The LORD's Day After Christmas 2008

When The Angels Had Left Them

Luke 2.1-20


This was a spectacular thing to say the least. A great company of the Heavenly Host lighting up Bethlehem’s sky with the glory of the LORD and praising God. Perhaps it was a glimpse into heaven and at the moment Jesus was born a view of the worship was given. More likely since angels do mean messengers, they sent by God to the earth. It is so wonderful that it was to a group of shepherds in the fields nearby keeping watch over their flocks at night.

Glorious visitations like this are just that- glorious and visitations. Visit implies a coming and going. The angels didn’t stay. Angels are visitors. After their work is done they are out of there. They are envoys. They come to give a message from God and then they go back to heaven. You never see angels hanging out


But what happened after... what happened when the angels left them?

If you have had an encounter with an angel you will never forget it. Yet these encounters do not last. They are brief. Sometimes God does some wonderful things as well and we can be on a high mountain like Peter, James and John were when Jesus was transfigured but then we have to come down from the mountain, back to where life is taking place.

What do we do after the angels leave and things return to normal?

Some people try to sustain these experiences. Peter suggested that they do it when they were up on Mount Hermon. Matthew 16.

1. The glory of the LORD was not visible like it was.

Laura’s e-mail this week.
Sometimes through difficulty

We can still see His glory

Jeanette’s e-mail:
To my Lovely Family & Friends,

Merry Christmas For a couple of days, I have been thinking what I was going to write in this message. I wanted it to be cutesy and joyous as well as meaningful. So, here it goes--

First, I decided to be totally different this year and write early in the morning. By now, some of you are up ripping about those presents which Santa left ONLY for you last night. By the way, I hope that you are having fun attacking these presents. By the way. the reason that I underline only is because each of you have been good this year and are very special to Santa as well as ME.

After you finish with opening your gifts. just remember that you have one more gift which can't be put under your tree. In fact, this precious gift came over 2,000 years before we were born. It came in form of a baby born in Manager. This baby came for each one of us so we can have everlasting peace and love not only on Christmas Day, but each day of our lives. As we go about enjoying this famous day, let's us pause and thinking of this important which God gave each of us. Merry Christmas and may your New Year His Peace & Love. As the words of The Christmas Song says, May all of our trouble be out of sight. That is my prayer for all of us.

Love you,
Jeanette


Behold His Glory. Some folks can see it all the time and it shows on their faces.

They live in God’s Presence even when it is not visible. Brother Lawrence called this Practicing the Presence. Samuel Logan Brengel, a commissioner in the Salvation Army lived like this.

It is a glorious way to live. Dr. Floyd Perkins lived life this way. I heard him speak one time on the subject “Life Can Be a Crescendo of Glory” I spoke to him just a month and a half before he died. He was filled with God’s Spirit and had a tender heart and spoke like Peter about his departure. (II Peter 1.12-15)

2. They decided to go and see what they were told about.

I love this. They had no command to go. They had spiritual curiosity. They wanted to know more.

More About Jesus

How is your spiritual thirst these days... your spiritual hunger? He Satisfies our souls and at the same time makes want to know Him better. This is one of the paradoxes of following Jesus. He creates a thirst while at the same time satisfying us


3. The LORD was with them.

Immanuel God with us.

This is the wondrous truth about Christmas. This is what Matthew recorded in chapter one verse 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel -which means, God with us.

Nicodemus picked up on this. John 3.1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him. He was close to the Truth. It was not that God with Jesus. He is God. It was that God was with Nicodemus. God, in the flesh, sitting and speaking to Israel’s teacher.


4. They saw the LORD.

Not in the sky but in the manger.

Not with bright glory but with Divine Simplicity. Here is a clue on what to do after wonderful experiences. Don’t miss the simple things the LORD shows up in. For instance He came through some Christmas Card and e-mails and songs this Christmas.

See the LORD Open your eyes to the things all around you

Many times our visions are not some supernatural manifestation but God revealing Himself and His Truth through the simple almost mundane things

I Corinthians 1.26 Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before Him.



5. They spread the Good News.

Luke 2. 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

In a few days all the Christmas decorations will be taken down and put away until next December. The Christmas lights will come down and no longer shine. Not so with you. You be like the shepherds. Go tell the Good News. The celebration continues in a different way now. We celebrate by serving. We take joy and receive so much by giving back to the LORD. He is in you Let His Spirit out. Share His love. Let Him breathe His will and desires through you.

Keep your eyes open to all the opportunities all around you They are insurmountable

The LORD's Day December 21, 2008

Where is the One Who has been Born King of the Jews?

Matthew 2.1-12

The scripture is living and active. It is dynamic. It is explodes with Truth. It is Truth.

This statement in verse one and two is loaded with the rising of the Kingdom of God on earth and the falling of other kingdoms.

Jesus- His name means “Jehovah is salvation” the Hebrew pronunciation, “Joshua”

Bethlehem was David’s place of birth. It was the place Micah the prophet had proclaimed:
5.2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me One who will be ruler over Israel, Whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
Royalty had come from Bethlehem and Humility at the same time:
4 He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then His greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth. 5 And He will be their peace.

This was fulfilled during the time of King Herod. Herod was the Roman puppet King. He represented Rome, the world dominating power which brought Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem, or so it was thought. God was overriding the whole thing

Herod wielded his power. Pity the people under the rule of such a man A commentator said this week that the proof democratic rule has come to Iraq was in the shoe throwing incident at our President in Baghdad this week. The reporter that did this was arrested. Under Saddam Hussein he would have been taken out and shot- no questions asked. Under the democracy he has rights which are protected. In the streets people joined with the protest. Protesters seldom realize that the very fact they are permitted to do so shows that they are free They don’t realize it...

Herod was a wicked ruler, a vicious man. He tried to deceive the Magi.

Let’s talk about them for a bit then we’ll come back to Herod. One of the things happening here is this little Baby was rocking the world powers. He still is. No government can win against the Kingdom of God. No government ever will The power of Love is a force that no one can beat. The kingdom of God endures

These Magi, wise men, or kings from Orient as a hymn calls them came to worship Jesus. They represented foreign powers. They were noblemen. Their coming was very upsetting* to Herod.
*to agitate, trouble (a thing, by the movement of its parts to and fro) to cause one inward commotion, take away his calmness of mind, disturbing, to disquiet, make restless, to stir up, to strike one's spirit with fear and dread, to render anxious or distressed, to perplex the mind of one by suggesting doubts
The reason all Jerusalem was troubled with him was because they knew when he got in this state of mind he was capable of anything. That is the price one pays for living under a tyrant. He wanted to kill Jesus as a baby.

He died but his son, Herod Antipas, had John beheaded and had Jesus appear before him in Jerusalem during one of the stages of Jesus’ trial.

King Herod’s father was a close personal friend of Julius Caesar. Both of these men were murdered. Both were power hungry.

Perhaps this contributed to King Herod being so paranoid. He worried that a baby would replace his throne so he devised a wicked scheme to get the wise men to lead him to Jesus. The deceiver was deceived. The wise men went back to their own country by an alternative route. When Herod realized this he was furious. He was angered beyond measure. He had all the boys 2 years of age and under living in the vicinity of Bethlehem put to death. It was a horrifying thing... inconsolable.

