Arthur S. Way

JESUS! In Word and Song

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WEEK 1

ADVENT WEEK ONE – HOPE

“Happy New Year! The Christian year begins with the season of Advent.”1 “Advent anticipates the ‘coming of Christ’ from three different perspectives: the physical nativity in Bethlehem, the reception of Christ in the heart of the believer, and the eschatological Second Coming.”2

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land” (Jer 33:14 ESV).

The Christian story is essentially one of daring hope, and we proclaim it boldly during Advent. All our senses tell us that God is not here, that the world is encompassed in darkness, cold, and pain. Yet we proclaim during this darkest, coldest time that He is here, tangibly born in the flesh, present with us still today.3

If you read the Bible cover to cover, you will discover there is a lot of waiting done by God’s people. Even though God made them wait, He didn’t allow them to wait without hope. He made covenants, anointings, and promises with his people while they waited, which gave them hope.4

“Hope, in the Bible, exists as a secure assurance, a trust placed in a trustworthy God. God has not failed us in the past, and therefore, if he claims he will do something in the future, we can have a hope that he will fulfill that claim.”5

“We aren’t alone in hope for an improved political climate. The Jewish people living more than two thousand years ago were hoping for the arrival of the Messiah to rescue them and bring about a just and peaceful kingdom.”6

Revelations initial recipients were living in two overlapping realities: their assurance in the sovereign reign and glorious return of Christ; and their earthly, everyday experience of waiting and suffering. Some two thousand years later, we still live amid these overlapping realities. Here, between Christ’s first coming and his glorious return, our lives may also feel like a mix of kingdom and confidence alongside waiting and suffering.7

“In this day and age, where evil abounds and all seems lost, we can also hope that the prophecies about Jesus’ second arrival to earth will also be fulfilled.”8

“[W]ait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 1:7-8 ESV).

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ENDNOTES

(1) In Hope Assured

            1. “Hope is a Verb: Salt’s Lectionary Commentary for Advent Week One,” 27 November 2018, Salt, 9 March 2021 https://www.saltproject.org/progressive-christian-blog/advent-week-one-lectionary-commentary.

            2. “Advent,” Wikipedia, Wikipedia, 9 March 2021 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advent.

            3. Catherine McNiel, “Advent Week One: A Hope Made Sure,” 2 December 2019, Awana, 9 March 2021 https://www.awana.org/2019/12/02/advent-week-one-a-hope-made-sure/.

            4. Dori, “Advent Week 1 Hope: Family Devotional,” 1 December 2018, This Full Life 5, 9 March 2021 https://thisfulllife5.com/week-1-advent-family-devotional/.

            5. Hope Bolinger, “What is the Candle of Hope for Advent? Week 1,” 6 December 2019, Christianity, 9 March 2021 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/what-is-the-candle-of-hope-for-advent-week-1.html.

            6. Matt Tullos, “Advent Devotional (Week 1): Faith,” 25 November 2015, Lifeway, 9 March 2021 https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/devotions-christmas-advent-week-one-faith.

            7. Kelli B. Trujillo, “Advent Week 1: He Will Come Again in Glory,” 29 November 2020, Christianity Today, 9 March 2021 https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/november-web-only/advent-week-1-he-will-come-again-in-glory.html.

            8. Hope Bolinger, “What is the Candle of Hope for Advent? Week 1,” 6 December 2019, Christianity.com, 9 March 2021 https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/what-is-the-candle-of-hope-for-advent-week-1.html.

            9. Robb Redman, “What is Advent?” 17 December 2020, Worship Leader, 9 March 2021 https://worshipleader.com/calendar/advent-day-19-with-steve-angrisano/.

            10. “. . . Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees”  (Romans 8:24 ESV)?

            11. Justin Holcomb, “What is Advent?” 6 November 2020, Christianity.com 9 March 2021 https://www.christianity.com/christian-life/christmas/what-is-advent.html.

            12. Holcomb.

            13. Arthur S. Way, Letters of Paul, Hebrews and the Book of Psalms (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1926, 1981) 208.

            14. “Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come” (Mark 13:33 ESV).

