“The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, to grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear” (Luke 1:73-74)

Who is our enemy?  Sin, death, and the devil are at the front of the list.  The Lord has come so that all who are in Him would live in the victory He has promised.  He has fulfilled the promise He made to Abraham, both in the number who have followed in his footsteps and through faith for those who live in the righteousness of Christ.  It is also in overcoming the adversity of this world.  The final obstacle which will be conquered is death.

Lord God, You keep Your word.  You have provided for us such that in turning to You we find mercy and grace.  Although the world is often a fearful place, coming through the beginning of wisdom and understanding that faith conquers fear, the faithful know that all things will happen according to Your will.  May we be comforted in the hope which You give.  Help us to understand that though the body may be killed, yet we know that we will stand before You forever.

Lord Jesus, Savior who paves the way, guide me in the fear of the Lord.  You grant wisdom which You have given over the ages so that I may become what You will make of me.  Guide me in the way of righteousness You came to bring for those who believe.  Be the One who leads me and help me to understand that only in and through the promises You have made will I find rest for my spirit.  Amen.

“Salvation from our enemies, And from the hand of all who hate us; to show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant” (Luke 1:71-72)

You do have enemies and there are those who hate you.  For those who appeal to Him, He gives mercy and remembers what He has promised to the faithful.  In Christ, this is, in part, what some call the new covenant.  Maybe it is better to say the unfolding covenant that tells us that He will walk with each of us and guide us in the way of everlasting life.  He has come to lead You into the way of eternity which He established in the beginning.

Lord, Your mercy abounds and You care even  for those not yet born.  Help me to understand that I am a part of Your plan.  You will guide those who look to You and lead all who come through faith to You.  You will uphold us through the difficult waters of this world.  Help me to see Your hand of action and follow You where You lead.  Open my ears to hear Your word when You speak and heed the admonitions that You give.

Lord Jesus, Word made flesh, You have come to make eyes to see and ears to hear.  Your word is still spoken and there are those who will receive Your word of life.  Guide me so that I walk on the path You have set before me.  Help me to understand that You must be the One who leads, for I do not know where to go.  Through all of these things, lead me.  In all things, let Your hand be that which guides my actions.  Amen.

“And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant – as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old” (Luke 1:69-70)

The Lord spoke through the prophets of old of the coming redemption.  God knows what He is doing.  He sees the beginning from the end.  He will accomplish the salvation of those who come to and through Him to eternal life in Him.  The story is still unfolding, and we are a part of the ongoing story as the horn of salvation continues to blow.  He has now given you his word of salvation.

Heavenly Father, my ears have heard the words You have given me.  You have fulfilled the words You gave to the prophets of old and my eyes have seen the movement of Your people in the church.  Lead me into the words of eternal life which You have spoken through Your Son so that I may learn how to live the new life You have given me.  Guide me out of the old  ways of this world to live the new way of everlasting life.

Lord Jesus, Salvation of God made flesh, You have come in fulfillment of the prophecies of old so that I might have true life and have it abundantly.  Guide me in the goodness of Your revelation to hear and heed the words You have spoken.  Help me to receive and then act upon Your instructions.  Daily, lead me ever deeper into the way of everlasting life so that I may become what You will make of me.  Amen.  

“And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people” (Luke 1:67-68)

What is it that the Lord said in prophecy which the faithful understood?  Listen to what is said here, for these are the words of a faithful Israelite speaking the faith before Jesus came.  “The Lord has come and accomplished our redemption.”  To be redeemed is to be taken out of bondage.  God’s plan has not changed.  Jesus came to redeem us.  What we do with that redemption is the next step.

Lord, many around me think in terms of being saved.  It is that, but there is something important I forget.  You lifted me out of the pit of death and destruction.  You have set a path of life before me.  Help me to see what I was and what You are making of me are not only completely different, but that I am not yet where I will be as You prepare me to live forever with You.

Lord Jesus, You are the One who has come to redeem those who look to You for their salvation.  It is You who accomplishes this for us.  Guide me in the way of living which moves into the life You have set before me.  Help me to see the pitfalls where I think I am doing these things on my own.  You are the Redeemer and the Savior and apart from You I can do nothing.  Lead me to learn how to always follow You.  Amen.

