Who I Am In Christ Pt. 3

Audio Message

Welcome to part three of the series “Who I Am In Christ”.

Over the past two sessions you have learned that you are accepted in Christ and that you have security in Christ. Today we are going to look at your significance in Christ.

This is not a self-esteem message. This message is not one of those build you up and make you feel good about yourself messages. This is a message about your significance in Christ. This is far different than feeling that you are significant in this world or to yourself.

Christ bought you at a high price. This purchase price gives you a great deal of significance because of who you now belong to.

This is not a self-accomplishment. Christ paid the price for you long before you were born. He did His work for you and all you have to do is accept what He has done and live in His work of Grace. You must accept His work by faith because you cannot earn it from Him. You can’t earn anything that is freely offered to you.

Now that you have accepted what Christ has done for you, you can begin living the significant life that God has given you in Christ.

How does one live the significant life? You must know who you are in Christ. When you know who you are you have the inner power to live up to your high calling.

Matthew 13:14 (I am salt and light)

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
Our significance can be found in being Salt and Light.

The Christian adds a flavor to this world that it needs. The Christian also brings light into this dark world.

See the Christian is different than the natural spirited person. The Christian is an alien, stranger and foreigner in this world but the Christian is here for a purpose.

Christ has given the Christian His Spirit to illuminate the world. He has placed the Christian in the world to season it in a different manner than it has ever been seasoned before He sent His Spirit.

Jesus was going to do something that would change the world. It started the day of Pentecost and has continued throughout the last two millennia. We may not totally understand His work but when you see a person that has been filled with Christ you see that he is different than the person filled with self.

In our world today, isn’t it great to run across people that are not totally filled with self?

They are like a light in a dark world. They are like a burst of flavor that has been added to your favorite meal. You find yourself wanting more of this new thing.

That is what the Christian is to be like.

John 15:5 (I am a branch of the true vine)

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

When it comes to being a Christian we must be in Christ and He must be in us.

There are many ways to do good works in our world. But if you are going to do Kingdom work that will last for all eternity you must be in Christ.

Apart from Christ you cannot do anything that will count for the kingdom of God.

You cannot draw people to Christ and His Kingdom if you are separated from Christ. Only people who are in Christ know Christ in an spiritual manner. You may be able to read Scripture to someone and you may be able to tell them how to live a better life, but apart from Christ you are fooling yourself.

People that are separated from Christ cannot do kingdom work because they are not interested in people knowing the King they know. They may want to make people better in this world but this world is their focus.

Christians, those attached to the vine, want others to be grafted in also. They want people to come to Christ not just a better behavior. They want people to be saved by the Savior into the kingdom not just acting like better citizens of this world.

You must be in the vine if you are going to produce kingdom fruit.

John 15:16 (I am chosen and appointed to bear fruit)

16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.

Once again we need to understand that we were chosen in Christ before we were ever born. How do I know this? Christ died for me while I was still a sinner. He died for me long before I ever came into the world. It was His desire that I come to Him 2000 years ago at the cross.

I didn’t know and understand this before I came to Him. Now that I have come to Him I see, know and understand how true this is.

Since I was chosen, God must have had a plan for me. I didn’t know the plan but now that I know Christ He has placed a new path before me. This path is toward Him while leading others to Him also.

God has given us the Name of Jesus to lead others to the only Name by which man can be saved. He has called us unto Himself and allows us to produce lasting fruit in Jesus Name. He has appointed us, through our faith and salvation, to do these good works.

Your significance is found in Christ and His appointed mission for your life.

Wouldn’t it be a great blessing to know that you were used in drawing someone to their eternal life in Christ?

Acts 1:8 (I am a witness of Christ)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

We, as humans, naturally desire power. We want power over others. We want power to get things done and accomplish our desires. This is not the power Christ gives us.

Christ empowers us to live in a manner worthy of our high calling. He gives us power to reach others for His kingdom. He does not give us power and authority over and above others. The power He gives us enables us to overcome the ways of this world.

See, the Christian who has the Holy Spirit living in him is a new creation. He is a new creature. This new creature has put to death his old life at the cross crucifying his own passions and desires. Birthed into the Christian, by the impartation of the Holy Spirit, is a new life. A life destined for God’s kingdom. Since we are headed for God’s kingdom we should desire that those around us accompany us on our journey into this new realm.

We are witnesses of the transformation that happens when a person comes to Christ and is given the Holy Spirit. As witnesses we want to share what we have come to see and know with those around us. How’s your witness?

1 Corinthians 3:16 (I am God’s temple)

16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?

Christians filled with the Holy Spirit make up the true temple of God. If you have been reborn into God’s kingdom via the impartation of the Holy Spirit you are a part of the temple. You are one of the living stones that make it a reality.

2 Corinthians 6:1 (I am God’s co-worker)

As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.

Once again your significance is found in Christ. In Christ you are a co-worker with God. You are a part of His ministry team. Peter tells us that we are a part of the royal priesthood. That’s not something that is only for the pastors and teachers. The royal priesthood is for all the witnesses that are in the vine. We have been grafted into Christ. We have been given a new Spirit. We have been chosen and called for the work of ministry. Now we are co-workers with god for the building of His kingdom. Are you prepared for the duty God has called you to?

Ephesians 2:6 (I am seated with Christ)

6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

Maybe we would be better prepared if we knew who we really are in Christ. This is why I have chosen to do this series. I want you to know who you are so you can have the power to do that which you have been called to do.

It’s much easier to teach, witness and testify to something you know rather than something you have just heard or read about. Your teaching authority comes from your experiential knowledge. It’s hard to teach the Word and ways of God if you haven’t experienced His work in your life. If you know Christ you will desire to make Him known. If you know about Christ you can spread information about Him but not really introduce someone to Him. You must know Christ if you are going to make Him known to others.

Ephesians 2:10 (I am God’s masterpiece)

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago

Have you ever approached God in prayer and asked Him to reveal to you what He has planned for you.

God, what have you recreated me for? What is it that you have for me to do? Am I doing you will or should I be prepared to change my plans to fulfill your plan for me?

This is quite a prayer. You just never know, God might throw you into the midst of a great work for His kingdom.

Ephesians 3:12 (I am welcome before God)

12 Because of Christ and our faith in him,‍ we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence

Don’t shy away from God. Your significance is found in Him and doing His will for your life. Approach Him boldly and confidently, Walk into His presence and ask Him to show you His plan for your life.

Philippians 4:13 (I am strong in Christ)

13 For I can do everything through Christ,‍ who gives me strength.

Once again, don’t shy away. Christ will give you the strength and power to accomplish everything He has planned for you.
Do you want to know God’s plan for your life? Are you scared of what He may ask of you? Are you unsure you want to follow the Lord into His kingdom work? It’s time to step up to God’s plan and find your significance in what He has to offer.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 ( I am so much in Christ that it’s hard to comprehend it all)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

WOW!!!

