The Promise Keeper

As we celebrate this season, we must remember what this season is about. Christmas is about the first coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. It is most definitely a time to celebrate. If Jesus had never come, we would truly have no hope, and there would be no peace available to anyone.

The Bible has four gospels at the beginning of the New Testament which tell about the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Two of those gospels actually share about the birth of Jesus: Matthew and Luke.

When you look at Matthew’s gospel — which is at the beginning of the New Testament — you find something interesting. Matthew begins his gospel with the genealogy of Jesus Christ through his earthly father, Joseph.

Why is this genealogy of Jesus important? That is one thing that I want to look at today. It is so much more than just a list of names. This genealogy is actually proof that God is one who always keeps His promises.

If you look at the genealogy in Matthew 1, you see that it goes from Jesus’ earthly father (Joseph) all the way back to Abraham. There are four important parts of this genealogy which are each separated by 14 generations:

• Joseph – Jesus’ earthly father
• The Babylonian Exile
• King David
• Abraham

It is almost like God had this all planned out from the beginning.

But why would this genealogy go back to Abraham? It is because Abraham would play an important role in God’s plan of redemption.

‌The Call of Abram

In Genesis 12:1-3, we see God calling a guy named Abram to leave everything he had ever known and follow this God who was calling him.

¹ The Lord said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. ² I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. ³ I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

Genesis 12:1–3 CSB

With this call, God promised that He would make Abram (who would later have his name changed to Abraham) great and would bless the entire world through him. That is a pretty big promise.

The Power of a Promise

Promises can be tricky things in our lives. I’m sure that we have all had someone make a promise to us. Some of those who have made promises to us have made good on them. Others have broken their promises, which leads to distrust and hurt that can last with us for some time.

In the movie, Hook, Robin Williams plays a grown-up Peter Pan who has forgotten who he was and becomes a workaholic. Peter had broken many promises to his son, Jack, in the movie. When Peter’s children are kidnapped by Captain Hook and taken to Neverland, Jack doesn’t have much of a problem at first with Captain Hook becoming his dad because his real dad had broken so many promises.

How do we know that God is One who will keep His promises when there are so many around us who fail to do so?

To answer that question, we must look back to the promise that God made to Abraham. In Genesis 12, God says that if Abraham will follow and trust God, then God will make his life a blessing to the entire world.

Through Abraham’s lifetime, God gave more information about how this promise would be fulfilled.

‌The Promised Son

In Genesis 18 and 21, God promises that Abraham and his wife, Sarah, will have a son. It would be this son, Isaac, that the promise would come through.

In this step of the process, we learn a little more about how the God of the Bible is the God of the impossible. In Genesis 21, Abraham is 100 years old, and Sarah is 90 years old. Talk about impossible!

‌The Promised Sacrifice

When we come to Genesis 22, we find a very strange passage. God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, to the Lord on a mountain God would show him. I thought it was through Isaac that the promised deliverer would come. The Messiah cannot come if Isaac is no longer living.

What we see from Abraham is a true measure of faith.

⁹ When they arrived at the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. ¹⁰ Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.

Genesis 22:9–10 CSB

This scene should make any person scratch their head. God is not one who is pleased with child sacrifice. Why would God be telling Abraham to do such a thing? Why in the world would Abraham go through with this?

We see a glimpse of Abraham’s faith in God in the New Testament letter of Hebrews.

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son,¹⁸ the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring will be traced through Isaac. ¹⁹ He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking.

Hebrews 11:17–19 CSB

Abraham knew enough about God that this was out of the norm. Abraham knew that he would be walking off that mountain with Isaac alive. He wasn’t sure how it was going to happen, but Abraham knew it would happen.

This brings us to a point we need to pause and think about. Are we willing to take God at His word, or do we need to know all the details before we are obedient? Faith is seen when we trust in the Lord without all the answers. Abraham trusted in the Lord and we see God answering in a mighty way.

¹¹ But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He replied, “Here I am.” ¹² Then he said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.” ¹³ Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. ¹⁴ And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide, so today it is said, “It will be provided on the Lord’s mountain.”

Genesis 22:11–14 CSB

The Lord stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac and provided the needed sacrifice for the moment. It just so happened that in that exact moment and place, there was a ram caught in the thicket.

It is through this part of the story that God gives us an additional piece of the puzzle. God will provide the needed sacrifice at the right time.

This shows us that the promised Messiah would be one that would be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. This moment on the mountaintop with Abraham was pointing ahead to Calvary where Jesus would lay down His life as a sacrifice for you and me.

²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:21 CSB

Conclusion

The genealogy of Jesus at the beginning of Matthew’s gospel is so much more than a list of names. It is a reminder that God keeps His word.

The promise made to Abraham to bless the entire world through him would come at the finished work of Jesus Christ. Abraham may not have seen it with his own eyes here on earth, but he trusted that the Lord would keep His word.

We celebrate this season because God kept His word then, and He continues to keep it today.

¹¹ For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, ¹² since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. ¹³ For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Romans 10:11–13 CSB

Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ? He has promised that any person who does so will not be put to shame but experience the salvation the Lord offers. That promise is the greatest gift that one could receive this season.

Read More

God Promises A Savior

There is something special about this time of the year. There is a different feel in the air that is not just the colder temperatures. You can see the lights and decorations. One thing about this time of year is that it brings out a playlist of songs that are just special.

The classic Christmas carol, O Holy Night, has the memorable line: “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.” While those eight words seem so simple, they are so profound.

We live in a weary world. It seems everywhere we turn there are things going on that causes our hearts to ache and even make our souls yearn for hope.

During this season, we want to look at a series of messages we are calling The Thrill of Hope. As we move towards the celebration of Jesus’ first coming, we want to see through these messages how in Christ, all of the promises of God have come true.

In the New Testament, the word translated as “hope” is a Greek word that means “an expectation of hope,” and it appears about 87 times in the New Testament.

‌The Gospel is a message of hope

The message of the Gospel is one of expected hope, which comes through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We find the Gospel all throughout the New Testament, but the fullness of the Gospel starts back in the Garden of Eden.

The word “gospel” literally means “good news.” In order to see how the gospel is good news, we must first hear some bad news.

‌The Beginning

As the Bible opens up in Genesis 1 and 2, we see the story of Creation. In these two chapters, we see God creating everything in a matter of six days. Genesis 1 gives an overview of the Creation story, and Genesis 2 shares a little more detail about what the first humans did in their beginning days. It is a beautiful picture of all being right.