World forces were at work here right at the beginning of Jesus’ Life. They will be at the end as well before He comes as we read this week in The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

1. Contrast The King of Kings to these kings of the earth.

The kings of this earth seek to hold onto their throne and power.
Fidel Castro is nearing the end of his rule. Yet he is trying to hold on through his brother. We have watched rulers depart. Perhaps one the most dramatic was when Gorbachev lost his power as the Soviet Union was no longer a union. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 46.6 “Nations are in uproar. Kingdoms fall.”
In seeking to hold onto their power it slips right through their hands. Kingdoms fall.

Jesus left His position in heaven to come to this earth and die on a cross.
Therefore God exalted Him and gave Him the Name that is above all names.
Jesus told us that if we wanted to be great then become a servant. That is where true greatness (love) lies. Love conquers all. Jesus could have destroyed people who didn’t believe but He came to seek and to save that which was lost.

The kings of this earth are very self promoting. Not so with our King. His greatest promoters are His servants. Saddam Hussein put huge pictures of himself all over Iraq, He had a huge monument of his likeness built in Baghdad. Lenin had the same thing in Russia. Jesus left us with a feast to remember Him by which speaks of His love for us- His sacrifice. He erected no monuments, left no sculptures of Himself.

When He was a child Herod sought to kill Him. An army going after a baby. When He was a man and arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane they had just a little sword among them while the Temple Guard showed up with clubs, swords and spears.

His Kingdom is not of this world.
2. Contrast the Roman Empire, the last one to dominate the earth to the Kingdom of God.

The Roman Empire fell.

Decline in Moral Values
A Decline in Public Health
Political Corruption
Economic and Financial Problems
Hoarding and Deficit The leaders were interested in themselves not the people.

The Kingdom of God stands

It is a matter of righteousness. (His Kingdom and His righteousness) Romans 14.17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit...

The kingdom has a tremendous impact for health and healing- always has- always will... Hospitals around the world... medical missions.

God sometimes must clean house- our leaders have spiritual qualifications.

Giving is a mark of being in the kingdom. We pay taxes to “Caesar” but we give to God (Mark 12.17)


3. Kings and Kingdoms will all pass away but God’s Kingdom endures forever

Our beginnings were in Bethlehem.
Least among the clans of Judah
Our king was born in manger

Our greatest victory was viewed as our defeat- when Jesus died on the cross
This kingdom is different from any kingdom on earth.

His Kingdom (as we read a few weeks ago in Revelation), and in Psalm 145.13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.

You are part of this kingdom

Follow the King
Seek first His Kingdom
Pray for His kingdom to come

Joy To the World

The LORD's Day December 14, 2008

Who are Your Ancestors?

The Genealogy of the Messiah

Matthew 1.1-17

Genealogy was a big thing in Old Testament and New Testament times. Genealogy still is a big thing in the Middle East. The whole conflict over there is between the descendants of two sons- Ishmael and Isaac, half brothers, the son of Hagar and the son of Sarah. Abraham was the father of both. One was the father of the Arab people, the other the father of the Israel, the Israelites, today what we call the Israelis (and all the Jews around the world). One son was of the Spirit, the other of the flesh. One son was the fulfillment of God’s Promise the other man’s attempt to help God out. This is what wrong thinking which leans on your own understanding will bring.

Since the beginning God had promised Jesus (Genesis 3.15). From Abraham that promise became personal and part of a family, the children of Israel, the Jews. God promised the Messiah through this line. This line had special promises and people.


1. Jesus had Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David in His ancestry line.

*Abraham- the father of the faithful.
God fulfilled His promise to Abraham through His Son Jesus Christ
Genesis 12.3 “... All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Peoples= mishpachah : clan, family, tribe, people, nation

Abraham believed and it was credited to him as righteousness. (Galatians 3.6)
God honors faith.

*Isaac, the promised son

Isaac submitted to death on Mount Moriah. His father was up in years and Isaac could have run away but he placed his life (and death) in the hands of his father.
Jesus would come to that same place and go through similar things with His Father in heaven but the Father would not take away death from His Son. Jesus died there for the sins of the whole world.

Scripture was being fulfilled. Prophecies concerning Jesus were completed that day on the cross. Even the gifts offered to Him as a young child in Bethlehem, gold, frankincense and myrrh all had to do with this day- the day on the cross.

As we shared last week the manger and the cross were tied up in the same promises of a Redeemer, the Savior of the world.

*Jacob, the heel grasper who became Israel= God prevails, governed by God

*David, Israel’s most beloved King was an ancestor of Jesus

David wrote Messianic Psalms. The Psalm of the cross was written by David (Psalm 22)
David led Israel in worship of the LORD God.

David was a comforter of broken hearts.

David was a man after God’s own heart.


2. Note the women where details are given.

Before you do that, prejudice against women is spoken against here. To include them in a genealogy was radical. It was outrageous Jesus comes and turns over things that are wrong. He upsets things that need to be upset.

But these women were not ones we would have picked (which shows how often we pick the wrong people )

Verse three Tamar, a foreigner and of doubtful morality (Genesis 38)

Verse Five Rahab, another foreigner and once a wicked woman (Joshua 2.1)
Ruth, a Moabitetess

Verse six Uriah’s wife Bathsheba committed adultery with David (II Samuel 11)


3. There were some men who fell short in this line

Abraham shows us that having faith does and being justified by faith does not mean we will be perfect.

David shows us we can have a heart for God and be a mans after God’s own heart and fall into sin if we do not guard our hearts.

Solomon shows us that we can have great wisdom but if disobey the LORD it will hurt many many people.

All have sinned and come short of God’s glory. This is why Jesus came. His Name shall be called Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins.

4. Jesus’ Birth was humble. His ancestry line has both prestige and at the same time things you could not be proud over.

He relates to sinful situations. He is the King of Kings. But He is also the Friend of Sinners- What a Friend We Have in Jesus All our sins and griefs to bear

We love Him because He first loved us. He accepts us with all of our imperfections
Amazing Grace,. He take people whose lives are a mess and puts them back together

We have been grafted in... Romans 11.17 and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root

All the promises...
Galatians 3.8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: All nations will be blessed through you. 9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith....29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Because God adopts us as His children when we believe we have the line of Abraham as our genealogy. We are descendants of his.
Hebrews 2.10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

Isaiah 53.8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken... vs.9-12

Who are your ancestors? If you are a believer, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, David. If you are a believer Jesus is not ashamed to call you a brother or sister. You have God as your Father

God’s Family is made up of all who have believed on His Son for salvation.
God’s family is the family of believers.

His family is still growing and will be until the final one has come in...
Let’s keep sharing the good news!

The LORD's Day December 7, 2008

The Manger and the Cross

Luke 2.1-20

We tend to think of Christmas and Easter as two separate events which have little to do with each other. Not so! As we shared last week the Word became flesh in a manger so He could die on the cross.

The celebrations of special days for us as believers have to do with Jesus offering Himself up. At Christmas we celebrate that He humbled Himself and became a man. On Good Friday He became obedient to death on a cross. (Philippians 2)

The manger and the cross share many similarities:


1. Both were made of rough wood from the trees God created in the beginning.

They were both “inappropriate” places for the LORD to be laid. It was God’s will and plan.

The Creator was being laid in a wooden receptacle ...

In His Birth- Luke 2.7
The manger was a feeding crib for animals. Have you ever seen animals eat? They slobber. They salivate. They are messy.