If you have not yet found you significance in Christ Jesus it’s time for you to be reconciled to Him.

It’s time for you to come back to Him and ask Him to begin leading you into the future He has planned for you.

I’m willing to say that it’s safer to be walking in God’s plan than one of your own. The Scriptures testify to all His miraculous work. He is able to work things together and make things to become that we cannot do. Since I don’t have the power to make things work out for me, I have found that following God’s plan allows me to be a witness to His work and He is the one working all things together.

Do you trust the Lord?

Do you trust Him enough to give yourself to Him?

Do you trust Him enough to submit your will to His and follow His leading rather that your desire?

The 33 passages I have put before you over the past three weeks have made you aware of your acceptance in Christ. The have shown you the assurance and security you have in Christ. Today they have led you to find your significance in Christ.

Are you ready for this journey?

Next week we will start a series about the traits of a new creature that is in Christ.

But for today I want to challenge you to boldly approach God and ask Him to show you His plan for your life.

Hang on the ride might just lead you into some amazing Kingdom work.

Who I Am In Christ Pt. 2

Audio Message

Last week we looked at the fact that we are accepted in Christ.

I made sure to tell everyone that those who are not in Christ cannot claim these passages of Scripture. If you are not in Christ and the Spirit of Christ is not in you, you have no part of the Kingdom. In reality you are not really a Christian at all.

So, as we begin this morning I want you to search yourself to make sure you are in Christ. If you have any doubts at all you need to take it up with God as soon as possible to make sure you are really in the faith.

The Scripture it-self tells us that we should test ourselves in this matter.

2 Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test.

Let’s get into the second set of 11 passages.

Today we will look at our security in Christ.

You are Secure in Christ.

Romans 8:1-2 (I am free from condemnation)

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you‍ from the power of sin that leads to death.

Before a person comes to Christ they are condemned due to their sin nature and their sin actions. We must be purchased back into right standing with God by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

We are all dead in our transgressions and sins. We must be resurrected to new life in Christ Jesus. Once we come to Christ we are reborn into a new life. This new life is generated by the life-giving Spirit. This Spirit is our guarantee of things to come.

John 3:18

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Far too many people today do not believe in Jesus Christ for their salvation. They have been led astray by teachers, preachers, priests, pastors and others that lie to them to keep them feeling good about themselves.

Condemnation is too high of a price to pay when there is a way of salvation. The way is through Christ Jesus.

Now there is no Condemnation for those who belong to Him.

Romans 8:28 (I am assured that all things are working together for good)

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

It doesn’t take much study of the world around us to realize that it is full of evil and sin. We go as far as teaching self-centeredness and building people up in their unholy lifestyles.

But in all of this, God is at work. He is working in the lives of those that have been called to Him and are living according to His purpose for them.

I am one who happens to believe that God is calling everyone to Himself via the Cross.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

God’s purpose is for us to be saved through His Son.

If we are unwilling to come to His Son, He is unable to work His purpose into our life.

This doesn’t mean that He is unable to work out His purpose. It means we have a responsibility to come to God in the way He has called us.

If we refuse to come to God on His terms, we are telling God that our way is better than His and He does not allow us to be God. We must submit to God’s way so that His purpose for us can be fulfilled.

Romans 8:33-34 (I am free from my accusers)

33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

This is a very powerful passage. In Christ we have right standing with God. No one can condemn us. We have been raised to new life. And Christ is interceding on our behalf. This is our position in Christ. It is what we have been chosen for. Now we are free from our accusers and free to live in right relationship with God thanks be to the work of Christ for us.

Romans 8:35 (I am not separated from God’s love)

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?

Nothing can separate us from God’s love but this doesn’t mean that everyone is right with God. It doesn’t mean that everyone is saved. It doesn’t mean that everyone will have a great, wonderful and blissful afterlife.

Romans 8:38-39

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. 39 Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Here is the saddest situation known to man. Although we cannot be separated from the love of God most would prefer not to accept, acknowledge or dwell in God’s love. Most would rather be away from God and present in their own misery doing all that they think they desire. They are blind to the truth and have been separated from God’s presence.

Could you imagine having the love of God revealed to you in Christ and His work at the cross, and then refusing to accept it? We separate ourselves from God’s presence by not accepting His work for us.

God loves us and desires the absolute best for us. But, we would rather have our sin-filled lives than to separate ourselves into His love.

How great is it to know that we cannot be separated from the love of God, that is if we are in Christ. Those not in Christ chose not to accept The love that is available to them.

2 Corinthians 1:21 (I am anointed and sealed by God)

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Once again we see that the Spirit is the key. If you do not have the Spirit of Christ you are no part of His but if you do you have a guarantee of what is to come.

1 Corinthians 11:25

In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and you, sealed by the shedding of my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”

The seal of the covenant is the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The seal of ownership is the presence of the Holy Spirit in us. All of this comes by faith. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ and what He has done for us God gives us a new Spirit which makes us a new creation in Christ and all things become new.

It is amazing what Christ has done for us.

Colossians 3:3 (I am hidden with Christ in God)

3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.

This is a very hard concept for most to understand. We were dead to God due to sin all the while living in sin-filled world determined to satisfy our own self-will. Once we were awakened to our situation we died to this world and all of its sin. We were then raised to new life in Christ.

This new lie is hidden in Christ. This is your real life. Life in this world is a fantasy. All that is truly real is eternal. So your eternal life is in Christ. This is your real life for all eternity.

Philippians 1:6 (I am certain that God will finish His work in me)

6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

As you can tell your security is growing with each passage.

Here you see that God will complete the work He has begun in you. It is a part of the guarantee that comes with the Spirit seal.

If you are still here when Christ returns you will be taken up to be with him and the rest of the saints. If you have died in Christ you will return with Him and be joined with the rest of the saints in the sky. Either way you will be with Christ and at that moment all things will be complete in Him.

Philippians 3:20 (I am a citizen of heaven)

20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

Are you eagerly awaiting the return of Christ?

This is actually a sign of the inner workings of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit fills you with a desire for Christ and eternal things. Many people whom claim Christ have a greater desire for the things of this world than the things of Christ.

Since we have died to this world and been reborn as citizens of heaven our focus and desires should reflect or new position.

It amazes me how uninterested so-called “citizens of heaven” are in their future home and present relationship with the Lord. Maybe these uninterested people are not really in Christ after all.

2 Timothy 1:7 (I am powerful in God)

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

The Spirit of Christ in us gives us a powerful faith, trust and reliance upon the Lord. We become strong and powerful because we are relying upon the authority of Christ. As our faith grows fear and timidity fade away.

2 Timothy 3:1-5

You should also know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that.

False Christians are very difficult. They think they’re Christians but they do not have the Spirit. Since they lack the Spirit they act more like the people of the world yet think they are all right. This makes it almost impossible to bring them to a saving faith because they think they are saved for a million reasons other than their trust, faith, reliance and belief in what Christ has done for them.