‌The Fall into Sin

In Genesis 3, we see a turn in the story of humanity.‌

¹ Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?” ² The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. ³ But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” ⁴ “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. ⁵ “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ⁶ The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. ⁷ Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Genesis 3:1–7 CSB

Satan comes to Adam and Eve in the form of a serpent and tempts them to disobey God’s commands. Satan is very cunning. He sells this false truth that Adam and Eve could be like God and that God was actually holding out on them.

Satan still uses the same tactics today. He whispers to our minds untruths intended to get us to doubt God. He will try to twist God’s words and cause us to take a different path than what God intends for us. This is why it is important to study God’s Word for yourself and have an intimate and personal relationship with God.

Adam and Eve decide to listen to Satan rather than God and find out that what God had said is completely true. While they did not physically drop dead at that moment, a death did take place — spiritual death which would lead to physical death as well.

‌God brings judgment

In Genesis 3:8-24, we see the consequences of Adam and Eve’s decision. Some have viewed God’s actions and words here as harsh and even unkind, but the truth is that God had to do this. If God did not punish sin, then He would not be loving.

¹⁵ Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.

James 1:15 CSB

The only thing sin can bring about in a person’s life is death. Some sins may feel good in the moment, but each sin sets a person on the path to destruction and separation from God.

We see this played out in Genesis 3 as God comes to fellowship with Adam and Eve, they are hiding. The once cherished time of walking and communicating with God is now replaced with shame, guilt, and fear.

While we may read this and shake our heads, we need to realize that this sin that Adam and Eve are plagued with has been passed down to every human being since.

²³ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

Romans 3:23 CSB

We are not so different from Adam and Eve. There are points in each of our lives where we have disobeyed God’s commands and gone our own way. Just as God pronounced judgment on Adam and Eve, so God pronounces judgment on all who sin.

We sometimes wonder how our world has gotten into the shape that it is in. The reason is that sin has entered into our world through us. It plagues everything it touches.

‌The First Glimpse of Hope

‌What is interesting to me is that in the midst of God pronouncing judgment on Adam and Eve’s sin, He doesn’t stop there. In the midst of judgment, God offers a glimpse of hope.

As God lays out judgment upon the serpent (Satan), He shares these words…

¹⁵ I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.

​Genesis 3:15 CSB

In the midst of judgment, God offers hope to the hopeless. Adam and Eve (just like us) were helpless to do anything about their own situation. They had sinned against God and could not restore what was lost, but God is One who can do the impossible.

In Genesis 3:15, God promises a deliverer that would fix the problem that sin has brought about. This deliverer would come through the life of a person who came to be known as the Messiah. This Messiah would come from a woman (be born and live) and would pay the price for sins. Any person who would place their faith in this Messiah and follow Him would be forgiven of their sins and gain a restored relationship with God for all eternity — like Adam and Eve had before they fell to sin.

‌The Anticipation of the Messiah

‌Since the day God spoke the words of Genesis 3:15, the world has been looking for that Messiah. You can see throughout the rest of the Old Testament how the Jewish people longed for this Messiah to come and bring deliverance.

We are not so different from those in the Old Testament. Think about this: how many books/movies have been made that basically have the plot of a Chosen One coming and bringing deliverance?

• Star Wars

• Harry Potter

• Kung Fu Panda

• Lord of the Rings

There is something within all human beings that craves a deliverer to come and rescue us from the mess we find ourselves in. While there have been many who have written books and made movies about it, each one fails to live up to the reality of what God has put in place.

God promised that He would send a Messiah, and that is why we are celebrating this season today. If you fast-forward from the Garden of Eden to the New Testament, we find that our wait for the Messiah has come to an end.

We read in the first chapter of Matthew’s gospel, that a young virgin girl who was about to get married was miraculously pregnant with the promised Messiah. God did not want this to be misunderstood, so He sent this message to Joseph:

²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:21 CSB

When Jesus came into this world, the promised Messiah that God said would come in Genesis 3 had arrived. He was not the creation of some producer or storyteller. He was “God with us.”

‌Conclusion‌

The God of the Bible is a faithful and true God. When He says something will happen, you can count on it. It may not happen in the exact time frame that you want, but it will come about just as He said it would.

Even when God had to pronounce judgment on sin, He provided hope that no one else could or even would. God didn’t have to provide the wonderful gift of forgiveness and restoration to us. We walked away from Him. I am so thankful that He chose out of His gracious love to reach out to those of us who were hopeless and give us hope.

This hope is a precious gift that comes to us through Jesus Christ. It is graciously offered to all, but it only truly belongs to those who receive it. We do that by confessing and turning from our sin and trusting in the finished work of Jesus on our behalf. I would encourage you to receive that gift if you never have. It is the greatest gift ever given — the only gift that truly brings the thrill of hope to our lives.

Read More

The Expectation of Deliverance

The Christmas season brings about a great deal of expectations. Hopefully, those expectations bring about joy to our lives. Joy is very different from just happiness. It is the happiness and contentment of the soul that is present no matter what the situation we are in may be.

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 17:22 CSB

One of the characteristics of joy in our lives is the presence of laughter. Did you know that laughter has many scientific benefits in our lives? It can lower blood pressure. It can reduce anxiety. It can boost our immune system. It benefits our cardiovascular system. It can even burn calories.

‌”The Gospel is nothing less than laughter and joy.”

Martin Luther

The Christmas and Advent seasons should be a time of great joy. One of the reasons for this is because this season is a reminder of the gospel. The gospel is God’s plan of making a way for any person to be made right with Him by the demonstration of grace through Jesus Christ.

The Gospel is the good news that we can be delivered from our sins by the finished work of Jesus Christ. With this season, we see the expectation of deliverance coming to us.

During this time of the year, delivery may take on different meanings. You may be drawn to think about the delivery of packages that you have ordered. There is an anticipation that comes with that. Another thought of delivery is the birth of a child. That amazing miracle comes with a period of months of waiting and preparation. When that moment arrives, the parents realize that it was all worth it.