            15. Mark 13:33.

            16. Charles Wesley and Henry T. Smart, “Jesus Comes with Clouds Descending,” 1758, Hymnary, 9 March 2021 https://hymnary.org/text/lo_he_comes_with_clouds_descending_once.

            17. Wesley and Smart.

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FALSE TEACHERS

“[C]ertain people have crept in unnoticed, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (Jude 4 ESV).

“None of the letters of St. Paul were written simply to maintain kindly relations with the various churches. Each of them was evoked by what appeared at the time to the Apostle a very pressing need. His objects in writing were [t]o correct false impressions which were working mischief in churches [t]o reform abuses which threatened to sap the morality of a church [t]o crush heresies in the germ, especially those relating to the person and office of Christ, and the relation of the Church to Him [t]o combat the party of Judaism which constantly labored in the church by insisting that faith in Christ was insufficient for salvation, without conformity to the ritual of the Mosaic Law” Arthur S. Way (ref#38, p1).

The Corinthians had been overcome by temptation. Deceived by the ingenious sophistry of teachers who presented errors under the guise of truth, they had become confused and bewildered” Ellen G. White (ref#331, p385).

“Hence practices—whether of ritual, of self-abasement, or of asceticism—founded on false beliefs are to be scouted. Instead of these there must be love and mutual helpfulness, and the fulfillment of the duties of daily life”Arthur S. Way (ref#38, p164).

“[T]here will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies” (2 Pet 2:1 ESV).

“In the Galatian churches, open, unmasked error was supplanting the gospel message. Christ, the true foundation of the faith, was virtually renounced for the obsolete ceremonies of Judaism” Ellen G. White (ref#331, p385).

“To substitute external forms of religion for holiness of heart and life is still as pleasing to the unrenewed nature as it was in the days of these Jewish teachers” Ellen S. White (ref#331, p387).

“It is Satan’s studied effort to divert minds from the hope of salvation through faith in Christ and obedience to the law of God. [A]t the present time he induces many professing Christians, under pretense of honoring Christ, to cast contempt on the moral law and to teach that its precepts may be transgressed with impunity” Ellen G. White (ref#331, p 387).

SUPPLICATION

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GENERAL TRIBULATION

[We all can think of a Christian sister or brother experiencing so much affliction they may not be able to pray for themselves. Here’s an opportunity to pray for them. Fill their name in the blanks.]

PERMITTING OURSELVES TO BE DEMOTED

…FATHER, You have placed ____ in a difficult situation. Compel (him/her) to nurture faith so it does not decrease. Whatever would (he/she) do if (he/she) lost the grip (he/she) has on Your hand? Attend to (him/her) for (he/she) must seek to build (himself/herself) up in my most holy faith as (he/she) attempts to keep (himself/herself) in Your love (Jude 20,21).

FATHER, look down now on ____.   Even though (his/her) heart is prone to be in a state of upheaval, possibly not able to understand (his/her) present providence, nevertheless aid (him/her) to grasp the fact that (he/she) is continually with You. You do hold (his/her) right hand. Persist in Your guidance (Ps 73:21-24). (His/Her) flesh and (his/her) heart may fail, but You are (his/her) Rock and firm Strength and (his/her) Portion forever (Ps 73:26,27).

CHRIST has set (him/her) free from the power of sin and (he/she) has become a bondslave to You. Even as (he/she) suffers, (he/she) is reaping (his/her) own harvest and “its ingathering shall be holiness” Arthur S. Way (ref#38, p124, [Rom 6:22]). Because (he/she) has been born of You, You maintain a watchful guardianship over (him/her) and the pernicious one is unable to cause lasting damage. CHRIST’s divine presence within preserves (him/her) against the evil one (1 John 5:18).

Empower ____ to be cautious at all times, for (his/her) enemy continues to constantly seek to devour (him/her) (1 Pet 5:8). Strengthen (him/her) to withstand satan’s onslaught by being immovable in (his/her) faith (1 Pet 5:9). This (he/she) will be by permitting (himself/herself) to be demoted—by believing (himself/herself) of a lower state than in (his/her) own estimation. So move (him/her) to become contrite. Faith will be strong when (he/she) exhibits (his/her) weakness by putting (himself/herself) under Your mighty hand (1 Pet 5:6).