They act religious but they deny the very power that can make them true children of God.

Hebrews 4:16 (I am allowed to approach God)

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Today’s message might be sewing more doubt than encouragement. We need to know for sure that we are in Christ. If you are in Christ you can boldly approach the throne of God and all the rest of the promises are yours also.

Our position in Christ is a mighty place. We have more privileges and honors than we can wrap our minds around. It’s time we understand our position and start living up to it.

1 John 5:18 (I am untouchable by the evil one)

18 We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.

This doesn’t mean that God’s children never sin. As a child of God we can confess our sins and God is faithful to forgive them. When a person confesses sin they realize it is sin and should then ask God for the power to overcome the sin. He has given you His Spirit to help you. Are you relying on His help?

God can hold you up and keep you secure in and through your times of temptation.

The evil one cannot touch you. The problem is we open the door by reaching out to the schemes of the devil. We play with the temptation. We entertain the thoughts and open ourselves up to the work of the evil one.

I hope you can see the security you have in Christ. I also hope you will make sure you are in Christ. These promises are way too important to take for granted. We must make sure we are in Christ and then walk boldly in the position God has so graciously bestowed upon those of us who believe.

God’s Will is Holiness

I had another person tell me the other day that they believed God wanted them to be happy.

I personally believe God desires His children, saved by grace, adopted into His family, citizens of the Kingdom of God to be happy.

But it seems that every time I hear someone declare that God wants them to be happy it applies to their sinfulness in this world.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 says, “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.”

This should help a person to see that God desires for us to find our happiness in the midst of being holy before Him.

It amazes me that people think God will justify sin just because it makes them happy, or feel good, or deliver them personal pleasure or allows them to acquire what they want at the moment.

God is not as worried about a person’s happiness as He is about their holiness.

We are the ones that must turn from our worldly thinking and see that our true happiness is found in being holy before the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Those who belong to Christ have turned from the ways of this world. They are seeking God and His kingdom through Jesus. Our lives are different. We want to be pleasing to the Lord.

Hebrews 10:10 teaches us that, “God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.”

This is a foreign thought in our world today. We just want to be happy and have God pat us on the head and reward us because we are proud of ourselves for our personal accomplishments that have made us feel good about ourselves. This has nothing to do with being holy before the Almighty God of Heaven.

Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

God’s will for our lives is perfect. If we are walking in His will we could certainly find our happiness there. The difference is most don’t believe that happiness can be found in being holy and staying away from the sins that so easily entangle people’s lives.

I’d like to offer everyone reading this a true happiness that can only be found in a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ.

Who I Am In Christ Pt. 1

Audio Message

Over the next three Sundays I am going to put forth 33 passages of Scripture that define who a person is in Christ. There will be Scripture under each of the 33 but only 33 heading Scriptures. We will cover 11 each week.

Many times we fail to realize the firm foundation and high standing that we have been given as a believer and faithful follower of Jesus Christ.

Last week we looked at ho the three parts of a human work together. The Holy Spirit must be in charge of your person. If you have not yet died to self and given lordship of your life to Christ, you are not in Christ. If you are not in Christ these 33 passages are not for you. They are for those who are in Christ.

Far too often we lead people who are not truly Spirit born Christians into a false hope. We read the passage as though they apply to everyone.

I want to make sure that you know these passages are for those in Christ Jesus that have His Spirit living in them.

If you are not sure you need to search yourself to make sure you are in the faith. You need to make sure you are following the Holy Spirit and not your self spirit.

If you have any questions about this issue you might want to take it up with the Lord in prayer and if you would like to contact me to discuss your doubts feel free to call me during the week.

Let’s get started.

I have divided the 33 passages into sections of 11. This is to keep you from being overwhelmed and they also fit well under three separate headings.

Today we will look at your Acceptance in Christ, next week we will look at your Security in Christ and the final week we will look at your Significance in Christ.

So, here we go…

You are Accepted in Christ.

Today’s evangelism is always asking if you have accepted Christ. This is a great question that needs to be answered. But for those of you who have come to faith and placed your trust in Christ for your salvation from sin, you need to know that you are accepted in Christ Jesus.

Most of today’s Christians are weak because they do not understand the firm foundation that they are standing on. Christians waver about being tossed to and fro because they are unsure of their position in Christ.

If you knew for sure that you were accepted by Christ, wouldn’t you feel a sense of power over the world?

If you knew and understood the solid foundation that holds you up, I believe you would be able to walk boldly against the ways of this world.

John 1:12 (I am God’s Child)

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Did you know that you were an adopted child of God’s? Let’s let Paul explain…

Ephesians 1:5, “ His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.”

Galatians 4:5-7, “God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father. 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you.

Romans 8:15-16, “So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God’s very own children, adopted into his family—calling him “Father, dear Father.” 16 For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children.”

Last Sunday we talked about the importance of having the Holy Spirit guiding and control the Christian’s life. As you can see the Holy Spirit tells us that we are accepted.

John 15:12 (I am Christ’s friend)

I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

As friends of God through Christ we have a very privileged position. The Holy Spirit works in us to reveal to us that which God desires us to know.

Romans 5:11, “So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God—all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God.”

James 2:23-24, “And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous.” He was even called “the friend of God.” 24 So you see, we are made right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.”

James 4:4, “You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with this world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again, that if your aim is to enjoy this world, you can’t be a friend of God.”

We must come to belief in God through Christ for the Holy Spirit to allow us to see the things God desires to reveal to us. If we are still friends of the world we are not going to see properly. We must rely upon the Lord and sever our ties with the world. Once we settle our friendship issues the Lord will begin to take us deeper into our relationship with him.

Have you given up on the world yet? If not, this could be what’s holding your relationship back.

Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. We are still in the world but not of it. We are here on mission. Once we realize this God will open up a treasure chest of understanding to us.

Romans 5:1 (I am justified)

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

To be justified is to be right with God. It’s a legal term. When the judge declares you not guilty of a crime you have been justified right.

This is what the ultimate Judge has done for us in Christ Jesus. Once we believe we are justified by our faith.

Galatians 2:15-16, “We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ 16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.”
As you can tell we are not justified by following the law but by believing in Jesus Christ. See, the law proves we are sinners. Since we are sinners there has to be another way of being made right aside from keeping an already broken law. That way is by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. Once we do this we are justified right in God’s sight. We are not made right by following the law but by believing in Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:17 (I am united with the Lord)

17 But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.

As you can see we are building a very strong foundation upon the Scriptures that have been placed before us.

Galatians 3:26-29, “So you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him. 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians—you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and now all the promises God gave to him belong to you.”

Are you united with Christ? Have you placed your faith and trust in His work to make you right? Are you relying upon, clinging to, adhering to and believing in God through Christ for your salvation?

This is the test for your faith.