Hay was laid in it.

He made the wood for this lowly receptacle. The Nativity was the Creator at the creature’s breast with animals and things He made in the beginning. Jesus turns everything around and He began to do so when He came. His life turned things upside down. No baby had ever been born this way. Jesus came in and brought glory to an unsanitary place. Feeding cribs were never looked the same way again!
He told his disciples that if they wanted to be great not to lord things over people but be the servant of all. He told them to forgive someone 70 times 7. He told them to do good to their enemies. His birth demonstrated a new order was coming. His Kingdom coming. But kings are not born this way! Of course He is no ordinary king! His Kingdom is not of this world. He is the King of kings, the LORD God Almighty.

In His Death Luke 23

He was laid on the cross. Then he nailed Him to it.

He brought a glory to the cross. He took the ancient Roman means of cruel capital punishment and made it into a symbol of victory.

If you think tying in Jesus birth to His death is overdoing it read on in Luke 2 (21-35). The day He was circumcised and named Simeon placed something in Mary’s heart that no doubt troubled her. He spoke about Jesus’ death and the effect that would have on His mother, Mary. For a mother to lose a son is horrible beyond words. There was nothing deserving of death in Jesus. He is the Life!

Not a lot of care went into wood items for animals and criminals deserving the death penalty. These were things that were thrown together. Our LORD was placed on both of them- on His birth and at His death.
What humility. God help us to humble ourselves. All of have a way to go when we look at our LORD. Linger here for a moment. Animal’s feeding crib for his bed... A means of Roman capital punishment for His death.


2. They both speak of the treatment He received while on earth.

He was despised and rejected. (Isaiah 53)

He came unto His own and His own did not receive Him (John 1.11)

The world hated Him.
He said it would hate us too- this week I was asked to do something illegal. When I said I could not the whole atmosphere of the room changed. I didn’t want to make the person feel bad but if we do what is right in a sinful world that is going to happen. The Holy Spirit is speaking to people through us living right. We are salt and light.

3. The manger and the cross were found in significant places.

The push away from a historical Jesus is not good. We do need to make the connection. The historical account must always be submissive to the Biblical account. The places in God’s Word are significant.

Bethlehem is a real place. (as Emma discovered this a week ago) It was David’s city. David remains Israel’s most beloved king. It was prophesied that Jesus would descend from David’s line. Mary was from his line. So was Joseph. It didn’t matter for the sake of descent because Mary became pregnant through the Holy Spirit but it did matter to get them 80 miles away from home (Nazareth) to Bethlehem so prophesy could be fulfilled. God many times rise His purposes out on man’s decisions. How foolish for a man to think he is acting apart from God.

Bethlehem is also Rachel’s burial place. Jacob buried her there.

Jerusalem is the naval of the earth.

Jesus died, rose again and ascended back into heaven from there.


4. The manger and the cross are part of the Christian Experience.

Bethlehem and Jerusalem are only 6 miles apart.

Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
Everyone who enters the place where Jesus was born must bow.
Someone commented to me while there, “Can you imagine all the famous people who have come to this place?” Yes, but they all to had to bow.

Most people who hear the gospel and reject it, in some way or another are refusing to bow. To bow we must humble ourselves. To bow we must acknowledge God’s greatness and our sinfulness. Many people who do not believe do not believe they are that bad.

The Garden Tomb and Golgotha
The Cross in your life.
We all must carry our crosses - this is denying the sinful nature and walking in the Spirit. If we are following Jesus we are living a life of self denial.

It means offering ourselves as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12.1)

The ground is level at the foot of the cross.
God doesn’t show favoritism.

We all have sinned.
Unless we repent we will all perish.

The LORD’s Supper tells of His rejection but it also speaks of our redemption and His victory! He will drink this anew with us in His Father’s kingdom.

Look at the Communion Table this morning. On it are the two elements Jesus left us with to remember Him by: His Body, His Blood. Also on it is the Word of God in a written form and next to it the picture from the scripture that the Word became flesh- the Nativity. On the table this morning are the symbols of the manger and the cross. How He came into the world and how He left- just as it was written about Him.

Humble yourself this morning. Look at Jesus’ birth and death and you will be humbled. It is a good thing to humble ourselves. It is many times painful but always with good outcome. Don’t fall prey to the lie of the world that we need to be comfortable and pain free. Humility is the path to Christlikeness and that is our goal for this life, if we are indeed following Jesus.

The LORD's Day November 30, 2008

The Word Became Flesh

John 1.1-18

This is a profound passage. It is really beyond description. It was written by John, whom Jesus nicknamed the son of thunder, who became the Apostle of Love. It is hard to remember as we read these sublime words that they were written by a former fisherman. I remember being in Bible College and Dr. Charles Baldwin speaking for a hour on just the phrase “In the beginning”. These are deep deep words.

It is truly amazing what Jesus can do to a heart and a life that is open to Him. He took John, a fisherman and made him a fisher of men. He was a witness. He left his nets to follow Jesus. He was fishing for fish. Jesus gave him power to fish for men.

John, the Baptist was also a witness. He was the first witness of Jesus actually for Jesus.

He simply told Who Jesus was. He was sent from God. All witnesses are. We are all commissioned to be witnesses. Jesus said, “As the Father sent Me so send I you.” Since we sent from God by Jesus all we need to do is tell Who Jesus is and point people to believe.

1. Witness so that men might believe v.7

Only a witness. We make a bigger thing out of witnessing than we should. It is simple. The enemy tries to strike fear in our hearts so we won’t share our faith. Paul wrote to Philemon (6) I pray that you will be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. It is beneficial spiritually to share our faith. It gives us a full understanding of our own salvation It helps us understand grace, faith, mercy and God’s love and much more. (Subjectively) It is an act of obedience to God. As with all acts of obedience, there are also blessings that come to the one who obeys. Hymn- Trust and Obey

What is a witness supposed to do? Tell the truth. That is what they are asked if they will do in court. That is what they are asked to do at an accident. Tina and I were in the car and saw a crash over on 5th Avenue one time a while ago, we saw it happen. I got out to prevent a pile up by directing traffic and when the police arrived the first thing I heard was, “Were there any witnesses? They wanted the truth of what happened.

We are to tell the story of Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

We are to tell the story of God’s light... in the beginning...
We see it in creation in Genesis 1.
This is referred to here in John 1.
Jesus is the One of Whom we are witnessing.Tell what He has done for you. Tell what He can do for the one to whom you are witnessing. John the Baptist told that He takes away the sin of the world. John, the Apostle, told that he beheld Jesus’ glory and that everyone who believes becomes children of God.

2. Believing become children of God.

Jesus came to die so that we could have life. Some think He came to teach us how to live better and why that is true, He took on flesh primarily so that He could have it torn open by nails as He was nailed to the cross and by a spear that was thrust into His side. He was beaten brutally. This was for our sins and iniquities. He carried them on Himself.

Moses had led the children of Israel. They rebelled against God. God sent venomous snakes into the camp. The only way to be healed was to look to this bronze serpent that Moses had built on a pole. Those who looked lived. (Numbers 21)

All have been bitten by the serpent of sin. We need to be healed.

Jesus said, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up...” John 3.14 He said this in part to signify the kind of death by which he would die.
John 3.15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
John 3.16

The Word becoming flesh was so that Word might die. Love was crucified. He bore our sins and our sorrows.

