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Sunday
The First Lesson
Isaiah 59:15b-21
15 And the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.
18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.
19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.
1st Lesson Questions -
Isaiah 59:15b-21 Drawing from today’s Lesson in Isaiah, St. Paul instructs us in Ephesians 6:11 to “put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Note that God himself wears the armor in Isaiah, but in Ephesians God loans us that same armor for our own spiritual battles. Do I consciously put on God’s armor every day? Which pieces do I sometimes lack? RESOLVE.
The Second Lesson
2 Corinthians 10:1-7, 17-18
1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.
17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.
2nd Lesson Questions - 2 Corinthians 10:1-7, 17-18 We learn in Psalm 139:2 that God knows our very thoughts. Thus, in the General Confession we acknowledge that we have sinned in “thought, word and deed.” (BCP, p. 75) What can I do to bring “Into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”? (V. 5) (Hint: read Philippians 4:8.) RESOLVE.