Pastor's Sermon
Outlines
DECEMBER 3, 2006
“HE
IS EVERYWHERE”
SCRIPTURE
READING: PSALM 139:7-12
SCRIPTURE TEXT: Genesis 28:15 (KJV)
And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all
places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again
into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have
done that which I have spoken to thee of.
INTRO:
The more we know about God, the more our emotions towards God
will be stimulated.
-
Worship, love and praise
-
Fear and dread
-
Joy
and peace
Too often God’s attributes are only considered in the
positive point of view.
If we want to understand God in a fuller way we must also
see His attributes in the negative sense.
This is especially true when considering His attribute of
OMNIPRESENCE.
“God
is present everywhere and at all times…not only is God
present in all things, but that all things are present
to Him.”
I.
NEGATIVE ASPECT OF GOD’S OMNIPRESENCE.
The negative aspect of God’s omnipresence should cause fear
and dread to those who are not living a life that is
pleasing to God.
NOTE:
You
cannot hide from God.
Because God is everywhere, He also sees everything and there
is nothing that can be hidden from Him.
A. WE CANNOT HIDE WHERE WE ARE FROM GOD.
NOTE:
As a
child, did you enjoy playing hide and seek?
Who was the prophet that tried to play hide and seek with
God?
Jonah 1:3 (NLT)
But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction in order to get away
from the LORD. He went down to the seacoast, to the
port of
Joppa, where he
found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket
and went on board, hoping that by going away to the west
he could escape from the LORD.
No matter where we try to hide, God is always there.
ILL:
Adam & Eve.
B. WE CANNOT HIDE WHAT WE DO FROM GOD.
ILL:
Cain. Genesis 4:1-15
NOTE:
All
though we cannot escape from the presence of the Lord we
can be separated from our relationship with Him.
Isaiah
59:2 (KJV)
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your
sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
II.
POSITIVE ASPECT OF GOD’S OMNIPRESENCE.
The positive aspect of God’s omnipresence brings hope and
peace to the hearts of those who have chosen to follow
Him.
Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)
Let
your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as
ye
have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee.
A. GOD IS WITH US WHERE EVER WE ARE.
Psalms 139:7-12 (KJV)
Whither
shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from
thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art
there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art
there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in
the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy
hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I
say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night
shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not
from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the
darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
B. GOD IS WITH US FROM BEGINNING TO END.
NOTE:
God
does not begin with us and than abandon us.
Genesis 28:15 (KJV)
And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither
thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land;
for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which
I have spoken to thee of.
Matthew 28:20 (KJV)
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and,
lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
Amen.
Philippians 1:6 (KJV)
Being
confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a
good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ:
C.
GOD IS
WITH US IN TIMES OF TROUBLE AND TRIALS.
NOTE:
When we
are experiencing times of difficulties we often feel as
though God has left us alone.
Job 23:8-10 (KJV)
Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot
perceive him: on the left hand, where he doth work, but
I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right
hand, that I cannot see him: but he knoweth the way that
I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as
gold.
Isaiah 43:2 (KJV)
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through
the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou
walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;
neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
NOTE:
When we
have the assurance that God is always with us, it gives
us the strength to endure the most difficult situations.
I didn’t say it would be easy.
ILL:
Paul & Silas in prison
Acts 16:25 (KJV)
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners
heard them.
D. GOD IS WITH US WHEN WE FACE SPIRITUAL BATTLES
NOTE:
There isn’t a time when we do not need the presence of
God but when we are in the midst of spiritual warfare we
need His presence more than ever.
Deuteronomy 20:1 (KJV)
When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses,
and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid
of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which
brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
D.
THE
PRESENCE OF GOD WILL GIVE US PEACE AND REST.
Exodus 33:14 (KJV)
And he
said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will
give thee rest.
CONCLUSION:
When we
recognize the Omnipresence of God, it will give us
comfort and assurance regardless of the situation we
might find ourselves in.
DECEMBER 10, 2006 AM
“THERE
ARE NO SURPRISES TO GOD”
SCRIPTURE
READING: PSALM 139:1-6, 13-18, 23-24
SCRIPTURE TEXT: Psalms 147:5 (NLT)
How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond
comprehension!
Exodus 3:7-8 (KJV)
And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which
are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of
their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; and I am
come down to deliver them out of the hand of the
Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a
good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and
honey…
INTRO:
Have you ever considered what it must be like to know
everything?
