2011.12.18 where is your faith? Looking for Jesus.
William Akehurst
Wheels in motion or grinding to a halt?
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so.
Have you ever hit a wall in your faith? Everything seems to come grinding to a halt. Sometimes it's hard to get the wheels back in motion again.
Think of Abraham...he was tested to take his son Issac to be sacrificed in obedience to the LORD. But he believed the LORD would provide for him and obeyed, regardless of what his mind told him.
Can you imagine being told to take your child and give them up sacrificially to die?
I can't even imagine. Yet we know that is exactly what GOD did for us through HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.
Abraham must have been a man of strong faith, wouldn't you agree?
Romans 4:1-9
Abraham was deemed righteous by his unyielding faith in GOD.
10-12 explain that he was recognized as righteous by God because of his faith. This occurred before circumcision and therefore, faith and and righteousness is not about circumcision.
Vs 11 states that Abraham is the father of all who believe.
Romans 13-25
Vs 22-25
It was imputed to to him, it SHALL BE imputed on us who believe on HIM who raised Jesus from the dead and delivers us from our offenses -sins - and raised again our justification.
Abraham lived before...about 1200 years before Isaiah
2000 years before this prophecy was fulfilled
Isaiah 9:6
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.
We live some 2800 years after this prophecy
Because Christ was BEFORE...the world!
As our responsive scripture reading stated today from John 1
John 1:1-5, 9-14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
And now HE IS
Luke 1:68-69
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
HE was seen visibly...after Abraham, and before you and me...
John 20:29
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Do you believe having not seen? You are called blessed because you have believed, but not seen.
Is Christmas just another holiday? Are we going to go through the motions without SEEING that it is all about Christ our LORD AND SAVIOR.
As the saying goes, wise men still seek HIM.
If you know, believe and are blessed, then say so..
Psalms 107:2
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
Psalms 107:8-9
8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
Song: John Mayer - say - say what you need to say
From "the bucket list" movie. Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman
This Christmas, say what you need to say. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so.
In a moment we are not just going to say, we are going to sing of the joy that has come to this world, through Or savior JESUS CHRIST.
But first I need to set the record straight about something that has happened here a few nights ago, and may need to happen right now.
Last Wednesday night, the Kidscom was here for their musical presentation, Christmas around the world. I loved those bells didn't you?
During the manger scene, one of the important pieces was missing on the set. As everyone was looking around, I noticed the bag in which this important part was hidden and went up in the stage area and retrieved it for the part. The missing piece, the baby Jesus. Now I heard it mentioned and you may have heard that the paster found Jesus on Wednesday night, but now as Paul Harvey said it, you know the rest of the story. But I ask you this. In your preparations for Christmas, are you missing something? Have you found Jesus, this Christ of Christmas, who came long ago, and has promised to come again? This child that was born, the savior. The Redeemer from our sins to anyone who would believe. Make sure you have found Christ in your heart today, pray with me now.
Accept, believe, confess and receive the blessing
Song: joy to the world
