CHRISTMAS IS COMING

"The very purpose of Christ's coming into the world was that he might offer up his life as a sacrifice for the sins of men. He came to die. This is the heart of Christmas." -Rev. Billy Graham

Isaiah 9:6, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Christ birth in a manger was just the beginning of His earthly ministry. He came to live. He came to serve. He came to die. He came to save sinners. He came to save you! Are you saved this morning?

WHAT ARE YOU IN LOVE WITH?

What you love is what you will invest in.

1 John 2:15, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

            A Sunday School teacher once said, “Show me your checkbook and I’ll show you what you love.” Our finances reveal what we spend our money on and what we spend our money on reveals what we love. But it goes deeper than that. What we invest our time and talent in also reveals where our heart is at. It reveals what we love.

            If you spend your time, talents, and treasures on the things of this world, you love the world. Now, the manner in which you do those things will truly determine how you love it. If you invest your money on missions (Men and Women going out to win souls for the glory of God), it reveals you love to see sinners saved. If you spend your money on temporal things, it reveals you love the God of this world, this world’s system, and the materialistic things this world offers.

KEEP ON KEEPING ON

It’s good to know our responsibility in winning souls so that we don’t burn out.

Galatians 6:9, And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

The farmer cultivates and plants, God sends the rain and the harvest. We are farmers, cultivate the soil of man’s soul and plant the seed of the Gospel. God sends the Water of His Word via His messengers and gives the increase of souls for Heaven. If we get these responsibilities out of kilter, we will grow weary, and may even become wayward.

Child of God, know your responsibilities! Do what God has called you to do. Today, GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH! He has prepared His messenger with a message that will help you keep on keeping on!

LOOK TO THE LORD

Man was created with two eyes, so that with one he may see God's greatness, and with the other his own lowliness. -Samuel Y. Agnon

Simeon said in Luke 2:30, “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,”

When you catch a glimpse of who Jesus is and what He has done, it could be the beginning of something wonderful. But many people have seen Jesus. Many people have heard Him speak through His Word. Many people have felt the tug of the Holy Spirt. But many people have ignored and rejected what they have seen. Oh that men, women, boys, and girls would see Jesus as their Lord and Saviour!

REPENT, GET UP, AND GO AGAIN

He only is exempt from failures who makes no efforts. -Whately

Psalm 44:5, Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.

When we attempt to do something for the Lord, sooner or later we will probably make a mess. We get ahead of the Lord sometimes. We get in the way of the Lord sometimes. We do it our way sometimes. No matter what the mess may be, we can always ask for God’s forgiveness. We can always repent, get up, and go again! When we do, He will push down the enemies, and through His name we will walk over our flesh, the world, and Satan himself! He will give us victory!

GODLY DADS AND MOMS NEEDED

We need Godly fathers and mothers for kids like we need oxygen to breathe.

Psalm 68:5, A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

            We have an issue in the world today with children being without fathers. There is an outright attack on the home. Not just the minority home, but all homes! It should alarm us that according to one article, as many as 25-percent of children in the U.S. live in households with a mother alone. That is over 18 million children who do not live with a father figure. Additionally, father-only households were noted at just 8 percent. Meaning the children’s mother was not present. That’s 33% of every home in America being a one parent home! Friend, Satan is having a field day with families!

            We are living in terrible times when men and women are so selfish, they can’t see the need of being a parent to their children, husbands to their wives, and wives to their husbands! Both are more concerned with their cars, phones, and next relationship that they neglect the greatest gift that God has ever given them; their child. But praise God, He has never left us! He has never forsaken us! He is faithful, even when we are not!

            Hey, Dad- Hey Mom, how about being the Christian God wants you to be! Quit being so stinking selfish and learn how to put God first, others second, and yourself last and you will find that joy you’re missing!

GOT FAITH?

Real true faith is man's weakness leaning on God's strength. -D.L. Moody

Hebrews 11:6, But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

It sure is difficult to function without faith to guide us. Without faith we are spiritually dead. We are helpless and hopeless without faith in God!

            Do you have faith? Saving faith? Faith that will keep you until the day of redemption! If not, you can today! Amen!   

