The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

The Genealogy of the Jesus Christ 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: conflict... inside a family. 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. The manger and the cross were tied up in the same promises of a Redeemer, the Savior of the world and Him being that Great Shepherd of the sheep, the Good Shepherd, my Shepherd. This Christmas make your way back to the manger. *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. He had one. David was a man after God’s own heart. I think the two are tied together. Isaiah 53.3 He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows , and familiar with grief/ suffering Like one from Whom people hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem. One of the ways God is able to endure seeing suffering is that He knows what happens in the end. Bob Pierce‘s book let my heart be broken with the things to break the heart of God was a dose of overwhelming reality. that was his prayer. He asked for God to show him things as they really are. Every Christmas People drift off into it unreality. They spend money that they don’t have. They buy gifts for people that don’t need them. They have a nostalgic feelings, which in and of themselves are not bad, but they create something that is not true. That is what makes Christmas vacation movie so funny and yet so appealing. Clark Griswold finally faces the fact by asking his father the question, “Dad, why are the holidays such a always such a mess?” His father answers, “I know.” Clark then asks, how did you get through them. His father chuckles and says, “I had a little help from Jack Daniels.” I don’t want to live like that. No one does. Perhaps, in the first time in 65 thanksgivings this year I discovered it’s true original meaning... of our nation and in God’ Word and in prayer. I’m out to set the course for Christmas as well. I want to be able to say now, I am free to enjoy Christmas. It is a glorious event! It is the focal point of human history. It is gods story. It has been covered up by tinsel in unreality. I’m not against decorating for Christmas. I’ll do it myself. Just so blessed the decorations and the gift buying and all of the warm fuzzy feelings are not covering over reality of Christ’s Birth. I am making my way back to the manger. Reality will eventually come to you. For many comes on their deathbed. Others in this life. But the free people, the really free people are those whoever broken spirit, an open heart and a new direction in which to travel. Gordon MacDonald calls them the freest people on the earth. When we get there we are filled with joy unspeakable. We’re not fretting, worrying, angry, we are like children, children of God. And whom the sun sets free is free indeed! “Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God.” Prayer of Dr. Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision and Samaritan’s Purse We want to be used but we don’t want to be broken. We want the Resurrection without the crucifixion, We want to hide our scars when Jesus shows us His. Philippians 3. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. The greatest spiritual blessing we receive is when we come to the knowledge that we are destitute. -Oswald Chambers 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 back then. It was outrageous! Jesus comes and turns over things that are wrong. He upsets things that need to be upset. He is doing that in this Pandemic. 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 prostitute(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 man 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. He came for all people. You may be listening by Livestream this morning. It just showed up in your newsfeed. You may be very rich. But deep down in your heart you are empty. You aren’t hearing this on accident. This is your time, your day. Christ is calling you to follow Him. Come now to Jesus! 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. Let’s let Him tie our story into His Story. His family is still growing and will be until the final one has come in... Let’s keep sharing the good news! Sent from my iPad

O Tne Joys of Those Who Take Refuge in Him!

O The Joys of Those Who Take Refuge In Him! Psalm 34.8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him. I will extol the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. 2 I will glory in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together. This Psalm was written by David at a horrible time in his life. It was very bitter and yet here he is giving thanks. How can this be? He has been anointed king over Israel while Saul was still in office. Saul had the crown and the palace but David had the anointing. That made King Saul very jealous. He did not know how David would ascend to the throne. Would he take it by force or let the natural course of events take place? Saul did not know David very well. But David knew Saul. He was a spear thrower. And he gave the command to hunt David down. After that he had to flee from Saul. For an entire decade all the way through his 20’s until he was 30 David was on the run from Saul. It was a nightmarish hell. He wrote this psalm after he had to fake being insane before Abimilech. God was with him. David once more was safe. As far as he knew this was his lot in life. The dreams of ascending to King over Israel came down to running for his life, getting enough food for each day and hoping that Saul would never catch him. However David did say one day Saul is going to kill me. But David thought to himself, “One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul.” (I Samuel 27.1) That shows where his emotional being was at one point. We could probably relate a lot to David during this time we are in. Today is Thanksgiving Sunday! This is going to be a different thanksgiving than we have ever experienced before and right on it’s heels comes Christmas. We keep