Herrenhuter readings for Tuesday, the 13th August 2013

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Thus says the Lord your God: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Jos 1:5 NIV)

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. (2Co 1:20 NIV)

Posted in Losung & Lehrtext | Tagged 2 Cor 1:20, Baptism, divine, Forsake, God, goodness, Gottesdienst, Grace, Jesus Christ, Jos 1:5, leave, Lord's Supper, neglect, presence, Promise, Sacrament, Word | Leave a comment

Lutheran Order of service in isiZulu/seTswana

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

The Lutheran Order of Service for the 12th Sunday after Trinity is available here in isiZulu and seTswana. Today it comes with a sermon based on God’s word in the gospel of St. Mark the 8^th chapter verses 22-26 by my brother P. Peter Weber (LC Ohlangeni, KZN) in isiZulu (wz1342130818 n Tr 12) and translated as usual into seTswana (wt1342130818 n Tr 12) by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD (Welbedacht, KZN).

The readings for this Sunday are:

Old Testament: Isaiah 29:17-24

The Epistle: Acts 9:1-9 (10-20)

The Gospel: Mark 7:31-37

The liturgical colour is green.

May you have a very blessed weekend and have time to meditate on the watchword for this Sunday: A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. (Isa 42:3 NIV) – and if you are called to preach this weekend, may the triune God give you joy and strength, enthusiasm and wisdom, knowledge and insight – and the true words and pictures to preach his holy will purely and his promises faithfully! However if you are not preaching, but listening – then listen as if God is talking to you + His precious gospel is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Rom 1:16 NIV)

We thank the Lutheran Heritage Foundation for supporting the distribution of hard-copies of these orders of worship and sermons throughout Southern Africa. If you also want a copy please do not hesitate to subscribe by writing to EAWWeber@bundunet.co.za.

Posted in Lutheran Order of service | Tagged Acts 9:1-9 (10-20), Isaiah 29:17-24, KZN, LCSA, LHF, Mk 7:31-37, Mk 8:22-26, Ohlangeni LC, Order of service, Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD, Rev. P.C.Weber, Sermon, Translation, Tswana, Zulu | Leave a comment

Löhe on 1. Corinthians 15:2

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. (1Co 15:2 NIV)

Life is serious – und our sojourn through it is plastered with choices. The apostle indicates the troubling possibility that we have accepted his preached word, but still do not retain it, but rather loose it. Then we would have believed in vain.

We can’t therefore be content if we believed earlier on, but rather should strive to keep connected all along. We are to persevere in the Christian faith going through good and bad stretches – even through the troubled last times – until we at last come to see, what we believed and our struggles finally are caught up in ongoing peace and everlasting rest. This only happens by the grace of the living God – and that is good like that. It’s the best that this eternal salvation depends on him. He gives, retains and completes it. Faith and perseverance in it are not such a struggle because of some godly limitations or fault in God, but rather because of our sin and unfaithfulness. Dear Christian friend remember that and fear your own culpability. Flee from yourself into God’s most faithful hands. He will help and he will carry you home – for his own sake!

Lord God heavenly Father! Promote the good work that you have started in us. Let us grow richer in all knowledge and experience, so that we will be more and more competent to test what your will is in all life’s situations and that we will be found blameless when your Son Jesus Christ comes again in glory to judge the living and the dead. Help us in all temptations and afflictions to stand firm and faithful. If we stumble and fall, then catch and support us and let us stand and walk upright once more. You are the God, who helps us. You wait on us and we are fixed on you. Don’t remember our sins and iniquities, but rather remember your great mercy. As we struggle, fight and combat fill us with your mercy and there in victory with joy and happiness. Amen.

Fight the good fight with all thy might; Christ is thy Strength, and Christ thy Right; Lay hold on life, and it shall be Thy joy and crown eternally.

Run the straight race through God’s good grace, Lift up thine eyes, and seek His face; Life with its way before us lies, Christ is the Path, and Christ the Prize.

Cast care aside, upon thy Guide, Lean, and His mercy will provide; Lean, and the trusting soul shall prove Christ is its Life, and Christ its Love.

Faint not nor fear, His arms are near, He changeth not, and thou art dear. Only believe, and thou shalt see That Christ is all in all to thee. (John S.B. Monsell, 1811-1875)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Monday after the eleventh Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 293 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu! (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

Posted in Meditations by P.Wilhelm Löhe (Translation) | Tagged 1 Cor 15:2, Believe, Faith, Gospel, Grace, instruments, Ministry, Office, Preaching, Sacrament | Leave a comment

Herrenhuter readings for Monday, the 12th August 2013

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

The Lord said to Job: “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? … when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt‘? (Job 38:4.11 NIV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (Joh 1:1.3 NIV)

Posted in Losung & Lehrtext | Tagged All, Beginning, Believe, creation, Earth, ex nihilo, Faith, foundation, glorification, Jesus Christ, Job 38:4.11, Joh 1:1.3, Lord, nothing, Ocean, Understanding, Word | Leave a comment