Imagine being in a room where there was a TV broadcasting
every TV station in the world and you were trying to
watch each one at the same time.
God is omniscience, OMNI “all” SCIENCE
“knowledge”. God has all knowledge.
God has perfect knowledge of:
-
Time & History
-
The past
-
The present
-
The future
-
All
things
-
Health
-
Science
-
Mechanical
-
Everyone
-
Weakness
-
Strengths
-
Victories
-
Failures
-
Actions
-
Thoughts
-
Motives
-
Dreams
-
Hidden sins
God’s knowledge is not acquired by learning as man
received knowledge, but God’s knowledge has always been
with Him and will never leave Him.
God knows all about us. Who we are; Where we are: What
we can become.
I.
GOD KNOWS ALL ABOUT US.
Psalms 139:1-6 (KJV)
O
LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest
my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my
thought afar off. Thou
compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted
with all my ways. For
there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou
knowest it altogether. Thou
hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand
upon me. Such
knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot
attain unto it.
NOTE:
God
knows, exactly where we are in life. He sees. He
cares. And most of all, He is touched by it.
God knows you personally.
God has numbered every hair on our head.
A. GOD KNOWS OUR PAST.
Psalms 139:13-16 (KJV)
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's
womb. I will praise
thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:
marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right
well. My substance was
not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and
curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect;
and in thy book all my members were written, which in
continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none
of them.
NOTE:
God
knew us before we came to Him.
Romans 5:6-8 (KJV)
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the
ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die:
yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to
die. But God
commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were
yet sinners, Christ died for us.
God knows all about our past, He knows the good, the bad
and the ugly.
“He, who knows me best, loves me most.”
God knows our weakness and He forgive us of our failures.
No matter what you past may have been, the future is
brighter that you can imagine. Why? Because God
specializes in using broken vessels.
B. GOD KNOWS OUR PRESENT.
Exodus 3:9 (KJV)
Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of
Israel is come
unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith
the Egyptians oppress them.
2
Chronicles 16:9 (KJV)
For the
eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole
earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them
whose heart is perfect toward him..
Psalm 34:15 (KJV)
The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto
their cry.
Jeremiah 32:19 (KJV)
Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all
the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according
to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
Zech. 4:10 (KJV)
For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice,
and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with
those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to
and fro through the whole earth.
C. GOD KNOWS OUR FUTURE.
Psalms 139:17-18 (KJV)
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum
of them! If I should
count them, they are more in number than the sand: when
I awake, I am still with thee.
Jeremiah 29:11 (GW)
I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans
for peace and not disaster plans to give you a future
filled with hope.
NOTE:
No
matter what you past may have been, your future is far
brighter than you can ever imagine.
God knows what is happening in our lives, He knows the
things that are causing us pain and heartaches.
God sees each tear we shed and hears every cry we utter.
Not only does God know all these things, He loves us and
is already working out His plan in our lives to bring
glory and honor to Him and peace and joy to us.
NOTE:
When we
understand that God knows all things and that He loves
us, we can allow Him to direct our lives
DECEMBER 10 PM
"WHAT
IS THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS?"
INTRO:
There
are many different opinions on the True Spirit of
Christmas:
These are all good but it takes putting them together to
reveal the True Spirit of Christmas: THE REDEMPTION
OF FALLEN MAN.
SCRIPTURE TEXT:
Hebrews 2:17 (KJV)
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like
unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and
faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to
make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
What was the driving force behind the redemption of fallen
man?
I.
THE SPIRIT OF LOVE.
Romans 5:8 (KJV)
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.
Ephesians 2:4-5 (KJV)
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us
together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
NOTE:
It was
God’s love for fallen man that gave birth to His
redemption plan.
Isaiah
53:6 (KJV)
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned
every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
ILL:
I
Have Not Moved.
God sought us out because He loved us.
Jeremiah 31:3 (KJV)
The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I
have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with
lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Ezekiel 34:16 (KJV)
I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that
which was driven away, and will bind up that which was
broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I
will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them
with judgment.
NOTE:
If we
want to posses the true spirit of Christmas we must
start with love in our hearts for others.
1
John 4:7-11 (KJV)
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God;
and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth
God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is
love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us,
because that God sent his only begotten Son into the
world, that we might live through him. Herein is love,
not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent
his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved,
if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
II.
