same silent thought,

“This Man blasphemes!”

Though not a word was spoken, Jesus knew their hearts so He conversed with their thoughts.

“Why do you think evil in your hearts?
For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?

This logic left no room for a reply. Sicknesses were individualized problems so healings were nice and could easily be attributed to God. Sin was a different thing altogether. Not everyone was sick but everyone had sinned! Healings were wonderful but the forgiveness of sins was for God alone. To their silence, Jesus replied that a healing here would prove His point:

But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” — then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

Like all the other times, it happened. The man’s frozen legs began to limber. Bones started popping so loud the people heard them. With a few stretches of his newly loosened limbs the man stood up to the amazement of the crowd. He flexed new muscles and picked up the bed they carried him on and went home. There was nothing to do but marvel at the power of Jesus and believe that God was the source of it. As the man journeyed home in his newfound strength, there was also a new feeling in his heart—the joy of being forgiven.

Matthew’s Call
Passing from the scene, Jesus saw a tax collector named Matthew. He called him to join His men with the same words used before:

“Follow Me.”

Matthew obeyed and as he committed to Jesus and believed in Him, his sins were forgiven. He invited Jesus and the others to a dinner to meet his friends. Jesus was happy to attend. When critics arose to challenge this behavior, Jesus set them straight. Those who are well have no need of a physician as do those who are sick. He challenged them to go and learn what they should already have known: that deeds of mercy were the coinage of the Kingdom of God,

“For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

He had the power to heal and to forgive sins.

Scriptures:
Matthew 9:1–13
So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” — then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” And he arose and departed to his house. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men. As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Your power is great both to heal and forgive sins. Where would I be if You hadn’t both healed and delivered me from sin? Like Matthew, You have also called me to serve You and I am happy to do so. Keep me free from sin by the power of Your Spirit. Keep me well by the stripes they put on Your back. Keep me in the traces where You put me by the power of Your blood and the might of Your name. Amen and amen.

Song:
My Sins Are Gone
Words and Music: N. B. Vandall

1. You ask why I am happy
So I’ll just tell you why,
Because my sins are gone.
And when I meet the scoffers
Who ask me where they are,
I say my sins are gone.

Refrain:
They’re underneath the Blood
On the Cross of Calvary,
As far removed as darkness is from dawn.
In the sea of God’s forgetfulness,
That’s good enough for me.
Praise God my sins are gone

2. ‘Twas at the old time altar
Where God came in my heart
And now my sins are gone.
The Lord took full possession
The devil did depart.
I’m glad my sins are gone.

Refrain

3. When Satan comes to tempt me
And tries to make me doubt.
I say my sins are gone.
You got me into trouble.
But Jesus got me out.
I’m glad my sins are gone

Refrain

4. I’m living now for Jesus
I’m happy night and day
Because my sins are gone
My soul is filled with music
With all my heart I say
I know my sins are gone

Refrain

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

TheJesusStory devotions are also found at KingdomWinds.com.
pathoflifedevotions Devotions, March 18

March 8 “Repentance”

Repentance

In modern Christian circles we tend to think of repentance as the final goal of our witness. Actually, it is the beginning.
The meaning of the word is simple and beyond dispute: it means to turn around. It is a deliberate reversal. Instead of traveling north we do a 180º turn and start traveling south. This is the first step in following Christ and it is a step often repeated on the Path of Life because we tend to get sidetracked onto useless paths that lead to destruction though at first they seemed right to us. When the Holy Spirit convicts us that we are on a path to destruction, we need to repent and get back on the Path of Life! O Lord, I want the power of the Spirit! I know it begins with repentance so I repent! I have gone under the water and up again to new and unending life in You. Now I want what John said You would bring—a baptism of fire! I realize how inadequate my gifts are to do the work You have called me to do. I need the Holy Ghost! Please do not leave me to my meager gifts and talents! Anoint me with Your power! Fill me with Your Spirit! “O Lord, send the power just now!” Amen.

John’s Call to Reversal
John, the Forerunner of Christ, stood in the waters of the Jordan River and called for a reversal in the ways of his generation. He was not gentle.

“Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance…”

He called his generation’s leaders snakes—not exactly good PR and very poor “optics” as they say in politics today. But this was his message, his mission. He was not called to be gentle; he was called to tell the truth to his generation. Change was coming and repentance was the first step in preparation for the change. Results rescue repentance from being just an act of public theatre.  Repentance is a real reversal of the heart. “Fruit worthy of repentance” was John’s demand. When we really repent, our lives produce a different set of results.

  • We are peacemakers rather than strife producers.
  • We are loving instead of hate-filled.
  • We are honest instead of deceptive.
  • We are humble instead of haughty.
  • We deal in grace not vengeance.

These things are the tests of true repentance. Words without a reversal of conduct are worthless.

Heritage does not automatically transfer.
The object of John’s preaching claimed to be children of Abraham, as if their bloodline won them favor with God. While Jehovah is a covenant-keeping God and will be true to His promises to bless Israel, those promises included warnings against apostasy—falling away from true worship and godly living. Their heritage had merit as long as their personal conduct was in keeping with the Law and such was not the case. John as much as said, “Big deal!”

“God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.”

It was the day of reversal, of pruning the national tree and the ax was already at the root.

