December 9, 2017

^"This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:18-21

I was visiting my brother in Sacramento a number of years ago.

My family and his decided that we would spend an afternoon floating the American River in a raft. We had a blast.

Our pleasant afternoon nearly turned tragic, though.

Looking up river we saw that our raft was approaching a section of rapids. As the raft began to pick up speed in the first part of the rapids my brother went to the front set of oars and I grabbed the back oars. We began steering the raft through the rocks and the rapids.

Suddenly someone yelled, "Where's Mikey?"

Mikey, my brother's youngest son had been wanting to use the oars but had been told "no". Unbeknownst to me, when I slid backwards to get to the oars Mikey had lunged forward. I never felt it, but he bumped into me and fell overboard into the rapids and under the raft.

Again, someone yelled, "I don't see him!"

It had to be a moment of divine intervention because immediately and simultaneously my brother and I both shouted, "He's under the raft!"

Without thinking nor remembering how I got there, I instantly found myself over the back of the raft holding onto it and dragging my feet on the rocks below. At the same instant and again, without thinking, my brother slid to the front of the raft. My weight at the back of the raft slowed it enough that the swirling water shot Mikey out toward the front of the raft where my brother, Mike, grabbed him up out of the water.

Mikey was saved from a sure death!

His disobedience had gotten him into a deadly spot. The force of the current kept him trapped. He was unable to free himself. Unless an outside force came to his rescue he was doomed.

Does any of that sound familiar? It should! That's your story! That's my story!

That story is the story behind the Christmas story. God sent "JESUS" - "the salvation of God"! That's why the angel was insistent with Mary and Joseph, "You SHALL call his name "JESUS" for He will save His people from their sins."

The Word Became Flesh & Made His Dwelling Among Us

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

Paul Harvey told the story about a family on Christmas Eve. This family had a tradition where the Mother and children would go to the Christmas Eve service, and the Father would stay home and read the paper. When the family returns home from church, they would all gather to open up their presents.

The Father was not an evil man, but he just couldn't believe in the childhood stories anymore of God coming as a baby in a manger. As the family left for church, he opened up the evening paper and began to read by the fireplace.

Suddenly, he heard tapping on the window. It was a bird flying against the glass of his window trying to get out of the snow into the warmth of his home. The man had compassion on the bird, and he went outside, hoping to bring it in.

As he approached the bird, the bird just flew against the window even harder. Pretty soon, the bird flew into the bushes below the window, half frozen, yet too afraid to be caught by this huge man. The more the man tried to reach for the bird, the more the bird flew frantically into the snow and thorns of the bushes.

After a few minutes in the cold and seeing the bird continue to injure its self, the man yelled out in frustration, "Stupid bird, can't you understand that I'm trying to help?" The man paused and thought, "If only you understood you wouldn't fly away ... if only ... if only I could become a bird maybe I could get you to understand."

Just then, the church bells rang, as they always have on the hour. But when the man heard the bells this time, he fell to his knees and began to cry, saying, "Oh, God, I didn't understand. Oh, God, I didn't understand."

God's Son came in human form that we might understand from where we have come, for what reason we were separated and how we could be restored to God.

December 7, 2017

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:6

The Apostle Paul writes after the fact that all the events of Christmas happened at precisely the right time and in exactly the right way!

I believe that is true. You probably do too!

But, for Mary and Joseph, not so much! Christmas was an inconvenience for them!

Think about it!

What a terrible time to get pregnant! Mary was engaged to a wonderful man and was making plans for the dream wedding. But then the angel shows up with another plan. Mary would conceive by the Holy Spirit and bear a son. As far as she was concerned, it couldn't have happened at a worse time!

What a terrible time for the Caesar to declare a tax! Just when Mary and Joseph were trying to scrape up enough money to begin their new life together, now they have to cough up a bunch of it to Rome! From their perspective it couldn't have happened at a worse time!

What a terrible time to have to take a trip! Mary was nine months pregnant! And what a terrible trip to have to take, across the hilly, rocky roads of Galilee - ON A DONKEY!

What a terrible place to have to go! Bethlehem? Such a tiny little place with only one hotel! And what a terrible time for that one hotel to be all booked!

And, what a terrible time for the king to get paranoid! Mary has just given birth to a baby - in a manger inside a stable no less - and not they have to hit the road for another trip! This time they must head down to Egypt to escape the edict of the king to kill all newborn boys. What a hassle!

Just when everything seemed to be going wrong, God brought the miracle of salvation! When everything was uncomfortable and inconvenient for Mary and Joseph it was perfect timing for God!

