November 27 2016 The Story Of Mary

THE STORY OF MARY

Luke 1:26-38

Memory Verse: “ For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

God uses our impossible circumstances to shows us His incredible LOVE

TO RECEIVE GOD’S GIFT OF THE IMPOSSIBLE THIS CHRISTMAS I...

1. RECEIVE THE GIFT through faith.

“Mary responded, ‘I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.’ And then the angel left her.” - Luke 1:38

Often I’m disappointed with God’s plan because...

1. It is not what I expected.

2. It seems ordinary.

3. It sometimes causes more problems at first.

“She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.” - Luke 2:7

2. RECOGNIZE THE GIFT with others .

“A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed.” - Luke 1:39-42

“When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.” - Romans 1:12

3. REFLECT ON THE GIFT every day,.

“...but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.” - Luke 2:19

“How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them.” - Psalm 111:2

“God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.” - 1 John 4:9

November 27 2016 Preparing For The Christ Of Christmas

PREPARING FOR THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS

Luke 2:1-7 – In these days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was Governor of Syria. And everyone went to his own town to register. So, Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her first born, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the Inn.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS

Replace The Urgent With The Significant.

Matthew 6:34 – Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Matt. 6:33 – But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Replace Physical Preparation With Spiritual Preparation.

Colossians 3:2 – Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ, that’s where the action is. See things from His perspective.

Replace The External Side Of Things With Internal sides.

Verse 7 – No room in the Inn.

Lamentations 3:40 – Let’s take a good look at the way we are living and re-order our lives under God.

Replace The Superficial With The Super-Natural.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 – Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.

1. Sit.

2. Listen.

3. Chose the best.

January 19 2014 The Great Influence

The Great Influence 

Matthew 5:13
4 Pillars of Truth

1. Christian influence is a positive force.
Verse 13 – You are the salt of the earth.

• Salt preserves
• Salt makes people thirsty

Matthew 23:4 – (Jesus) They crush people with impossible religious commands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.

2. Christian influence is permanent.
Verse 13 – But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?

John 17:15-16 – My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world.

3. Christian influence is precious.
1 Corinthians 1:27-28 – 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. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not to nullify the things that are.

Genesis 2:7 – And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.

1 Samuel 17:40 – He took a staff in his hand; choose five smooth stones from the stream.

Luke 2:7 – She gave birth to her first-born, a Son, she wrapped in clothes and laid Him in a manger.

4. Christian influence must be planned.
Romans 12:1 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, Holy and pleasing to God.

Prayer:
Lord take my life and make it wholly thine,
Fill my poor heart with Thy great Love Divine,
Take all my will, my passion, self and pride,
I now surrender, Lord in me abide.

December 2 2012 Trusting Christ At Christmas

TRUSTING CHRIST AT CHRISTMAS
Luke 2:4-7

Verse 6 - There was no room for them in the inn.

Verse 7 - She gave birth to her first born, a Son. She wrapped Him in straps of cloth and laid Him in a manger.

3 WAYS TO TRUST CHRIST IN OUR DISAPPOINTMENTS

1. Look for God in the disappointment.
Luke 2:16 - So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby who was lying in a manger.
Matthew 2:4 - They bowed down and Worshiped Him.

Examples:

Joseph:
Genesis 50:20 - You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.

Job:
The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Blessed by the name of the Lord.

David:
Psalm 23

Paul:
Romans 5:3-5 - Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character Hope.

2. Give God your very best.
Luke 2:7 - She wrapped Him in strips of cloth and place Him in a manger.

Luke 2:23-24 - As it is written in the law of the Lord, every first born male is to be consecrated to the Lord and to offer sacrifices.

The differences between the average person and the above average person: They do their best and then some.

Psalm 30:5 - Weeping may remain for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

3. Willing to change the direction of their life.
Matthew 2:13 - When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph. Get up he said, take the Child and His mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.

Matthew 19:26 - (Jesus said) With God all things are possible.

October 17 2010 The Power Of Christian Influence

The Power Of Christian Influence

(Matthew 5:13-14 - "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.")

Four Pillars of Truth

1. Christian influence is a positive force

(Verse 13 - You are the salt of the earth.)

• Salt preserves
• Salt makes people thirsty

(Matthew 23:4 - They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.)

2. Christian influence is a permanent force

(Verse 13 - But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?)

(John 17:15-16 - My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.)

3. Christian influence has a precious influence

(1 Corinthians 1:27-28 - 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. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are)

(Genesis 2:7 - the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.)

(1 Samuel 17:40 - Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream)

(Luke 2:7 - and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger)

4. Christian influence must be planned

(Romans 12:1 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God)