Luke 2:10-11 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”
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John 20:16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned toward him and said in Hebrew, “Rabboni!”
 
ONE popular Christmas hymn is “Joy to the World.” The angels declare joy has come in Jesus’ birth. Mary Magdalene declares joy is alive before her in John’s report of Jesus’ resurrection. From the angel’s, “I bring you good news of great joy.” to Mary’s “Rabboni!” exclamation we receive a message: Joy to the world! The Lord has come.
   Indeed, Mary represents all of us who love Jesus. Jesus found her chained in despair, captured by seven demons. Jesus released Mary to the joy of salvation in Christ, so she could follow, serve and learn from the Son of God. But then came the cross.
   Mary and the other women who also cared for Jesus and Jesus’ disciples suffered an inexpressible anguish. What sorrow and despair they experienced when they witnessed their beloved Good Shepherd die on the excruciating, cursed cross.           But look! That’s all gone now. Despair is done! Now Mary knows joy has come.
   Yes, our risen Lord has come, and he has made himself fully known to Mary and her friends. Now, even more, the Spirit has revealed the Son to the world - to even you and me. The psalmist of old wrote of this in the advent – the anticipation – of the Messiah: Psalms 14:7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
   God’s promise is fulfilled. Jesus was born. Jesus has lived as a man. Jesus suffered the cross. Jesus died as a man. Jesus rose as the Son of God, Savior of the world. Salvation has come out of the tomb to restore the world. Satan is conquered. Death is done. 1 Corinthians 15:55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
   Against the culture, out of the norm, out of their past and out of the tomb’s despair, Mary and the others stepped into joy to become the first missionaries, the first ambassadors to represent the risen Christ. Yes, Mary, your despair was deep. But your joy is so much higher! No matter what anyone said to you, you know he lives in you because despair is gone.
   Joy to the world, the LORD is come! Be sure your joy prompts you tell, “Jesus is alive.”
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for being Joy to the World. Amen.

Deuteronomy 30:1-3 When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, 2 and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.
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Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 
 
TODAY is the first day of the season in the church known as Advent. “Advent” means arrival, expectation and appearance. You could include “revelation” as God reveals himself through the personal arrival of his expected Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Even though we are at the end of our calendar year, it is the beginning of the new year in the church. Appropriately Advent is about beginning.
   As Bible passages around Jesus’ birth from Isaiah, Luke and Matthew are most commonly read during this season, you likely wonder how Deuteronomy and Romans would be appropriate for Advent scriptures. In truth, the entire Bible is about Advent. God’s Word records the expectation of the Messiah. Now that he has come, we live each day with sure expectation Jesus is coming again to establish the new heaven and earth. The church’s purpose in the Advent season is to remember God has kept his promise to come, and know he will keep his promise to come again.
   These promises are the connection between Deuteronomy – a book of the law – and Romans – an epistle to declare grace has fulfilled the law. See Deuteronomy’s commands and promise in “take them (the law) to heart” and “when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul … then the Lord your God will … gather you again from all the nations.” Then compare with Romans’ words, confess with your mouth and believe in your heart…you will be saved. In the law and the gospel, God reveals the faithful heart that loves God is the key to living with God. God’s promise in Deuteronomy to gather you is fulfilled in Romans’ way to gather us with a believing heart.
   In addition, Moses wrote seven times in Deuteronomy to “Love the Lord your God.” Then he added this promise in Deuteronomy 30:20 For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  A heart obeying and loving God was then the key to living with God. 
   Then Jesus graciously came to fulfill that promise. He preached the gospel to prepare the church for the time he will send his angels and gather his elect. (Mark 13:37a) God is Emmanuel. He has come through the law. He has come through the gospel. He is with us now in Spirit as we confess with our hearts we love and believe in him. Proclaim with your mouth and in your heart, “I am a sinner. Forgive me Lord. Jesus is risen from the grave and ascended to heaven. Jesus saves.” You can then faithfully expect Jesus’ second coming will be your great reward.
 
Prayer: As we await your Second Coming, Lord Jesus, we pray we do so with our hearts full of love, that we may joyfully live in your commands. Amen.
 