THE SPIRIT OF GIVING.
NOTE:
It was
God’s love for fallen man that prompted His giving of
the greatest Gift.
John
3:16 (KJV)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
NOTE:
God’s
gift was not given to the ones who deserved it but
rather to the one who needed it.
Romans 6:23 (KJV) For
the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
2
Corinthians 9:15 (KJV)
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Ephesians 2:8 (KJV)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
NOTE:
If
God’s love for us prompted Him to give to us the
greatest gift, what should our attitude be towards those
around us who are in need?
1
John 3:16-18 (KJV)
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid
down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives
for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and
seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels
of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in
him? My little children, let us not love in word,
neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Proverbs 3:27-28 (KJV)
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when
it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto
thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will
give; when thou hast it by thee.
Proverbs 19:17 (KJV)
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the
Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him
again.
III.
THE SPIRIT OF JOY.
NOTE:
When we
experience the Spirit of Love and Giving it will produce
within our hearts and lives the Spirit of Joy.
There is not greater joy than seeing a soul accept the
Redemption that God give to all who would come.
Psalm 51:12-13 (KJV)
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold
me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach
transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted
unto thee.
Psalm 126:6 (KJV)
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious
seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
bringing his sheaves with him.
Luke
15:7 (KJV)
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven
over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety
and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
John
4:36 (KJV)
And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life
eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth
may rejoice together.
1
Thessalonians 2:19-20 (KJV)
For
what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not
even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his
coming? For ye are our glory and joy.
IV.
THE SPIRIT OF PEACE.
Luke
1:76-79 (KJV)
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the
Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord
to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto
his people by the remission of their sins, through the
tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on
high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in
darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet
into the way of peace.
NOTE:
There
can be no peace until we are at peace with God.
Once we are at peace with God we must strive to be at
peace with all men.
Mark
9:50 (KJV)
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness,
wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves,
and have peace one with another.
Romans 12:18 (KJV) If
it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably
with all men.
Romans 14:19 (KJV) Let
us therefore follow after the things which make for
peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Hebrews 12:14 (KJV)
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without
which no man shall see the Lord:
CONCLUSION:
If
redemption of fallen man is the true spirit of the first
Christmas, should it not be the same for us in regards
to those around us.
The redemption of sinners.
The redemption of broken relationships.
The redemption of shattered fellowships.
Remember, we did not deserve God’s redemptive spirit and
therefore we cannot demand that others must deserve our
redemptive spirit. We must make the first move.
DECEMBER 17
“THRICE
HOLY GOD”
SCRIPTURE
READING: ISAIAH 6:1-8
SCRIPTURE TEXT: Isaiah 6:3 (KJV) And one cried unto
another, and said, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, is the Lord
of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Rev. 4:8 (KJV) And the four beasts had each of them six
wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and
they rest not day and night, saying, HOLY, HOLY,
HOLY, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is
to come.
INTRO:
The
more we seek to know and understand God, the more we
realize how futile our efforts are.
How can we, the creation, understand the Creator?
Yet there should burn in our hearts a hunger to know Him
more and more.
Those who fail to seek to know God will always struggle in
the rudiments of their faith.
They will lack:
-
Faith
-
Commitment
-
Stability
-
Victory
-
Worship
Those who truly hunger to know and understand God take every
opportunity of public worship, but they don’t just rely
on public worship, they spend much time in personal
worship and study.
Attributes of God person (Who He is)
-
Immensity
-
Eternal
-
Immutability
-
Self-sufficiency
God’s attributes of His abilities:
-
Omnipotence
-
Omnipresence
-
Omniscience
The final group of attributes we wish to consider are His
moral attributes.
We are only going to consider two, the others are revealed
in these two attributes.
I.
HOLINESS.
NOTE:
Holiness is the very essence of God’s being.
No one attribute is greater than another, yet many of God’s
moral attributes are rapped up in His Holiness.
-
Righteousness
-
Justice
-
Perfection
How would you describe holiness?
Holiness means to be set apart, separated, distinctive,
different, and transcendent. It also has the idea of
perfection, purity, and moral cleanness. The
Lord is
totally set apart, entirely different from all beings
throughout the universe, including mankind.
ILL:
Did
God Create Everything?
The very nature of God is light, the brilliance and
splendor of light, the most pure light imaginable.