In Luke 1, we see the account of two ladies who were expecting the delivery of babies. These two precious baby boys would help to change the world forever. In verse 36, as the angel is telling Mary the news that she will give birth to the Messiah, the angel also tells Mary that her cousin, Elizabeth, was pregnant with child. Apparently, Mary and Elizabeth were pretty close. With this news, Mary sets off to see what God is doing.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

As Mary heard the news that Elizabeth was pregnant, she ran to see for herself (Luke 1:39-40). This was a miracle because Elizabeth had not been able to have a child up to this point. It had seemed that having a child was not in God’s plan for Elizabeth. God shows that His timing isn’t always lined up with our expectations. Just because something doesn’t happen when or how we think it should doesn’t mean that it will never happen.

Has there been times in your life when you were looking for something to happen, but it didn’t seem to? Those times can be very discouraging. I’m not going to stand here and say that just because you want it to happen then it will. I will say that it is important for us to seek out the “when” and “how” from God and not just the “what.” God is not limited by our time or resources. He is the Creator of the universe, and He can do whatever He wills.

Effects of Mary’s Visit

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:41 CSB

First, we are told that the baby in Elizabeth’s womb “leaped inside of her.” This, of course, is John the Baptist. God’s plan for little John’s life is to be the forerunner of the Messiah. Because Mary was pregnant with Jesus in her womb, their presence in the house brought great joy even to the baby in Elizabeth’s womb. Little John jumped for joy because God’s plan was unfolding just as God designed. When we see God working around us, we should not be afraid to jump for joy.

Second, we are told that the Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth. Before Pentecost in Acts 2, the Holy Spirit would come upon people to enable them to carry out God’s desires. Today, every person that trusts in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is filled with the Holy Spirit to guide them in God’s ways. As Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, she begins to praise God and confirm the message of the angel to Mary.

Mary had not told Elizabeth that she was pregnant. This was knowledge given to Elizabeth by the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth also encourages Mary about her trust in the Lord’s plan for her life even though it would not be easy.

This scene reminds us of the importance of gathering together with other Christians. Do you realize that when Christians gather together, the Holy Spirit is living within each one and can use each one to encourage others for His glory? I’m sure that Mary was still trying to figure everything out. I imagine that there were still questions. The Holy Spirit used Mary to encourage Elizabeth, but He also used Elizabeth to encourage Mary. This is what the church is supposed to look like – believers being used by the Holy Spirit to help one another.

Mary’s Response

In Luke 1:46-55, we see Mary’s response. It has become known as the Magnificat (Latin for “my soul magnifies the Lord”). It is a song of praise that Mary gives in response to all that she has witnessed. In this song are six key points:

• Praise comes from the soul and not just the mouth (Luke 1:46-47)
• God sees you where you are (Luke 1:48)
• God does great work in and through us (Luke 1:49)
• God’s mercy never runs out (Luke 1:50)
• God will not overlook sin (Luke 1:51-52)
• God keeps His word (Luke 1:53-55)

Application Points

God has a great plan

There are times when it can feel that life is just a rushing river, and we are just riding the current. We can see from this scene between Mary and Elizabeth that God has a great plan, and He is faithful to see it to completion.

‌God will not fail or forget us

Part of God’s great plan involves us personally. Though we can feel lost and forgotten in the middle of a huge crowd at times, we never fall off of God’s radar. He knows right we are. He knows exactly what we are going through. He also knows how to get us to where we need to be. All God asks of us is to trust and follow Him.

‌God invites us to join Him in His work

While God is working in our lives, He is also working in others around us as well. Many times, God will invite you to join Him in what He is doing there. He is not asking you to play the role of God in their lives, but He may be wanting to use you to help them in their journey.

‌God will strengthen our faith through our obedience

As Mary trusted and obeyed the Lord, God used her to help Elizabeth. Through this entire interaction, Mary’s faith was strengthened. This can happen in our lives as well. It might be that what we need most is not another bible study or sermon. What we might need most is to obey the Lord with what He has already shown us.

‌Conclusion

There is a famous song that comes out at this time of year. It was co-written by Mark Lowry, a Christian comedian and talented singer. It is called, “Mary, Did You Know?” I know there are different views on this song. To settle the question, yes, Mary was informed about who Jesus was because the angel told her. Did she completely understand? I have to believe that question is harder to answer. While we can have knowledge of something, we may not understand it.

One of the lyrics of that song says, “Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you delivered, will soon deliver you?” Concerning that, I’m not sure that Mary fully grasped what all that meant. But that did not stop her from trusting the Lord with it and walking in obedience. Because of that faith, she was delivered, and so is every person who trusts in Jesus Christ.

Maybe this Christmas season, the gift that you need most is the deliverance that only Jesus can give you. I want you to know that this deliverance is available to you today. Will you trust in Him and walk by faith?

‌

Read More

Reasons for Singing

One of the special parts of the Christmas and Advent seasons is the songs that are sung. I have grown in my appreciation of songs that are specially meant for this time of year. Some of the songs that we sing during this time of year seem to hit closer to the heart because there is a focus on the theme of the season.

The gift of song is a wonderful gift that has been given to us. You do not have to have a professional voice to enjoy a good song. My mother told me from my teenage years on that I may be able to speak in front of others, but I didn’t have a singing voice fit for the shower. That doesn’t keep me from singing, though.

Songs have been used through the ages to give people a way to share what is on their hearts. There are many reasons that we have for singing. The Bible talks a great deal about singing.

Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

​Colossians 3:16 CSB

For some of us, we may not feel like singing. We may have a difficult time seeing reasons for singing. With our time today, I would like to share with you three reasons for singing during this Advent and Christmas season from Zephaniah 3.

‌Dark Times

Zephaniah was a prophet of the LORD that shared God’s word with the people of Judah during the reign of King Josiah during the later part of the 7th century B.C. It was dark times as the northern kingdom of Israel had already fallen into exile. The people of the southern kingdom (Judah) were not doing well either. Many were still involved in practices that went against what the LORD desired for His people (seen in Zephaniah 1). The words of Zephaniah were words that pointed to a coming judgment. If there were reasons not to sing, the people of Judah were going through them.

What we are looking at today is the end of this prophecy that Zephaniah was commanded to share with God’s people. In these final verses of this Old Testament book, we see that there is a reason to sing.

What we today see is the fullness of these reasons because of the season that we are currently in: when Jesus came to earth.

‌The Lord has removed our punishment

In the first part of verse 15, Zephaniah says, “the Lord has removed your punishment.” What punishment is the prophet talking about? It is the punishment that comes from disobeying the Lord’s commands. We call this sin.

The people of Zephaniah’s day were choosing to follow their own ways instead of doing what the Lord had commanded them to do. Does that sound familiar? Sounds a lot like the day that we live, where many live their lives as if they know better than the Lord how to do it.