Sie fragten sich: “Wer ist dieser, der auch die Sünden vergibt?” (Luk 7:49)

Posted on August 11, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Hier eine Aufnahme der Predigt uber Lk.8,36-50, die ich heute in St.Paulus gehalten habe:

Posted in Sermon | Tagged Erloeser, Heiland, Jesus, Lk 7:36-50, Pharisaer, retten, Selig zu machen, Suchen, Suender, Vergebung, Verloren, Zoellner | Leave a comment

Löhe on 1. Corinthians 15:1

Posted on August 11, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. (1Co 15:1 NIV)

The gospel proclaims God’s big deeds of salvation. In it his grace of salvation for all people is revealed. If you want to be saved, you can’t find it in the Law given at Sinai nor in the pagan philosophies of Athens nor in the political power of Rome or in the religious offerings of India, but only at the cross and grave of Jesus Christ, the Lord. There is no salvation for us but that found in his vicarious death and victorious resurrection. This is the true center and hinge of all God’s miracles and wonders, his deeds of salvation, liberation and redemption.

Now in the application of this salvation all depends solely and exclusively on God’s giving. He is the one, who grants this gift freely and abundantly. He does this through his called servants – the apostles firstly and then later through the office of the ministry, which preaches the gospel purely and administers his sacraments according to his authoritative institution. They all received that, which filled their hands and hearts before they could hand it on to those around them.

Wherever God’s servants speak in his name, there he himself is at work efficaciously, there he is handing out his gifts of live and salvation. Whoever hears them, hears him and whoever despises them, despises him who sent and authorized them – the Holy Spirit himself, who does not bear despising or ridicule.

To take and receive these godly gifts rightly is a gift from God too and happens by grace alone. God works the effective reception of this gracious salvation through an inner sealing of this truth in a firm conviction which goes from strength to strength until it is finally victorious. This application and reception of God’s grace in Jesus Christ remains a mystery, which will only be manifest at the end in eternity.

We laud and praise you, merciful God and Father, that you have given us your grace through your dear Son Jesus Christ. Let us receive life and salvation through his death and resurrection so that we may not be distracted from it by the vile attempts of the evil enemy. Let your word remain the joy and comfort of our heart both in good and bad days until we come to laud and praise you from face to face in eternity. Amen.

1 Faith and truth and life bestowing, Open now the Scriptures, Lord, Seed to life eternal sowing, Scattered on the wind abroad. Let not hearts, Your Word receiving, Like a barren field be found, Choked with thorns and unbelieving, Shallow earth or stony ground.

2 May the Spirit’s pow’r unceasing Bring to life the hidden grain, daily in our hearts increasing, Bearing fruit that shall remain. So in Scripture, song, and story, Savior, may Your voice be heard. Till our eyes behold Your glory Give us ears to hear Your Word. (Timothy Dudley-Smith, *1926)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the eleventh Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 292 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu! (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

Posted in Meditations by P.Wilhelm Löhe (Translation) | Tagged 1 Cor 15:1, Dudley-Smith, Faith, Gift, Gospel, Grace, Life, mercy, preached, Salvation, Truth | Leave a comment

Herrenhuter readings for Sunday, the 11th August 2013

Posted on August 11, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. (1Ch 29:12 NIV)

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see (Act 3:16 NIV)

Posted in Losung & Lehrtext | Tagged 1Ch 29:12, Act 3:16, complete, exalt faith, Healing, power, strength | Leave a comment

Löhe on Song of Solomon 2:16

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

My lover is mine and I am his. (Sol 2:16 NIV)

I would give my life and all that that entails for one receptacle of the most precious ointment for the head of my Lord. Yet because he is not here for me to apply this as I so dearly wish, I therefore take myself and all, that I am and have just like you’d take a bunch of grapes and press them to extract their juice and be a most refreshing potion for his elected representatives here on earth – the poor and lowly. You’re invited to follow suit and bring your life’s chalice to the Lord and his chosen ones too that they may drink their fill to their health and your blessing. That’s more than any other earthly bliss and happiness.

Grant us o Lord that the ears which have heard the voice of thy Word may be closed to the voice of clamor and dispute; that the eyes which have thy great love may also behold thy blessed hope; that the tongues which have united in thy praise may speak the truth; that the feet which have walked in thy courts may walk in the way of light; and that the bodies, which have partaken of thy living body may be restored in newness of life. Glory be to thee for thine unspeakable gift. Amen. (Dr. Lilije)

Take my life, and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee; Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in ceaseless praise, Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move At the impulse of Thy love; Take my feet and let them be Swift and beautiful for Thee, Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing Always, only, for my King; Take my lips, and let them be Filled with messages from Thee, Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold; Not a mite would I withhold; Take my intellect, and use Every power as Thou shalt choose, Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine; It shall be no longer mine. Take my heart; it is Thine own; It shall be Thy royal throne, It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour At Thy feet its treasure-store. Take myself, and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee, Ever, only, all for Thee. (Frances R. Havergal, 1836-1879)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after the tenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 291 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu! (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.