Far too many hold to their church work and attendance. They point to their ceremonies and involvement. They believe that they are basically good and should be accepted based upon their presupposed wonderfulness.

This is not what saves a person.

Have you been submersed into Christ. Have you fallen into His person and said, “I can’t do it on my own, I need You”?

Are you united with Christ?

1 Corinthians 6:20 (I am valuable to God)

20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

Last week I put the following passage before you three or four times. It needs to be placed before you again here.

Galatians 5:19-23, “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20 idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law.”
Are you honoring God with your body?

If you have been purchased, bought back or redeemed from your sin, you no longer belong to the sinful lifestyle. Since you have been purchased unto freedom by the blood of Jesus Christ should you not live like it? Unless, of course, you have not yet been redeemed from sin.

If you are still living in sin I must ask, are you sure you have been purchased?

Many want heaven but they don’t want to leave their life of sin. They want a better afterlife but they don’t realize that their eternal life has already begun. If you are friends with this world and still enjoying and chasing after your sin, you are not a part of the Kingdom of God.

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not here to force you into God’s Kingdom. This is a voluntary decision that you have to make. Your afterlife destination comes with your present decision to accept Christ and His ways. The decision is yours.

1 Corinthians 12:27 (I am a part of Christ’s body)

27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

The body of Christ is the true church. The true church are those who have been spiritually reborn. The have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them and are following the Lord Jesus Christ in every part of their lives.

Now don’t be fooled, not everyone who attends a church is truly a part of the body of Christ.

Many people come into the church in search of answers. Many are following a soulish religion or a mental acceptance of the way. If they do not have the Spirit of Christ in them they are not truly Christians and they are not a part of Christ’s body.

1 Corinthians 12:12-13, “ The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ. 13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ’s body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit.”

Ephesians 4:11-16, “He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, 13 until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

Now that we understand that the spiritually reborn make up the body and are growing together becoming more like Christ let’s check out our next position.

Ephesians 1:1b (I am a saint)

To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

I know it’s hard to believe that you are a saint, but, you didn’t make yourself a saint and it’s only God’s declaration that qualifies you for being a saint.

Let’s look deeper,

Romans 1:7, “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:”

Romans 8:27, “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”

2 Corinthians 1:1, “To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:”

2 Corinthians 13:13, “All the saints send their greetings.”

Ephesians 6:18b, “With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

Jude 1:3, “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.”

Colossians 1:26, “the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.”

This may be hard for some of you to wrap your mind around but our faith and new spirit is what makes us saints.

These passages came from the NIV. The passages in the NLT use the word Christian. See a true Christian, one who has been born of the Spirit and is following Christ by faith is declared to be a saint by the Lord. You may not think you are a saint but God does so you had best start living up to your high title.

Ephesians 1:5 (I am adopted as God’s child)

‍5‍ he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

God has adopted us as His very own children. He has given us His name. He has set aside an inheritance for us. He allows us to come to Him at any time addressing Him as our very own Father. This is a privileged position.

Galatians 4:3-7 “And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were slaves to the spiritual powers of this world. 4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father. 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you.”

Romans 8:15-16 “So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God’s very own children, adopted into his family—calling him ‘Father, dear Father.’ 16 For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children.”

For those of us who are in Christ we have a family reputation to uphold.

Ephesians 2:18 (I am accepted before God)

18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

Everything we have been given is a gift due to what Christ has done for us. This is why we acknowledge, worship, praise, thank him with a life lived differently than those who have not come to Christ for their salvation and adoption.

Colossians 1:4 (I am redeemed and forgiven)

13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

To stand before God redeemed and forgiven will be a very wonderful experience. This is made possible by God through His Son and the impartation of the Holy Spirit.

We have become new creations or new creatures in Christ. We have an incredible standing with God due to Christ’s work and our faith and trust in it.

Are you living accordingly?

Colossians 2:10 (I am complete in Christ)

10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
This is our eleventh passage for today.

Due to your union with Christ you have been made complete in Him.

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.”

I pray these passages have shown you that you are accepted by God if you are in Christ Jesus.

If you have not yet accepted Christ as Lord and Master of your life and destiny I would like you urge you to seek and search out the Lord with all your heart.

Your position before God will change, your life in this world will change and your understanding of God’s Word will come full circle and all He is calling you to will become your desire.

Next week we will look at our security in Christ but for today I hope you really grasp your acceptance in Christ.

The Triune Human

The following file is a Power Point presentation of “The Triune Human”. I will be adding the Audio version very soon.

The Triune Human

Audio Message

Christmas Message 2011

This message was different than most. Each section stood on its own.

(Audio Message)

Part One: Hope

I often wonder if people are realizing the hope they have in the coming of Christ Jesus.

In Luke 7:19 John the Baptist sent a couple of his followers to ask Jesus a very specific question. “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”

What a question. Hey, are you the Messiah? We sure would like to know. We don’t want to be caught following a man that leaves us without hope.

So, what is hope?

According to the dictionary, hope is, cherishing a desire with anticipation. Hope is, expecting with confidence. Hope is, an expectation of fulfillment or success. I would say that hope is the anticipation or expectation of a belief being realized.

So why would John have asked Jesus if He was the Messiah? Was not John and his disciples hope being realized in Jesus? What were they hoping for? Were the early followers hoping for something that was not coming to pass? Was Jesus not fulfilling their desires and expectations? Were they anticipating something they were not realizing?

Have you ever had your hopes set on something and then been disappointed when your hope was not realized?

What if what you are hoping for is something different than what Jesus has to offer?

In 1 Peter we are told, “Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad!‍‍ There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.”

This is a very hard concept to understand in our world today. Jesus has reserved a priceless inheritance for us who believe. It is being kept in heaven out of the reach of the change and decay of this world. While we wait for our hope to be realized there will be trials, tests, tribulations and much trouble.

I believe we live in a world filled with wrong focused hope. Our society has been so saturated with false teaching and deceptive philosophies that we believe Jesus is our present day fix all. We desire that Jesus make everything in this world perfect and wonderful for us. This is not what the Scripture has promised.

John’s question was valid. Are you the One? Most people didn’t expect the Messiah to be born of a virgin and laid in a manger. They didn’t expect the Messiah to grow up in a family and work as a carpenter. They didn’t expect the Messiah to die on a cross. After His death they didn’t expect Him to rise from the dead. Once risen, they didn’t expect Him to ascend into heaven. Now ascended, most are not expecting His return.

It just goes to show that if your hope is not focused in the right direction you may miss it being realized even if it appears right before your very eyes.

For Christmas this year, may we each have our true hope realized in Christ Jesus.

Part Two: Peace

We live in a world that is filled with wars and rumors of wars. Our world is divide and overwhelmed by all kinds of strife. We presently have an economic catastrophe looming on our horizon. Our would is overflowing with unrest, fear, conflict, confusion, and all kinds of turmoil.