The apostle Paul reminds us that every single sin has a punishment.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

​Romans 6:23 CSB

The punishment for our sin is death. Death is not just the ceasing of breath and heartbeat. Death is the separation from the goodness of God.

But Zephaniah says that the Lord has removed our punishment. This doesn’t mean that He just overlooks our sin. Someone has to pay for it. When Jesus came, He did exactly that.

Jesus was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life so that He could take our punishment. When Jesus went to the cross, He wasn’t paying for His sin (He had none); He was paying for ours.

Because of that gracious gift to us, our punishment can be removed. When we put our faith in what Jesus did for us, the punishment of our sin is removed. That is a reason for singing!

‌The Lord turned back the enemy

Also in verse 15, Zephaniah says the Lord has turned back your enemy. The people of Judah would face a physical enemy that would bring about great pain and discouragement.

We also face an enemy that looks to harm us and cause us to live in fear and defeat.

A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

​John 10:10 CSB

When Jesus came on the scene that first Christmas, He came to push our enemy back into his proper place. It is like when a bully picks on a kid. The bully calls him names and pushes him around. The bully may even hit on the poor kid. But then the kid’s big brother shows up – a brother that is stronger and greater than anything the bully has ever seen. What happens? The bully runs for cover because he knows that he cannot stand against this one.

When Jesus came and carried out the Father’s plan, he took the worst that sin could dish out (death) and conquered it. For those who have trusted in Christ, Jesus stands to defend you against the evil one, and Satan cannot stand against Jesus. Zephaniah would even describe the Lord as “a warrior who saves” in verse 17. That will bring about a song in the heart of any person right there.

‌The Lord is among you

Zephaniah shares one more reason for singing, and this might be one of the greatest of all. In verses 15 and 17, Zephaniah shares an important truth with us: “the Lord is among you.”

One of the titles of Jesus is Emmanuel (“God with us”). I hope that you never get over that amazing fact. Jesus is not a distant and unconcerned God. He is near and very concerned.

Jesus came to us not out of duty but because He loves us. Though we have rebelled against Him, He has loved us with an everlasting love that can never fade.

Zephaniah shares that the Lord rejoices over you with singing (verse 17). Did you know that? Do you realize that the Lord Himself sings over you? I think about how a parent will hold a baby and sing over him or her. I can remember watching my wife, Naomi, sing over our boys countless times. It was a beautiful picture of love. The Lord does that over His children.

You cannot do that from afar. That is an intimate exchange that takes place.

Because the Lord is near us, the reason for living in fear is gone. In verse 15, Zephaniah shares that because the Lord is near, there is no need to fear harm. He watches over you. When you trust in the Lord, you are in good hands – hands that can comfort… hands that can protect… hands that will hold on to you.

‌Conclusion

We can see from the words of this Old Testament prophet that we have many reasons to sing. What the people of Zephaniah’s day may not have understood, we see clearly. The words of hope that Zephaniah shared were about Jesus coming.

We celebrate during this season the fact that the Son of God is Emmanuel. He is with us. He has made victory over sin and the grave possible. He has brought us out of the exile of our sin and into His Kingdom of light.

What song is the Lord putting in your heart today? Is it a song of confession – confessing your sins to Him and receiving forgiveness? Is it a song of victory? Is it a song of praise for who He is and what He has done? I would encourage you to obey the word of the psalmist when he said:

Sing a new song to the Lord; let the whole earth sing to the Lord. Sing to the Lord, bless his name; proclaim his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his wondrous works among all peoples.

​Psalm 96:1–3 CSB

Read More

The Expectation of Hope and Forgiveness

This time of year comes with all kinds of big expectations. There are expectations about what might be under our Christmas trees. There are expectations of enjoying time with friends and family. There is also the expectation that the LORD is keeping His word and doing something that will both bring Him glory and us good.

Luke 1 is a section of Luke’s gospel that shows a certain man named Zechariah come to better understand and expect the LORD to do something great.

‌Zechariah’s Situation

Zechariah was a priest of the Jewish faith. He was a faithful man who loved the LORD with all that he had. At the beginning of Luke 1, we are told that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a child. Gabriel, an angel of the LORD, brought this news to Zechariah while he was carrying out his duties in the Temple. Gabriel also told Zechariah that the son he would have will be named John – the one we know as John the Baptist.

Zechariah didn’t see how this would happen because Elizabeth had not been able to have children. Because of his doubt in this, Zechariah would lose his ability to speak until John was born.

The passage that we are going to focus on today is Luke 1:67-79. These verses are a part of a prophecy that Zechariah was able to share, and they were some of the first words he was able to speak since losing that ability.

Think about that situation. What if you lost the ability to speak for almost a year? What if that ability was restored suddenly? What would be the first words out of your mouth?

‌Prophecy

The idea of prophecy is one that intrigues many people. Many times, when we think about prophecy, we think about the foretelling of something to come. In actuality, prophecy is the forth-telling of truth. Many times, it does have to do with events that will come about, but it is more concerned with the truth being shared.

‌Zechariah’s Prophecy

As we look at Luke 1:67-79, we see that Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit and given a message of truth to share. It was not just a message of truth for him, and the people present that day, but it was for all people. It was a message of hope and forgiveness.

This prophecy that Zechariah shares can be broken up into two parts. The first part comes in verses 68-75, and it is a declaration of who the LORD is and what He was doing.

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets in ancient times; salvation from our enemies and from the hand of those who hate us. He has dealt mercifully with our ancestors and remembered his holy covenant— the oath that he swore to our father Abraham. He has given us the privilege, since we have been rescued from the hand of our enemies, to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days.

​Luke 1:67–75 CSB

In this first part, we see four key things about the LORD.

‌The LORD has visited us

Verse 68 talks about the LORD visiting His people. This is not a common visit. This is not like when you have to visit that relative that you know you should, but you really don’t want to. This kind of visit is one that is cherished and looked forward to. It is a visit that you have marked on your calendar and get excited about as the time for it approaches.

We should not look past this. The holy God of the universe has come to dwell with people – a sinful people who have rebelled against Him. He had every right to just write us off, but instead, He chose to come to us when we could not come to Him. That is why one of the titles associated with Jesus is Emmanuel – “God with us.”

‌The LORD has provided redemption for us

Because of the sin in each of our lives, there is a divide between us and the LORD that we cannot overcome in our own ability. If there were to be any kind of redemption, it would have to come by the LORD coming to us.