trying to recapture what we have lost not realizing that C.S. Lewis said, “Reality never repeats. “ Be thankful for the memories. Embrace the reality of today. Based on the recommendations from the CDC and our own state I will be remaining alone in my home Thursday. It’s going to be different. Even my daughters have said that. But I won’t be alone. In fact the house will be filled! With memories, with joy because of the LORD! We need to find our refuge in the LORD. The LORD. The LORD Jesus Christ Who was born outside and placed in a feeding trough for the animals! That is Christmas! That’s the original. All that we have added over the centuries and millenniums is not bad... it is just excessive. The bad thing is has crowded out Christ. This Christmas just maybe we can get back to some of the reality of the first. Yes reality doesn’t repeat but it can be remembered. And so with Thanksgiving let’s go back to the pilgrims. Here’s some things we tend to forget. The Pilgrims struggled to build homes, and many families crowded into the few homes that were built. Food was scarce, and many Pilgrims starved to death that first winter. ... In the first winter, nearly half of the pilgrims struggling to build the Plymouth settlement died from cold and sickness. Even before they landed... Diseases, storms, vigorous winds, ship damages, strong ocean currents, terrible living conditions and overcorwdness. they were forced into Plymouth, an unfamilar territory during a harsh winter. nobody knew any easy access to food, shelter or medicine. The Pilgrims first had to make shelters for their winter ordeal and find water and what food they could. Unfortunately for them, they had no knowledge of the local wild life and even if they had, they lacked the knowledge of how to capture it. David, in his struggles against Saul and against foreign powers in his time of running found that God, the LORD was his refuge. In this pandemic as we celebrate Thanksgiving differently this year, perhaps more than we ever have before, we can be thankful for the wonderful blessings God has poured out upon us even in this time of national and international stress, difficulty, disappointment, and wondering about the future. We have these blessings no matter what. The Joy of Knowing Him The greatest thing in the world is knowing Christ. It surpasses all other things Peace, strength, grace, eternal life Think of the blessing of praying! David and the LORD had a very close relationship. The Joy of His Protection Refuge Psalm 46.1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 18.2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 91.2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Refuge= Seek refuge Flee for protection Trust in God Hope in the LORD .The Joy of His Provisions Philippians 4.19 and my God shall supply all of your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. seeking first His Kingdom as He provides food to eat and clothes to wear Matthew 6.33 Watching God Himself provide Genesis 22. 8 Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. The Joy of His Promises Being Fulfilled As we walk with Him Living them out Seeing Him work Overwhelmed by His goodness... Haiti 102 children in the schools, 64 in Pastor Joes! Amazing! Donation as we met. Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gift! Yet to be Fulfilled His Return “Yes, I am coming soon.” Revelation 22.20 Thanks be to God! Sent from my iPad

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ Acts 25. 18 When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. 19 Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. Christ has indeed been raised from the Dead. I Corinthians 15.20 If not... *Your faith is in vain. 15.7 *We are of all men most miserable I Corinthians 15.19 *He is a liar. He said to Martha John 11. 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; You cannot say well I believe Jesus was a good man but not God. C.S. Lewis: I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to. Here we are in a season of dying, the autumn will bring the winter. We are watching the trees shed their leaves, birds getting ready to migrate... our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and Christmas/ Advent. Today I want to jump to the Spring Season and talk about Jesus’ Resurrection. Two huge wonders re how Jesus was born and how after He died He rose from the grave. Both events are celebrated in beginnings. Christmas, His birth as they days are getting longer. Easter His Resurrection in the beginning of Spring, the growing season. One at the end of the harvest, the other in the beginning of planting. In our lives we have beginnings and endings. We have birth and death. We have times of celebrations and sorrow. But for the believer death is the last enemy. After that there is the Resurrection, eternity with Jesus. We ought to live with one foot in heaven and one on earth. The Resurrection of Jesus and His Promises associated with it are for now and forever. With Christ’ Resurrection we have... *The Empty Tomb The empty tomb in Jerusalem stands today in a beautiful well kept Garden. In the Cesarean Coliseum Paul gave his defense. Back to the Empty Tomb That is a historical fact. He Arose That is a present reality. He walks with me and He talks with me... That is a future hope. I Thessalonians 4. 13 Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the LORD’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the LORD Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the LORD in the air. And so we will be with the LORD forever. *The Risen Life Romans 6.4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. The most visible sign of the Resurrection is changed lives. God, Who raised Christ, working in us. Christ living in us. The Resurrection power at work in a redeemed soul. We are His witnesses. The Risen Life implies spiritual death before and the physical death to come. Psalm 39.4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. 