We are not children of God when we are born. We are not all God’s children. We are actually far away from God before Christ comes into our heart.

We become children of God through believing on Jesus John 1.12, John 3.16
This is not natural descent through the will of a husband, this is supernatural birth through the will and power of our Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ and His Spirit moving on hearts drawing them to Him.

3. Jesus Christ made the Father known. v.18

He pitched his tent here. v.14 made His dwelling among us. He tabernacled with us
He was here for 33 years. His Spirit is with us now.

The Father is full of Grace and Truth.
Grace- mercy, kindness, delight, loveliness, joy, pleasure
Truth- reality, certainty

He blesses us over and over again

The Word Became Flesh.

Come with me again to the manger, the nativity scene. There on the outskirts of David’s town, in the back of an inn, there in Bethlehem, God comes down from heaven in human form.

Come with me to that place where the animals are kept, the donkeys, the cattle, those animals that are brought along for burdens and those that are going to be sold. Sheep are there too. I am sure the shepherds carried the lambs with them. (This was a common practice and had great spiritual significance. (Isaiah 40.11- He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.) There are the shepherds with lambs in the Presence of the Lamb of God. The Lamb of God came as a lamb. He was born of a woman.

No wonder Luke tells us that Mary treasured these things and pondered them in her heart. It is believed by many that Luke interviewed Mary as he wrote his gospel. What we have in the first and second chapters of Luke are the very things Mary treasured.

The Word became flesh.

The announcement came to Mary in Nazareth and Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, not in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is just 6 miles up the road. Jerusalem was the place where the scholars and mighty and rich lived. Bethlehem was and is a small town. Jerusalem is a city. It has walls around it. Bethlehem had shepherds around it

We are going to close this morning with that hymn O Little Town of Bethlehem.
It is a real place! Emma yesterday when we were decorating... “Wait you mean it is a real place, Poppa?!” Two lines stand out to me:
O Holy child of Bethlehem be born is us today!

Where meek souls will receive Him still the dear Christ enters in

Think of some souls in your life that need Jesus. Witness to them. Perhaps this will be the season for them to come and taste and see that the LORD is good!

No longer can we depend on our nation to support our faith...

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions--to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness onto us)Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789. President George Washington - Thanksgivng Proclamation

This Friday a WalMart Worker Jdimytai Damour at Green Acres was killed- trampled to death as “shoppers” knocked down the doors. Shock- real problem in our country. Deep sin. We need the Savior to change hearts. God help us share His love!

The LORD's Day November 23, 2008 Happy Thanksgiving!

How To Face the Holidaze or Worship on the Holy Days

II Corinthians 9.1-15

Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gift!

The next 6 weeks will either be a time of great worship in your life or you will walk around in holi daze. It can be a combination of both but the holi daze usually dominates. Let Thanksgiving and Christmas be holy days- times of wonderful worship.

The Bible is not against giving gifts - quite the contrary! This chapter is about giving. More specifically it is about a gift from a group of churches to the Mother Church in Jerusalem. We gave shoeboxes last week to go to help needy children. These churches gave to help needy saints.


1. Lets look this morning at the roots of these Holy Days. Deuteronomy 5.15

American Thanksgiving- This is our day. While other countries have harvest type of celebrations, ours is focused on Almighty God.

While it began with the Pilgrims it was President Abraham Lincoln who signed the proclamation (www.infoplease.com/spot/tgproclamation.html) *

Back to the Pilgrims (www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/pilgrims.htm)

Great Epochs In American History, a set of books that belonged to my great grandfather, who was a seminary professor in New Jersey. In volume two which covers 1562-1733, there is a chapter entitled The First Voyage of the Mayflower. It is Governor William Bradford ‘s account. He had been a leading member of a little dissenting congregation in England. Throughout the 15 pages are phrases such as “for the glory of God, the will of God, it pleased God, God’s providence, sustaining Spirit and grace of God, good providence of God, LORD be merciful to them…”

Let me read a few lines from my great grandfather’s book, “But though this had been a day & night of much trouble & danger unto them, yet God gave them a morning of comfort and refreshing (as usually He doth to His children)…gave thanks to God for His mercies, in their manifold deliverances.” Governor William Bradford
Humility- in poverty much thanksgiving- the widow’s mite
Christmas- Christ is born Bethlehem and it announced to a group of shepherds!
Read the accounts in Matthew and Luke as well as John 1.


2. Keeping Things Simple This Year

Don’t let the world crowd you or squeeze you into its own mold. (Romans 12.1-3)
It may be their holiday and each year gets more ridiculous but it first and forever is our holy day! The Desire of the Ages has come!


As far as Thanksgiving we need to at the very least capture it in our own hearts and share it with the children around us.

Don’t wear yourselves out on things that perish!

Begin some traditions of peace and quiet as much as possible. This season originally was one of Peace on earth.

Begin some godly traditions. For instance tell the people you are thankful for that you are thankful for them. Be specific. You will both be blessed! Thank God for them too.


3. Avoid the Holi Daze Be transformed by the renewing of your minds…

Give gifts to Jesus. Some of you already have- with the shoeboxes last week. It His birth we are celebrating and there are some wonderful things we can do for Him to express our love. Salvation Army buckets, worthy charities…

Give a great gift that is only yours to give- your time! Take some time and make it a gift to someone who is lonely or under great pressure. There is a possibility they won’t accept it- but the fact you offered is wonderful. Be prepared for a surprise - they may say yes.

Look around. One year a funeral home called and asked if I could use some pointsettias. It was Christmas Eve morning. I called up one of the teens in the church to help me and we went around to every older person, particularly the ones who shut in and handed them out. What joy came over people’s faces. The whole thing only took 2 hours. It was wonderful. We prayed with each soul.

Live Enjoy this time! Sadly a friend, a Christian friend, told me a few years back that they hated this time of the year. We ought to be living not lamenting at these celebrations. If there is a difficult relative in your number- love them in Jesus‘ Name!

Relive (memories). It is a good time to get a cup of tea or coffee or hot chocolate and do some fond remembering. Think back over God’s blessings. Don’t be surprised if when you do they may be the times when you had very little. More is not always better.

Thank God as you do for His Indescribable Gift.

4. Keep These Days, until the New Year, Holy II Timothy 1.12

Set them apart for Jesus now. Give them to Him. Tell His Story/ our story

Something extraordinary can happen. Miracles happen at Christmas and even at Thanksgiving. Let’s live in thanksgiving and the Hope of Jesus’ First and Second Coming. In these days of uncertainty we know Whom we have believed in. We are persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him until He appears the second time.

Make these holidays Holy Days. In so doing you will avoid the Holidaze.

The LORD's Day November 16, 2008

Give Thanks For Jesus Christ, God’s Son

Mark 14.1-11

Blessings abound but few see them! Too often we are praying for more blessings and not thanking God for the ones we have! Too often our prayers are lopsided. We have so much!

This is nothing new. It happened to the first of Jesus’ followers… they had abundant blessings right there in front of them but they missed seeing them or recognizing them.

Don’t let this happen to you. We ought to be the most thankful people on earth!


1. This was at the home of a man who had been healed from leprosy.


Simon the Leper. We don’t know much about him except that he had been a leper, Jesus healed him. He may have been related to Martha, Mary and Lazarus but we won’t know for sure until we get to heaven.