THANKSGIVING

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Chord Progression:  (C6  F#dim  C/G  G)  (Cmaj  Dm7  Fmaj  G)

PSALM 8

…“O LORD,…how wondrous great

Is thine exalted name!

The glories of thy heav’nly state

Let men and babes proclaim” Isaac Watts (ref#102, p14 [Ps 8:1]).

 

“Yea, in the smallest works of Thy creation

A mighty voice for who can hear is put.

So shall Thy foes who hate Thy revelation

Be stilled, their mouths be shut” Arthur S. Way (ref#38, p265 [Ps 8:2]).

 

You, the Babe of Bethlehem and the Mighty GOD,

Still the enemy and the avenger

Not by Your almighty power,

But by the weakness of infants (ref#17, [Ps 8:2]).

 

“O Lord…Thy name is writ in glory

O’er all Thy works for who have eyes to see.

Stars unto stars rehearse Creation’s story,

Their Maker’s majesty” Arthur S. Way (ref#38, p265 [Ps 8:1]).

 

“O LORD,…heav’nly King,

Thy name is all divine;

Thy glories round the earth are spread,

And o’er the heav’ns they shine” Isaac Watts (ref#102, p13 [Ps 8:1]).

ADORATION

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Chord Progression:  (Am  B7  Dm  Am)  (Bdim Am  Abdim Am)

HYMN OF TRIUMPH IN JESUS

“If God is on our side,

What matters who is against us?

He who spared not His own Son,

But surrendered Him to suffering for us all,

 

“How can He but, in giving Him,

lavish on us all things—all?

Who shall dare arraign God’s chosen ones?

God saith I am righteous—who dares condemn me to death?

 

“There is one who has died for me–our Messiah Jesus!

Died?—nay, He has risen from the dead:

He is throned at God’s right hand:

Yea, He is now interceding for me” (ref#38, p129, [Rom 8:31-34])!

ADORATION

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Chord Progression: (C G F G7) (C F C G)

HYMN OF INCARNATION

“He, even when he subsisted in the form of God,

Did not…cling to His prerogative of equality with God:

Nay, tenantless of all that glory,

He assumed the form of a bondslave,

 

“And appeared in the likeness of man.

So was He found on earth as a man in outward seeming,

And abased Himself in rendering submission,

even to the death—A death upon the Cross!

 

“Because He stooped so low, God uplifted Him very high,

And hath freely given Him The Name—

The Name that is above every name, decreeing

‘In the name of Jesus shall every knee bend in prayer,

 

“Alike of dwellers in heaven, on earth, in the underworld,

And every tongue shall utter this confession,

‘Jesus the Messiah is Lord!’

So rendering glory to God the Father’” Arthur S. Way (ref#38, p155-156 [Phil 2:6-11]).

CONFESSION

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WORKING OUT MY OWN SALVATION

…FATHER, I don’t want to go to hell. I want to be forgiven and avoid Your wrath and to go to heaven. Reconciliation with You—everybody wants that (if they’re honest with themselves) (ref#93, p28-29).

But, the important question is, “Do I want these things for my own security?” or “Do I want them because they bring me to the enjoyment of You” John Piper (ref#93, p29)?

FATHER, only You can change my nature so I’m able to concentrate on You and reject my attention to preserving myself. When You provide a new nature it sets me on the path of working out my own salvation—working out selfishness and working in ever-increasing happiness in You.

“as ‘a nail is driven out by another nail, habit is overcome by habit’” Erasmus (ref#130 p49).

“…become shares (partakers) of the divine nature….adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue…knowledge…self-control… steadfastness…godliness…brotherly affection…Christian love” (2 Pet 1:4-7 AMP).

“Wherefore, brethren, exert yourselves the more, and bend every effort to make for yourselves your divine call [into salvation] and your divine selection [for salvation] things that have been confirmed” Arthur S. Way (ref#37, p559, [2 Peter 1:10]).

