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The Anabaptist Voice
01/07/2009

Proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God: Love, Joy and Peace in Jesus.

Happy New Year, dear friend in Christ,

      We pray for God’s guidance that we stay close under His grace and love, and that we grow closer to Him each day this year. Don, Michi and Naomi were a bit sick this weekend but praise God we are doing well today. We had our Sunday morning church at home again because of our illness. (The sermon is shown below.)
       Patrick and his family are traveling back to Canada. We pray for their safe trip home. We had a wonderful time with them and David. Patrick had no problem driving back from the Hutterite colonies in eastern Washington to Seattle. The snow was deep, yet the road was clear all the way and they must have enjoyed looking at the mountains full of beautiful snow. Washington state has traffic cameras along the highways so we watched the cars coming over the mountain pass about the time that we expected Pat to be passing there. This photo of the cars coming over the mountain pass on the freeway perhaps shows Pat's car as he was to be crossing about that time.
       We are glad that David and Jim also joined with Patrick and his family at Mike’s house. Arlene, Mike’s wife, had knee surgery on last Friday. We are told she is doing well. Thank you, Lord!
       We must remember to thank the Lord for everything. He is in control, and we are to follow Him closely under His grace.
       Yesterday morning as Don was eating breakfast he noticed that one of the 6 inch utility covers in the middle of the intersection outside our window was laying to the side. A few minutes later he noticed that there was a pipe sticking up about two feet from that utility hole. That was very dangerous if a car hit it so he called 911 and within 10 minutes a fire truck was there to take care of the problem.
       Last night at family church time, we sang two songs from the new Anabaptist songbook that Michi is working on. After the church Naomi told us that the third verse of both songs are the same. We are so impressed that Naomi has such wonderful brain. When she was 2 years old, she got sick and the doctor told us that 3/4^th of her brain is dead. God has healed her and she has a special gift from God.
       May God the Father grant you peace, love and faith, dear friend, and grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. (Eph 6:23-24)

your brother and sisters in Christ,

Don, Michi & Naomi Murphy
Tucson, AZ phone 520-297-1639
www.AnabaptistChurch.org

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)

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Our Sunday Service
01/04/2009

Songs: #103, O God, Thou Mighty Ruler (by Jörg Bruckmair, 1585, German: Gott, du gewaltiger Herre), #66, Jesus, Jesus, Life the Fountain (by Hieronymus Annoni, c. 1760, German: Jesu, Jesu, Brunn des Lebens), #38, God Gives His Judgment (by Georg Blaurock, burnt 1529, German: Gott führet ein rechtes Gericht, verses are shown below)