Leprosy stands for sin. Lepers were a sad group. They lived together. They were untouchable. Their disease was looked at as incurable save a miracle. Jesus touched them and healed them.

They were unlovely. They were even difficult to look at. Leper colonies still exist today. My daughter Theresa worked in one about ten years ago now in India.

The only hope for a leper is that a miracle takes place and they are healed. In Jesus’ time they had to show themselves to the priest to get certificate of cleanliness.

There were a group of unthankful healed lepers. We read about them in Luke 17.11-19. Ten were healed. One came back and he was a Samaritan! He threw himself at Jesus’ feet. His life had been given back to him! He could be reunited wit his family and with society. Leprosy makes a person an outcast. So does sin. It keeps you from enjoying life- good living and if you do not repent it will keep you out of heaven. Jesus restores lives.

One note in passing about healing. I was asked a haunting question about healing by a man with a measure of wisdom. He asked me, “What difference will it make spiritually if your brother is healed?” I had to confess- probably very little. The odds are much like in this account here in Luke. Where are the other nine? But not only healing, also raising from the dead.

2. This was in Bethany, Lazarus’ city, where Jesus raised him from the dead! John 11

Even greater than healing leprosy is raising the dead. Healing leprosy is synonymous with forgiveness where as raising the dead is synonymous with the resurrection at the last day. (John 11.24)


Word about this miracle spread (John 11.45-57). All the press was not popular. In fact this miracle did it for Jesus’ enemies. It was raising Lazarus from the dead that caused the leaders of Jerusalem to kill the Author of Life!

So these two miracles and the beautiful act of Mary anointing Him with very expensive perfume are three witnesses of the difference Jesus makes in the life of people who are diseased (by sin), dead (in their trespasses) and down and depressed over life. They were thankful. They gave God praise and expressed that Thanksgiving.


3. It only takes one to get people’s eyes off Jesus and on something ridiculous.

Here were two of the greatest miracles- leprosy and death and a beautiful act of worship which continues to be told in her memory…

They were worried about the money.

How much is this going to cost? They didn’t know what waste was. Jesus told them what it was.

Beware of criticism period.

Be especially aware of criticism when God is at work. These guys didn’t realize that they were doing it. They sounded pious but it really was not. John tells us why. John 12.4-6

Often criticism is a tip of an iceberg jealousy or envy or some other sin. God deliver from a critical spirit. I have never seen anyone with a critical spirit who didn’t also have pride in one form or another. When a person is critical they are not thankful. In fact often criticism and grumbling and complaining go hand in hand.

Give thanks to the LORD! Let praise go to God then Father for sending Jesus to us!

4. What blessing do you have this morning that you are not seeing?

What is in your hand?

Mary had expensive perfume. Jesus has raised her brother from the dead! Here is a third person in this account with Thanksgiving in their heart.
Leprosy/Disease
Death
Grief/Depression

Moses was asked that question by God, “What is in your hand?” God used it for 40 years as the children of Israel made their way across the Sinai.

What is in your heart?

Eternal life!

What is around your table?

The people God has placed there. Think about how good He has been in thi way!

What is in your community?

Opportunities abound!
Joan, Kathleen, Will this past week just feet from where I am standing

Things have changed- My Three Sons Thanksgiving episode this past week, Father knows Best

I have a lot to be thankful for today.
My dad
My grandson
My wife

Who are you thankful for? Thank God for the souls- precious He has placed in your life. Thank God for then and let them know what a blessing they are!

But above all, and its there on a banner behind me this morning:

Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gift!

The LORD's Day November 9, 2008

The Palm Branches In Heaven

Revelation 7

There are such wonderful things in God’s Word.

Hope is one of those wonderful things!

Remember the question from last week? How long LORD? Habakkuk 1.2 the prophet went to God in a time of perplexity. It was about the nation. Things were getting worse and he was overwhelmed. The LORD gave him an answer that troubled him at first even more (things are going to get worse before they get better)but the end of the book the prophet testifies to the peace and joy God gave him after he had prayed and listened to the LORD.

We see these souls before the throne of God with palm branches in their hands. We are told that they are the ones who were given white robes and came out of the great tribulation. God answered their prayers of “How long Sovereign LORD” (we looked at last week in 6.10)).


1. Where have we seen palm branches before?

The most obvious is Palm Sunday. John 12.12-16

Ancient prophecies are fulfilled when the palm branches come out
and are waved before the LORD!

Jesus called it “Jerusalem’s day” Luke 19.41-42 The Palm branches were outside the city. The city could have had peace but they rejected the One who would have given it to them.

The palm branches were out that first Palm Sunday and we commemorate it each year to begin Holy Week. Jesus rode into Jerusalem and the shouts of Hosanna rang out.

This was their day (Jerusalem’s) and they did not recognize it.
Matthew 23.37-39
So Palm Sunday was both a day of victory and a fulfillment of ancient prophecy but it was also a day of tragedy. Please note the destruction of Jerusalem did not take place until some 48 years later but the decision that sealed it was made on that first Palm Sunday.

Daniel told about this day. (Daniel 9.24-27).


2. Palm Trees Branches stand for peace.

They thought the Messiah would bring a military domination of Israel like that of David’s time. After David’s conquests there was a peace in Solomon's reign.

Matthew 21.8 The people took these down and laid them on the road as a sign peace was finally coming to Israel.

Psalm 118 was a Psalm that was recited in the liturgy the week before Passover in Jerusalem. It probably was recited as Jesus made id way towards the city of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem has been conquered 40 times and destroyed 17 times in it history. While its name means set you double peace.

The Jerusalem that is now- present day city, Israel’s capital.(Galatians 4.25)

The Jerusalem that is above. The Jerusalem here on earth is a copy of it.
(Galatians 4.26) The Jerusalem that is above is the Heavenly Jerusalem. Where God lives.

The New Jerusalem. The city that will be let down from heaven at the time the earth and the heavens are renovated.

Both are cities of Palms. We see them in both places these palm branches.
The palm is a beautiful tranquil tree. It grows slowly but surely. Biblically it has significance.

Palm trees… Psalm 92.12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree.
True lasting peace ushers from a righteousness.

Palm trees have come to symbolize a tropical vacation but according to the Word of God they are immeasurably more than that. They mean victory and peace…

And they mean the final settlement of God’ people after a long journey. They were part of the journey but they are at the end as well. In the New Testament we have seen their use. In the Old Testament…

3. Palm Branches had to do with the Feast of Tabernacles- Leviticus 23.40, Nehemiah 8.15
The Passover Feast, Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Day of Atonement were all fulfilled by Jesus. The Passover, Unleavened Bread and the Day of Atonement were fulfilled by Jesus when He died on the cross.
The coming of the Holy Spirit fulfilled the feast of Pentecost.

The only feast yet to be fulfilled is the feast of Tabernacles. That will be fulfilled when Jesus comes again. It is spoken of in the Book of Revelation. Revelation 21.3

Succoth or the Feast of Booths as it was called took place at the harvest. The Jews still celebrate it to this day. It is so interesting. It is to remind them of that journey from Egypt to the Promise Land, Israel. It is celebrated to remind them of the journey. Palms were one of the four trees specified to be used. When we get to heaven there are Palm Branches in the hands of the souls there. They have completed their earthly journey. They have left the bondage of sin, journeyed with the LORD on this earth and are now in the place God has prepared for them.

