The Name, JESUS

Matthew 1.18-25

There is no other name in heaven or on earth like this Name.

Go around the country, the continent, the world and this Name is known.

How often we have whispered it in times of trouble when we have needed help.

God gave Jesus the Name that is above every name.
At the name of Jesus
Every knee will bow.
Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD.
Philippians 2.9-10

1. God entrusts this young couple with giving Jesus His Name.
This is huge.
Bible Prophesies and eternal things were riding on this.
The Salvation of souls, every soul who will be in heaven, was depending on the obedience of this young, unwed, couple. The Name, Jesus, was the most important naming of a baby that ever took place.
God entrusted this to a young couple not even married yet!

God entrusts precious things to the young.
-Psalm 8 out of the mouths of babes and infants have You ordained praise!
- Both David and Joseph were teenagers when God began to speak through them. Many believe some of the disciples were too. Most believe Mary was in her late teens.
Always wondered when David wrote the 23rd Psalm. If it was when he was out in the fields with the sheep, then he wasn't even old enough to fight in Israel's Army! Today in Israel the mandatory three years of military service for boys begins at 18. So he could have very well written this as a 14 or 15 year old.

In my prayer group this week we spoke of that little girl who invited my Nana to come to the Mission in Brooklyn. I rejoice at individuals coming to Christ, all the angels in heaven rejoice! I rejoice that my name is written down there. I rejoice and marvel at the Hand of God in generations, family, my family, your family, God's family.

When the LORD wanted Inland China reached 150 years ago, He chose young Hudson Taylor. When the LORD wanted a devotional book written to challenge the soul, He got a young man named Oswald Chambers to give chapel talks to the British Troops in Egypt in WWI and had his wife, a court stenographer, take down every word he gave and My Utmost For My Highest was born after he died!, the best loved devotional book ever written! he wrote in his journal, after witnessing the loss of a child in a family, "Death does profoundly alter life."
In the next World War, when the LORD wanted a book written about the Cost of Discipleship and the author to live out what he was writing, "the first line which read, "When Jesus calls a man, He bids him, 'Come and die,'"He worked in a Nazi Concentration Camp through a Lutheran pastor in his 30's by the name of Deitrich Bonhoffer. He was executed days before he would have been saved by forces defeating Hitler.

When He wanted the Auca Indians reached, He called young Jim Elliott to lay down His life in his 20's. Before his death he wrote, "He is no fool to give up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." He also wrote, just a few years before his death, "I must not think it strange if God takes in youth those I would have kept on earth till they were older. God is peopling Eternity, and I must not restrict Him to old men and women."

In the past century, God entrusted the movement of His Spirit to Youth For Christ
Out of it came 2 young men, Billy Graham and Bob Pierce,
Think of what God did through them! BGEA, World Vision, Samaritan's Purse continue to bless the world.
Then in the 1960's The Jesus Movement
New music.

Today God is at work. All is not lost! I am so encouraged when I am around Christian young people with dreams and vision and a heart to do something wonderful for the Kingdom of God!


He entrusts us today.

Be faithful to His dear cause.

2. The Name
Jesus

Joshua or Jehoshua = "Jehovah is salvation"
son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and, Moses' Aide and successor as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan

Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind, God incarnate

The Names the Jews picked for their children had great significance.
What they were, what they believe they would be, what God instructed them to name them, Jesus and John.

David= beloved, leader
Joseph= May he add
John= God has been gracious
Peter= rock

3. His Work was Reflected in His Name.

He shall save. He is the Savior.
His people the lost sheep of the house of Israel, in the first instance; for they were the only people He then had. But, on the breaking down of the middle wall of partition, the saved people embraced the "redeemed unto God by His blood out of every kindred and people and tongue and nation."
Jews
Gentiles
From their sin.


They obeyed fully! God's will was done on earth as it was in heaven.

When the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son, born to a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under law.
That woman was Mary. Her husband to be was Joseph. Joseph and Mary were both given instructions. They both obeyed perfectly. Joseph gave Him the Name, Jesus.

The Virgin Birth

The Virgin Birth of Christ
Isaiah 7.10-14
Matthew 1.18-25

Some things are beyond explanation or our finding out. The Virgin Birth is in that category. We are to be in awe and wonder of this miracle. While science continues to uncover mysteries of our universe many of the things of God remain beyond us. We do better to report the scriptures than editorialize them, much better.
We are called to be witnesses, not lawyers.

We can say along with Mary in wonder, "How will this be?" (Luke 1.30-37) but the complete understanding was not for her or us. There comes a point where faith must take over. Herein is so often where we struggle: we want to know how God is going to work. Most of the time He does not satisfy our curiosity. The explanation of Gabriel is still shrouded in mysterious secrecy.

