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In the mid-17th century, Oliver Cromwell sent his secretary to the continent on some important, state business. One night during his travels he found he was unable to sleep. According to an old custom a servant slept in his room and that evening the servant was sleeping soundly. In the middle of the night the secretary woke the man up to tell the servant that he could not rest because “I am so afraid something will go wrong with the diplomatic mission,” “Master,” said the valet, “may I ask a question or two?” “Of course.” “Did God rule the world before we were born?” “Most assuredly He did.” “And will He rule it after we are dead?” “Certainly He will.” “Then, master, why not let Him rule the present, too?” The servant’s reply stirred the secretary’s faith he found a deep sense of peace, and in a few minutes both he and the servant were sound asleep.
Singer Michael Card wrote a song called The Promise, and he wrote a little Christmas devotional on this theme:
He noted:
Christianity is founded on a promise. Faith involves waiting on a promise. Our hope is based on a promise.
Promises are made with words. … .that part of myself that goes with every promise is given to you through my words….
Our God is the great maker of promises… His word, our Bible, is a collection of the promises… most of these concern Jesus, who came to be known as "the Promised One"
Through all these promises, God was trying to give something of Himself to Adam, and to Israel, and finally to us. The Bible tells us that when the Promised One came, the Lord poured all of Himself into Him.
What a costly thing it can be to make a promise - it cost Jesus His life.
Music is major influence for "mosaic" generation
On a recent edition of the radio program "For Faith and Family", pollster George Barna discussed the significant cultural influence music exerts on the Mosaic generation (those born between 1984 and 2002): "Music is really interesting because essentially that is the language of our culture. If you need an example of how that works just think about churches. Even in churches this is true. What is the biggest war we have in churches? It doesn’t tend to be theological. It tends to be over what style of music you’re going to use in the worship service. We’ve had all kinds of fights, but music is the way that we suggest to somebody, Hey, I understand where you’re coming from. I speak your language. This is the feel; this is the sound that constitutes who you are and what you’re about."
"One of the ways I would describe it is every generation has to have it’s own private language that people over 30 can’t penetrate. And that’s really what today’s music is doing for young people. They have icons within the culture that we don’t understand - many of whom we don’t appreciate - but they’re important to the Mosaics because it helps them to develop a life philosophy. Many of those individuals become role models for them. It helps them to identify some of their values and lifestyles. And, it also helps develop a sense of community among themselves. So it’s hugely important."
PreachingNow Newsletter, August 6, 2002
Richard McNair
Colossians 3:12-3:14
1 John 4:16-4:16
Luke 2:15-2:15
1 Corinthians 16:14-16:14
Luke 2:15-2:20
1 Thessalonians 16:14-16:14
Galatians 5:22-5:23
Love is the key. Joy is love singing. Peace is love resting. Long-suffering is love enduring. Kindness is love’s touch. Goodness is love’s character. Faithfulness is love’s habit. Gentleness is love’s self-forgetfulne...
Sometimes when I tell people about my experience of God, I feel a bit like Lucy when she had returned from the wardrobe for the first time (The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe). She really had been to Narnia. It really did exist. It was an amazing place, and yet it just sounded too far fetched for her brothers and her sister.
“Batty!” said Edmund, tapping his head. “Quite batty.”
“Don’t be silly Lucy,” said Susan.
Peter said, “That’s going a bit far.”
Lucy had been there. She really had experienced Narnia. When I saw the film with my two boys on Tuesday of this week I understood Lucy’s frustration as they would not believe her story at first.
(If people react like that when you share your faith, don’t panic!)
“Knowledge in Ignorance!” Luke 2: 1-5 Key verse(s): 2: “Some of the Pharisees asked, ‘Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?’”
The story is told of a preacher who lived along a river in a northern clime. Sunday after Sunday throughout the year he would climb into his old Tin Lizzy and slowly drive down the stony road that led to the church about a mile away. His timing was impeccable; always leaving home at the appropriate time just after finishing his toast and coffee and arriving at the little clapboard church in time to unlock the doors, practice his sermon and greet the parishioners as they filed into the narthex.
One wintry Saturday night, however, a fierce storm unlike any seen in years struck the coastline. The wind blew and the snow drifted. By morning the little dirt road was impassable and the preacher knew that getting to church by the old Model T would prove impossible. Shrugging his shoulders he thought to go back into the parsonage and call the elders. Perhaps there just wouldn’t be a service that morning. He could try snow-shoeing it but that would take hours. Looking around at the wind-swept scene the preacher suddenly saw something that attracted his eye. The wind, howling through the night, had swept the snow clean from the frozen river. Although the dirt road was impassable, this highway was not. Suddenly the preacher had a brilliant idea. Picking up his Bible, he put it into a sack which he hung securely over his back. Then, donning a pair of skates, he proceeding to glide his way in the direction of the church. Although his timing was somewhat affected since he was not able to skate as fast as his car could go, he did arrive at church in time to see two of the elders pull up in a sleigh. The preacher trudged up the river bank, skates over his shoulder, and proceeded to climb the church steps and unlock the door as the two men stared in disbelief. After the service a meeting was called by the elders who were horrified that their pastor had skated to church. When confronted the pastor replied, “Well, it was either skate or not get here at all!” To which one of the elders in thoughtful reflection replied. “Did you enjoy it?” “Not particularly!” The pastor returned. “Well then.” The board unanimously replied. “Then it must be all right!”
