December 18 2016 Benefits From The Christmas Savior

BENEFITS FROM THE CHRISTMAS SAVIOR

Matthew 1:21 – She will give birth to a Son and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.

1. You lose your loneliness.

Hebrews 13:5 – Jesus said, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.”

Isaiah 41:10 - Don’t worry, because I am with you. Don’t be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you.”

Psalm 4:8 – “I will lie down in peace and sleep, for though I am alone, O Lord, You will keep me safe.”

Psalm 16:11 – “Your presence fills me with joy.”

2. You get another chance.

I Corinthians 1:30 – Right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start, all come from God by way of Jesus Christ.

II Corinthians 5:17 – Anyone who belongs to Christ becomes a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything becomes new.

Colossians 2:13-14 – God makes you alive with Christ when He forgives all your failures and sins. He did this by erasing the charges that were brought against us by the laws God established. He took those charges away by nailing them to the cross.

3. You find your reason for living.

Ephesians 1:11 – It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ He had His eye on us, and designed us for glorious living.

Proverbs 16:4a – The Lord has made everything for His own purposes.

Colossians 3:11 – In this new life one’s nationality or race or education or social position is unimportant; such things mean nothing. Whether a person has Christ is what matters, and He is equally available to all.

I Peter 1:3-4 – Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven and the future starts now!

Romans 6:13 – Give yourselves completely to God, every part of you to be used for His good purposes.

4. You get His power to go on.

II Timothy 2:1 – Find your source of strength in the Grace of Christ Jesus. 

Isaiah 43:2 – When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up.

June 19 2016 Living With Jesus As Savior

The Apostle's Creed: "I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen."

John 1:38-41 (NIV) 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).

“Jesus Christ” = Jesus the Divine Savior.

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES JESUS MAKE IN MY LIFE?

1. For my past, Jesus offers forgiveness.

“Sin” = missing the mark.

Acts 13:39 (NCV) “Understand we are telling you: You can have forgiveness of your sins through Jesus, the Law of Moses could not free you from your sins, but through Jesus everyone who believes is free from all sin.”

1 John 1:9: (CEB) “But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.”

2. For my present, Jesus offers significance.

John 10:10 (TLB),[Jesus Said] “My purpose is to give life in all of its fullness.

Acts 16:30 (MSG) “Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved? To really live?”

John 8:12 (NIV) When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

3. For my future, Jesus offers security.

1 John 5:13 (NIV) I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

John 11:25 (NLT) “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me even though they die like everyone else will live again.”

John 3:16 (NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Memory Verse: Ephesians 1:13 (GNT) “And you also became God’s people. When you heard the true message the good news of Jesus Christ that brought you salvation. You believed in ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit He had promised.”

John 1:10-13, (TLB) But although he made the world, the world didn’t recognize him when he came. Even in his own land and among his own people, the Jews, he was not accepted. Only a few would welcome and receive him. But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Acts 16:31 (NIV) “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved ..

December 20 2015 Revealing The Purpose Of Christmas

REVEALING THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTMAS

Luke 2:8-20

Luke 2:10 – I bring you good news of great joy.

Five Wonderful Purposes of Christmas:

1. God reaches out to every person.

Verses 8-9- And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them.

Job 36:7 – He does not take His eye off the righteous.

Isaiah 64:8 – We are all the work of God’s hand.

2. God releases your fears.

Verses 10-11 – Do not be afraid, A Saviour has been born to you, He is Christ the Lord.

Examples:

• Storm tossed sea Matthew 14:27
• At His resurrection Matthew 28:10
• At the last supper John 14:27

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin.

John 16:33 – But take heart, I have overcome the world.

Matthew 6:33 – Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all those things will be given to you as well.

3. God recovers your lost condition.
Verse 11 – A Saviour has been born to you.

Luke 19:10 – Jesus said, for the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

Matthew 20:28 – I did not come into the world to be served, but to serve and give My live a ransom for many.

John 12:47 – I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.

4. God reproduces His life in you.
Verse 14 – Peace to men on whom His favor rest.

John 10:10 – Jesus said, I have come that you might have life and have it to the fullest.

2 Corinthians 9:15 – Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.

5. God needs your response.

Verses 16-17 – So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in a manger.  When they had seen Him they spread the word.

John 6:47 – I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.

May 17 2015 Freedom From The Past

FREEDOM FROM THE PAST

Matthew 11:28-29

What keeps us from committing our all to Christ?

1. Pride.

Proverbs 18:12 - Arrogant people are on the way to ruin because they won’t admit it when they need help.

Proverbs 10:8 -  The self-sufficient fool falls flat on his face.

2. Guilt.

Psalm 40:13 - Problems far too big for me to solve are piled higher than my head. Meanwhile my sins too many to count have caught up with me and I’m ashamed to look up.

3. Fear.

Mark 8:36 - How does a man benefit if he gains the whole word and loses his soul in the process? Is anything worth more that his soul? No!

4. Worry.
    
1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
    
Philippians 1:6 - God, who began a good work in you, will keep right on helping you grow in His Grace until His task is finally finished.

5. Doubt.

Matthew 17:20 - If you have Faith as small as a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible to you.

How To Make The Decision For Christ

1. Accept God’s Son as my Savior.

Acts 16:31 - Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.

2. Accept God’s Word as my standard for living.

2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching the Faith and correcting error, for resetting the direction of a man’s life, training him in good living.

3. Accept God’s Will as my goal for life.

David said: I desire to do Your Will O my God.

4. Accept God’s power as my strength.
    
Philippians 4:13 - I can do everything God asks me with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.

Revelation 3:20 - Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will go in and eat with him and he with Me

December 21 2014 How To Make Christmas Last

How To Make Christmas Last

1. Remember Mary’s song of Amazing Grace.

Luke 1:46 -50 – Oh, how I praise the Lord, how I rejoice in God my Savior!  For he took notice of His lowly servant girl and now generation after generation forever shall call me blest of God.  For He the mighty holy One has done great things for me.  His mercy goes on from generation to generation to all who reverence Him.

Four Pillars Of Grace

• He took notice of his lowly servant
• Has done great things for me
• I rejoice in God my Savior
• Lowly servant

2. Receive an amazing gift.

Luke 1:68-69 – Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has come to visit His people and has redeemed them.  He is sending us a mighty Savior from the royal line of His servant David.

3. Refocus on God’s mercy.

Luke 1:72 – He has done this to show mercy to our fathers.

Psalm 103:13 – As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him.

4. Reflect God’s glory.

Luke 2:13-14 – Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others, the armies of heaven, praising God.  Glory to God in the highest heaven, they sang, and peace on earth for all those pleasing Him.

Four Steps:

• Remember God’s Grace.
• Receive God’s Gift.
• Refocus God’s Mercy.
• Reflect God’s Glory.