Much of the way God works is mysterious and secret.
We are given enough information to obey Him but not too much so that our faith is hindered. So many of can say with the Apostle Paul that we are "perplexed, but not in despair." (II Corinthians 4.8)

Mary believed, Zechariah questioned God's Word. Mary took the Word of God to her heart. Zechariah stumbled as he mulled it over in his head. That is so often where our problem lies: in our head! Luke 24:38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?" Troubled hearts and doubting minds are fraternal twins. Believe! Faith chases the doubts and troubles away.

Wise parents do not obligate themselves to explain everything to their children. Wise trusting children do not ask for a comprehensive explanation. Obedience is better than knowledge.

A virgin pledged... God saw that His Son would be cared for as He grew in a family. He is a God of incredible details. He takes care of His people.
Here is what we are told by the prophet and what Matthew records as being fulfilled.



1. The Virgin Will Be With Child.
Miracle
God, the Father, moving on Mary so His Son will enter the human race for its Savior.
Miracles suspend the natural order.
It highlights the supernatural. The beginning and the end of Jesus' life on earth.

A Sign
- of God's love for Israel and the whole world.
A distinguishing mark, a remembrance
Human and Divine life combined!

A Wonder.
Magnificent, excellent, splendid

This set apart Christ's birth from its conception. This was extraordinary. It shows that we could not bring about redemption ourselves. It shows God taking the first step. He didn't ask Mary. He told her.



2. She shall give birth to a Son.
The Son of God. John 3.16 The Greatest Gift. Was e'er gift like the Savior given?
The Holy One of God. Matthew 1.20
Firstborn of Mary
First born among many brothers (John 1.12, Romans 8.29)
The Messiah

3. One of the the many Names will be Immanuel.
"That which describes His Attributes.
God with us.
We have beheld His Glory. John 1.14
Jesusi
The Good Shepherd
The Way, the Truth and the Life
The Resurrection and the Life
That Great Shepherd of the Sheep.
Savior
King of Kings

R.A. Torrey:
The Real Christ

Doctrinally, it must be repeated that the belief in the Virgin birth of Christ is of the highest value for the right apprehension of Christ's unique and sinless personality. Here is One, as Paul brings out in Romans 5:12 ff., who, free from sin Himself, and not involved in the Adamic liabilities of the race, reverses the curse of sin and death brought in by the first Adam, and establishes the reign of righteousness and life. Had Christ been naturally born, not one of these things could be affirmed of Him. As one of Adam's race, not an entrant from a higher sphere, He would have shared in Adam's corruption and doom—would Himself have required to be redeemed. Through God's infinite mercy, He came from above, inherited no guilt, needed no regeneration or sanctification, but became Himself the Redeemer, Regenerator, Sanctifier, for all who receive Him. "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15).

Contentment

Philippians 4.4-13

How to be content

Many pursue this all their lives and never attain it.
Very challenging in Philippi and on Long Island today as well as many places on the earth.
Tool of advertisers to make us feel the lack of it.
Living among a consumer driven culture and the rabble can affect us.
Our own sinful nature can come through in envy and jealousy.

Contentment

Not to be confused with complacency.
Holy discontent not bad, by itself discontentment is a miserable dead end, it is a terminal disease of the soul if not directly dealt with. It eats away the good things and finds companionship with the bad.

What is contentment?
*sufficient for one's self, strong enough or possessing enough to need no aid or support. The ability to stand alone. Not needing things to prop me up.
*independent of external circumstances
*at peace and accepting one's lot, with one's means, though the slenderest. Explains why poor people can be the most content.


How do I become and remain content?

1. Rejoice Always
In the LORD
He will never leave you.
Your name is written down in heaven.
Jesus Never Fails!
Lit. Be exceedingly glad / inappropriately cheerful

Independent of external circumstances- Look for the good in the adversity, the pain. Look for the rainbow in the storm. Dance in the rain!
Thomas Edison's factory fire.

Thomas Edison's laboratory was virtually destroyed by fire in December, 1914. Although the damage exceeded $2 million, the buildings were only insured for $238,000 because they were made of concrete and thought to be fireproof.
Much of Edison's life's work went up in spectacular flames that December night. At the height of the fire, Edison's 24-year old son, Charles, frantically searched for his father among the smoke and debris.
He finally found him, calmly watching the scene, his face glowing in the reflection, his white hair blowing in the wind.
"My heart ached for him," said Charles.
"He was 67 - no longer a young man - and everything was going up in flames. When he saw me, he shouted, "Charles, where's your mother?"
When I told him I didn't know, he said, "Find her. Bring her here. She will never see anything like this as long as she lives."
The headlines the next day read:
EDISON SEES HIS VAST PLANT BURN; Inventor and Wife Direct Salvage Work as Ten Buildings Go in $7,000,000 Fire. Explosion in Film Factory at 5:20 o'Clock Followed by Others as Blaze Sweeps On. All of 7,000 Employes to Report Today and Rebuilding to Begin.