That is another of the amazing truths of Christmas! God's timing is always perfect even if it doesn't fit your schedule! When everything seems to be going wrong, God can still work a miracle! IF you are obedient to Him in spite of the inconveniences.

This Christmas season, trust God's timing! Trust His sovereign goodness! Even if it looks like the worst time for something to happen, remember that when everything seemed to be going wrong God brought a miracle!

Obedience is a willingness to be out of control - and under His control!

What's In A Name?

"But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord." Luke 1:13-15

"You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:31-33

In our pluralistic and politically correct culture, you will often hear this phrase tossed out by well-meaning people under the pretense of open-mindedness, "We all worship the same God, it doesn't matter whether we call Him "God" or "Allah" or "Buddha" or whatever."

Uh, sorry! It matters! It matters a lot!

First, there is the little matter of the First Commandment - actually, the first four, were very clear and specific that there is only One God and it is "Jehovah" the God of the Hebrews. The Old Testament lists a series of names that describe character of "Jehovah", but it only enhances and strengthens the uniqueness of our God.

While this is a less weighty argument, it is nevertheless significant that Gabriel, the archangel who stands in the presence of Jehovah God, was very specific about what Zachariah and Mary were to name their sons. The same God Who was blessing them with miracle babies also had a definite idea of what He wanted them to be named!

In the ancient Hebrew culture a name had great importance. Names were given according to some unique feature of a child's physical nature or regarding their character. A name had an almost prophetic quality. Parents named their child in a way that would inspire and help shape his future character and values. Unlike today when a name is often chose from a favorite celebrity, Hebrews were very intentional about the name they gave their child understanding it had eternal implications.

No wonder Gabriel stressed to Zachariah that this miracle son that God was going to give them MUST be named "John"! Why?

Because God said so! But also because "John" means "God is gracious". Who better to preach repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah than a son named "John - God is gracious"? After all, the Scriptures tell us that it is the "kindness of God that leads us to repentance" (Romans 2:4). Repentance would be futile had without God's gracious plan to send His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. So, who better to declare the message of turning from sin and clinging to grace than one named "John - God is gracious"?

Now, be sure, if you miss the grace of God and if you become confused by this politically correct myth about all gods being equal, then you will only know the wrath and justice of God.

Gabriel also was clear to Mary that her miracle child would be a son and she was to name Him "Jesus". 

Very specific!

The name "Jesus" comes from the Hebrew name "Yeshua" which is used 27 times in the Old Testament and has a rich and extensive documentation. It means "God saves" or "salvation". Since Jesus was the Son of God ("Yeshua" came from "Jehovah") should we not worship that God? And does that not clearly separate that God (our God) above all other gods? Names matter!

The good news of Christmas is about a "gracious God" Who sent His Son to bring "salvation"! That message was made clear when God sent "John" to prepare the way for "Jesus"!

What's in a name? Eternal salvation and personal access to fellowship with the God of the Universe, that's all.

December 5, 2017

The story of Zacchaeus shows God's serious love expressed at Christmas. He sent Jesus to seek those who are lost. The story shows how Jesus comes seeking.

Jesus knew what Zacchaeus was hoping, and He knew where he was hiding and He knew where he was hurting. Jesus also knew when to help. After all, that is what He came to do!

"But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham."  Luke 19: 8-9

USUALLY WE ARE READY TO LET GOD HELP WHEN:

TIRED OF HOPING

TIRED OF HURTING

TIRED OF HIDING

That’s about where Zacchaeus was when Jesus found him – he was ready to receive from the Lord and He shows how you can find help from Him:

V. 6 – He Responded to His Call - “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

V. 8 – He Repented to Him - “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor”

V. 8 – He Made Restitution – “and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

V. 9 – He Received Salvation - “Today salvation has come to this house”

Who wouldn’t want to be “found” by a God Who Knows your hopes and has better hopes for you?

READY TO RESPOND TO HIS CALL?

Who wouldn’t want to be “found” by a God Who knows what your hiding but loves you and seeks you anyway?

READY TO REPENT?

Who wouldn’t want to be “found” by a God Who knows your hurts and how to heal them?

READY TO MAKE IT RIGHT?

Who wouldn’t want to find a God Who knows how to help you out of your sin and your guilt and your fear?

READY TO RECEIVE? All the people saw this an began to mutter, "Today salvation has come to this house!"

Jesus came seeking. Will you be found?

December 4, 2017

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

You know you can believe God loves you because He proved His love by sending His Son, Jesus!

Jesus proved His love for God AND for you by leaving Heaven, coming to earth, living an obedient life, dying for your sins and then arising from the dead to conquer death.