Acts 16:1-3 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. 2 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take Timothy along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
 
PAUL and Silas are on the move to meet with people to whom Paul and Barnabas had ministered in Lystra, Derbe and other areas. They will then continue to evangelize the gospel into new areas. On his earlier visit to Lystra, Paul had spoken the Spirit’s healing to a lame man. (We wonder if he ran out to meet Paul!) People had also threatened harm to Paul and Barnabas.  
   It is likely that Timothy, Timothy’s mother, a Jewess and believer, and his grandmother had responded to the Spirit’s awakening on Paul’s first visit. Paul later wrote of their faith in 2 Timothy 1:5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. Timothy’s mother and grandmother were Jews who had become Christians. But Timothy’s father was a Gentile. Because of his father’s influence, Timothy was not circumcised.
   Why then, did Paul recruit Timothy to be an evangelist for the gospel of grace and then circumcise him as the law demanded? The apostles had become resolute that salvation did not require circumcision. Did Paul reverse this doctrine?  
   Paul explains his reason and methods in 1 Corinthians 9:19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. Paul’s method was to enter a town to meet people in their culture, so he could open a conversation that would lead to teaching the gospel of salvation in Jesus. To speak of life-changing truth to people, we must be willing to find a way to develop a personal connection with them. People must trust who you are, so they are willing to hear you.
   Paul and the true gospel teachers remained steadfast that one was saved as Paul preached the true doctrine he later wrote in Ephesians 2:4-5: Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.
   Timothy, a disciple, was willing to dramatically adjust his life to the Spirit’s call. Think of it. To agree to go with Paul, Timothy was willing to submit to the immediate circumcision and the probable physical persecution to come. This is a take up your cross faith. The Spirit had certainly anointed Timohty with faithful submission and determination.
   We can praise God, the Spirit joined these three men into a new, powerful partnership that would affect the world. All churches that exist in the Western World today have their roots in the gospel ministry of Timothy, Silas and Paul.
 
   

Acts 15:36-41 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
 
THIS is very disappointing, isn’t it? From the time Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul (Acts 11:25), so Saul could help teach the great number of people who were brought to the Lord, the two Spirit-empowered evangelists, teachers and preachers had been inseparable. They celebrated the Spirit’s victories over evil, healed many and delivered financial support to the Jerusalem church. Together they faced violent mobs and even survived stoning.
   But then they argue. John Mark had left them on an earlier mission. Barnabas was Mark’s cousin, so it is easy to understand why Barnabas wanted Mark back on the team. And even more, Barnabas’ very name means son of encouragement (Acts 4:36). His nature was to mentor people toward their potential.
   On the other hand, Paul did not think it wise to take Mark. Apparently these words express a moderate view of Paul’s deep displeasure, possibly deep anger with Mark. Perhaps Paul thought Mark was not a man of integrity to be trusted to do the Lord’s work. Possibly Mark  had left when they had faced strong opposition, and Paul did not want to put Mark in that position again. From a more positive point of view, perhaps Paul was protecting Mark, a younger man, from doing something that would endanger him. Whatever the reasons, the two men who had spent years preaching unity between the Jews and Gentiles in the church could not find the way to unify their relationship.
   Pride seems to be the knife that cut their bonds. Neither one seemed willing to take one more step toward the other’s view. Pride is a great divider. Scripture has many examples of pride’s painful intrusion into God’s creation. For example, pride separated Satan from God’s presence. Isaiah 14:13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.” The Pharisees’ iron-clad pride blinded them to the Son of God, who had come from heaven to meet them face-to-face.
   We are thankful God heals and restores. The Spirit used this division to expand his church. Barnabas and Mark went to Cypress. Paul and his new partner Silas headed for Syria and Cilicia. From this point on Paul’s work is the focus of Acts as the historian Luke traveled with the apostle to witness and record God’s work.
   We are thankful our Lord works through our weaknesses into his strength. We must count Barnabas as one of God’s great workers to establish and expand the church. His encouragement opened the door to Paul’s ministry, and he helped Mark expand his discipleship to write the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (Mark 1:1)

 

Acts 15:22-35 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers. 23 With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, “To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. 24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.” 30 The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31 The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.
 