5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before You. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. 6 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. Colossians 3:1-2 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Isaiah 26.19 Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, For your dew is as the dew of the dawn, And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits. 2 Corinthians 5:15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 1 Corinthians 15:31 I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. Philippians 3:8-10 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; In this time of suffering we have to ask ourselves, what are we going to do with our pain? Are we going to blame others for it? Are we going to try to fix it? No one lives on this earth without it. It is the great teacher, although none of us want to admit it. -RR 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. We are His witnesses today, in 2020. Paul indicated that his sufferings resulted in wider spread of the Gospel. Philippians 1. 12 Now I want you to know, brothers that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard[c] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. We see the infancy of the faith in Festus’ words. *The Coming Savior Jesus Christ Crucified, Risen and Coming Again He will come again. No one knows the Day or the hour. We must always be ready. Live in the power of the Resurrection today! Wait for the Resurrection Day! Share the Good News! Be at peace. Give Grace. Sent from my iPad

Resting In God’s Sovereignty Acts 24. 27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison. There is man’s story and there History, His Story. If we just see it as our story then it can be discouraging and even depressing. If we see it as God’s story, His Story and how we fit into it we will have such a different view. You can always tell if a person is a Christian by how they view History. One of the things about His Story is He is in control. Somehow He works all things together for our good. I don’t know how but He does. Psalm 37.7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; How often I have come to places in my life where I thought, it’s all over. This is the end. Only to find out that God is opening up new doors and doing new things in me and through me! This is my story, His story. He has a plan for our lives. Psalm 139.16     all the days ordained for me were written in your book     before one of them came to be. Ephesians 2. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. What did Paul do in those two years in prison? Prayed. Wrote letters to churches and one individual that we know of while there... probably more. Waited. God often has plans that we are unaware of. Interruptions are often His opportunities, a part of His plan. What appears to be an interruption is God’s Sovereignty at work. God is the ruler over the earth because whatever happens on the earth happens because God has allowed it to happen. And yet, in a narrower sense, Jesus recognized that Satan was ruling the earth at the present time. Now, Satan only rules because God allows him to rule. So in an overall sense, yes, God rules, but God in His rule has given man free moral agency, self-determination, the power or capacity of choice. God has allowed man to choose who he desires to rule over him. And the majority of men have chosen that Satan should rule over their lives. And God has not violated man's choice. He's allowed him to make the choice and then respects the choice that man has made. The bottom line is always, “God is in control.” I wonder if Paul would have felt the need to write letters if it were not for the prison. With his desire to travel and being cut out for it he would have preferred visiting those churches in person. We have learned to be much more effective in the Pandemic Shut down. Many things are staying with us, part of the work of ministry now. We are working with a new app called Larix Broadcaster which will enable us soon to broadcast Livestream to not only Facebook Live but our You Tube Channel and Instagram as well! Paul discovered he could cover more territory, encourage the churches and get the Gospel out more effectively than if he were “free” to travel. This was a restful time, if you are going to be in jail it might as well be on the Mediterranean! The Roman Government “sponsored” many things for the Gospel. Built roads for Paul to travel on, got Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem to have Jesus born there, was responsible for the Prison Epistles. You can read more about them here: https://www.gotquestions.org/prison-epistles.html Sometimes the LORD gives us glimpses into His plan, sometimes we cry out to Him like Jehoshaphat, II Chronicles 20.12 For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” We have those letters from Prison. Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon Philippians 1.12 Now I want you to know, brothers that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. I don’t believe that as Paul wrote those letters to the churches founded on his second missionary journey he was aware he was writing the Bible! He doesn’t mention his letter writing in that way. So we can be going about our daily lives, surrendered to a Jesus and not be aware that God is at work through us? Sure! We can just be writing or talking and our words carry much greater weight to a much larger audience? Of course. Then there our lives, the testimony of faithfulness. Almost 2,000 years ago they were penned, dictated by Paul. He did not realize that he was writing letters which would be come part of the Bible, the New Testament and form our beliefs, give us wonderful promises and reveal to us the mysteries of God’s Grace. He wrote to the Ephesians Ephesians 2. