Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel

A Christmas Sabbatical

Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ;

I will be taking a week (plus today) from posting my daily studies. If anyone feels so inclined to share their own study for the coming week, (or any time for that matter), please feel free to do so, as it advances the Gospel of our Lord Savior Jesus Christ. 

Additionally it is my prayer and fondest hope that all of you have a wonderful, safe, Christmas, and God's rich blessings in your lives and that of your family and friends in the coming new year. May we all, each of us, never stray far from as the saying goes, the "reason for the season" and that His sacrifice, is always foremost in our minds. 

Indeed, as the old Christmas carol "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" says: "God and sinners reconciled"

Respectfully Yours I remain your humble servant in Christ; 

RPW. Sr.

The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the CorinthiansChapter 9 Verses 6-7
6 This yet remember, that he which soweth sparingly,shall reap also sparingly, and he that sowethliberally, shall reap also liberally.7 As every man wisheth in his heart, so let himgive, not a,grudgingly, or of necessity: for God lovetha cheerful giver.
Related Scripture
Proverbs 11:24-25; Proverbs 22:9; Galatians 6:7-9; Psalm 112:9; Proverbs 21:6; Proverbs 19:17; James 4:17; Deuteronomy 15:7, 10; 1 Chronicles 29:17; Romans 12:8; Psalm 15:2; 

The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the CorinthiansChapter 8 Verse 9
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,that he being rich, for your sakes became poor, thatye through his poverty might be made rich.
Related Scripture
Matthew 8:20; Daniel 7:14; Matthew 9:6; Matthew 12:8; Matthew 13:41; Mark 8:31;  Philippians 2:6-7; Romans 9:5, 23; Hebrews 1:2-13; Colossians 1:15-16; 1 John 4:14-15; Ephesians 1:7; Revelation 3:18;

The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the CorinthiansChapter 7 Verse 10
10 For godly sorrow causeth repentance untosalvation, not to be repented of: but the worldlysorrow causeth death.
Related Scripture
2 Samuel 12:13;  2 Samuel 24:10; Psalm 32:1-5, 10; Psalm 51:10; Matthew 26:75; Proverb 28:13; Proverbs 17:22; Psalm 22:15; Proverbs 14:30; Proverbs 15:13; Proverbs 18:14; Romans 6:23;  Romans 5:21; Romans 8:39; Matthew 25:46; 

The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the CorinthiansChapter 7 Verse 1
1 Seeing then we have these promises, dearlybeloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthinessof the flesh and spirit, and finish our sanctificationin the fear of God.
Related Scripture
1 John 3:3; 1 John 4:17; 1 John 1:9;  Malachi 3:3; James 4:8; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Psalm 119:9; Matthew 23:26; 1 Thessalonians 4:4, 7;
Suggested additional reading 1 Thessalonians 4 in it’s entirety 

The Sunday Sermon

Teach Us to Pray ( Part 3)

by Billy Sunday 

Edited by R.P. Woitowitz Sr.  

“And so it was, that as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” 

The Gospel of Luke Chapter 11 Verse 1

Pride Hinders Prayer

Pride keeps us from proper prayer. Being chesty and big-headed is responsible for more failures than anything else in this world. It has spoiled many a preacher, just as it has spoiled many an employee. Some fellows get a job and in about two weeks they think they know more about the business than the boss does. They think he is all wrong. It never occurs to them that it took some brains and some knowledge to build that business up and keep it running till they got there.

Here's two things to guard against. Don't get chesty over success, or discouraged over a seeming defeat.

"And when he prayed he said: 'Lazarus, come forth'; and he that was dead came forth" (John 11:43). If we prayed right we would raise men from sin and bring them forth into the light of righteousness.

"And as he prayed the fashion of his countenance was altered" (Luke 9:29).

If you are devoting your time and thoughts to society, your countenances will show it. If you pray, I can see that.

Every man who has helped to light up the dark places of the world has been a praying man. (Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16;) I never preach a sermon until I've soaked it in prayer. ( 1 Kings 8:28-29, 38, 45; Psalm 39:12; Psalm 54:2; Matthew 21:22; Acts 6:4;)  Never. Then I never forget to thank God for helping me when I preach. (Psalm 30:12; Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 3:17; Hebrews 13:15;) I don't care whether you read your prayers out of a book or whether you just say them, so long as you mean them. A man can read his prayers and go to heaven, or he may just say his prayers and go to hell. We've got to face conditions. When I read I find that all the saintly men who have done things from Pentecost until today, have known how to pray.