He has given of peace along the way. The Palm branches speak of this. We have had trouble and Jesus told us plainly we would but in the midst He has given us peace… and now…


4. These Palm Branches in Heaven speak of the peace that is there.

Revelation 21.1-4

5. God wants us to experience His peace in our hearts and lives today on earth.

His peace Jesus left with us.

His will being done on earth as it is in heaven is having His peace in our hearts.

Do you have peace today?

His peace surpasses all understanding.

His peace keeps us in the storms of life.

His peace is not like the world gives and the world cannot take it away!

He is our peace!

The righteous will flourish like the palm.

Is that your relationship with Jesus Christ today?

Spiritually the way to peace with Jesus is to surrender to Him.

The LORD's Day November 2, 2008

Our Sovereign LORD

How long, …LORD?

Revelation 6

Our God is in heaven. He does whatever He pleases. (Job 23.13) When we say this about any other person it is not a compliment! Oh he does whatever he pleases! When that is said about a husband by a wife, I always see a broken or frustrated heart behind it. When it said about a student it means that he is not teachable. When it said about an employee it means does not take orders from his superiors well, a child this means disobedience.

But with God, because He is holy and He is love and in Him there is no darkness at all this is a wonderful truth. He doeth all things well!

However as we walk with the LORD we do not always understand what He is doing. His ways are beyond our finding out. For instance we have seen Him work in very difficult circumstances and sometimes as we walk through them we see God’s Hand weaving events together for our good and His glory. Other times we do not see this and will not see fully until we get to heaven.
Chalk artists when I was a kid- most times not until the end did it make sense… picture in my office of sailor on the sea.

Interestingly as we begin the 7 year tribulation this week in our study of Revelation, we have the saints under the altar asking God when He is going to avenge their blood. They were told to wait a little longer. We learn that it would be in 7 years at the conclusion of the tribulation.

Patient Endurance can also cause a soul to ask this question, “How long, LORD?”

How long…

Psalm 6.3 My soul is in anguish. How long Oh LORD, how long?

Psalm 13.1 How long, Oh LORD, will You forget me forever? How long will you hide Your Face from me?

Psalm 94.3 How long will the wicked, Oh LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant?

These are questions asked by followers of the LORD. Inner turmoil due to external circumstances, a feeling that they have been abandoned- God is not answering my prayers, struggles with the wicked and understanding why they go on and seem to have no cares- all these things are difficult if they are with us for the long haul.

Notice first of all that although the saints struggle with these things,

1. They are looking to the LORD.

So was the Psalmist!

We can tell the strength of a person’s faith by what they do with their questions. These saints were taking their struggles the LORD in prayer. Their faith was strong. They were going to Jesus with things that perplexed them.

They address Him as Sovereign LORD, holy and true.”
His Holiness
He is the Truth

2. They believe that their struggles are not going to last forever.

Psalm 142.7 - Part of the pain in suffering is the sheer loneliness of it. It is often Jesus and me! Most people do not like being around people who are suffering. Some may come to our aid and we need to let them but on a deeper level friends, even righteous ones, seldom can touch the deep recesses of the pain we are living with. But! If we believe that our struggles are not going to last forever which is exactly what Jesus is telling these dear saints, our hope will remain strong.

I believe this one of the many reasons reading and hearing the words of this prophecy bring a blessing. If we know suffering and struggling and evil are going to be done away with forever, then we have hope. We know there is an end coming. As believers that is such good news!

3. They know God is in control!

That is why they are calling upon Him and asking Him, “How long?”!!! They also know God works His will out even in and through a person’s suffering. (Galatians 4.13)

Notice here that although they did not get immediately what they asked for they did receive something very precious they did not ask for. Each of them was given a white robe - a sign of blessing, purity, assurance and eternal life. The more persecution the more purity you find in the church. Not much health and wealth and feel good stuff when people are dying for their faith in Jesus. They also were given a Word from the LORD- which is really part of His Word. So we see the blessedness of acknowledging God’s Sovereignty in our time of suffering

4. They know God’s power.

He can do anything! And immeasurably more than we can ever ask or imagine!
He cannot lie Titus 1.2
He will never forsake His own.
He never fails.

Nothing is too hard for the LORD!
Genesis 18.14 God asks that question to Abraham regarding the birth of Isaac.
Jeremiah 32.17 Ah Sovereign LORD, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is to hard for You.

Faith- my nephew Stephen reminding me about how God did what the doctors said would not happen with Poppa and used it in reference to Jackson. He spoke to me before the LORD touched my little grandson and after he said, “I told you so Uncle Larry!” It was a rebuke from the LORD for my lack of faith or for allowing the facts to overwhelm my trust in God’s ability to heal out rightly. As I held yesterday I remember all the prayers that went up to heaven for him.

He can bring things (suffering) to an end. And He will when He is ready and when it is the perfect time. How foolish we are when we think we know God’s perfect timing on things. Be like a little child, “Are we there yet?” The song on the kids’ tape- “and Mom and Dad are ready to pull their hair as I quietly whisper, “Are we almost there?”

5.They know as Sovereign LORD He has the final word.

We must trust His Sovereignty. Many times it is beyond our understanding. He knows what is best. His timing is perfect. Interestingly that it was 7 years later He would avenge their blood! Whenever we ask Him how long the answer is always perfect.

How long, LORD?…

A little longer…

It won’t be long.

The end of all things is near.

The LORD is coming! His Kingdom will be come to it fullness soon.

We’ll work til Jesus Comes!

The LORD's Day October 26, 2008

The Prayers Of The Saints

Revelation 5

Where do our prayers go? Well we know they go to the LORD. But after that where are they?

We live in throw out society. The repair man is going out of business today because it cheaper to replace things than repair them. Documents are shredded today. Old books- good books have lost their value. The price tags have all been switched here on earth. But Jesus said heaven and earth will pass away but His Word will never pass away. Our prayers are of an eternal quality. They are kept and treasured by the LORD!

1. They are in heaven.

We spoke about this last week. The prayers of the saints are with the LORD. They are so special to the Him that He has them with Him in heaven.

Perhaps one of the joys of heaven that Jesus spoke about in the parable of the talents(Matthew 25) will be seeing all of our prayers we prayed and the answers that were given. It could very well be that we will see this when we get there! “Enter thou in to the joy of your LORD.”

I keep several prayer journals. It is so good to see how the LORD answers. Don’t think I am so spiritual because I keep them. I am weak. I keep them because I tend to forget all the answers. Sometimes I forget things I need to be praying for. God is keeping prayer journals for us and they are in these golden bowls the 24 elders and the four living creatures are holding!

I think “unanswered” prayers are in there too! We will see face to face and know Jesus even as He fully knows us now. I don’t think we will need a great deal of explanation about the unanswered prayers. Seeing Him and knowing all will happen in a moment keeps us from stressing over the questions we have about unanswered prayers. John 11- Lazarus was sick and Jesus did not come until he was dead and buried.

We all prayed for my brother to be healed. He died. John Wessels, a young man who is from David Wilkerson’s church, and I anointed him three days before he died. We believed that God could heal him. He did not. We don’t know why. It didn’t shake my faith in Divine Healing. When I get to heaven and see Mark I will not need an explanation as to why the LORD didn’t heal him. We’ll be together forever. My brother and I embraced once before I left to come back to the Island and he said,”If I don’t see you here again, Bro, I’ll see you in heaven.” I had my nephew Stephen remind of these things a few days ago in an e-mail.