ADORATION

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Chord Progression: (C A7 Dm Bdim) (C F C G)

YOU SET YOUR GLORY ABOVE THE HEAVENS (PSALM 8)

“O Lord our God,

Thy name is writ in glory

O’er countless worlds

that tell Creation’s story” Arthur S. Way (ref#38, p265, [Ps 8]).

 

To You, “Adonai…Director, Ruler

Judge, Supporter of men” (ref#15, [Ps 8:1]).

“…the majesty and glory of your name

fills all the earth and” (Ps 8:1 TLB) heav’n.

 

O LORD, brilliant LORD,

how excellent is Your name,

Your majestic name fills the earth!

Your greatness is Your fame (Ps 8:1)!

 

“O LORD, our heav’nly King,

Thy name is all divine;

Thy glories round the earth are spread,

And o’er the heav’ns they shine” Isaac Watts (ref#102, p13, [Ps 8]).

 

FATHER, You have displayed Your splendor;

In the heavens You establish Your faithfulness (Ps 8:1).

Your unfailing love will last forever;

In it I will always be blest.

THANKSGIVING

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GOD’S WORD IN NATURE-CHANGING

Screen Shot 2016-05-17 at 3.17.40 PM…FATHER, I thank You for Your Scriptures. And I thank You for providing the SPIRIT who guides me as I read.

I can easily fall back into reading with the mind of my flesh, using my natural “sense and reasons without the Holy Spirit…” (Rom 8:6 AMP). But by reading this way I’m only looking for information to help me. Without the SPIRIT to help, Your Word is external. It does not change me inside. It only gives me advice to act independently of You.

“God’s word,…is still living; it is instinct with energy; it is keener than any two-edged sword: that can but pierce flesh, but this finds its way to the dividing line between the animal life and the immortal spirit: it pierces the deepest recesses of our nature; it analyses the very emotions and purposes of the inmost heart” Arthur S. Way (ref#38, p229, [Heb 4:12]).

I praise You that Your Word “is a sifter of the reflections and conceptions of the heart” Kenneth S. Wuest (ref#37, p519, [Heb 4:12]). Its energy seeks to get into and stay with me. It has the ability to stir me and work in me to a degree that I can’t get away from it (ref#28, p83).

All thanks to You, FATHER, that Your Scriptures are able to instruct, reproof, and train me in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). Thank You that Your Word will never pass away (Matt 24:35). The HOLY SPIRIT brings life to me through the Word which grants life to me both now and forever (Rom 8:6). Thank You. AMEN!

ADORATION

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I AM A PLANT IN HIS GARDEN

Screen Shot 2016-02-25 at 10.23.16 AM…FATHER, CHRIST, as the Son of GOD, did absolutely everything for Your sake, but as the Son of Man, He did absolutely everything for my sake. For my sake He took my nature upon Himself (1 Tim 3:16). “He took on…a life of prayers, tears, fears” and suffering like me but unlike me He took on all this in perfect obedience “with cheerfulness and delight” (Heb 10:7-8) (ref#35, p249).

For my sake He was obedient to death. He dedicated Himself as a sacrifice—to be killed (John 17:19). What a fearful cup he tasted so I might never have to taste it (Matt 26:39). FATHER, it was a cup full of the curse of the law (Gal 3:13), Your wrath (1 Thes 1:10), and most of all the loss of Your presence (Ps 22:1). He left “his glory, his riches, his ease,” His very life, “to undergo loss, shame, wrath, curse,” and death for me (ref#35, p250). For me!

His interest is that I should be His—that I become a partaker of His glory (1 Pet 5:1). And now He proves His love by His continual care in all my deliverances and afflictions—in all my conditions of sinning and suffering. I am “the apple of his eye, his jewel, his diadem, his crown” John Owen (ref#35, p250).

I am a plant in His garden while the unbelieving world is wilderness. Even if I am “the meanest, debased, weakest and poorest believer on earth,” CHRIST prizes me more than all the rest of the world (ref#35, p251).

“Lord, unto Thee from my full heart my prayers ascend;

To thee will I sing praise….

And for Thy loving grace and truth which hath no end

Will thank Thee all my days” Arthur S. Way (ref#38, p468, [Ps 138:1-2]).