1
John 1:5 (KJV)
This then is the message which we have heard of him,
and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is
no darkness at all.
A. FEAR OF GOD.
NOTE:
The
more we understand God’s holiness the greater our
reverence and fear will be towards God.
Most Christians today do not have a healthy fear or
reverence of God.
Psalm 89:7 (KJV)
God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the
saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are
about him.
Isaiah 8:13 (KJV)
Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be
your fear, and let him be your dread.
1
Peter 1:17 (KJV) And
if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons
judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of
your sojourning here in fear:
B.
HIS
NAME IS HOLY.
Isaiah 57:15 (KJV)
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth
eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and
holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and
humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and
to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
NOTE:
The
Israelites refused to speak His Name.
Exodus 20:7 (KJV) Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord
thy God in vain; for the Lord will not
hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
(NIV) misuse (GW)
carelessly
C. HE CANNOT TOLERATE SIN.
Habakkuk
1:13 (KJV)
Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst
not look on iniquity…
NOTE:
God can have no part with evil or things associated with
evil. Thus anyone who wishes to be associated with God
must be holy even as He is holy.
Leviticus 19:2 (KJV)
Speak unto all the congregation of the children of
Israel, and say
unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am
holy.
1
Peter 1:16 (KJV)
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
NOTE:
How can
we who are sinful become holy?
Isaiah 64:6 (KJV)
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade
as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken
us away.
Isaiah 61:10 (KJV)
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be
joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the
garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe
of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with
ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her
jewels.
Zech. 3:4 (KJV)
And he answered and spake unto those that stood
before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from
him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine
iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with
change of raiment.
The more we are exposed to God’s holiness the holier we
will become.
As light dispels darkness so God’s holiness drives out
sin.
CONCLUSION:
Let us
draw nigh unto God with repentance and sorrow and allow
Him to cloth us with His holiness.
James 4:8-10 (KJV)
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts,
ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep:
let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to
heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,
and he shall lift you up.
DECEMBER 17 PM
“THE
FIVE FEAR NOT’S OF CHRISTMAS
SCRIPTURE
READING: LUKE 1:5-17
I.
FEAR NOT, YOUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN HEARD.
LUKE
1:13
But
the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy
prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee
a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
NOTE:
We
have the assurance that God hears our prayers.
-
God has promised to hear us when we pray.
ISAIAH 65:24
And
it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will
answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
LUKE 11:9
And
I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek,
and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto
you.
-
And if He hears them, we know that He will answer
them in the right way.
NOTE:
The
secret of having our prayers answered the way we want is
to pray the prayers that God wants us to pray.
ISAIAH 58:9
Then
shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt
cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from
the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the
finger, and speaking vanity;
JOHN
15:7
If
ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask
what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
I
JOHN 5:14-14
And
this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we
ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we
know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
-
He will hear our prayers in the time of trouble.
PSALM
91:15
He
shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be
with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
ISAIAH
41:17
When
the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and
their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear
them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
ZECHARIAH 13:9
And
I will bring the third part through the fire, and will
refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as
gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will
hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall
say, The LORD is my God.
II. FEAR NOT, YOU HAVE FOUND FAVOR WITH GOD.
LUKE
1:30
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou
hast found favour with God.
NOTE:
God
loves us as His children.
1
JOHN 3:1-2
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed
upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:
therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him
not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth
not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when
he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see
him as he is.
1.
Because we have favor with God He will bless us with His
strength.
PSALM 89:17
For
thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour
our horn shall be exalted.
2.
He has favored us with mercy instead of judgment.
ISAIAH
60:10
And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and
their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I
smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.
3.
He hath favored us with His everlasting love.
JEREMIAH
31:3
The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I
have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with
lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
ZEPHANIAH 3:17
The
LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will
save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest
in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
III. FEAR NOT, FOR NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.
LUKE
1:35, 37
And
the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost
shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall
overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which
shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
NOTE:
We
are often faced with what we consider as impossible but
there is no reason to fear because nothing is impossible
with God.
JOB
42:2
I
know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought
can be withholden from thee.
JEREMIAH 32:17 & 27
Ah Lord
God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy
great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing
too hard for thee…Behold, I am the Lord,
the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for
me?
MATTHEW
19:26
But
Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is
impossible; but with God all things are possible.