We are searching for a new Senior Pastor at Mount of Olives Church in Mission Viejo, California.

Please check out the job description (and video) on the search firm’s website: https://www.vanderbloemen.com/job/senior-pastor-mount-of-olives-church/

The link to the Pastoral Call page on the church’s website is https://moochurch.org/home/senior-pastor-call

Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea.  All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him” (Luke 1:63-64).   

The crowds were dazzled at the time.  How many of them later would follow where John would lead them?  How many would look the other way when John was imprisoned?  We may be dazzled for a moment, but when faith takes root, the greatest miracle of all for any one of us happens.  God has not come to impress us, but to release us from the condemnation that sin has brought upon the world.

Lord, like others, I too love the obvious.  But I often do not see the simple and humble transformation that happens to those who come to You in faith.  Help me to celebrate and rejoice in the truth that every day You are performing so many miracles.  Let me see Your hand of action in the world.  Guide my eyes to see so that I may speak of the truth of Your presence in our lives.

Lord Jesus, the Father opened the mouth of one who at first did not believe to utter these  words which were words of obedience.  Open my mouth to speak what is right and true.  Lead me so that I speak Your word of salvation to those whom I meet.  Guide me knowing that Your hand is upon me.  Take away whatever hinders me in order that I may be bold in the faith You have given me.  Amen.

And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished.  And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God” (Luke 1:63-64).

It is not that every time You are obedient to the Lord everything will be miraculous, but perhaps, in a way, it is.  All of heaven rejoices when one sinner repents.  “Graced by God,” the meaning of the name, is given to the one who will lead the way for Jesus.  The Lord has purpose for you and when there is obedience, the grace of God is unleashed before and in you.  Listen to the Lord, not the crowd.

Lord, You have wonderfully made each one of us for Your purpose.  Help me to learn obedience so that I may humbly walk in the way of Your leading.  Whether others see the miracle that You are performing does not really matter.  You are miraculously transforming all who come in faith to be Your children.  Guide all the faithful in the way You know we need to go.  Lead all to be faithful to every call You give.

Lord Jesus, You are the grace of the Father.  You are the One who gives us the ability to act in faith to come to the Father.  Help me by Your grace to move through whatever obstacles come my way so that I may learn how to be obedient to every direction that comes from You.  Lead me now and always to humbly submit to Your call and to reject every other call to the contrary no matter how many things of this world press in.  Amen.  

“And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.”  And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called” (Luke 1:61-62).

You cannot break tradition!  What has gotten into you?  We have always done it that way.  The world, while tolerating all types of garbage, focuses upon trivial things and gives you a bad time.  The mother must have some kind of postpartum thing going on, what does the father want?  Mind you, names were much more important for them then, but the pattern of meddling is still present.

Lord, where I become excited over some small things that really do not matter, help me to leave behind the temptation to give into the world’s indignation.  Where there are those around me who are in a feeding frenzy of correctness, help me to go the other way.  Lead me to be of a sane mind that pays attention to what is important to You and leave behind what is not.  Guide me to listen and follow Your guidance.

Help me, Lord Jesus, for You know what it is like to have the crowds pressing in.  Those around You wanted You to do all sorts of things.  Help me to look beyond them to see You so that I may hold fast to what is the right thing to do.  Guide me through all of the anxiousness in this world so that I may do the Father’s will.  Lead me to that place where I will hear You give me my new name.  Amen.

“And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father.  But his mother answered and said, “No indeed; but he shall be called John” (Luke 1:59-60).

The turning point of this story is helpful to us.  Those outside the faith have expectations and they are laid upon us.  Well-meaning though they may be, it is not what will happen.  In those days, the word of the father was final.  Elizabeth was following the command of the Lord, but the culture of those days caused those around her to wonder what she was thinking.  Why would this first son not be named after the father?

Lord, I am very presumptuous and expect others to act the way I expect them to act.  Help me to be sensitive in the way You would have me be and be sensitive so that I do not act according to the way of the world, but by the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Help me to see those places where I am reacting with cultural things so that I may be sensitive to Your word when it calls me to do something else.