THE church is faithful to God’s purpose. Many Jews wanted to hold to the law of circumcision for Gentile Christians. Gentiles were living in the common habit of sexual immorality and foods that related to idol worship. Each group had to adjust their thoughts to center on God’s commands and his grace of salvation.
   The key to this is understanding it seemed good to the Holy Spirit. They have met to hear Peter’s, Paul’s and Barnabas’ testimony of the Spirit’s action in their lives. The church’s leaders have apparently prayed and sought God’s response. Knowing the Scriptures, the testimony and the Spirit’s revelation, the council submitted to his leading and directed the new converts in Antioch to do the same.
   James and the apostles also recognize God is doing a great work in Antioch. Silas and Barsabbas join Paul and Barnabas. In communion with each other and the Spirit, these four gifted men strengthened and guided the church. Silas and Barsabbas returned to Jerusalem. This tells us others in Antioch became prophets – teaching God’s Word. We will see Silas again soon. In the meantime Paul and Barnabas and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.  
   This is discipleship. Jesus’ preachers and teachers are growing in number because they are hearing and doing what seems good to the Spirit.

Acts 15:20-21 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21 For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”
 
THE apostle James confirmed circumcision was not necessary for Gentiles. Then he exhorted the apostles and all to continue teaching three essential prohibitions of Moses’ law: Reject food polluted by idols. Do not eat meat with blood. Stop sexual immorality – fornication. Why did James focus on these three?
   Regarding the idol meat, the custom of many people in the Roman Empire was to have banquets in buildings dedicated to the various Roman gods. Many people would not know this is a moral problem because it was a common practice. Eating food that had been dedicated to an idol would indicate one worshiped that false deity. Christians are to worship God only. Habits and traditions guide our lives. We must often stop to determine if the things we do in any way reject God’s moral laws and principles.
   The command against eating blood dates back to God’s law to Noah after the Flood: Genesis 9:4 “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.” This was spoken long before the law at Sinai. Yet, it remained in force in the new church.
   Third, to reject sexual immorality refers to fornication. This was so common in the first century culture it was accepted as common morality. Does that sound familiar? Premarital sex is sin, and we need to stand against its common acceptance now. The faithful Jews knew this sin was the beginning of their ancestors’ destruction in the Promised Land. Even before they reached Canaan, Israel’s men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. (Numbers 25:1-2) One sin leads to another, and soon evil becomes good. It is written sixteen times in the New Testament Jesus and the apostles specifically condemned this. One example is when Paul admonished the church at Corinth: The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. (1 Corinthians 6:13b)
   We know fornication and eating food used for idol worship remained a great problem in the early church. In his vision to John, Jesus admonishes the church in Thyatira: Revelation 2:20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.
   Discipling one another to know and live God’s truth requires persistent effort to understand what God tells us is wrong and what is right.

Acts 15:12-19 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13 When they finished, James spoke up: “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
 
James Quotes Amos 9:11-12
 
Acts 15:18 “After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17 that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things.” 18 (These things) have been known for ages.
 
Then James Decides
 
Acts 15:19 It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
 
PETER had testified to the Spirit leading him to Cornelius’ home. Then Paul and Barnabas confirmed God had revealed his power among the Gentiles. The church’s ruling council listened with silent, attentive ears. Who could reject the testimony of these three men, especially Peter and Paul? Jesus had exclusively anointed each of them to lead his church in a particular way. The Lord’s will was being accomplished with their faithful adherence to Jesus’ commands.
   And when debating the ways of the church, there is one more absolutely essential authority the church must consult. This is God’s Word - Scripture’s – authority.
   James speaks that authority. James is Jesus’ half-brother and author of the epistle James. He had been chosen to lead the church in Jerusalem. James’ quote from Amos 9:11-12 is God’s promise to restore Israel from his judgment to create Israel to be the center of the nations’ worship. David’s tent represents God’s covenant to send his Savior through David’s lineage. The tent is God’s covering over his people.
   This is as if God will have a great feast for the world. Once Israel is under his shelter again, he will draw in “Edom” who Israel’s cousins, descended from Esau, Jacob’s twin brother. Then God will welcome all the nations. God’s plan to save the world through Jesus is a plan that moves from Jerusalem to the nations.
   James sees God’s plan for the Gentiles in the prophet’s words. God’s Word is the authority to welcome the Gentiles into the church without circumcision. The debate should end.
   How often do we in our personal lives consult God before resolving a question on our heart? How often does the church? This must be our habit, our purpose. Remember, near the end of his life Paul wrote: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16) Let’s trust it is for each part our lives. The next lesson focuses on three essential issues in the first century that are still a great problem today. 