This is exactly why Jesus came that first Christmas. He came to provide redemption from our sin, our shame, our guilt, and our separation. It is no wonder that as the Holy Spirit enabled Zechariah to somewhat understand a little of what the LORD was up to that, Zechariah burst out in praise.

The LORD has done what we could never do for ourselves. He has not left us to ourselves but provided the redemption that we desperately needed.

This redemption comes through this “horn of salvation” that Zechariah talks about in verse 69. The image of a horn symbolized the strength of an animal. This horn was speaking about Jesus, who would be coming on the scene shortly. He was the strength of the LORD’s plan. He is the One that would make this great redemption possible by what He would do through His life, death, and resurrection.

‌The LORD has kept His word to us

In verses 70-71, Zechariah reminds those who heard him that the LORD is One who always keeps His word. Zechariah shares about how the LORD gives His word to us. In the Old Testament, one of the primary ways of this communication was through the prophets. These were people whom the LORD would put His word into their hearts so that it would come out of their mouths for others to hear. Today, we have His word written down for us in the Bible. What we hold in our hands is faithful and true because it is not the words of man but the LORD.

It was through the words of those Old Testament prophets that the LORD promised a Messiah. What Zechariah is sharing in these verses is that time had come. The promise was coming true.

‌The LORD will rescue us

In verses 74-75, we see that the LORD rescues those who trust in Him. Zechariah talks about being rescued from the hand of our enemies. It would have been easy for those present that day to have the wrong interpretation of this phrase, just like some of us might today. The Jewish people were looking for this coming Messiah to be a political or military leader that would deliver them from Roman rule. Some of us may get tired of the political craziness that swirls around us each day. We may look at those in power as our enemies at times, but the truth is, they are not the enemy.

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12 of who our true enemy is.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.

​Ephesians 6:12 CSB

Against Satan and the forces of darkness, we have no power in ourselves. There is no weapon that we can develop that will give us victory against those enemies. That is why the LORD steps in for those who have trusted in Him and fights those battles. He also gives us weapons to use that will work against our true enemies: the armor of God (Ephesians 6).

As Zechariah shares this prophecy about the LORD, he calls anyone who will listen to him to recognize and trust in the LORD. He invites them to serve the LORD without fear but filled with the holiness and righteousness that the LORD will give to any who trust in Him. Do you recognize who the LORD truly is? Have you trusted in Him? Are you walking in the righteousness of Christ? What does that look like? That’s what the second part of this prophecy addresses.

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the dawn from on high will visit us to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

​Luke 1:76–79 CSB

As Zechariah is sharing about the goodness of the LORD and what He has done, he turns his focus to his newborn son, John. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Zechariah speaks over his son, John, about what this boy’s life will be about. As Zechariah shares about John, we also see ways that we can live out the righteousness that the LORD desires from those who trust in Him.

‌We are to prepare a path for the LORD

John was going to be the forerunner of the Messiah. He was not the Messiah himself, but he would be one that would make a way for the Messiah to come and do what He was sent to do. John is called here and in other places, a prophet of the LORD. He would share the LORD’s truth with people every chance that he got. He may have had an interesting wardrobe and menu of food, but the LORD used him in great ways to prepare a way for the LORD to come and bring salvation to people.

We may not see ourselves as a prophet. The LORD may not call all of us to be a preacher, but any of us can be used to prepare paths for the LORD to come in and do what only He can do. We can learn His truths, apply them to our lives, and share them with others. We may not be able to do mighty works in our own strength, but we can most definitely clear a path for the LORD to come in and do it. He is able. He doesn’t need us to do that, but He does invite us to join Him and experience Him working through us.

‌We are to share with others about the LORD

In verse 77, Zechariah told John that he would be one that would share the message of salvation with others. John would have the wonderful privilege of sharing with others that there is forgiveness for sins. John would share that be able to share with others that there is hope for the hopeless. This message of hope and forgiveness was not based on anything John did but solely on what Jesus would do.

We can follow in the footsteps of John ourselves. We can share with others the wonderful message of hope and forgiveness that is available only in Jesus Christ. We can share with, as verse 79 says, “those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” But we can only share something that we’ve experienced ourselves. If you have experienced the wonderful gift of salvation from Jesus, then you also have received an invitation to share it with others so that they can experience it for themselves.

We cannot save anyone ourselves. We cannot make the decision to follow Jesus for anyone but ourselves, but we can share and introduce others to Jesus. When we do that, Jesus does what only He can do. ‌

How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher?

​Romans 10:14 CSB

‌Conclusion

This prophecy that Zechariah shares in Luke 1 is one that is filled with hope and forgiveness. That is what this whole season is about: the reality that the LORD has seen our situation and come to us in order to bring us what we could never get on our own. The message of Christmas is the LORD has come and is calling us to come to Him so that we will experience life as He intended.

The beauty of this passage is that not only does the LORD call us to come and experience it ourselves, but He invites us to join Him in sharing this “good news of great joy” with others so they can experience it as well. Will we hear and answer the invitation the LORD is giving to us?

Read More

We trust the LORD for Salvation

The calendar has turned with the focus on the Christmas season. I think that we can all agree that it’s okay to have the Christmas decorations out now, right? This season is actually a culmination of two seasons: Advent and Christmas. Both of these are filled with joyful expectation. During Advent, we look forward to the birth of the Savior. On Christmas, we celebrate the fact that He did come and marvel at all the ways He exceeds our expectations.

Since we are in the Advent season, we are beginning a new series called Joyful Expectation. In this series, we will look at some of the expectations that Christ’s coming has brought to us, and how they lead us to what we all would like: joy.

We will begin this series by looking at Psalm 25. The salvation that the LORD has given to us is the greatest gift that we could ever receive. We receive this wonderful gift by trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. This salvation can come to us in no other way.

When we talk about trust, I understand that can be a touchy topic. Trust is not something that we just freely give to just anyone or anything. In order for us to trust in someone or something, there has to be some proof that it will do what it says. We will see from Psalm 25 that the LORD is a sure and confident place where we can put our trust.

‌The Placement of Our Trust

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed

​Psalm 25:1–3 NASB

David wrote this psalm to be sung by God’s people as a reminder of His trustworthiness. He begins this psalm by showing us the proper place to put our trust: in the plan of the LORD.