This doesn’t sound like a message of peace. See, peace is not the absence of conflict but it is the presence of God.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

You may be asking, “How can I have this peace the Scripture teaches about?”

In Luke 2 there were some shepherds at work tending to there flocks when the answer came to them. “Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God: ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.’”

Peace has come into the world.

Don’t misunderstand what I mean by peace. We are still experiencing all the trials and troubles that I mentioned earlier. See, Jesus didn’t come to rid the world of conflict. Actually he said, “Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to bring strife and division!”

How can we have peace and division at the same time? If Jesus is the peace that was to come and He claims to bring division, isn’t this a contradiction?

Jesus brings peace to those who will accept Him and His Word. We can have peace if we know the truth. We lose our peace when we are expecting something other than what Jesus came to offer.

See, Peace is within. There is no peace in this world and according to Scripture there never will be. So the peace Jesus offers must not be the peace from conflict that we are desiring. The peace Jesus came to offer was a knowledge of how His kingdom is working and how we can be delivered from this world into a realm of true peace.

Remember the shepherds I mentioned earlier, These shepherds went down to Bethlehem and witnessed the baby that had been born. According to Scripture, “The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.”

What had changed? The world was still the same. There was still conflict, injustice, turmoil, fear and confusion. But the shepherds had come to see the Christ. They knew that all things were under control no matter how out of control the world seemed to be.

The shepherds had peace within because they knew the God of Heaven was now in their midst.

Jesus once told a boat load of disciples that thought they were going to drown in a storm, “It’s all right, I am here! Don’t be afraid.”

Peace is within. The peace that passes all human reasoning is not the absence of conflict but it is the presence of Emmanuel, God with us.

Part Three: Joy

In Luke 2 we are told, “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’”

The angel, or a messenger of God, brought forth good news of great joy.

What is this great joy?

This great joy was a new way to be right with God.

The Roman world at the time of Jesus’ birth was controlled by two major entities. One was the government of the Empire and the other was the religion of the Jews.

Between the government and the religion there was very little hope of being right with God and there was very little peace in the heart of the people. Times haven’t changed very much have they?

During the days of Jesus, you could be right with the government if you paid all your taxes and obeyed their laws. You could be right with the religion if you were of the right linage, paid your temple taxes and obeyed the religious law.

What about those who had fallen from the grace of either the religion or the government? How could a person in this world get right with the true God of heaven?

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’”

The great joy had been delivered. The hope, the peace and the joy was waiting for all who would come.

In Isaiah the prophet wrote, “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the LORD Almighty will guarantee this!”

God has given to us a new government, a new way a peaceful way.

Through God’s Son, man will be able to come back to a right standing with God and be given the opportunity to begin life living before God and not before man.

This new way will change and transform lives. The power of the government and the control of religion will lose their place. Man will be able to relate directly with God. He will be able to live life freely before his Holy Father in heaven.

This had not been totally and fully revealed to the shepherds that received the Good News. They haven’t seen the crucifixion, the death, burial and resurrection. They haven’t yet drunk from the cup of the new covenant. But what they have seen is an angel coming with a promise of great joy.

The angel announced the Good News. The Christian church proclaims this news and for all those who have accepted it there is a great and inexpressible joy. It gives you a peace that is beyond understanding and a hope beyond all hope.

The Apostle Paul got it right when he wrote, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Are you ready to accept the Good News of Christ the Lord this Christmas?

Part Four: Love

Do you love the Lord?

In Mark 12 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’”

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 16, “If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed.”

Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 30, “Choose to love the LORD your God and to obey him and commit yourself to him, for he is your life.”

As a minister I get to do weddings. At a wedding a man and a women pledge their love to each other. They say they will endure through hard times and good. They are willing to face poverty and prosperity together. They are willing to walk together in sickness and in health. They pledge to forsake all others and cling to each other in a loving relationship for the rest of their lives.

As soon as something goes wrong, they want out. Why? Their love was self-motivated. If everything goes my way I will love you. If circumstances change and the situation no longer seems good for me, I will no longer love you.

What if our love for the Lord was as fragile as our love for each other?

Love is not just some gushy emotion. Jesus tells us that we must love the Lord with our heart, soul, mind and strength. As you know the soul is your mind, will and emotions. We are to love the Lord emotionally from the heart. We are to love the Lord mentally with the mind. And we are to love the Lord willfully with our strength.

As you know, emotions can be tricked, manipulated and hurt. If we love with our emotions only, we will forever be on a rollercoaster ride depending upon our feelings. If we feel good we will love. If we don’t feel good it will be hard to love.

This is where the strength of our mental will comes in. I will love the Lord. What a difference from I feel like loving the Lord. Love cannot depend upon how I feel. I must decide to love the Lord with my will. Emotions are fragile. The will must be strong.

In case you haven’t noticed, we live in a very difficult world. We will spend a great deal of time hurt and confused if we are not able to overcome the circumstances of life with our will to love.

Gushy emotions will not overcome the situations of life. We must base our faith and trust strongly upon the Lord and mentally will to love Him no matter the situation or the circumstance. If we do not will to love, then our love is dependent upon how we feel or how things are going for us.

Marriages today break up far too often because the feelings get hurt. When a bride and groom say I will love you no matter the situation or circumstances then they will succeed because a love from the will, will not fail it will endure through every circumstance.

Jesus has called us, as the church, to be His bride. Are we going to love Him only when the getting is good?

God so loved the world that He sent His Son into our world to save us and bring us back to Himself. Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t love according to His emotions?

It was God’s will that allowed His Son to go to the cross. It was God’s will that gave us a new chance at life. Are we going to cut out on God just because things seem to be hard at the present time?

We need to willfully love our Lord this Christmas.

Part Five: Christmas

I want to tell you that Christmas is not the wonderful, fun-filled, highly active holiday that we have made it into. Christmas is not about Santa Clause, toys, presents and shopping. Christmas is not about programs, festivals or family gatherings.

This may be what we have turned Christmas into but it isn’t what Christmas is all about. Christmas is also not just some story that we tell or that was made up to make us feel good.

Christmas is a title we have given to the most amazing work God has ever been involved in.

We have a tendency to believe that creation was God’s greatest work. I have to tell you that Creation was a mighty work accomplished from outside the creation. Christmas is a far greater work because it’s God working within His own creation. Christmas is not just a story to believe but it’s a mighty event where God entered into His creation.

See, Christmas is how God entered into His Creation to save those who realize that this realm is not what He intended it to be. Something has gone wrong and God must come into His creation to make it right again.

There has been a rebellion against God within His own creation. An evil emperor has led everyone astray. The evil lord has deceived the people into chasing after everything except the God of Creation. So God will come into His own creation to take back His rightful position as King and Lord of His creation.

So, Christmas is actually a declaration of war upon a world that has been cut off from God.

Christmas is a demand upon a rebellious evil emperor to step down and turn his empire over to its rightful King.