Water and Fire
Standing and preaching in the river, John plunged the repentant ones under the water as a public act representing the inward reversal in their lives. For those people it was a dividing line in their lives. How many of these people would be the ones to be healed or delivered by the hand and Word of Jesus? How many of these would be miraculously fed in the wilderness? How many would witness the resurrection of Lazarus? There is no way to know, of course, but this act of preparation was the first step in preparing for Jesus to walk among them in power.

Standing and preaching in the river, John prophesied about another baptism to come, one not of water but of fire, the fire of the Holy Spirit. The cleansing begun in the waters of repentance would continue in the fires of the Spirit. God would raise up children of Abraham from every nation of the world.

And it has been so!

Scriptures:
Matthew 3:7-12
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
2 Corinthians 7:9-11
Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Acts 2:1-4
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Prayer:
O Lord, I want the power of the Spirit! I know it begins with repentance so I repent! I have gone under the water and up again to new and unending life in You. Now I want what John said You would bring—a baptism of fire! I realize how inadequate my gifts are to do the work You have called me to do. I need the Holy Ghost! Please do not leave me to my meager gifts and talents! Anoint me with Your power! Fill me with Your Spirit! “O Lord, send the power just now!” Amen.

Song:
O Lord, Send the Power Just Now
Words and Music: Charles D. Tillman

1. They were in an upper chamber, They were all with one accord,
When the Holy Ghost descended As was promised by the Lord.

Refrain:
O Lord, send the pow’r just now,
O Lord, send the pow’r just now;
O Lord, send the pow’r just now
And baptize every one.

2. Yes, the pow’r from Heav’n descended With the sound of rushing wind;
Tongues of fire came down upon them, As the Lord said He would send.

Refrain

3. Yes, this old-time pow’r was given To our fathers who were true;
This is promised to believers, And we all may have it too.

Refrain

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

TheJesusStory devotions are also found at KingdomWinds.com.
pathoflifedevotions Devotions, March 18

March 6 “Nazareth”

Nazareth

Sometimes it takes an outsider to speak to a closed system.
The leaders in a corrupt system close the doors to outsiders and consolidate their power. Such was the condition down in Jerusalem. It is interesting to note that Jesus and most of His disciples were outsiders, residents of the northern part of Israel, the region of Galilee. The prophet Isaiah called it, “Galilee of the Gentiles.” By the time of the Jesus Story, Galilee was populated mostly by Jews. Also, far removed from the stratified social structure of Jerusalem, a large middle class of merchants and craftsmen, including a thriving fishing industry, developed in Galilee. This was exceptional in the Roman culture of the day. As a craftsman, Joseph fit right in in the Nazareth community.

The People Who Walked in Darkness have seen a Great Light.
The Great Light that would eventually bring the power and presence of God to Jerusalem was Jesus Himself. He would come out of the north and bring the truth to the south, an outsider, the “Messenger of the Covenant who suddenly came to the Temple.” The faithful remnant in that closed, corrupt system to the south will delight in Jesus while the entrenched power brokers will rage against Him. Gentiles were not the only ones walking in darkness!

Out of Egypt; Back to Israel
Joseph’s dreams continued to play a major role in the Jesus Story. When wicked King Herod died, Joseph was informed of this by an angel in a dream and brought his family back to Israel. However, Herod’s replacement was also dangerous so in another angelic dream Joseph is warned of the danger. He turned aside to Galilee, settling in the village of Nazareth in the southern region of Galilee. Fathers today can imagine the joy Joseph took in raising this Boy who was both the Son of God and of Mary. If Jesus’ first word was as it often is today, the Hebrew equivalent of “Dadda,”—probably, “Abba”—Joseph was the recipient of the greeting. Mothers today can imagine the joy of Mary holding Jesus in her arms, seeing His first smile while looking into her face, and knowing before any of us did, His warm touch. These things happened in Nazareth.

The Synagogue in Nazareth
The hometown meeting place in the village of Nazareth will figure large in the Jesus story. It was here, as well as in the home of Joseph and Mary, Jesus memorized the scriptures that spoke of Messiah. He played with the neighborhood children. Surely He was the delight of His teachers. He learned Joseph’s craft by his side in the carpenter’s shop and he learned proper business practices in the community. In other words, Jesus, far removed from an elitist system in Jerusalem, learned the truths of real life, work and worship in the real world. In this, we identify with Him. He truly was one of us, living in a world not unlike ours: family, local worship and education, work and personal responsibility.

What a blessing that “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Scriptures:
Matthew 2:19-23
Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
Isaiah 9:1-2
Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.
Malachi 3:1
“Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You came to this earth to be one of us. Even in the selection of Your hometown, You chose to live outside of the power structures. You learned life as a boy in school and church just like us. You learned the value of work and honesty in business. You learned real life in a real world. Help me tell Your real story in my real world. Lord, I too, am an outsider in this world. People walk in darkness all around me; help me bring Your light to them. For Your glory, Lord. Amen.

Song:
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Traditional

1. O come, O come, Immanuel, and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.

Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

2. O come, O Wisdom from on high, who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show and teach us in its ways to go.

Refrain

3. O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times did give the law in cloud and majesty and awe.

Refrain

4. O come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem, unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save, and give them victory o’er the grave.

Refrain
5. O come, O Key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road and bar the way to death’s abode.

Refrain

6. O come, O Bright and Morning Star, and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night and turn our darkness into light.

Refrain

7. O come, O King of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease and be yourself our King of Peace.

Refrain

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved

TheJesusStory devotions are also found at KingdomWinds.com.