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. One of the works in advance that God prepared Paul for was the writing of these books, letters. He was writing encouraging and instructive letters to churches in the First Century. He would have been amazed if God told him that we would be talking about those letters 2,000 years later, basing the church upon them. We go through prison experiences. The virus has been one. So often we are prevented from doing what we desire only to find out God has a greater work for us. *Prayer is the greater work! Well, all that we can do is pray. It is there we meet the LORD. This is a time to cry out to God. *The greatest of faith, hope and love is love. We are placed by God’s Sovereignty where we can express His love the best. That is so often through painful places, painful times. Joseph... So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “You’re the man for us. God has given you the inside story—no one is as qualified as you in experience and wisdom.” Genesis 41.39 Joseph would have never been in such a position without his sufferings, his troubles with his family, his brothers. We want to be free from pain. That is normal. That is natural. Sometimes there is a way to escape but it may not necessarily be God’s way. He wants to take us on the Calvary Way, the Way of the Cross. We love comfort. My friend, Pastor Tim Lemont, whose Bible Study I shared on our Church Facebook Page this week, spoke about the Blessedness of being persecuted for righteousness sake. You would do well to listen to such things. In this time of media glut, a time of Netflix and Amazon Prime shows and movies, do not let the gems get away. I see this time as a time of opportunity like we have never ever had. A time when we can learn from the least of these. The day of large gatherings has been suspended. Who would have dreamed that the World Series would be played in near empty stadiums? Or the large churches would be at a disadvantage? God is speaking to America. He is calling on His people to pray, come aside with Him, learn of Him. I see it clearly. Don’t miss what He is offering you in this time when what we knew as normal has been replaced. The safest place for the Apostle Paul at that time was in that prison! Paul probably sat in prayer in the prison. I am sure he did. Then at one point in those 2 years of waiting he thought, “I am not going anywhere soon. I eventually will go to Rome. The LORD made that clear. I cannot visit the churches so I will write to them.” We have these letters, filled with the promises of God. I close with the benediction from one of those letters in Ephesians 3. 20. Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Take Courage

Acts 23. 11 The following night the LORD stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” I remember when I had to give a speech in class when I was in junior high school. We came up to a weekend and they would be 10 minutes left in the class and I was next. The teacher said let’s pick up on Monday. I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I had the whole weekend. I was off the hook until Sunday night when I began to become nervous about the speech again. What a relief after it was over! The number one fear of Americans is speaking in public. For the apostle Paul it was more than just a public speech. His testimony that he was going to give in front of courts was a life and death matter. If he said the wrong words, if those passing judgment didn’t agree he could face the death penalty. More than that he had a desire to proclaim the Gospel. Ephesians 6.19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. It was during this time, at night, the LORD came and stood by him and spoke to him. This is the Word the LORD gave Paul in a very trying time: Take courage. We go through difficult times in our lives. Sometimes we are overwhelmed. Sometimes the LORD gives us more than we can handle. It is beyond our ability to bear. Grief can do that to us. In the loss of a loved one we can feel so out of it we wonder if we can go on. One of the reasons that David wrote that when he goes through the valley of the shadow of death he will not fear any evil. Dealing with the effects of the current worldwide crisis has put people in fear. It has changed our lives. It has disrupted plans. The economic effects are yet to be fully felt. Great Depression and suicidal thoughts are in the psyches of Americans today, even among pastors as our District Superintendent Dr. Sam Vassal shared a few weeks ago in Brentwood. We need courage today. The good news is that the LORD is here to give it to us. He is with us in all of life. At the points when we may be tempted to think I can do this on my own. I am OK. Those are the very moment where we need Him the most. We feel the need of Him when we’re going through a crisis but often when things are going well, that was the warning for Israel, when you get into the land it flows with milk and honey be careful not to forget the LORD your God brought you into this place. These are the times that try men’s souls. The message of Thomas Paine's pamphlet The Crisis was to remind Americans during the battle for Independence that real patriots hold onto their beliefs, even in hard times. Real Christians hold onto the LORD and their faith in Him in hard times. God is purifying His Church today. We are in the fires of testing. Stand firm. The LORD Stands Near His Servants in Their Times of Great Need. II Timothy 4.16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the LORD stood at my side and gave me strength... Standing with us. To cause or make to stand. To make firm to establish To cause a person to keep his place To keep intact, uphold or sustain To stand near To keep safe and sound Interestingly the word used for standing in the 15th verse of II Timothy 4 simply means to come together or to come to one’s help. Human help is good. Help from the LORD is out of this world. Sometimes the sky looks dark With not a ray of light; We’re tossed and driven on no human help in sight but there is One in heaven Who knows our deepest care; Let Jesus solve your problem Just go to Him in prayer. Strength To be bold The LORD speaks Light and Life into Our Hearts in the Darkest of Times The power of one Word, the Word of God Take Courage Confidence Often the LORD just tells us He is with us. He doesn’t usually give the details of how He will work all things together for our good, how He will deliver us. Here is where our faith comes in. Daniel 3. 