HONOR

What we are afraid to do before men, we should be afraid to think before God. –Anonymous

Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. Isaiah 8:13

What we say, we have already thought! What is sad is many professing Christians don’t care. They don’t care the Lord knows what they have thought! They don’t care they will stand before God and give an account of their life! They don’t care others are watching them and their actions will be parroted. Living a double minded life isn’t Christ honoring and produces a life that is unstable! A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:8

I praise the Lord we don’t have to remain being double minded! The Lord tells us in James 4:8, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” The way to a consistent, Christ honoring life is, confessing and repenting of sin! It is keeping Him on the throne of our heart! It is honoring Him with our life—ALL OF IT!

GRACE FROM THE UNUSUAL

Sometimes God provides grace for His people from unsual people and in unusual ways.

2 Samuel 27:1, But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.

In 1 Samuel, we see God using Jonathan to be a blessing to David many different times. He didn’t have to. Jonathan was in line to be the next King but God had other plans. God anointed David to be king. Jonathan didn’t rebuke God. Jonathan didn’t ruin God’s plan. Jonathan join David and honored David. He was definitely an unusual friend to be receiving grace from since he was rightful heir to the throne.

           Friend, God will use unusual people, places, and things to bless His people with! Just a few weeks ago, while we were on the walking track, a lady gave my wife $20. Who was she; we don’t know. Why did she do it; we don’t know. Why haven’t we seen her again; we don’t know. What I do know is that God used an unusual person to share His grace!

God loves you friend! He is willing to give you grace when you are on board with Him!

GO

There is no better thermometer of your Spiritual walk than where you spend your Sunday.

Psalm 65:4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

            You may have heard, “Show me a Bible that is falling apart and I’ll show you a man that isn’t.” I whole heartedly agree with that little saying! To go even a little deeper, “Show me a family that attends church together and I’ll show you a family that has been grounded in God’s Word and serving the Lord.” What a blessing and privilege to go to church this morning!

            Hey friend; GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO A BIBLE BELIEVING, PREACHING, AND TEACHING CHURCH this morning! There is a pew waiting for you! It will be the best decision you make this week!

WHAT, NO JOY?

If you have no joy in your religion, there's a leak in your Christianity somewhere. -Sunday

Habakkuk 3:17-18, Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

All throughout the Bible we have instances where God’s people were in some pretty bad predicaments. They faced giants, fiery furnaces, lions, depression, sickness, and much more. Yet, in these very peculiar places we find them in, we also find them praising God! How in the world did they do it? They did it knowing who the God of their circumstances was! They chose to rejoice instead of being ruined by their situation!

            How will you finish out the week; praising God or complaining the weekend away?

CONSIDER THIS

Tho' Christ a thousand times in Bethlehem be born, if He's not born in thee, thy soul is still forlorn. --Johannes Scheffler

Mark 8:36, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

Forlorn means unhappy, hopeless, or desperate. Do you find yourself this way sometimes or maybe all of the time? Do you keep searching for something to fill the emptiness you feel inside? Do you continually visit the bottle to find a way to cope with the feelings you are having? Do you think another night in a bed with another man or woman might fulfill your lonely heart? You will never have the peace, hope, or satisfaction you are looking for until you give your life to the Lord.

You may continue to dwell in your sin for a season but realize this, it is for a season. There will come a day when you will stand before the Lord and give an account of your life. If you have heard the truth of the Gospel, what have you done with it? Today, search yourselves and see if there is anything that stands in between you and the Saviour. If it is, get rid of it and start serving Him with your entire life!

BEGIN THE DAY IN THE WORD

The study of God's Word, for the purpose of discovering God's will, is the secret discipline which has formed the greatest characters. --J.W. Alexander

2 Timothy 2:15, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

When we start our day off in the Word of God, we are setting the day up for victory.

            We are preparing our mind. (Thoughts)

            We are preparing our manners. (Conduct)

            We are preparing our method. (Way)

Do you have a daily time in the Word? If not, why not start today?

DESIRES FUEL WHAT’S WITHIN

Unless there are people who are responding to the love of God as revealed in Christ and so are worshipping Him, the Church is not very important. -Blake

Psalm 27:4, One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

What is your desire concerning the House of God this morning? Is it a place you go for emergencies? Do you treat it like a Fast Med, where you go get a quick fix and be about your way? Or do you treat it like your family doctor you visit often, apply what is said, and your life is changed?

David said, he desired to be in the house of the Lord all the days of his life. That my friend should be our desire this morning. That is what will set a fire to do right in our communities, our family, and in us.

FINISH WELL

            It’s not the going out but the coming in that determines the success of a voyage.