A pastor was preparing a Christmas message and fell asleep in his study at the church. He dreamed that he was in a world into which Jesus had never come. He walked out on the streets, but no church spires pointed to heaven. He was summoned by a weeping child to visit her dying mother, but on arriving found that his Bible ended with the OT. The NT with all its promises of heaven had disappeared from his Bible. He bowed his head and wept in bitter despair, for he could offer her no hope beyond the grave.
Suddenly the pastor was awakened by the choir down the hall practicing the familiar Christmas carols. Joy filled his soul as he realized as never before why we sing "Joy to the World the Lord Has Come!" (Our Daily Bread, Dec 20, 1992)
There is a legend which recounts the return of Jesus to glory after His time on earth. Even in heaven He bore the marks of His earthly pilgrimage with its cruel cross and shameful death. The angel Gabriel approached Him and said, "Master, you must have suffered terribly for men down there."
"I did," He said.
"And," continued Gabriel, "do they know all about how you loved them and what you did for them?"
"Oh, no," said Jesus, "not yet. Right now only a handful of people in Palestine know."
Gabriel was perplexed. "Then what have you done," he asked, "to let everyone know about your love for them?"
Jesus said, "I’ve asked Peter, James, John, and a few more friends to tell other people about me. Those who are told will in turn tell other people about me, and my story will be spread to the farthest reaches of the globe. Ultimately, all of mankind will have heard about my life and what I have done."
Gabriel frowned and looked rather skeptical. He knew well what poor stuff men were made of. "Yes," he said, "but what if Peter and James and John grow weary? What if the people who come after them forget? What if way down through the centuri...
“The fact of Jesus’ birth is the final and immeasurable proof that God cares.” William Barclay
Christmas Adorations
For thousands of years the Israelites had been looking for the coming of the Messiah. There in Bethlehem by the miraculous power of God, Mary, a young virgin, gave birth to the Savior of the world. Most people missed that glorious event, but a few did not.
Who are the Biblical examples for us to follow in showing adoration to the Lord Jesus Christ?
1.) Mary... having a heart that is completely surrendered to the will of God. Mary, the chosen mother-to-be of Jesus, responded to the angel Gabriel's startling announcement with, "I am the Lord's servant... may it be to me as you have said."
We do not know all Mary went through after she conceived the Christ Child by the Holy Spirit. We do know that Joseph, not understanding at first how his beloved Mary had become pregnant, had it in his mind to quietly divorce her. But God intervened for His faithful servant, Mary. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and told him not to be afraid to take Mary home to be his wife, that the Child in her was of the Holy Spirit. Joseph and Mary obeyed God even at personal expense (Matt. 1: 18 - 24).
2.) The shepherds... believing, responding and witnessing. Believing the announcement of the angel of the Lord, the shepherds hurried to find the Baby Jesus lying in the manger. Then they spread the word concerning what had happened and what was told them about the Child (Luke 2: 16, 17).
3.) Simeon... living a Holy Spirit-led life full of praise to God. The Holy Spirit had led Simeon, a righteous and devout man, to go into the temple courts just as Joseph and Mary came to consecrate Jesus to God when He was eight days old. Recognizing that Salvation had surely come to both the Jews and the Gentiles, Simeon took Jesus into his arms and praised God (Luke 2: 21 - 28).
4.) Anna... being thankful and always about the Lord's work. The elderly prophetess, Anna, never stopped worshiping the Lord in the temple. She often fasted and prayed. When she saw the Baby Jesus she gave thanks to God (Luke 2: 37, 38).
5.) The Magi... physically giving of themselves, their hearts, and their gifts to the Lord. The Magi from the East had come on a long and dangerous journey with one purpose in mind, to worship a newly-born King. Having thus presented themselves in worship, they then gave their gifts: gold, a tribute worthy of a King; frankincense, a fragrance often used to honor God with the smoke of incense; and myrrh, a spice used to embalm the dead, foretelling Jesus' sacrificial death to come (Matt. 2: 11).
Like these before us, if we are sincere in the surrender of ourselves to Him, we, too, should not be unwilling to part with all that is dear to us for His glory and worship--our reputations, our finances, our time, our plans.
How will you show your adoration of the Lord Jesus Christ this Christmas season? Start with inviting Christ into your heart to be both Savior and Lord!
Oh come, let us adore Him... Christ, the Lord!
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