Christmas is a cloaked takeover of the enemy’s prison camp.

Christmas is a mighty display of God’s power over the realm of time and space.

Christmas is a coup against the present ruler of this dark world.

Christmas is a heavenly invasion of the planet we call earth.

Christmas is the code word for an angelic mission to overthrow a ruthless dictator and save those he lords over.

Christmas is the beginning of a war that will be fought until the King of all kings has placed everything in heaven and on earth under His total and complete authority.

Christmas is a time of hope, peace, joy and love for those who have submitted to Christ, the rightful and true King. It is a wonderful time or those who recognize His Authority.

Christmas is though, all out war against those who have not bent their knee and confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Are you starting to see why this world fights so hard against Christmas. Somebody knows what the word Christmas really means. Somebody knows what the seemingly harmless nativity scenes really represent. Somebody does not want you to know about the true meaning of Christmas. Somebody desires that Christ be X-ed out of this holiday season.

Since, Christmas is a declaration of war. Since, it is a cloaked takeover of the enemies empire. Since, it is a heavenly invasion of the planet earth to save mankind from the destroyer’s evil plan of destruction. You now understand why it is so hated amongst those who have not submitted to the true King.

So, you probably thought Christmas was a holiday. You were wrong. Christmas is a heavenly declaration of war against this world’s evil prince and his armies. Christmas is the beginning of God’s work to save mankind from the clutches of an enemy that desire to steal, kill and destroy those whom God came to save.

Part Six: Incarnation

We live in a world that has accepted the philosophy that man can become God. Many teachers believe that we are all God. Some religions hold to the idea that man can attain a God-like status and rule his own planet. There are even those that adhere to an idea that in the afterlife we will become like God.

As absurd as these ideas may sound to some, many have decided to believe and even chase after these religious philosophies.

With these men becoming God ideas in mind, Christmas always amazes me.

See, I believe the most astounding event in the whole of Scripture is God putting on an earth suit made of flesh and blood and coming to live as a human being in our world. God became man.

Isaiah 42:5-8

“God, the LORD, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth. And it is he who says, ‘I, the LORD, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations. You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.’

‘I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols.’”

God didn’t just show up one day as a special creation but He imparted Himself into the womb of a woman and was born just like you and me.

Matthew 1:18

Now this is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

Imagine God having to be cared for by human parents. He had to be taught the Scriptures that He inspired, by humans of limited understanding. He was brought up in a household with other children. He was taught the trade of carpentry. He, God, went to the Temple for ceremonies. Could you imagine being dedicated to yourself? Could you imagine making sacrifices to yourself?

Luke 2:21

“Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.”

Luke 1:31

“You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus.”

Matthew 1:21

“And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Luke 2:22-24

“Then it was time for the purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. The law of the Lord says, ‘If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.’ So they offered a sacrifice according to what was required in the law of the Lord—‘either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.’”

With all this in mind Jesus never boasted of His position.

Philippians 2:5-11

“Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Man’s idea of becoming God is a way of trying to raise us to the level of the One who made us. The reasoning behind this is very self-centered and a total reversal of Biblical understanding.

John 1:1-14

In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn’t make. Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

God sent John the Baptist to tell everyone about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was only a witness to the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world.

But although the world was made through him, the world didn’t recognize him when he came. Even in his own land and among his own people, he was not accepted. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan—this rebirth comes from God.

So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.

I hope this collection of Scripture has helped you to better understand the overwhelming event that we celebrate at Christmas. God put on flesh and dwelt among, and within, His own creation. Now, this is something to celebrate.

Part Seven: Salvation

We live in a world that has been messed up by the enemy and his demonic hoard. He has sown his deceit in to our lives to the point that the following passage describes the world we live in exactly.

Romans 1:18-32

18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.
28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. 29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. 31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. 32 They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

If you really read this passage you will see that God has, due to our sinfulness, turned us over to all this darkness. He has don this that we might be awakened and desire to come out of the ugly world and lifestyles that surround us.

Thanks be to God that there is a hope and a future for those willing to come out of this ugly world and come to the Christ or their salvation.

This Christ is not for everyone! He is only for those who desire things to be different. He is only for those who want their lives to be lived rightly. He is only for those who are willing to turn from their sins and turn to God to be rescued from the clutches of the dark prince that rules the hearts and minds of the people of our world.

He is not for those who are looking for an easy way out. He is not for those who desire their sin more than Him. He is not for those who are unwilling to allow Him to have rule and reign over their lives. He is not for those who will not acknowledge Him as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Jesus came to die in our place. He was willing to lay down His life, come into our world, submit Himself to a cruel death so we could be set free from the penalty we so deserve for our sinfulness.

As we prepare this morning for Communion I must ask, Is Christ for you? Only you can truly answer this question and the answer will be lived out before Him and everyone who surrounds you.

Is There Any Love?

Audio Message

Today is the fourth week of Advent. This is the day that we celebrate the coming of Love into our realm from heaven.

Isaiah 43:1-15

1 But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.4 Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.5 “Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west.6 I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth.7 Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’ ”8 Bring out the people who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf.9 Gather the nations together! Assemble the peoples of the world! Which of their idols has ever foretold such things? Which can predict what will happen tomorrow? Where are the witnesses of such predictions? Who can verify that they spoke the truth? 10 “But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the LORD. “You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be. 11 I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no other Savior. 12 First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,” says the LORD. 13 “From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.”
There are some amazing statements made in this passage.

Here’s what I want you to notice

I created you, I formed you, I ransomed you, I called you by name, you are mine. I will be with you.

For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

I gave, I gave, in exchange for you, I traded, you are precious, You are honored, I love you, I am with you, I will gather you.

I have made them, I created them, you are my witnesses, You have been chosen, I saved you,

“From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.”

This is a passage that tells us how much God loves us.

The New Testament which is built upon God’s love for us says…

Romans 8:35-39

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So how do you answer the question, “Does God loves me?”

John 3:16-21

16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20 All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21 But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

If God so loves why do we refuse to come to Him? Why is there such a battle over the celebration of Christmas each year? Why are people so offended by the Christ?

The Scripture tells us, “but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.”

God sent His Son to save us. Let’s look at the passages that announce the coming of Jesus.

Luke 1:26-35

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.

Matthew 1:18-21

18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Now that we know that God loves us and to what extent God loves us what should our response be?

Mark 12:29-31

29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. 30 And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

1 Corinthians 16:22a

22 If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed.

This is pretty extreme. God so loved us and due to His love for us we have been made right with Him if we believe. Since we believe and are now right with God we must love the Lord and our neighbors as ourselves.

So, what is love?

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

I want you to repeat after me, I am patient. I am not jealous. I am not boastful.

I am not proud. I am not rude. I do not demand my own way. I am not irritable.

I keep no records of being wronged. I do not rejoice over injustice. I rejoice when

the truth wins out. I never give up. I never lose faith. I am always hopeful.

