In Jesus' Name - January 2024 - New Apostolic Church USA

New Apostolic Church USA

Media Library App

In Jesus' Name - January 2024

Give

The phrase “in Jesus’ name” is a direct reference to John 16:23:

Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in

My Name He will give to you.

It is clear from this text that what we ask of the Father, we should do in the name of Christ. Asking in His name includes an acknowledgment of our own unworthiness to receive any favor from God, and our entire dependence upon Christ as the Lord. Knowing that Jesus is our Advocate (1 John 2:1) gives us confidence when we pray.

“We pray in the name of Jesus. Following the example given by Jesus, we turn to God with humility, giving more importance to our fellowship with the Giver than to His gifts, trusting in His love.”

Chief Apostle Schneider, September 2020, Sarrebourg

Prayer works when we pray in Jesus’ name! These words not only signify who we are praying through, but also in Jesus we are given a pattern from which we can get a better grasp on how our longings align with God’s will. This pattern, or example, that Jesus provides applies to many other aspects of our lives as His disciples: how we serve, how we are known by Him, and what He has sent us to do. When we walk the way of Christ, we can be sure we are living according to the will of God.

He is coming!

Advent - a time of waiting and anticipation: "In Advent... it's the waiting that's hard, the in-between of divine promise and its fulfillment. Most of us find ourselves dangling in this hiatus, which in the interval may seem a waste of time... But the longer we wait... the more joyful our expectancy. With such motivation, we can wait as we sense that God is indeed with us, and at work within us, as He was with Mary as the Child within her grew." From "God is in the Manger" In this month of waiting, we will celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ - the King, the Son of God, the Giver of Mercy, the long awaited Messiah, the Immanuel, or "God with us," and the Christ, who will return to establish His kingdom. May you feel in your preparations, the wonder of Jesus' coming and lead your congregation into experiencing the presence of "God with us" on Christmas Day.

Thank God

This prayer of David continues to inspire our Season of Thanksgiving: Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and glory, the victory and majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name (1 Chronicles 29:11-13). In the month of October, we contemplated the works of God in the past, present, and immediate future: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. Now, in November, we turn our eyes to the events of our eternal future and express our thanksgiving to God for what He will do, as we continue awaiting Christ's return. Thank God: for His salvation for both the living and the dead, for His promised return as we continue readying ourselves, for His mercy as the kind Judge, for His care revealed in the continuing rhythms of this creation and His promise of the new creation, and for His time, a gift that we receive from His hand.

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

This month's sermon theme focuses on how God is working in the world and in our lives... yesterday, today, and tomorrow. In this month, as we stand in awe of what God is doing, let us also join Him in His work, creating(10/6), renewing(10/20), redeeming(10/27), and uniting (midweek). We give thanks for His great works yesterday, we worship Him for who He is today, and we strive to join Him in moving the kingdom forward tomorrow.