Lord Jesus, throughout Your ministry You showed care for others and were willing to break through the human customs of the day.  Help me to understand that I too need to break through those customs that hinder me from doing what You would have me do.  Aid me not to expect others to act the way I want, nor impose my understanding upon them.  Guide me to be a help to my neighbor.  Amen.

October 25: Reformation Sunday

SOLA/LSB: Revelation 14:6-7 (Angel with eternal Gospel: fear God, give glory, hour of judgment)

            ELW/RCL: Jeremiah 31:31-34 (A new heart, engraved with God’s Word)

ALL: Psalm 46 (A mighty fortress is our God!)

ALL: Romans 3:19-28 (All have sinned, fallen short of God’s glory; but his righteousness is grasped by faith, not works)

ALL: John 8:31-36 (If the Son makes you free, you are free indeed)

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Opening Hymn: Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty: LBW #250, ELW #533, LSB #901

Hymn of Praise: All Glory Be to God on High: LBW #166, ELW #410, LSB #947

Hymn of the Day: Thy Strong Word Did Cleave the Darkness: LBW #233, ELW #511, LSB #578

Communion 1: Amazing Grace: LBW #448, ELW #779, LSB #744

Communion 2:  Now Thank We All Our God: LBW #534, ELW #839/840, LSB #895

Closing Hymn: A Mighty Fortress is Our God:

LBW #228/9, ELW #504 (note, #505 is a gender-neutral version), LSB #656/7

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In the power of the Spirit, let us pray to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the world, the Church, and one another.

A brief silence is kept.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the precious pearl of great price, the Gospel of salvation. Thank you for the reformers who sought to find, keep, and share it. Thank you for faithful people throughout history who have preferred nothing whatsoever to Christ Jesus, and him crucified. Keep us in their company. Keep our faith warm and pure through the life-giving fire of your most Holy Spirit.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Pour out your Holy Spirit upon your Church. Make it your holy habitation. Keep it steadfast in your Word. Strengthen it in the face of temptation. Defend it from evil. Reform and purify it from sin and error. And bestow on it your saving peace.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Be the refuge and strength of Christians who are persecuted for confessing Jesus as Lord. Cause the enemies of the Gospel to repent of their sinfulness, that they may turn to you and live.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Graciously protect and guide the people of this congregation, O Lord, our Strength and our Redeemer. Gladden our hearts with the joy of your saving love. Let our lives overflow with the gifts of your Holy Spirit. Use us to refresh, nourish, instruct, and invite our neighbors into your presence.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless the work of faithful theologians and teachers who establish dialog, clarify doctrine, correct errors, and strive to heal your Church. Direct their labors with your Spirit. Give them holy charity as they proclaim the truth of your holy Word. Keep their hearts and their work centered in your Son, crucified and raised to forgive sin and to grant life and salvation to all who will receive him.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We long for you to break the bow, shatter the spear, and make war to cease throughout the world. Until that day, please strengthen, protect, and guide all who risk their life on our behalf. Be their very present help in times of trouble. Let all they do be in service to your will. Bring them home safely and soon.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Exalt yourself among the nations, and speak your word to the leaders of the world. Establish among us that peace which the world cannot give. Teach us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly before you.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We lift before you all are shaken by suffering of body or soul, including:  {List}. Be in their midst, let them not be overthrown, and bring them your saving help. Say to them, ‘be still, and know that I am God.’ Restore them to health and hope. Let them proclaim the awesome things you have done.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Holy Father, thank you for the lives of all your faithful people: prophets, apostles, and martyrs; theologians and confessors; teachers and pastors; and all the ordinary saints whom you have redeemed through the precious blood of your dear Son. Grant that we may humbly follow in their footsteps, boldly trust in your promises, faithfully live in your Word, and cheerfully serve in your Name. Bring us, through the merits of our Savior, into your eternal home. There with all the redeemed, we shall glorify you in the power of your most holy Spirit forever and ever and unto the ages of ages.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For Jesus’ sake, grant the fulfillment of all we ask that conforms to your holy will. Amen.