Hutterite Sermon (from the 16^th century): Concerning the New Creation

     The inspired apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Galatians that in Christ Jesus "neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” (Gal. 6:15)
     Man was created out of pure grace by the Almighty God in accordance with His holy image, in order ultimately to be taken and accepted into eternal blessedness. Through his fall and sinful deviation from God, his benevolent Creator, he must of necessity be reborn, renewed, changed, and turned around, if he wants to become an heir to eternal life.
     This still remains the holy truth as Jesus clearly testified to Nicodemus: "Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus said, "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3, 5) The gospel of John reports that the Lord Jesus said: "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man," (John 3:13)
     Although our dear Saviour pointed to His own holy person with these words, it applies to a certain extent to His true followers for they are members of His body, of His flesh and His bones. One must first acquire the divine image in this world, if one wants to enter the heavenly nature of eternal salvation. This we see clearly in the words of Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians:
     "I tell you this, brethren: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality.” (1 Cor. 15:50, 53)
     Peter confirms this holy truth when he writes: "He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature.” (2 Peter 1:4)
     Through this holy truth we realize that while on the one hand we are reconciled with God, our Father, by repentance through the noble blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, on the other hand we are certainly sanctified and born again in this reconciliation through the Holy Spirit. Whoever has not attained the latter, in vain takes pride in the first. Paul testifies to this clearly in his letter to Titus:
     "For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:11-13)
     In the next verse Paul says in a remarkable way that our Lord Jesus Christ "gave himself to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.” In order to seal this truth and to fortify it, Paul says very seriously to Titus: "Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” He testifies that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 5:17) Just as we said before, "neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation."
     Doubtless Paul is instructing us that neither the outward church ceremonies of the Jews nor of the Greeks are recognized by Christ, but solely a new creation. This is a truth we should take note of, especially in these times when nearly everybody wants to serve the Almighty with outward ceremonies, but without the new creation. Already in the Old Testament the Lord announced this through the prophet Ezekiel: "Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, a house of Israel?” (Ez. 18:31)
     Therefore, whoever does not receive a new heart and a new spirit must perish eternally. We should take special note of the expression of this prophet when he says: "Cast away from you all the transgressions.” Mark the word all; not one is accepted. It can happen very easily that we cast off one or the other transgression or sin, because we are not very inclined towards it anyway. Yet we hold on to another sin towards which we feel more of an inclination. Therefore Ezekiel says all, yes, all transgressions with which we have lived in our lusts will have to be thrown off without exception.
     Oh, how many people there are today like King Saul who was commanded by the Almighty through the prophet Samuel to annihilate and destroy the Amalekites completely - man, woman, child, and babes in arms, oxen, sheep, and all cattle - to leave nothing alive. Although Saul invaded their country in accordance with the Lord's command, and overpowered and defeated the Amalekites, he only killed what was in poor shape, weak, and sickly. Out of his greed he kept the best of the cattle and other spoils, preserving the life of King Agag. This disobedience displeased the Almighty so much, that Saul lost his own kingship.
       From this we can see very clearly that all those who do not completely kill and wipe out the spiritual Amalekites in themselves - that is, all their sin and unrighteousness - but hold on to those lusts to which they feel inclined, will be expelled and rejected eternally from the Kingdom of God. This is a truth we should bear well in mind, if our eternal salvation is precious to us.
     If the great God admonishes us in such a fatherly way to cast off and throwaway all, yes all our transgressions, this must happen in the depths of our souls, for Christ says: "For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.” (Mark 7:21-22)
       The root of evil is in the heart. If we want to eradicate a weed, we have to begin with its root. If we only cut off the branches and leaves but do not tear it out by the roots, it continues to grow. In the same way we must root out and cast away evil, sin, and unrighteousness from our hearts. Otherwise it may well happen that our efforts have only the outward appearance of repentance, in which we, like Pharisees, live a pious, complacent life before men, whereas our hearts are filled with hypocrisy and vice.
       That is why it is exceedingly necessary that we pay attention to our hearts and inward feelings, dear brothers and sisters, to that which moves us in our souls. If through God's light, we do find something which strives against the will of our blessed Creator, we may rid ourselves of it. Indeed, all our transgressions will be revealed and punished by this same divine light anyway.
       It is a certain truth that if we, in the depths of our souls, rid ourselves of all transgressions faithfully and truly, then all obvious sin and unrighteousness will come to an end. For if a tree is attacked by the root and destroyed, it will die off completely.
       Oh, that we would do this daily, throughout our lifetime. Then we would be capable, by the strength of God, to establish firmly this new creation, which in Christ Jesus alone is more powerful than any outward ceremony.
       Nobody can partake of this new creation in his soul except for the one who, from the bottom of his heart, throws off all sin, and receives a new heart and a new spirit. If we do not attain this here in this life, we shall die and be lost forever.
       Therefore the Lord, full of compassion, says: "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezck.18:30-31)
       Oh, brothers and sisters turn back to God, and you shall live! Amen, amen.
              (from Hutterite Sermons Prefaces Volume 2, translated by Crystal Spring Colony)

Song: #112, O Lord, Let Sin Nor Guilt (by Peter Riedemann, c. 1550, German: Lass uns, Herr, nicht beflecken)
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Song #38 God Gives His Judgment
(by Georg Blaurock, burnt 1529, German: Gott führet ein rechtes Gericht)

1. God gives His judgment true and just, And no one may resist it, For who on earth does not His will Must hear God speak His judgment. But gracious art Thou, Lord, and good, Thou showest loving kindness. And those who do Thy will on earth Thou knowest as Thy children.

2. Thru' Christ we give Thee praise and thanks, For all Thy loving kindness. O may He all our whole life thru', From sinfulness protect us. Thru' Jesus Christ, Thy Son, prepare Our hearts for His Last Supper, And with Thy Spirit clothe us now, From death and sorrow free us.

3. O blessed they who hear the call To share in this Lord's Supper; Steadfast in Christ unto the end, They bear all tribulation. For those whose wedding robe is white, Without a spot or blemish, The Lord has now prepared a crown And on their head will place it.

4. But he who wears no wedding robe At Jesus Christ's appearance Must stand aside at His left hand His crown is taken from him. O Lord, give to us Thy pure love To go Thy way unwearied, That when we must depart this earth The door of Heav'n is opened.

5. As to those virgins it was closed: "Lord, Lord!" they called then weeping. But all their lamps were lacking oil, For they had all been sleeping. But blessed is he who keeps the watch With those five faithful virgins. Eternal good he will receive, And he will see God's glory.

6. And when the King at last appears With sounds of trumpets ringing. He leads the way, and with Him go The band of all His chosen. See therefore, Zion, Church of God, What grace to thee is given, And guard it well, keep free from sin, And crowned be in heaven.

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