The plan of the LORD is that He would send a Savior who would live the life that we were to live so that He could die that we were to die because of our sins. The LORD tells about this plan way back in Genesis 3:15 when He tells the Serpent that the seed of the woman would crush his head.

Christmas was always part of the LORD’s plan. Christmas is not about decorations and presents. It is about the promised Savior coming to make a way for us to be brought back to God.

Where are we placing our trust?

In verse 1, David says “I lift up my soul.” This is an important picture here. It is a sign of complete submission and trust in another. In the Jewish world, many times people would pray with their arms lifted to heaven much like a child reaches up for a parent.

What or who are we lifting our arms to? When times get rough, who or what do we reach out to for comfort and help? David says in verse 3 that “none of those who wait for the LORD will be ashamed.” He is able to say this because He knows the LORD is able and will have the final say.

‌The Growth of Our Trust

Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses, For they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your lovingkindness remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.

​Psalm 25:4–7 NASB

In the next section of this psalm, David shows us that as we place our trust in the LORD and His plan, our trust will grow as He shows Himself faithful. One of the greatest ways that our trust in the LORD grows is through studying and understanding His word.

It is through the word that we come to know more about the LORD and His ways. This leads us to being able to trust Him more. His word is truth.

The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.

​Psalm 119:160 NASB

“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

​John 17:17 NASB

It is through the word of God that we are taught about what our needs truly are. The word reveals to us the sin that lies within our hearts and the inability we have to make it right on our own. It is the word that shows us we need a Savior.

In verses 6-7, David reminds us that through His word, we learn more about some of the great gifts the LORD has blessed us with: compassion, love, and mercy.

I know that life has a way of getting busy and full many times. We all have to be good managers of our time, or someone/something else will determine it for us. If we want to know more about who the LORD is and if we can trust Him, allow Him to reveal Himself more to us through His word.

‌The Result of Our Trust

Trust is an investment that we all make. When we put our trust in someone or something, we expect them to produce results. What are the results of us truly trusting in the LORD and His plan? David writes about this is in verses 8-11.

Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. For Your name’s sake, O Lord, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

​Psalm 25:8–11 NASB

‌He puts us on a new path

The first result that we see when we trust in the LORD and His plan is that He puts us on a new path. Verse 8 says that the LORD will instruct sinners in the way.

No one likes to be lost. We all like to know that we are going in the right direction and will arrive at the intended destination. Because of our sin, we are on a path that leads to the LORD’s judgment and wrath. When we trust in the LORD and His plan, He puts us on a new path that leads away from His wrath and into His presence for eternity.

This new path is a path of His lovingkindness and truth (v 10). We can be sure that in following Jesus, He will walk with us every step of the way and guide us by the Holy Spirit to where we need to be.

This new path is also a path of forgiveness. David cries out in verse 11 to “pardon my iniquity.” Iniquity is another word for sin. When we choose to trust in the LORD, we find that there is forgiveness waiting for us.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

​1 John 1:9 NASB

Our sin can be a weight that weighs us down and chokes the life out of us. It doesn’t have to be. Jesus came and gave His life as a sacrifice for our sins. He took on the penalty that was meant for us so that we do not have to take it.

Are we being weighed down
unnecessarily by sin
that Jesus paid for?

One final point about this new path is that it leads us to the presence of our Creator. Don’t get me wrong, the forgiveness offered along this path is wonderful and needed. The guidance of love and truth is so comforting. But those aren’t the destination. The destination behind the LORD’s plan is to bring us to Himself so that we might enjoy Him forever. There is only one path that leads to that destination. It is a narrow path, and it only goes through faith/trust in Jesus alone.

‌Conclusion

As we begin this Advent season of celebrating the LORD’s first coming, may we be encouraged to trust the LORD and His plan for salvation. It is a plan of salvation for eternity but also for the day-to-day. He has proven that He is reliable. He has never failed one person who has trusted in Him, and He never will – to do so would go completely against His nature.

This Advent season, let us trust in the LORD as we celebrate His goodness toward us.

Read More

When Waiting Is Messy

Christmas comes with high expectations. We want everything to be just perfect, don’t we? We have pictures in our minds of children playing, church choirs singing, people smiling and getting along. But how often does it happen that way? It is supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year”, but for many it is very difficult because something has interrupted. Those interruptions sometimes come in the form of sickness, death, loneliness, loss of a job, or arguments.

We look to the Christmas season to be a time of perfect peace, harmony, and joy. That is what all the signs we see and songs that we hear say. 

When we look at the first Christmas, the scene can be one that is seen as somewhat messy. There were some interruptions that caused a great deal of frustration among what should have been a time of great joy.

READ MATTHEW 1:18-25

Interruptions can happen at any time. Consider Joseph and Mary. They were engaged to be married. Like Christmas, engagement is supposed to be a wonderful time. There were dreams of this young couple building a life together. 

It was during their engagement that an angel appeared to Mary and told her that she would give birth to the Son of God. Good news, right? Actually, this would be very interruptive. How would she explain this situation to Joseph? Would Joseph believe her? Would he be willing to take the responsibility of raising a child that was not his? This was definitely not in the plans, and yet, she accepted it. 

If we are not careful, our response to an interruption in life can send us down a wrong path. We can jump to conclusions and try to fix it in our own ways.

Joseph almost went down that wrong path. When he discovered Mary’s pregnancy, he was heartbroken. Joesph loved Mary with all his heart, but he couldn’t be with her. Joseph knew that this child was not his. Joseph could have had Mary put to death for infidelity, but chose to not embarrass her. Joseph planned in his heart to divorce Mary quietly, but this would have been a mistake.

Often, an interruption brings on a knee-jerk reaction. We make decisions that we would not make if we were better informed. We must be careful that when we face “an interruption” in this life, we don’t just react according to our own fears and feelings. 

The key to handling any interruption is to get God’s take on it. Thankfully, God rescued Joseph from his error. I can imagine Joseph, having learned of Mary’s situation, tossing and turning in bed, trying to decide what to do. Finally, he decides. He will divorce her privately. But while he is sleeping an angel of the Lord appears to him in a dream and says,

²⁰ But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:20:21 (ESV)

Joseph awoke with a changed mind. He would not divorce Mary. He would take her as his wife and help raise this miraculous child. He had gotten God’s perspective of his interruption.