2. They are in a golden bowl.

Precious things are placed in costly bowls. We have a silver bowl someone gave us and in it we put seasonal sweets. We don’t have any golden bowls. In heaven there the prayers of the saints are in the most precious metal.

This shows their importance.
King Tut’s tomb in Cairo, Egypt is gold all around and inside.

This shows how close God holds them- there is something about prayer that is offered up that is eternal.

What are the prayers of the saints?

*One would be for God’s kingdom to come.
We all ought to be praying this regularly- daily.
This means the expansion of His Kingdom on earth.
This means the coming of Jesus back to earth.
This means Heaven.

*Another would be for His Will to be done.
It is His will for all people to be saved.
Specific things in our lives.

*Certainly praise to God and worship are in these bowls of incense.

*Thanksgiving to answers are in there too.

*Another is the prayers for healing. All those prayers made by believers for believers will be answered in heaven ultimately and at that time immediately! Don’t say God did heal a person who died. It really is not true and it brings no comfort to those who without a loved one. You can say it when we all get to heaven and when we all have a new body.
*The prayers of the set apart ones would be all the prayer that have been offered by those who are believers. Look at verse 10! Intercessory prayer!

3. They are incense.

Sweet smelling savour to the LORD.
Ephesians 5.2 …Live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Under the Old Covenant incense was burned at the time of the evening and morning sacrifice along with these times of prayer. They arose to God as a sweet smell- a fragrant offering. Our prayers are like that incense. They rise to heaven and are kept before God’ throne. They are in the bowls of incense in the hands of 24 elders and 4 living creatures. Every prayer you prayed!

4. They are around God’s Throne.

Close to the heart of our Father in heaven are the prayers of the saints. Jesus told to pray to our Father in heaven.

God holds our prayers close to his heart. God cares so deeply for us. He is with us. He treasures these prayers of His saints.

5. We are to be adding to them.

We are saints. A saint is not just a spiritual giant, although they are saints too and I thank God for their examples. A saint is anyone who believes. A saint is one by believing has been set apart for God. Brother Hazard used to tell me about the Corinthian Church and how messed up it was and yet Paul called them “sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of the LORD Jesus…”

We ought always to pray and not give up. (Luke 18) I love the fact that these 24 elders and 4 living creatures which are before the throne worshiping 24-7 have in their hands these golden bowls which contain the prayers of the saints- some of our prayers have now been added to those bowls.

I have admired large churches which have a 24 hour a day prayer ministry. They seem to be connecting with what is going on around God’s throne. However even a small church can have something akin to what they have if we follow the command, “Pray without ceasing.’” “Pray continually.”

We can live in prayer. Are you praying without ceasing? Praise the LORD! Are you not there yet? Keep seeking.

Prayer should become an integrated part of daily living.


When the Son Of Man comes will He find faith on the earth? In Mark 11 He tied in with persistency in prayer- the friend at midnight. We must keep praying over the things the LORD keeps before us.

See how valuable our prayers are?! We tend to think about how valuable they are to others but not the LORD. God treasures our prayers in bowls of golden bowls of incense in heaven before His throne. Let’s keep filling them up until we get there.

We should always pray and not give up.

The LORD's Day October 19, 2008

Glimpses of Heaven

Revelation 4

On the old US Highway 3 that goes through the White Mountains of New Hampshire, there were Vistas where as you drove you could get glimpses of the majesty of those mountains. Many times as a boy and later as a young man I had been on that road. Through those white birch and pine trees the beauty of New Hampshire could be seen. Not until we would arrive at our destination was the full view given. But on the way we saw glorious glimpses.

In a number of places in His Word God has revealed part of what is in heaven to His servants. He did here to John. He also did it to Isaiah (Isaiah 6). Ezekiel saw the throne of God as well (Ezekiel 1).

On our journey to heaven God has given us vistas in His Word. In our walk with Jesus what a glory He sheds on our way. There is much about heaven we do know. We only know what is told to us in the Word of God. These glimpses tell us some things that will help us on our journey to it. They help us stay connected to heaven!

After the church age there will be heaven. We are on the way there. Like Abraham we are looking for the city whose Builder and Maker is the LORD. The New Jerusalem is being prepared right now as we speak. John wrote down what he saw as the LORD had told him to. Throughout the Bible but particularly in Revelation and Isaiah and the Psalms we are given glimpses of glory.

What do these glorious glimpses tell us about heaven?

1. God is on the Throne of Heaven vs.1-6

What a site it is

A symbol of His first covenant is there- the rainbow. The colors are magnificent and meaningful. God keeps His Promises. Heaven and earth are wrapped up together.

Satan may have thrones here on earth but they are temporary. And God rules and over rules here on earth. God is in control!

Lord, I am ready
(By Tony)

Often times when we plan and are ready for something to happen, the Lord says,
Perfect, just wait on me.

As you know, Alyssa was to be transferred to Mt. Sinai Medical Center this week. It was the best hospital and of course we wanted her there. Alyssa was ready on Tuesday and the Lord said Perfect, just wait on me.
OK fine, we planned to transfer her Thursday and being the engineer that I am, I wanted to make sure everything went perfect and planned the perfect move. I rented a hotel just blocks away from the hospital and arrived much earlier than Alyssa. I needed to prepare everything for her and Laura. So I arrived, checked in and said, Lord I am ready.
Perfect, just wait on me.

OK fine, I got all the maps I could, walked to the hospital to find the perfect route, all the places to eat (haha), the best lit streets, etc. and said Lord, I am ready.
Perfect, just wait on me.

OK fine, I’ll go back to the hospital and meet with the social worker and tell her about Alyssa, get maps of the hospital, etc.
And said Lord, I am ready.
Perfect, just wait on me.

OK fine, I’ll go back to the hospital and meet with the child life specialist and find out where Alyssa can spend time when she can leave her room, and said Lord, I am ready.
Perfect, just wait on me.

By then it was Thursday night and Laura called and said something happened. Alyssa will be transferred tomorrow.
I screamed a little and of course took all the credit and said “morning is better anyway”.

Friday morning came and I was excited for Alyssa to see arrive and said Lord, I am ready.
Perfect, just wait on me.

OK, by noon (after many phone calls to Laura) I walked to the hospital for the 30th time to find out what was going on. The social worker assured me everything was fine. Lord, I am ready.
Perfect, just wait on me.

At 3pm on Friday, I found out that the insurance company had not approved the transfer and it was being worked on. What I’ve been here since yesterday, how can that be? Now Lord, I’ve been ready, what’s going on? Hello Are you there? (Psalm 10.1 Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?)
His reply was the same, Perfect, just wait on me.

At 4pm I found out that our Insurance does not cover transplants at Mt Sinai and that we would have to use another hospital. I could not believe what I had heard. It must be a mistake. But, It was not a mistake. We could choose from Boston, Pittsburgh or New York Presbyterian.
OK, sounding selfish, I replied, “I’ll take the one in NY since I’m here already”.
Within 3 hours, Alyssa was on her way to the top transplant hospital in the world. Presidents and Princes from around the world come there for treatment and it is one of the top children’s hospitals in the world. WOW how did that happen?