NOTE:
There is no power that can defeat the power of God.
ISAIAH 43:13
Yea,
before the day was I am he; and there is none that can
deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let
it?
ROMANS
8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us,
who can be against us?
1
JOHN 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome
them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that
is in the world.
1V.
FEAR NOT, BUT BE OBEDIENT TO THE WILL OF GOD.
MATTHEW 1:20, 24
But
while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of
the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph,
thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy
wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the
Holy Ghost. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as
the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him
his wife:
NOTE:
This
is one of the greatest promises we have but it is also
one of the most difficult to accept.
PROVERBS 3:5-8
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not
unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways
acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not
wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from
evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy
bones.
ISAIAH 48:18
O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then
had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as
the waves of the sea:
NOTE:
There are two things that will cause us to disobey the
commandments of God:
v
Rebellion
1
SAMUEL 12:15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord,
but rebel against the commandment of the Lord,
then shall the hand of the Lord
be against you, as it was against your fathers.
v
A lack
of trust
ISAIAH 55:8-9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are
your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my
ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your
thoughts.
V.
FEAR NOT, FOR GOD HAS PROVIDED A SAVIOR.
LUKE
2:10-11
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I
bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to
all people. For unto you is born this day in the city
of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
NOTE:
We
no longer have to fear the death and the judgment of
God.
JOB
33:18-28
He
keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from
perishing by the sword. He is chastened also with pain
upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong
pain: So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul
dainty meat. His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot
be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.
Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life
to the destroyers. If there be a messenger with him, an
interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his
uprightness: Then he is gracious unto him, and saith,
Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a
ransom. His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he
shall return to the days of his youth: He shall pray
unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he
shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man
his righteousness. He looketh upon men, and if any say,
I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and
it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going
into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
1
CORINTHIANS 15:55-58
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy
victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of
sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my
beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know
that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
CONCLUSION:
I am forever grateful that these five “Fear Nots of
Christmas” in not only good during the Christmas
season.
DECEMBER 24, 2006
“GOD’S
CHRISTMAS TREE WAS THE CROSS,
GOD’S CHRISTMAS GIFT IS HIS SON”
SCRIPTURE
READING: PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11
SCRIPTURE TEXT: Galatians 4:4-5 (NLT)
But
when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a
woman, subject to the law. God
sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the
law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.
INTRO: WHO
STARTED THIS CHRISTMAS THING?
There was a
woman who was out Christmas shopping with her two
children. After many hours of looking at row after row
of toys and everything else imaginable, and after hours
of hearing both her children asking for everything they
saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the
elevator with her two kids.
She was feeling what so many of us feel during the
holiday season time of the year---overwhelming pressure
to go to every party, every open house, taste all the
holiday food and treats, get that perfect gift for every
single person on our shopping list, make sure we don't
forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of
making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card.
Finally, the elevator doors opened, and there was
already a crowd in the car. She pushed her way into the
car and dragged her two kids and all the bags of stuff
in with her. When the doors closed, she couldn't take
it anymore and stated, "Whoever started this whole
Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot."
From the back of the car, everyone heard a quiet,
calm voice respond, "Don't worry. We already crucified
Him."
For the rest of the trip down the elevator, it was so
quiet you could have heard a pin drop.
NOTE:
Our politically correct society today has turned the
Christmas season into a secular celebration that has
nothing to do with the real meaning of Christmas.
But even as Christians it is easy to get caught up in
the secular celebration of Christmas.
What
is the true story of Christmas, when did Christmas
begin, and when will it be complete?
I. WHAT
IS THE TRUE STORY OF CHRISTMAS?
NOTE:
Many
have never heard the true Christmas story do not
celebrate it at all.
There are some who know the story of Christmas but have
replaced the story of Christmas by Santa and Holiday
Greetings.
2
Corinthians 4:3-6 (KJV)
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the
god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which
believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of
Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
For we preach not
ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your
servants for Jesus' sake. For
God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness,
hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus
Christ.
ILL:
Seeing at Christmas
For many more, only a small portion of the Christmas story
is remembered.
The story of a baby born in a stable and laid in a manger
is a sweet and lovely story but if that’s all there is
then that’s all it is, a sweet lovely story, which has
no eternal purpose.
What makes the birth of Jesus so different from the birth
of billions of other babies?
Two
things:
-
Who He was
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