SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th, 2022
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!
NEWS: A very happy, safe Labor Day weekend to all! We are celebrating the 13th Sunday after Pentecost and we are back in God’s house where its air-conditioned too! At 9:00 AM Pastor Joel continues to lead us in the study of the Lord’s prayer. This includes material from Luther’s Large and Small Catechism’s. Our worship is at 10 and the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “Hatred and Bearing the Cross.” Its based on our Gospel reading for the day, Luke 14:25-35 Our other readings are Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Philemon 1-21 When we’re finished celebrating the Lord’s Supper and our service draws to a close, please join us for fellowship time with coffee and other goodies. Then our fellowship continues at In N’ Out Burger, on Frazee Rd., across from 24 Hour Fitness. With the heat wave going on, their shakes really taste good!
We pray all can join us for part of their Sunday, but for those unable to worship in person, we stream our service live. The link is here: www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside Click on that, then click on the More dropdown arrow, then click Live. If you have a moment, please “Like” us and leave a brief comment about your online worship experience. Thank you! Also serving the Lord and our congregation today are:
Fellowship: Rick and Gail Adams
Flowers: Victor Dille
Techies: Ian Andrews, Bruce Woodward
Reader: Charlotte Neblett
Acolyte: Josephine Neemia
Greeter: Rick Adams
Ushers: Victor Dille, Open
Communion Assistant: Allen Kolkman
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Ian Andrews.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: Oh God, from whom all good proceeds, grant to us, Your humble servants, Your holy inspiration, that we may set our minds on the things that are right and, by Your merciful guiding, accomplish them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Psalm 90:13-17; Psalm 107; 2 Kings 2:1-18; Ephesians 4:1-24
DIGGING DEEPER: Ezekiel 33:7-9; Psalm 32:1-7; Romans 13:1-10; Matthew 18:1-20
Alleluia. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Alleluia.
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Jesus Has Come and Brings Pleasure”
“Jesus has come as the mighty Redeemer. See now the threatening strong one disarmed! Jesus breaks down all the walls of death’s fortress, Brings forth the pris’ners triumphant, unharmed. Satan, you wicked one, own now your master! Jesus has come! He, the mighty Redeemer!”
Isaiah 55:8 says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD.” God does not always accomplish His will in ways that we would use if we were in charge of things (and we can be thankful that we are not in charge!). Scripture tells us about God’s unexpected ways. A cheater named Jacob tricked his brother into trading away his birthright. Even though he deceived his father, Jacob received the firstborn’s blessing; the promised Messiah would be one of Jacob’s descendants. God used Gideon and a small band of 300 soldiers to defeat the army of Midian. Another victory in battle belonged to the Lord as a young shepherd boy with a slingshot brought down a giant warrior.
When the time came to do battle with the deadliest foes of all—sin, Satan, and death itself, God sent “the mighty Redeemer,” Jesus His Son, into the world. Jesus was not the Savior that many people in Israel expected. The mighty Redeemer came, not as a great warrior, but as a newborn infant. What kind of battle plan was that? Yet when the Redeemer grew to adulthood, He began to disarm the demonic forces of Satan, the “threatening strong one” (see Matthew 12:28-29). Alone in the wilderness, Jesus defied the devil and his temptations. The Redeemer cast out demons, who cried out in despair as they recognized their Master, “Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God” (Luke 4:34). Jesus healed and forgave people, setting them free from bondage to Satan.
The strong one and his demonic legions fought back. The powers of darkness closed in around the Son of God, but that, too, happened according to God’s unexpected battle plan. The mighty Redeemer hung beaten and helpless, nailed to a cross. By His death, the innocent Son broke down “all the walls of death’s fortress.” Our crucified and risen Redeemer brought us “triumphant, unharmed” out of bondage to Satan. In this unexpected way, God “has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14). Satan, the wicked one, was forced to own—to acknowledge—his Master.
Even though the defeated, demonic foe still rages against us and seeks to separate us from our Savior, we are safe in the hands of our Lord, who stands with us and arms us for the fight. Wielding the Spirit’s sword, the Word of God, we seek to resist temptation as our Lord did. Together we stand firm in Christ Jesus, offering up our own battle cry of praise: “Jesus has come! He, the mighty Redeemer!”
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, keep me safe in Your care and help me by Your Spirit to stand firm against the foe. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn “Jesus Has Come and Brings Pleasure,” which is number 533 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. What unexpected ways has God worked in your life or in the life of someone you know?
2. How was Jesus not the Savior people were looking for? What would many have preferred? Why?
3. How is Jesus exactly the type of Savior we needed?
Today’s Bible Readings: 2 Chronicles 22 Joel 1 2 Corinthians 9
Luther’s Morning Prayer
In the morning, as soon as you get out of bed, you are to make the Sign of the Cross and say:
“God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.”
Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In addition recite this prayer as well:
“I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father through Jesus Christ your dear son, that you have protected me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you that you would also protect me today from sin and all evil, so that my life and actions may please you completely. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
After singing a hymn or whatever else may serve your devotion, you can go about you day joyfully!
Luther’s Evening Prayer
In the evening, when you go to bed, you are to make the Sign of the Cross and say:
“God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.”
Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In addition recite this prayer as well:
“I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have graciously protected me today, and I ask you to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously to protect me tonight. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
Now you can go to bed quickly and cheerfully.
OTHER RESOURCES:
Our church website is: https://www.svlchurch.org/
Below is our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside
Here is the website for Lutherans for Life: https://lutheransforlife.org/
Here is the website for Lutheran Hour Ministries: https://www.lhm.org/
Lutheran Public Radio is listener supported and has two channels, one for sacred music and the other for talk, including news, current issues, politics and spiritual matters from a Lutheran perspective. Hosted by Pastor Todd Wilken, Issues, Etc. airs live Monday thru Friday from 1 to 3 pm Pacific, with the “Best Of” running at other hours: https://lutheranpublicradio.org/
KFUO is the listener supported radio station owned and operated by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Based in St. Louis, their format consists of teaching, preaching, ministry and sacred music: https://www.kfuo.org/
A very blessed Lord’s Day and Sunday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