I will endure through every circumstance.

My question this morning is, Do You Love?

We are so worried about God loving us but that should not be a worry at all.

The Scriptures repeat and assure us that God loves us.

What we need to be worried about is our love for the Lord and others.

We are loved but do we have Love?

Through our salvation we should have our hearts of stone turned into hearts of flesh.

Our hearts of flesh should be so filled with a love for others that we hurt for them and with them. We should so desire that they come to know the Love of God that we would be the ones to portray it to them.

Do you have Christ’s love in you?

Let us pray.

Is There Any Joy?

Audio Message

It’s week three of the Advent season. Advent, which means coming, is the celebration of the coming of God in flesh to our world of time and space.

We have looked at how the Christ brought Hope and Peace to those who would accept Him.

Today we are going to see the Joy that was promised with the coming of Christ.

Psalm 51:1-16

1 “Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance—all who seek the LORD! Consider the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were mined. 2 Yes, think about Abraham, your ancestor, and Sarah, who gave birth to your nation. Abraham was only one man when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation.” 3 The LORD will comfort Israel again and have pity on her ruins. Her desert will blossom like Eden, her barren wilderness like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found there. Songs of thanksgiving will fill the air.

4 “Listen to me, my people. Hear me, Israel, for my law will be proclaimed, and my justice will become a light to the nations. 5 My mercy and justice are coming soon. My salvation is on the way. My strong arm will bring justice to the nations. All distant lands will look to me and wait in hope for my powerful arm. 6 Look up to the skies above, and gaze down on the earth below. For the skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, but my salvation lasts forever. My righteous rule will never end!

7 “Listen to me, you who know right from wrong you who cherish my law in your hearts. Do not be afraid of people’s scorn, nor fear their insults. 8 For the moth will devour them as it devours clothing. The worm will eat at them as it eats wool. But my righteousness will last forever. My salvation will continue from generation to generation.”

9 Wake up, wake up, O LORD! Clothe yourself with strength! Flex your mighty right arm! Rouse yourself as in the days of old when you slew Egypt, the dragon of the Nile. 10 Are you not the same today, the one who dried up the sea, making a path of escape through the depths so that your people could cross over? 11 Those who have been ransomed by the LORD will return. They will enter Jerusalem singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.

12 “I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear? 13 Yet you have forgotten the LORD, your Creator, the one who stretched out the sky like a canopy and laid the foundations of the earth. Will you remain in constant dread of human oppressors? Will you continue to fear the anger of your enemies? Where is their fury and anger now? It is gone!

14 Soon all you captives will be released! Imprisonment, starvation, and death will not be your fate! 15 For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea, causing its waves to roar. My name is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. 16 And I have put my words in your mouth and hidden you safely in my hand. I stretched out the sky like a canopy and laid the foundations of the earth. I am the one who says to Israel, ‘You are my people!’ ”

As we look at this passage we see that God is promising Joy and gladness to Abraham’s descendants.

This Joy and gladness will come along with God’s justice and mercy.

When we think of God’s justice we know that no man can stand to be justified before the Lord. We also know that His mercy rested upon those who trusted Him by faith.

No, they did not deserve mercy but God is merciful and faithful to forgive the sins of those who come back to Him. He rewarded men’s faith and trust in Him by shedding His grace upon them.

This was true in the Old Testament and it is still today under the New Covenant.

Isaiah 12:1-6

1 In that day you will sing: “I will praise you, O LORD! You were angry with me, but not any more. Now you comfort me. 2 See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The LORD GOD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.” 3 With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation! 4 In that wonderful day you will sing: “Thank the LORD! Praise his name! Tell the nations what he has done. Let them know how mighty he is! 5 Sing to the LORD, for he has done wonderful things. Make known his praise around the world. 6 Let all the people of Jerusalem shout his praise with joy! For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you.”

As you see joy comes through salvation. Salvation is in and through the Lord. This has not changed.

So why did Jesus have to come? God was making a way for all to come.

The Jews had the revelation of God. They were very exclusive when it came to sharing this salvation with the Gentiles. God desired to open His Kingdom up to all people.

Through Christ all men everywhere would now have a way back into right standing with God.

Revelation 22:12-17

12 “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. 15 Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.

The world at large was thirsting for salvation. The world needed to be released from the dark destination that was laid before them.

So at just the right time God sent His Son to bring Joy to all people.

And to whom did He announce this Good News?

To the lowliest of the common man.

Luke 2:8-20

8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.

If God would have sent the message to kings, princes, priests, or the affluent, they would have considered the message to be for themselves. They would have become the guardians of the message and only shared it with those they deemed to be worthy of receiving it.

To send the message to the lowliest of men, the message could only be moved upwards. There would be no limits based upon man’s scale of worthiness.

So, as the Scripture says, “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.”

11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

If you’re going to announce the Good News to shepherds you had best not have the child hidden from them. If the child would have been born in an inn or a house or even a palace, the shepherds would not have been able to witness the coming of their Messiah.

Jesus had to take on the low position to reach the lowest of humanity.

Think of the King of Heaven taking on flesh and coming to live amongst man. Think of the King of Heaven living amongst the lowliest of men.

As I wrote this I realized I still struggle with the idea of the Messiah, the Lord, the King, the Creator of all things taking the lowest of places amongst men.

The Apostle Paul took the Gospel to people like Lydia who was a rich business woman. He spoke to governors, leaders, and even the Caesar.

Jesus didn’t take His ministry to these people. Once His ministry began to grow these were the ones who became interested in Jesus but they weren’t looking for salvation.

Let’s go back to the mountainside.

13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Have you ever thought about the peace that rests on those who are not in charge?

Do you really believe the rulers, governors, business owners, boards of directors, CEO’s, elected officials, dictators, and high ranking religious leaders, lives are filled with peace?

How about entertainers and athletes?

It’s not easy work keeping themselves in their high positions. They’re always defending their territory while working to gain more.

There is no peace in this lifestyle. They have lost their joy because joy is an internal emotion or feeling based upon a person’s knowledge of a faithful and true God that works all things together for the good of those called according to His purpose.

5 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

How many of the people I listed earlier would leave their chosen path in life to go to the Savior?

Many people ask the savior to join them in their endeavors and help them to become successful.

Jesus was always calling people away from their way to come to Him. People leaving what they are doing to go and seek out the Master.

There is joy in being able to go to the Lord when He calls you to come. There is unrest when you are so tied to the things of this world that you can’t let go of it long enough to go with God.

16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.

I hope you’re able to see why the shepherds were chosen as the ones to receive this great announcement from heaven. They were willing go and see. They didn’t shake it off as non-important. They didn’t ignore it as a deterrent to their way of life. The shepherds not only went to see but then took time to tell others as they returned to their responsibilities..