I found out that is was the Lord who was planning this transfer, not me. I was just spinning my wheels. He knew all along where she would be going. He not only provided the time, he provided the best place. Her room is wonderful, the doctors amazing and she is fighting to get better.

So often, we plan and we plan and we plan, only to have the Lord tell us
Perfect, just wait on me. I pray that I would be reminded of that each day

P..S. I am so thankful the Lord is not an engineer.

Thank you all so much for your prayers. We miss our church family.

God Bless,
Tony
Some of you are making yourselves sick by worrying. Bad decisions are made when we worry. Worry brings confusion. Worry is a sin against God, our bodies and our souls. God is on the throne of heaven. We are on this little planet in space called the earth. He created it.

He has set His glory above the heavens Psalm 8.1 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter Proverbs 25.2 Somewhere in outer space, God has prepared a place for those who trust Him and obey...

Psalm 11.4 The LORD is observing and examining the hearts of men from His throne.

2. Heaven is a Holy Place vs.6-8

Living in this world cursed by sin can get us down if we are not careful.

Holy- most holy thing

Three times is complete. This could be referring to the Triune God.

There is no sin there. Revelation 21.1-8

Purity, peace, love are words that describe the throne of God in heaven.

Peace (v.6)

3. The LORD God is worshiped all the time in heaven. vs.8-11

May His will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.

Worship is not what we do on Sunday morning only. It is what we ought to be doing 7 days a week, day and night. The whole earth is full of His glory.

With this glimpse of heaven we are shown in part how powerful that prayer is. We need to pray more of Jesus’ prayers that He prayed. Things to be prayed on earth:
1. Glorify Yourself Father
2. May they all be one
3. Protect them by the power of Your name.

May His Will be done on earth today as it is in heaven!

The LORD's Day October 12, 2008

The Church That Thought It Had Everything

Revelation 3.14-22

Things are not always as they appear. I love that scene from that now classic movie, The Karate Kid, when Daniel realizes Mr. Miyagi has a house on the other side of the tracks and there are some oil tankers on the tracks, Daniel asks if he is in the oil business and Mr. Miyagi responds, “Not everything is as seems.” His yard is a virtual paradise. It is what I fashioned my backyard after. Things are not always what they appear to be.

Stop judging by mere appearances Jesus said in John 7.24

The Laodecian Church held a pretty high opinion of itself. v.17
You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.'

Rich= wealthy, abounding in material resources, abundantly supplied
abounding (rich) in Christian virtues and eternal possessions
It seems that this church equated riches with being right with God.

Need of nothing= No one, nothing.

I do not believe the Laodecian Church realized that it had ushered Christ to the outside. Jesus had to come to them and tell them that they had. I believe this was news to them. It probably was news to a lot of people outside the Laodecian Church too.

How does a church get there? They were working. Its problem was that it was lukewarm. They were not on fire. They were not hot. The Greek word for hot here is zestos. It means boiling hot, fervor of mind and zeal.

Paul warns the church at Rome: Romans 12.11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. This is what happened to the Laodecian Church. They didn’t stop their activities. They lost what Martin Luther called “the fire of faith.”

However the church that thought it had everything in reality had nothing and was poor, miserable, blind and naked.

While the church that was poor was rich. (2.9)

1. What is the Church?

So often people equate the church with a physical building. There were no church buildings until the 3rd century.

I used to go and speak to the young people of the Newtown Chinese Church in Hicksville. Their parents and grandparents had their service in Mandarin Chinese but the kids wanted one in English. So once a month, on Sunday afternoons, in th late 1990's I would drive out and speak to this terrific group of young people. I just ran into one the other day, now a graduate of Villanova. Once every three months they combined the young people and the adults and I would speak through an interpreter. I remember telling them, because they rented the building from a Lutheran Church, on Sunday afternoons, that they were free from a lot of things that can bog a church down, namely the care of a building. Where the church is the closest to the Book of Acts around the world today is where they are like the early Christians in that there is little or no building. Where Lucy and her mom worshiped in China last night our time the church there so impressed me three years ago. Like us they have an offering box. But it was the place prayer and the Word of God held in that church in Chanchung that touched my heart. Groups of young people praying before the service began. A shelf behind every bench for the people to take nots on as they heard the pastor bring the Word of God. Everyone carrying a Bible.

I remember pastoring in upstate NY. I was in my early 20's and although I had graduated from Bible College, I was still very much a student and learning. I was just 23 years old when I began pastoring that dear group of people. Houghton College was nearby and so I would go out there to hear guest speakers. There was a Wesleyan Church in that little community and I would go there when they had special speakers during the week. One I well remember was Norman Wilson. He was the speaker for their National Radio Program. He spoke one night on the church. I remember the scripture from Isaiah 53.2 He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him which he tied it in with I Corinthians 12. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it. It burned into my heart nearly 30 years ago and is fresh within my spirit today: Now you are the body of Christ... What was Christ’s Body like- Isaiah tells us that there was nothing in His appearance that attracted people to Him. We are the Body of Christ and there is nothing in our appearance that people will desire us. It is what is within us- His Spirit! Dr. Wilson went on to say that is why a church building may have a beautiful structure and lots of money but down on Main Street in a store front church is where people are finding Jesus.

The church is not a building.
The church is not a denomination.
The church is not an institution.

The Church is the people who have been born again and are part of God’s Family. The church is the redeemed of the LORD.


2. What makes a church rich?

Obviously not material wealth!

Look at the Church in Smyrna. (2.9)
This church was in poverty but was rich. In the third world countries I have been to and in my conversations with others who have been to ones I have not been to, we find the church in these poverty stricken areas rich in spiritual blessings. The work of the Holy Spirit in the church in these areas is very strong. The influence the church has is great.

Look at the Church in Laocedia.
Jesus says to this church that boasts about its (3.17) riches and wealth that they are poor and naked among other things.

So material wealth does not make a church rich. What does then?

A church is rich when Jesus is on the inside and His people are worshiping Him.
A church is rich when the Word of God has a high place in the hearts and lives of its people.
A church is rich when it prays and receives answers to those prayers.
A church is rich when Jesus is their Hero and they are following Him, staying close to Him, keeping the Great Commandment- loving Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and loving their neighbors as themselves.
A church is rich when it is following Jesus’ Commission to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations... by Christmas Shoe Boxes and giving to missions if you can’t go.


3. What makes a church poor?

When it makes it priorities material wealth-
The story of Fred’s sofa... Gimbels- wood carved frame, tag sale $350, dumpster, girls’ boyfriend and climbing in, in, Mr. Mancini- look! A door. Living room, family room, Moe’s couch and bed, Stephen and I carried it out to the curb and off it went a week ago. That is the end of all the material things we treasure on earth! A church is impoverished no matter how much money it has when it is in the condition of this Church in Laocedia. The church that thought it had everything in reality really had nothing. The church that thought it had need of nothing was the neediest church among these seven churches Jesus has John send His Message to.


4.What do we need to do with this message?

First as a church. Search us O God!

We should be paying our bills, giving lots to others, and in doing so storing up treasure in heaven.

Second as individuals... time of testing in the stock market- good time for believers- what is our hope Wall Street or the place where the streets are paved with gold?!
Search my heart O God. In this time of testing let me see what You see. Have I put too much emphasis on money as my security or is my security in You?!