We long for perfection because we were created in God's image. We live with imperfection because of sin in the world. In our current situation rejoicing always is therapeutic! One day perfection will come!
Romans 8.
22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons,

I Corinthians 13.9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears




2. Be Gentle Outwardly
Keep your mouth shut.
Keep your heart in tune with Jesus. Gentle Shepherd
Keep your focus on God's Kingdom.


3. Do Not Worry About Anything.
To be troubled with cares
Jesus told us not to worry about food and clothing. Paul adds anything.

We have to cast our cares upon Christ or we will be troubled by them.


4. Pray About Everything
WithThanksgiving!
when we come before God in the hour of trouble, remembering his great goodness to us in the past, and therefore thanking him, we ought to have faith enough to believe that the present trouble, about which we are praying, is sent in love.

God's peace
Transcends all understanding
Guarding hearts
Guarding minds
In Christ Jesus


5. Think Wholesomely.
The joy of a good conscience.
The gladness of God's just.

6. Live Realistically
Know what it means to live in plenty
Know what it means to live in want

7. Remember where your strength comes from!


V.13 endynamoō
Psalm121 The Whole Psalm

So many blessings
Such grateful hearts
Contentment with godliness is great gain.

Thanksgiving

Giving Thanks

Because of strep throat and all its symptoms I was not able to conduct the Thanksgiving Service last evening at our church. While I am still wobbly this morning this has not diminished my gratitude one iota!

Like many holidays, Thanksgiving evokes memories in my heart as far back as I can remember. One of those memories are when our church fed the homeless of our community. This was long before the Main Street area became the place to eat with all sorts of restaurants. Back 20 years ago it resembled a bombed out area, with many street people and people just getting by. A group from our church would put on an extraordinary dinner each year. Other churches helped. One of those, Calvary Chapel, now carries on this work in their area. Last year over 2,000 people were fed a hot turkey dinner.

I remember my Dad being home on that Day. Even though he went to heaven a few months ago, the memory of that man, his love for his family, his God and his country and life itself remain very much in our hearts.

In my life over the past 8 years, new places have to e set around our table. Our family is growing. How thankful I am for my grandchildren!

I'm thankful that the LORD called me to be a pastor. I enjoy serving Him and His flock in this way. Over thirty years ago, in a little upstate church, a lady named Lee Milligan, put together a food pounding for my family forThanksgiving. While she and many of those dear folks are with Dad in heaven today, that act of love still resounds in my heart and mind.

May each of you have a very blessed Thanksgiving! May you make some wonderful memories! God bless you!

Being Thankful For The Greatest Blessing

Philippians 3.20-21

Phone call from Jay Bergers this week, his prayer, thankful for our family, for God's family, for good health, but more than anything that we know You Jesus!

Our country's heritage has in it a Day dedicated to giving thanks to the LORD God Almighty.

George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

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 shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789. We give thanks for our country today and pray that God might heal its every flaw.

Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of the heavenly lights (James 1.17)
As we sang this morning, knowing you Jesus, there is no greater thing!
There are so many blessings associated with knowing Jesus!
We only have time to look at a few this morning.

As we thank God for His Indescribable Gift, let us be thankful that as believers in Christ Jesus:

1. Our Citizenship is in Heaven.

We have been born from above. It is now our home country.

Our names are written down there!

Politeuma Grk word, politics are at the forefront of the news. Jesus is LORD! This world is not our home.

We belong to heaven. Our actions should reflect where our citizenship is.
We are getting ready for heaven.
That is our goal.


2. We Eagerly Await A Savior From There.

Look for.
Look up! Luke 21.28

Expect. Looking for Jesus to come soon.
We purify ourselves. I John 3.3

With the turmoil in the Middle East (God's Time clock) we realize that the LORD foretold this, our hope is in Him.


3. He Will Bring Everything Under His Control.
He is control. Sin still rampant.
He does ride out His purposes on sin's results.
Ex/ grief group, Hurricane Sandy, erc.
Be careful not to share this with others this before they have discovered it themselves.

Maybe you are down this morning over the situation in the nation or the world. Things seem out of control? He will bring everything under His control!

4. We Shall be Like Him!
One Day!
I John 3.2
Soon.
Revelation 22.20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Working Out your Salvation

Philippians 2.12-13

Working out your salvation, the ongoing work of God's Spirit within these jars of clay, these earthen vessels.