Acts 15:5-11 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.” 6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
 
THE gospel is for everyone, even the Pharisees. We know how the Pharisees confronted, criticized and crucified Jesus. How often our Lord had implored them to believe! But then some did believe during Jesus’ ministry. More came to faith as the risen Savior became known throughout Judea.
   Some of the Pharisees, who became Christians, though, wanted to hold onto circumcision. They couldn’t completely submit to know God’s grace was sufficient. They needed to learn, and the best way to do so was to hear from Peter, whom God sent to the Roman, Cornelius’ home.
   Peter’s testimony is clear and direct. He testifies it is God’s choice: “Some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.” Peter confirms God had a plan from ages past to call Gentiles to faith: “God, who knows the heart,” had chosen them to believe. Then, “God showed that he accepted them.” It was by God’s power Cornelius and his family understood salvation through Jesus because God gave the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.
   Peter confirms all belilevers are united in Jesus’ church: “God made no distinction between us and them.” And they became holy as they believed: “For he purified their hearts by faith.” God had planned, decided, acted and saved.
   Then Peter asked the Pharisees, who had become Christians, why they tested God, why they want to put a burden on those whom God had freed from the law’s burden. The law had served its purpose, but it could not save. Jesus is the only reason anyone could claim, “I am Jesus; disciple.”
   God had appointed Peter to feed my sheep. (John 21:17c) That is precisely what he was doing. 

Acts 15:1-2 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
 
PETER had baptized the Gentile Cornelius and his family (Acts 10). Paul and Barnabas had especially ministered to the Gentiles. People from outside Judaism were believing in Jesus! Wasn’t that enough?
   Apparently it was not enough for many. Some Jews who had confessed Jesus as their Savior did not understand Jesus’ grace to redeem all believers. They held fast to God’s covenant of circumcision even though Jesus had commissioned a new covenant for a full relationship with mankind: Matthew 26:28 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
   Paul would often emphasize this in his later teachings as in Romans 3:25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.     Still, many of Jesus’ Jewish-born disciples wanted to add to Jesus’ grace. There was a problem in the church, and the church leaders needed to confront it.
 
Acts 15:3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad.
 
As Paul and Barnabas traveled to Jerusalem, it seems the Lord confirmed that the Gentiles belonged in the church. The Christians from Judaism,  who fully accepted Jesus’ new covenant, rejoiced that God welcomed all people into his kingdom. Luke goes on to say v. 4 when they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
   This was another way the Holy Spirit enlightened the Jews to the next step in God’s salvation for the world. It was time for the Jews to receive the true Messiah. As they became Christians, they needed to receive the Gentiles in the same way Jesus received them. Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility through the confession of their faith.
   God so loved the world he has made a way for all to come to heaven. Confessing Jesus is confessing, “By grace I have been saved through faith. My birth nation does not matter because I am born again in Jesus.”

Acts 14:24-28 After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, 25 and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
 
IN Acts 13-14 Luke (Remember Luke is the one who chronicles this history.) tells us of Paul’s and Barnabas’ work in about 13 different cities plus regions of Cyprus and other territories. They were busy men, determined to do a very difficult work for the Lord. We can scarcely understand the degree of physical, mental and emotional effort this ground-breaking evangelism and discipleship required. Paul would later describe the strain of his work: 2 Corinthians 11:27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. We have read that Paul and Barnabas were abused in various cities. Such opposition would deprive them of sleep, food and drink.
   Fruit-bearing ministry, too, has no set schedule. The Spirit may move in particular ways to cause a great response and long-lasting gatherings to pray, praise and worship the Lord. Teaching and preaching requires strength and durability. Traveling from place to place, too, was always a physical challenge for them. This is still is for very many of you reading this.
   Determined work with Jesus requires much. That’s why determined work with Jesus leads to much reward. Paul’s and Barnabas’ return to Antioch, where they were first commissioned to their work, is a joyous reunion. How encouraged and strengthened they would have been to see that their work was bearing fruit.
   A determined, productive Christian life requires a balanced life that works in unity with many believers. We must know when it’s time to sleep and when it’s time to get up, time to lead and time to follow, time to teach and a time to listen. The church is a body of believers. A body requires all parts to function well to be healthy, strong and productive. Be a church that supports your pastor with determined Jesus-centered prayer, love, joy and purpose. Be a pastor that supports your church with determined Jesus-centered prayer, love, joy and purpose.