John 3:16 reveals God’s Perfect Plan For Helping Imperfect People Get Into A Perfect Place For Eternity!

It is only because of this perfect plan for imperfect people that any of us have hope of spending eternity with Him!

God loves us!

Jesus proved it by coming to be our Savior!

So what is your part in this perfect plan for imperfect people?

BELIEVE!

What does it mean to truly believe?

BE PERFECT IN YOUR DESIRE

“You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3

^“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38

If an imperfect person like you, wants to get to God’s perfect place for eternity, you must desire God more than you desire anything else!

You must realize that life is supposed to be about Him NOT about you!

God will cannot be your God if you desire anything more than you desire Him. Whatever you desire more than God – that is your god!

You must desire God more than you desire that next cigarette or that next drink or the next high. You must desire Him more than money, more than possessions, more than power, or popularity or position. You must desire God more than any other relationship.

If you say you believe in God but you don’t desire Him more than anything – you don’t believe.

That is what it means to believe! It means to choose God as your chief desire EVERY TIME!

Does that describe you? Do you desire Him more than anything?

If you don’t desire Him more than anything else, you don’t believe like He wants you to believe.

That’s what it takes for imperfect people to get into His perfect place!

BE PERFECT IN YOUR DEVOTION

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” Matthew 6:24

Being devoted to God means you give yourself, your life to obeying Him, obeying His Word (The Bible) and pleasing Him above your own pleasure.

Perfect devotion means every time you your desires come into conflict with His desires you choose His desires.

That is what Jesus did! He was devoted to God, His Father, and God wanted to redeem the world from sin. For that to happen, Jesus would have to leave Heaven, come to earth and humble Himself into a human being. Then, as a human being He devoted Himself to obeying God.

Do you think He WANTED to be beaten and spat upon? Do you think He REALLY wanted to suffer on a cross? He endured those things because He was devoted to God.

A believer must devote himself to obeying God and doing God’s will.

That is how imperfect people are able to get to a perfect place for eternity!

Does that describe how you believe?

BE PERFECT IN YOUR DECISIONS

This is where belief really becomes practical as well as powerful.

For imperfect people to get to a perfect place forever you must make every decision based upon His desires and His will.

Believing in God means you make all your decisions according to what pleases God.

Jesus said, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

Joshua said, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”

Decisions result in actions and attitudes and have consequences in your life and family

Believers ask before making decisions ask, “What does the Bible say?” Or, “What would Jesus do in this situation?”

Does that describe your faith? Is that how you express your belief?

Christmas demonstrates that a Perfect God has a perfect plan for imperfect people to get into a perfect place for eternity! But it requires imperfect people to believe and believing means – "Be Perfect In Your Desires, Be Perfect In Your Devotion and Be Perfect In Your Decisions".

God loved!

Jesus came!

You MUST believe!

.

December 3, 2017

Yesterday I talked about Christmas as proof that God loves you because He is serious about sin. He hates sin because He loves people and sin hurts people.

This Sunday I will talk about how God proves His love because He is serious about seeking. That got me wondering if the Bible talks more about God seeking us or about us seeking God. I haven't found a definite answer yet but I suspect He is the greater Seeker.

A lot of the basis for God seeking us is from stories in the Bible about specific people, or groups of people (mainly Israel).

Most prophets in the Bible, God has to pursue to do his work and to give a message to his people. Think about Moses. Moses denied his ability to speak and be a leader of God's people, but he pursued Moses until he was convinced of God's plan for him. In the story of Jonah God wants Jonah to be a prophet to the people but he runs away. He keeps running while God pursues him to the point where he finds himself on a boat in the middle of a storm and Jonah comes to terms with God's plan. Through God's seeking of Jonah (as a prophet to the people, and thereby seeking his people), he sends a fish that swallows him and puts him back on shore.

In the New Testament Jesus sought out most of those who became His disciples. He sought the woman at the well. He sought Zaccheus.

Jesus told several stories about a lost coin, a lost sheep, and a lost son that were desperately sought.

As far as verses go this is what I found just quickly when I came across this question.

Luke 19:10 - "And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those who are lost."

Romans 5:8 - "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."

John 6:44 - "For people can't come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them from the dead."

Proverbs 8:17 - "I love all who love me. Those who search for me will surely find me."

Luke 11:9-10 - "And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks."

While some of the verses talk about us seeking God, it also shows that God is right there when we seek him. He is seeking us by providing the answers and knowledge we're looking for right in front of our noses.

And it is true because of Christmas!