20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Your inner being must be filled with joy to be able to glorify and praise God. You must be aware of your sinfulness and His faithfulness to forgive your sin for your heart to be filled with joy.

You must come clean before the Lord for this joy to come into your heart and explode into a new way of living life filled with hope and peace.

The shepherd’s lives changed on a hillside in Bethlehem. The change led them to town where they witnessed God’s entrance into His creation. They left with new meaning in their life and a new mission to give them purpose.

No, they didn’t quit their night jobs, but I will guarantee that everything else they did took on a whole new meaning and direction.

Their families would have been the first to notice, followed by their friends, new shepherds at the work place and all who saw these lowly shepherds that were filled with joy had to ask, “How can someone like that be so happy in their situation?”

The answer can only be found when you see the Lord and are filled with the Joy, Peace and Hope that comes from knowing your salvation has come.

Let us pray.

Is There Any Peace?

Audio Message

I have an Advent Season tradition. I like to make sure, each year, to put this statement into my Peace Message.

**Peace is not the absence of conflict, Peace is the presence of God!**

This is the truth that most people are missing. Most people are seeking for an absence of conflict. They don’t want trials, struggles, tribulation, catastrophes, division, battles, warfare, insurrections, rebellion, revolt, uprisings, strife, combat, fighting, feuding, arguments, scrapping, anger, rage, break-ups, violence, friction, clashes, disagreement, disputes, controversy, disruptions, quarrels, run-ins, disputes or any other trouble.

So, if we are going to answer today’s question we must understand that there is no real peace in this world. The peace we are looking for is within. The peace that passes all understanding is having peace in the world’s un-peaceful situation.

We live in an angry world.

James 4:1-3

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Isn’t it the whole army of evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous for what others have, and you can’t possess it, so you fight and quarrel to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

The only way for the un-peaceful situations to be eliminated from your life is for you to be absent from the body and present with the Lord. You must be out of this realm that has fallen due to sin for there to be an absence of conflict.

Jesus is the one who told us that in this world we will have trouble. He also told us to take heart for He has overcome the world.

So Peace is not the absence of conflict but it is the presence of Immanuel or God with us. To have true peace we must die to self, take up the cross and follow the Lord.

Isaiah 42:1-9 ( The Prophecy )

1 “Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations. 2 He will not shout or raise his voice in public. 3 He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. 4 He will not falter or lose heart until justice prevails throughout the earth. Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction.” 5 God, the LORD, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth. And it is he who says, 6 “I, the LORD, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations.
7 You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons. 8 “I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. 9 Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens.”

Isaiah has prophesied in the past what God was going to do in the future. God can be relied upon to do that which He says He will do.

Isaiah tells us that the One whom God is going to send will not raise His voice. He will no crush the weakest of reeds or put out the flickering candle. In other words God is sending One to make things right. He can be relied upon to bring justice to those who are unable to bring justice for themselves.

Jesus had peace and handled things in His life peacefully even when all hell was breaking loose around Him.

In verse 5 Isaiah writes, God, the LORD, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth. This is a remarkable statement. God, who created everything and gave life to everyone, is still in charge of all things.

Can we trust Him?

Can we place our faith in Him?

Can we rely on Isaiah’s writing to be true?

John 1:19-34 ( The History )

19 This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” 20 He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”
21 “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”
“No,” he replied.
“Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”
“No.”
22 “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”

23 John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:
“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Clear the way for the LORD’s coming!’ ”
24 Then the Pharisees who had been sent 25 asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”
26 John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. 27 Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”
28 This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.

Jesus, the Lamb of God
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”

Let’s put the puzzle pieces together. Isaiah prophesied that He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him.

John the Baptist says, John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the LORD’s coming!’ ”

Once again, using a prophetic statement from Isaiah, God is now working out that which He proclaimed many centuries earlier.

So what happens after John baptizes Jesus?

Matthew 3:16-17

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

The Spirit rests upon and God declares His pleasure. Isn’t that what the prophecy stated? He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him.

We have read the Prophesy. We have witnessed, through John, the historical fulfillment of this prophecy. So how did this effect people in their lives?

Luke 2:25-38 ( The Reality )

25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,

29 “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. 30 I have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared for all people. 32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”

The Prophecy of Anna
36 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. 37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38 She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.

We see two people that saw the Savior early in His childhood. They were both affected greatly. They were both waiting for the expected Messiah.

Simeon, after seeing the Messiah, the One who would be the light to reveal God to the people, found his peace. He was able to lay down his life and rest in the knowledge of the Holy appearance.

Anna, on the other hand, had reason to celebrate and spread the good news of the Messiah’s coming.

Salvation has come. In the darkness of this world the light of hope and peace has entered. Mankind now has Hope in Christ Jesus and we also have peace.

As the prophecy says,

Isaiah 9:6-7

6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

According to the Prophecy His peace will never end. If you are not experiencing the peace that passes all understanding, I must ask, are you trusting, relying, believing and placing your faith in Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Lord, the King, the Savior, the Master, the Shepherd, the Rock, the Head of the church, the Lamb of God, the Bread of Life, the Way, the Truth, the Gate, the Anchor, the Wonderful Counselor, the Helper, the Comforter, the Almighty One, the I Am, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, The Everlasting Father, THE PRINCE OF PEACE?

Let us Pray!

Churchmas On the Rise

As the holiday season has begun and the shoppers are out in force we must be careful not to forget the reason for the season.

The secular world has already x-ed Christ out of Christmas and replaced Him with good ole’ St. Nick.

Now, the church must be careful in their direction also.

Many have already turned Christianity into Churchianity by placing their doctrines and traditions above Christ. Churchianity offers the church as the answer to our social ills. Churchianity offers the church as the way to salvation.

The church must now be careful not to replace Christmas with Churchmas.

I say this because it seems to me that many churches use the holiday season as a spring board for the church. The focus of attention is the church not the Christ.

Yes, there are the programs, the dinners and the social celebrations. But what is the reason for it all? Is it to advance the name of the church or to make Jesus Christ known?

Around 3400 years ago a man named Moses penned God’s words in Deuteronomy 18:18-19, “I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will tell that prophet what to say, and he will tell the people everything I command him. I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf.”

This was the prophecy of Jesus coming in flesh to our world. But I want you to notice what God’s Word says. He, God, will deal personally with anyone who will not listen to Jesus’ message.

Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

The reason we celebrate Christmas is all about Christ. Christ is the reason for the season.

We in the church must not lose focus upon the Christ. We can become so competitive amongst ourselves trying to draw people to our churches that we forget that we are leading people to Jesus Christ not to the door of our fellowship.

We must be cautious to make sure people know Christ and not just the ways of the church.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:10-11, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

Have we lost our focus? Are we celebrating Churchmas or Christmas this year?

It’s time to quit blaming the secular world for omitting Christ from Christmas when we can get caught up doing the same thing.

Merry CHRISTmas to all!