When you encounter an interruption, don’t react according to your own feelings and thoughts. Seek God’s direction. Remember Proverbs 3:5-6.​

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

Three Words to Remember When You Face An Interruption

Prayer

When an interruption comes into life and seems to mess everything up, stop and take time to pray. 

Prayer is one of the most powerful gifts that we have been given by God. Sadly, too many people see prayer as a last resort. Rather, it should be a first priority. 

Through prayer, we are able to go straight to God. We do not have to sit on hold in prayer. When we open our hearts and speak to God, He hears us at that very moment. Even better, God will speak to our hearts through prayer. 

³ Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Jeremiah 33:3 (ESV)

When “interruptions” arise in our lives, we should go to God in prayer and ask for wisdom concerning the situation – What is going on? We should ask for help – Help me to understand what You are up to with this, LORD. 

God will help us through times of prayer just like He helped Joseph with what seemed to be a devastating interruption. 

Perspective

The second word for times of interruptions is perspective. This is closely linked to the first word – prayer. We should allow God to put the “interruption” in its proper perspective. 

What we may see as something that is “end-of-the-world” may not actually be. In the grand scope of things, is what is going on really as bad as we may think it is? 

There may be some interruptions that are very significant. I do not want to make light of that. But in the moment, some molehills seem to be mountains. 

It is important to allow God to re-center us and put things in their proper perspective. This is what happened with Joseph in our text. Instead of just going forward with what he thought was best, Joseph allowed God to show him the truth. This gave Joseph clear vision to follow God’s perfect plan even when it looked crazy to everyone else. 

Providence

The third word for us during times of interruptions in life is providence. Providence is the continuing and often unseen activity of God in sustaining his universe, providing for the needs of every creature, and preparing for the completion of his eternal purposes.

This is closely tied to another attribute of God: His sovereignty. God is in complete control. There is nothing that can happen without God first knowing it and allowing it. 

As we come to God in prayer and allow Him to set the proper perspective for us, it grows within us a trust in Him that He’s got this. While it may seem like everything is out of control in the moment, God is still on the throne and not taken by surprise. 

We may not like the “interruption” that has come up, but could God be trying to point out something to us with this very interruption? Is there something that we were missing completely, and our ever-loving God is trying to make us aware of it? 

When you truly trust in God, you rest in the fact that He is in control and will work every single thing for the good of those who love Him and for His glory (Romans 8:28). 

Interruptions are not fun all the time, but they can redirect our lives in a positive manner. This was true for Joseph and Mary. Their plans were interrupted, but what an interruption! Can you imagine the privilege of being the human parents of the Son of God? The direction their future took was not what they had planned, but it was so much better.

Have you considered that God could do that in your life? God may take an interruption – as messy as it seems – and use it to set your life on a new and better path.

God may take an interruption – as messy as it seems – and use it to set your life on a new and better path. Share on X

Whatever interruption you might be facing, look at it in a different light. Ask, “God, are you using this to do something great in my life?” Allow Him to give you the proper perspective. Let your trust in His providence grow more than ever before.

Read More

Book Review: Come Let Us Adore Him

Title: Come, Let Us Adore Him

Author: Paul David Tripp

Publisher: Crossway

 

Overview

Come Let Us Adore Him is a devotional that has been written by Paul David Tripp that is intended to take readers on a journey of preparation for the Advent season. It has a devotional thought to go along with Bible verse(s) for each day between December 1 and December 31.

Thoughts

I have been a fan of Paul David Tripp’s work for some time now. I enjoy the way that he shares the truths of the Bible in a way that is creative and straightforward. When I heard that he had written an Advent devotional, I knew that I would have to get my hands on it and check it out.

After looking over this devotional, I believe that this work will be a great help to those who are looking to have a fresh take on the season where we celebrate the coming of Christ. This devotional is laid out primarily for older youth and adults. One great addition to the devotional is that there is a “central theme” section at the end of each devotion. This is for parents to go over with their children so that the entire family can benefit from it.  This is what our family intends on doing this season.

Recommendation

I would highly recommend anyone who would like to put more focus on Christ this Christmas to pick up a copy of Come, Let Us Adore Him.  It is written in a very readable style, and it has something for the whole family.  If you are looking for a tool to use to do family devotions during this season, I believe that this book would serve that need greatly. Go pick up your copy today.

Read More

The Promise of Joy

This Christmas season, we have been looking at a series of messages at the church where I serve as pastor called “The Promises of Christmas.”  Throughout the Bible, one can see many different places where God made promises to people. As we close this series, we will look at one final promise that God made. The special thing about this promise is that it applies to us. It may have been first told to Joseph, but the implications of this promise fall to every human being.

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1:18-19‬

A Man Known as a Joseph

Joseph was a known to be a good, upstanding man who was hard-working and honest. He was also a man in love. He was betrothed to a young lady named Mary. He was ready to spend the rest of his life with this young lady, but there was one problem: she was pregnant and the child was not his. Joseph shows his character by not wanting to disgrace Mary, but he couldn’t stay with her.

Joseph’s Visitor 

“But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1:20-23‬

An angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream with a message. The angel explained that the child inside Mary’s womb was from God… He was in fact the Son of God… the promised Messiah.

This is good news. This is the same good news that an angel would deliver to the shepherds in the Bethlehem pastures in Luke 2:10 – And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” 

How does Christmas bring joy? 

• Christmas reminds us that God keeps His promises.

In a day where so many people break their promises, it is good to know that God is not that way. He promised way back in the Garden of Eden that He would send a Savior.

• Christmas reminds us that God is very present. 

It would be easy for the holy God of the universe to turn away and run in the opposite direction from the creation that was tainted with sin. He would be no less holy if He did so. In spite of our impure state, the holy God of the universe chose to come near His prized creation in their time of most need. He did not send someone or something else to handle our situation. He chose to come Himself.

• Christmas brings us salvation.

I don’t know what you were wishing to be under the Christmas tree, but I do know what each of us needed (hope, forgiveness, power over sin and the grave). Jesus’ brought all of that when He came that first Christmas morning.

For while the picture of the baby in the manger warms our hearts, that baby would grow up and take our place on an old rugged cross. He would hang there suffering for our sins, and doing so because He loved us so much. If that weren’t enough, He would defeat the grave three days later. Talk about a Christmas present!

Conclusion

That first Christmas morning, God was not worried about bringing us new toys or the latest gadgets. He was concerned most in giving us what we needed: true joy.  Joy is a happiness that springs from the depths of our hearts. It is not found in any department store or online. It is only found in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

That joy is available to you today. If you have never trusted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do that today. That would be the best Christmas present you could ever receive.

