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Archive for January 11th, 2009

By faith… / ?????…

Sunday, January 11th, 2009

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. … 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:1-3, 6).

“ 1???? ?? ???? ????????????? ?????????? ? ??????????? ? ?????????. 2? ??? ????????????????? ???????. 3????? ???????, ??? ???? ???????? ?????? ??????, ??? ??? ?? ?????????? ????????? ???????. … 6? ??? ???? ??????? ???? ??????????; ??? ???????, ????? ?????????? ? ???? ???????, ??? ?? ????, ? ?????? ??? ???????.” (? ?????? 11:1-3,6)

“Without faith it is impossible to please [God]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.” Dear brothers and sisters, let us not pass over these words too casually! This is the crux of the matter: do we really believe that God exists? Do we believe that he watches over every moment of our lives, that each and every moment we are in his presence, that each of our actions brings us either closer to him or further from him? Do we believe that he made the world, and that ultimately the world cannot hurt us if he is our protector? Do we believe this firmly enough to choose to do his will in every situation, even when this seems foolish from a wordly perspective? If not, let us meditate on the examples the Apostle sets before us: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Esau, Joseph, Moses, and Joshua (among many others), who by their firm faith in God’s providence “subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (Hebrews 11:33-34).

If you don’t know these stories, they can be found in the books of Genesis, Exodus, and Joshua. For a shorter version of these and many other old testament stories, you can also look in The Law of God (???????)

Today’s Reading:

“17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.” (Hebrews 11:17-31)

“17????? ??????, ?????? ????????, ?????? ? ?????? ?????? ?, ???? ??????????, ?????? ????????????, 18? ??????? ???? ???????: ? ?????? ????????? ???? ????. 19??? ?? ?????, ??? ??? ????? ? ?? ??????? ??????????, ?????? ? ??????? ??? ? ????????????????. 20????? ? ??????? ????? ??????????? ?????? ? ?????. 21????? ?????, ??????, ??????????? ??????? ???? ???????? ? ?????????? ?? ???? ????? ??????. 22????? ?????, ??? ???????, ????????? ?? ?????? ????? ?????????? ? ??????? ? ?????? ?????. 23????? ?????? ?? ???????? ??? ?????? ???????? ??? ?????????? ??????, ??? ?????? ???, ??? ???? ?????????, ? ?? ??????????? ???????? ?????????. 24????? ??????, ????? ? ???????, ????????? ?????????? ????? ?????? ??????????, 25? ????? ??????? ???????? ? ??????? ??????, ?????? ????? ????????? ????????? ???????????, 26? ????????? ???????? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ??????????, ?????? ?????????? ?????????; ??? ?? ?????? ?? ?????????. 27????? ??????? ?? ??????, ?? ????????? ????? ????????, ??? ??, ??? ?? ???? ??????????, ??? ?????. 28????? ???????? ?? ????? ? ???????? ?????, ???? ??????????? ????????? ?? ???????? ??. 29????? ??????? ??? ??????? ????, ??? ?? ????, –?? ??? ???????????, ???????? ????????. 30????? ???? ????? ???????????, ?? ??????????? ??????????. 31????? ???? ????????, ? ????? ?????? ??????????? (? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????), ?? ??????? ? ?????????.” (? ?????? 11:17-31)

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Sunday after Nativity 2009. Things are not as they seem!

Sunday, January 11th, 2009

LISTEN NOW

Matthew 2:13-23 13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. 19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. 21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: 23 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.