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Overcoming faith. We are given this by the LORD. I John 5.4 For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. God Gives Us Courage Not Just To Be But To Do All seemed lost. How could the apostle work being a prisoner?! How? In many ways. Paul became a letter writer. Paul went on to testify before Caesar! Even the palace employees were touched! Philippians 1. 12 Now I want you to know, brothers that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers have become confident in the LORD and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. The LORD give us courage for the days ahead Joshua 1. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Days of Challenge Israel was about to go in and possess the land. Joshua was leading them. For 40 years they wandered. This is their time. Days of Uncertainty They sent the spies in. They gave a bad report. They all died except for Joshua and Caleb. In fact that whole generation that came out of Egypt, except for these two died in the Desert. They were not sure what they were going to face only that God was with them. And we as we approach this Presidential Election, Thanksgiving and Christmas and 2021 face great uncertainty. We have the LORD. Days of Conquest God was with them. Romans 8.31 If God is for us who can be against us? Back to that Prison holding cell in Jerusalem that night. Paul took the Courage offered to him by Jesus that night in the prison. Take the courage God is offering you this morning. II Chronicles 20. 12 ...For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” I Chronicles 12.32 Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do. Don’t despair Don’t fret Don’t worry God is with us, standing beside us. Take courage. 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The Turnaround in Saul of Tarsus’ Life

The Turnaround In Saul of Tarsus’ Life Acts 22.1-16 Think of the person you know who would be the most unlikely to become a follower of Jesus Christ. Then think of them after coming to Christ becoming one of the people God uses to bring a whole group of nations to Him. Saul of Tarsus was such a man. Galatians 1. 13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, Who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any man. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. If you or I were responsible to choose someone to be an apostle to the Gentiles, in the middle of the first century, Saul of Tarsus would be our last choice. So often God chooses people to serve who would not be ones we would choose. This morning God is speaking to hearts. You may be listening online. God has been speaking to you about something unusual, highly unusual that He wants you to be a part of. The call of God doesn’t usually come like this one. For years I sat on boards and listened to prospective ministers describe their call. Most of them spoke of a still small voice, a quiet but definitely calling. Saul to become Paul was as far away from the Gentiles as one could be. He was persecuting Jewish Believers. His world was Judaism. Philippians 2.4 If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. *A persecutor of the church Paul’s words: I Timothy 1.21 I thank Christ Jesus our LORD, Who has given me strength, that He considered me trustworthy, appointing me to His service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our LORD was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Acts 22.2 Then Paul said: 3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5 as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.” We see the grace of God here. We see the patience of God. We also see the plan of God which is often different then our thoughts. His thoughts are not our thoughts. He took the most unlikely person, one who was persecuting and killing the church to be a follower and one sent to bring the Gospel all over the world at the time. *A Determined and Stubborn Soul Acts 9.1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 26.14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ “It is hard for you to kick against the goads” was a Greek proverb, but it was also familiar to the Jews and anyone who made a living in agriculture. An ox goad was a stick with a pointed piece of iron on its tip used to prod the oxen when plowing. The farmer would use it on the animal to steer it in the right direction. Sometimes the animal would rebel by kicking out at the goad, and this would result in the goad being driven even further into its flesh. In essence, the more an ox rebelled, the more it suffered. Saul of Tarsus was a headstrong Pharisee who came to the LORD. He was one of many whom Jesus spoke about. They shall put you out of the synagogues, and the hour will even come when whosoever kills you will think that he does God service. John 16.2 He acted in ignorance. God showed him mercy. *A Life that submitted to God Immediately Paul called Jesus, “LORD” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. So he submitted to the LORD before He knew it was Jesus. We all need to come to a place of this kind of submission to Jesus of Nazareth. Bowing at His Feet (John 11. 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “LORD, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”) There is no better time than right now, this moment to submit to the LORD. Isaiah’s words, 6. 8 Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Here I am LORD. Help Yourself. The Apostle of the Heart Set Free *An Apostle of the LORD Jesus Christ I Corinthians 1. 1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God apostle= a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders God had a plan to reach the Gentiles. Like we have said He picked an unlikely person, the most unlikely person. You may feel you are unlikely to be used by God. Submit yourself to Him, tell Him you will do whatever He tells you. Mary to the servants at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee: John 2.5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” That is what I say to you today. The conversion (turn around) of Saul is quite significant as it was the turning point in his life. Paul later wrote nearly half of the books of the New Testament. What can happen in your life as you make a total surrender to Him? Sent from my iPad