If you have received that gift of grace, my prayer is that you are reminded of just how great that gift is. May it continue to bring you joy each and every day.

We have joy unspeakable given to us because Jesus conquered the grave, but He never would have if there was never a cross for Him to bear… and there would be no cross if there was not first a manger.

Read More

The Promise of a Savior

There is nothing like the Christmas season. It comes rushing in like a hurricane and overtakes everything. Music. Movies. Even grocery stores. When Christmas comes in, you cannot miss it.

While you cannot miss the presence of the season, it is not that hard to miss what has been known as the “Reason for the Season.” It is not about white chocolate Oreos (even though they are oh so good and should be available all year long). It’s not about Christmas trees, ornaments, lawn decorations, or lights (although I like all of these). It is about the greatest gift in the world. It is the celebration of the birth if the Messiah: Jesus Christ.

Every year, I try to take the congregation that I lead through a series to remind us of the “Reason for the Season.” This year, I am preaching through a series that looks at the promises of Christmas. Over the weeks leading up to Christmas, I will be sharing here a written version of those messages. I welcome feedback and discussion, but mostly hope that they help you focus on Jesus this Christmas season.

The Promise of a Savior

Some of us get irritated when stores begin getting ready for Christmas. It seems like it is earlier and earlier. There are differing opinions as to when getting ready is too soon. When we look at the Bible, one could easily make an argument that God is in favor of an early preparation of Christmas. How can I say that? We see the first promise of Christmas mentioned in the Garden of Eden.

A Promise Broken (Genesis 3:1-7)

When Genesis 3 opens, we are introduced to a new character in the Bible: the serpent. This was a creature that was created as good by God but had been indwelt by Satan himself and used for his ungodly purposes. We see that this serpent has a conversation with Eve and causes her to break her promise to God.

Prior to this conversation that we see, Adam had been told by God to enjoy all of the creation that God had made except one tree – the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:16-17). After God created Eve, it was Adam’s responsibility to share this with her.

We see that as Eve has this conversation with the serpent, she gives in to the temptation and breaks her promise to God. This is what the Bible calls sin – the breaking of God’s laws… disobeying what God has said.

We may be tempted to point a finger at Adam and Eve and say, “How could you do that? You had everything in all of creation, and you went after the one thing that you were told not to!” But how quickly do we see ourselves following Adam and Eve’s ways? How many times do we crave the very things that we are told that we are not to have?

We see that the very first promise that man made to God was broken. The result of this broken promise was judgment. We see that in the rest of the chapter. God shows up and deals with sin.

A Promise Made

As God came and brought judgment upon creation because of the sin that was present, we see an interesting sight. When we hear the word ‘judgment’, we tend to think of negative things. It does not normally compute with our minds that something good might actually come out of a judgment where we are completely in the wrong. God blows everyone’s mind in Genesis 3:14-15.

As God pronounces a curse upon the serpent, He makes a promise in verse 15. This is the first proclamation of the Gospel in creation. God says that He will rise up One that will bruise (or crush) the head of the serpent while he will bruise this One’s heel. It is interesting that the same word is given in action of the One and the serpent. They will deliver equally damaging blows, but the difference is that the One will have the ability to come back from it because He is not a creation. In Genesis 3:15, we have God making a promise to provide a Deliverer from the sin that has brought about the judgments of God on us.

A Promise Kept

If we fast-forward to Matthew 1:20-21, we will see that God keeps His promise. In this verse, we see an angel of the Lord coming to Joseph and telling him not to hesitate in taking Mary to be his bride. The child that she is carrying is the promise that God had made in the Garden of Eden. This “seed” would be the One who would save people from their sins.

God is not in the business of breaking promises. If God has made a promise, you can take it to the bank that He will make good on it. The promise might not come in the timing that we would want, but it will always come right on time.

We can celebrate this Christmas season in knowing that God is a promise-keeping God. He sent His Son, Jesus, into this world to redeem us from the sin that we were guilty of. God did not weigh the scales and say, “I didn’t realize there was going to be THIS much sin.” God did not look at the types of sin and say, “I’m not sure about taking care of THAT sin.”

God showed His great love to us by saying to all who have sin – many or few, big or small – “I love you… this gift of salvation is for you.”

This Christmas season, my prayer for you is that you might experience the fullness of the gift that God gave to the world that first Christmas morning. If you have never received this gift of forgiveness and a new life through Christ, then you can today by surrendering your will and life to Christ.

Read More

Joy to the World

This past Sunday, I preached the third message in our Advent series at New Life Fellowship. The topic of the day was joy. The text was Luke 2:8-20.

I'll be honest... I didn't think it was one of my best sermons.  There are just some sermons that I come away from and say, "Now that was a good one."  This was not one of those.  Before I get jumped about the evaluating of sermons and all, I know that it is the work of the Holy Spirit that is important.  I do my best to make sure that I present God's word clearly and not stand in the Holy Spirit's way.  With that said, there are still some times that I come away apologizing to the Holy Spirit saying, "Sorry I didn't help more."

Even with me not feeling that this past sermon was not one of the best I've had the privilege of giving, I haven't been able to get away from the main points of it.  I thought that I would share the basic outline with those who weren't there (and those who were) and maybe the Holy Spirit will use it to encourage you as He has me this week.

The Great Joy

• This great joy is made available to all people by a loving God.  In Luke 2:10, the angel told the shepherds that the good news of great joy was for all people.  This was not just for the "do-gooders" or even Israel.  It was good news because a great joy was now here for everyone... every man, woman, boy, and girl.  God had not withheld anything back.  


• This great joy is found in a person: Jesus Christ.  Luke 2:11 is the message of the angel: "A Savior who is the Messiah the Lord is born!"  The great joy that God would provide would not come through any drug, drink, hobby, or program.  It is a person.  The person.  Jesus Christ.  Why look to other things to bring joy into our lives when it is found only in the One who created us (Colossians 1:16)?


• The great joy is one that is inviting.  What's the point in having some great news and not sharing?  Didn't your mama teach you to share?  In Luke 2:15-16, we see the shepherds are answering the invitation God has given to come and see this "bundle of joy."  God has sent an invitation out to come and experience this joy that He has shared.  As His children, Christians should make it a priority to share the only source of joy with others so that they may experience it as well.

Well... that's it in a nutshell.

Read More