2 Timothy 4:7, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

            At the end of his life, under the inspiration of God, Paul pens this letter to Timothy to encourage him in the faith. Paul was in prison. Paul had been persecuted. Paul was really the one who needed encouragement but he found it more important to encourage the next generation rather that whine and complain about his own life. He wanted others to finish well!

            Are you an encourager? Do you invest in others? Do you want to finish well? Get your eyes off your situation! Get your eyes on Jesus! Get busy serving Him like you once did! If you stop, your ship is sunk and others will say, he started well but didn’t stay the course! One last thing this morning friend, FINISH WELL!

GET SOME GRUB

Our Spiritual food is more important than that which is physical.

Luke 4:4, And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Have you ever heard the terminology, “Being Hangry”? It is when you haven’t gotten any physical food for your body in a while and it begins to affect your character. Instead of being your happy, go lucky self you snap at your spouse, swat at the kids, and kick the dog; just because your stomach is empty.

I wonder how often that happens when are suffering from Spiritual starvation. I wonder, when we don’t get into the Word of God who all it affects. I wonder if we lash out in anger toward every one around us. I wonder… do I need to get something more than grub?

Child of God, pick up your Bible and get fed today so you don’t have to worry about lashing out in anger toward friends and family. Solomon, under the inspiration of God, tells us in Proverbs 30:5, Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

TO GO OR NOT TO GO

The Church is not a gallery for the exhibition of eminent Christians, but a school for the education of imperfect ones. -Beecher

Psalm 55:14, We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

            What are you doing today? Are you doing laundry, cleaning the house, mowing the yard, going to the lake, getting ready for lunch, or doing something else besides going to church? Why do those temporal things trump spending time worshipping God? Why do those things that will get dirty again, need mowing again, or be there when church is over seem to be more important than learning more about the One who gave Himself on Calvary?

            There should only be a question if you go to church or not and that’s if you’re sick. Church should be the reason you miss everything else. GETTING UP, GETTING, READY, to GO TO CHURCH should be the priority of every Sunday! Will you go today?

CHRISTIANS FORGIVE

"I can forgive, but I cannot forget," is only another way of saying, "I cannot forgive." -Beecher

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

            One of the most basic things Christians can do is forgive one another. Forgiveness isn’t natural but should be for the Christian. It isn’t easy but it should be easier for the Christian. It isn’t popular but should be exemplary for the Christian. Forgiveness is what is needed to move on for the glory of God.

            Child of God, God’s mercy shines when we forgive as Jesus has forgiven us. God’s grace is on display when we love one another. We exalt Jesus in our lives when we get out of the me, mine, myself, attitude and forgive those who have deeply wounded our hearts! When we don’t forgive, we give way to the enemy and He has a field day! He enjoys wrecking friendships and destroying families.

            Christian, who are you yielding your life over to when you don’t forgive that spouse that abused you? Who are you yielding your life to when you will not forgive that spouse who walked out on you and the kids? Christian, who are you yielding to when you will not forgive?

KEEP THE UNITY

            Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. — Helen Keller

Psalm 133:1, Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

            Have you ever attempted to get a list of things accomplished by yourself? It takes forever to get to the bottom of the list! However, if you have some help with a common goal in mind, you can get a lot accomplished in a short amount of time!

            If the Church is unified in the common goal of seeing sinners come to Jesus Christ as Saviour, can you imagine what this world would look like? Peace, harmony, joy, and contentment, would be just the beginning. Unfortunately, too many of us are more concerned about leaving a materialistic legacy.

            Keeping the unity begins with you and I doing what the Lord commands with the common goal of giving Him the glory for it all! Will you join with other believers as we all set out to see souls saved and the Saviour glorified?

ACCESS NOT DENIED

Jesus’ door is always open to those who come to Him by faith.

Romans 5:2, By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

            Some companies you work for have an open-door policy. What this means is you can come into the owner’s office anytime the door is open. You don’t have to make an appointment or get preapproved. You don’t even have to follow the chain of command by going to your immediate supervisor. What an awesome way to show you support your employees!

            What’s better than any owner’s open-door policy is that the Lord can be accessed at any time and in any place! You don’t have to wait for an open door because the door is never closed! You can call out to Him in the morning or the evening. You can call out to Him at the maternity ward or the funeral home. You will never be denied access to the Lord if you come to Him in faith!