The Truth About Success In The Kingdom of God

The Truth About Success In God’s Kingdom Acts 19. 8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the Word of the Lord. II Timothy 1.15 You know this, that all those in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 4.16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Do you see what is going on here? Paul the apostle has preached in Ephesus as a center and all the Greeks and Jews living in the province of Asia heard the Word of the Lord. Then go ahead to a number of years to when he writes to Timothy. He tells Timothy that all Asia has forsaken him. He tells Timothy at the end of the letter that when he stood for his first defense no one stood with them may it not be held against them but the LORD was at my side. Paul and Stephen have the same attitude of Christ Jesus: Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. LORD, do not hold this sin to their charge. May it not be held against them. What a way to live and pray and finish! Oh to be like Jesus in this! What are some truths we can glean that will help give us a right perspective in our work for the LORD? We all want to be successful. This kingdom has different parameters that any other. This is not just in the church. It is in all of life. Work Done For Christ Is Just That: Work For Christ It is the Lord Jesus Christ you’re serving. Colossians 3.24 We need to remember that. Paul would have been disappointed if after years of preaching he was serving people who deserted him! If we serve the church we will become disillusioned. If we serve the LORD we will be content. There is a huge difference. We need to love the church but not be surprised when it lets us down. It will. I totally agree with Dr. E. Stanley Jones, “The church, with all other faults, is still the best serving organization on earth. So get into it and serve.” Just remember It is the Lord Jesus Christ you’re serving. But we must guard against bitterness... Milo Arnold/ E. Stanley Jones Remember the LORD Jesus. He had opposition, things said about Him that were not true. He also had His Deserters. John 6. 66 From this time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him. 67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that You are the Holy One of God.” 70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray Him.) Jesus gave us a perfect example of what to expect when we served Him in the account of the Ten Lepers Bring Healed. Luke 17. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Don’t be surprised if after someone is healed or helped that they go on and forget to even give thanks to the LORD. I remember the first time this happened. I was a young pastor. It blew me away nearly. We actually went to pray with a guy who was dying. A few weeks later he was fine. I figured the whole family would come to church. He never showed up. The family never acknowledged God’s healing to us. The rewards of serving Jesus blow us away. To be part of His work is wonderful!However we must remember that there is this other side we are speaking about this morning. You and the LORD know many things in your service to Him that others do not know or see. It is the Lord Jesus Christ you’re serving. Those times when you do what is right because it is right, those times when you go the extra mile, do the extra work. It is the Lord Jesus Christ you’re serving. Colossians 3.22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the LORD. The Only One We Can Always Depend On is Jesus. II Timothy 4.16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the LORD stood at my side and gave me strength, It is marvelous to have the LORD stand at your side. To have His Hand upon you is simple amazing. He is with us. He will never leave us. Friends who leave when circumstances change were never ours to begin with! Proverbs 19.4 Wealth attracts many friends,     but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them. Nobody wanted Him, No one cared But as long as the miracles flowed like wine they called him wonderful they came to dine. Jesus was crowded by so many wanting to be healed. When He talked about suffering they rejected that teaching, even His own disciples, even Peter! God gives us strength to suffer. It is not all a struggle. Serving Jesus is wonder filled. I Timothy 1.12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me trustworthy, appointing me to His service. It is the LORD Who Gives Success. Numbers are not the bottom line in this Kingdom. Faithfulness to the LORD is. Christian character is. Christian Influence matters. Some have ten talents, others of us just one. Use your talents in the Kingdom. John 3.27 A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. Success is faithfulness. Hebrews 4. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. God sees the things we do when no one is watching. He knows the giving and praying and fasting we have done in His Name. He knows the phone calls, cards and texts we we send to simply encourage souls. He is keeping account. That is what we will commended for when we stand before Him. Hebrews 10.25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.