Working out your salvation. Each of us has a path to Christ and a personal walk with the LORD after salvation that obviously needs attention. In fact so much that we are to do it with fear and trembling! We all have dark sides to our souls which need restoration. We all have had similar experiences and at the same time unique experiences which are ours alone.

Working out your salvation is the most important thing you can do. It concerns me that many people who say they are Christians are not giving it the priority it deserves... That their walk with Christ is so fruitless and they don't seem to be bothered by it.

What does it mean to work out your salvation with fear and trembling?


1. Obedience to Christ
Following His Spirit, being led by the Spirit. Romans 8.12-14
Keeping in step with His Spirit. Galatians 5.25
Living By the Spirit Galatians 5.16

This is an inner surrender.
Often difficult, always rewarding.

Obedience is sweet.
Obedience is peace.
Obedience is joyful.

Continuing to love the LORD with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself. This will be going on until we meet Jesus.


2. With Fear and Trembling
Work= bring it to completion
Consider what is at stake! We are talking eternity here. We are talking destiny. How horribly entangled one can get caught up in current events, in the worries and cares which have not a wit to do with eternity, with those besetting sins.

Work out your own salvation: What Paul does mean is he calls the Philippians to put forth real effort into their Christians lives. This is not to work their salvation in the sense of accomplishing it, but to work out their salvation - to see it evident in every area of their lives, to activate this salvation God freely gave them.
“The believer must finish, must carry to conclusion, must apply to its fullest consequences what is already given by God in principle . . . He must work out what God in His grace has worked in.” (Muller)


3. Allowing God To Do His Work in You.
Cooperating with the LORD
Illus- Dr. Prescribing medicine. We must cooperate by taking it.
What has God prescribed for us?
Reading His Word
Books of Substance Paul to Timothy, "bring me the parchments."
II Timothy 4.13
Encourage us
Challenge us
to take risks, to be daring, to humble us, talk to people, Stephanie, the medical student. Peter, the man looking for a job in Burger King Thursday morning. We need to be around other believers but we need to engage lost souls. Souls for whom Christ died. Tony, at Peter Pan this week.
It is God Who gives me the desires, and then the capacity to fulfill the desires.

Spurgeon:
If I meet with any man who says, "I have no need to examine my self any more, I know I am saved, and therefore have no need to take any further care," I would venture to say to him, "Sir, you are lost already. This strong delusion of yours has led you to believe a lie." There are none so cautious as those who possess full assurance, and there are none who have so much holy fear of sinning against God, nor who walk so tenderly and carefully as those who possess the full assurance of faith. Presumption is not assurance, though, alas! many think so. No fully assured believer will ever object to being reminded of the importance of his own salvation and the need to continue to work it out.

The Author of souls is the Author of our salvation. He is the only One Who can speak peace and help us. God is the Enabler. It is His work alone.
To live more like Christ.
Use every effort! Labor earnestly with meticulous reverence.


Obey the LORD. Pray, Search me O God.
Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
Allow God to complete His work in you.
God help us to be faithful.

God Speaks In The Storm

God Speaks In The Storm

Psalm 29

A fascinating Psalm, written by David

David was a lover of nature. This Psalm speaks of the destructive force nature can unleash. We saw this in Hurricane Sandy.

What is God's Word saying?

1. The LORD God Almighty is powerful. vs.4, 7-9

Breaks the cedars of Lebanon. Last night I brought a turkey breast that had thawed out to my daughter's, Theresa, home for her to cook. We had a mini Thanksgiving Dinner! Sort if a precursor to the Day we celebrate in 3 1/2 weeks. My son-in-law was a Boy Scout. He made a fire pit in their yard with some beautiful stones that he got from a job south of Montauk Highway. He had Tristan and bring him wood from the wood shed he built in the back yard. He split some of these pieces into smaller ones to use as a base. There was oak and a beautiful lighter wood with a familiar fragrance. It was cedar! Solomon used the cedar of Lebanon in building the temple. They brought them into the port  of Joppa then hauled them across the Plain of Sharon and up into the Judean hills to Jerusalem. I told my grandson how wonderful God was in providing wood for us to enjoy, even in making fire! No record of cooking until after the fall of man but God is so powerful,  He provided in His creation, the ability for us to cook! He is the LORD God Almighty!

2. The LORD God is in control. v.10

Over the remnants if the storm!

I love the relief efforts the church, the people of God are doing. Our denomination, independent churches (Kevin Henesy), Samaritan's Purse here.

Over heaven and earth forever!

3. The LORD God is with us. v.11

Strength

Blesses us with peace

There are special blessings for those who are here this morning.