Whisperings of the spirit trial#

It was not audible, but in my heart and mind, He clearly spoke. There was an event in my life when I truly heard the voice of God. God will encourage and Satan will deceive. The words they speak will be very different. God will lead you to heaven, but Satan will take you to hell. There is a very big difference between the wisdom of God and the lies of Satan. If you do not know the voice of God, you have to wonder what will happen when Satan whispers in your ear. While we seek to hear from the Lord, we have to ask ourselves, вЂњWould we recognize the voice of God?вЂќ

Many times, we have begged just to hear the still, small voice of God, telling us what to do next.

Whisperings of the spirit trial#

We have asked for comfort, healing, direction and guidance in every situation and trial we have encountered. Soli Deo GloriaВ вЂ“ Amen.Christians throughout the centuries and around the world have prayed for GodвЂ™s wisdom. May we shout the truth as loudly as the shepherds to all who have ears to hear. May we be as courageous as Mary as we seek to both understand and accept the assignment. She understood, in ways that continue to baffle even the most learned, what it meant to live a life that is truly pleasing to the Lord.ДЄs we print the final bulletin, rehearse the final anthem, don our stoles or haloes or choir robes, may we tune into the Holy Spirit whispering GodвЂ™s desires for us and for our world. We will read this week of the sacrifice of JesusвЂ™ mother, Mary вЂ“ the willing offering of her body, health, time, marriageability, social status, and potentially her very life вЂ“ to do GodвЂ™s will. No offering is perfect except that which has already been expiated on our behalf. Whatever we do in the hustle and bustle of the next week, whatever liturgies are spoken, or rites performed, we are made holy only through the blood of the lamb. Though are hearts are rightfully turned toward the manger, Hebrews reminds us that JesusвЂ™ sacrifice is our only sanctification. What does it mean for us to do GodвЂ™s will, within and outside our walls? What parts of church life truly grow us spiritually, and which parts should we allow to die? Pandemic has the potential to be a sacred moment where we legitimately question which parts of worship are both pleasing to God and truly usher in the kin-dom of heaven. The author of Hebrews challenges us similarly as he abolishes sacrifice in order that we might truly do the will of God. Were our schedules pre-pandemic really tenable? Did we make enough time for friends, for family, for ourselves? From what parts of our lives were we unburdened during this season of forced inactivity?

One Twitter pundit noted that as we rush to return to normal, we should in fact consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back to. The comfort of pine-decorated sanctuaries, candle-lit advent wreaths, and familiar hymns sung in pews is a balm for many of our weary hearts.ДЄnd yet, a return to вЂњnormalвЂќ is probably neither possible nor wise, even without the Omicron variant permeating the air. I imagine your congregations are excited to gather again in ways that are meaningful and will provide fresh hope for the first time since pandemic began. My church just held its annual Christmas concert, and IвЂ™ve noticed churches advertising everything from live nativities to small business shopping events to outdoor caroling. This Christmas season, as we begin coming back together for worship, many of our churches are reviving traditions that we were collectively forced to forgo in 2020. There is much to do, and little time to prepare even in this interval set aside for intentional anticipation. Whether you are a pastor, an administrator, a parishioner, or a worship leader, our collective anxiety is increasing as we draw closer to Christmas Eve. Greetings to you this fourth and final week of Advent. And it is by GodвЂ™s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.вЂќ Hebrews 10:5-10 Then I said, вЂSee, God, I have come to do your will, O GodвЂ™ (in the scroll of the book it is written of me).вЂќ When he said above, вЂњYou have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offeringsвЂќ (these are offered according to the law), then he added, вЂњSee, I have come to do your will.вЂќ He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. вЂњConsequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, вЂњSacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.

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