Christian Benefits 2 Peter 1:1-4

Sermon Nuggets Mon Jan 10

Verses 2 Pet 1:1-4

1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Christian Benefits

I was sitting with a good friend during her dying days. She was lying in a bed in the nursing home. Her breathing was belabored, her eyes were mostly closed. She could not talk. But when Judi and I walked into the room she sat up the best she could and smiled a toothless smile.

As we sat with her watching her struggle for life I reminded her of times we shared together in Wisconsin. I reminded her of how much a help she was to Judi and me and Judi’s sister, Marti years ago. I reminded her of Jesus whom she loved and served and in whose presence she will shortly go. I reminder her of the faith she had and the promises of God.

We begin a new sermon series from the Book of 2 Peter. It is a book of reminders to the believers of the things they possess because they also have faith in Jesus Christ. Instead of them being on a death bed, as it were, Peter writes as if it is last and indeed it was the last Scripture he wrote. He wanted to cut right to the core of the matter as he told them to remember what they had as believers in Christ.

As I watched my friend suffering physical limitations, Peter watched these people suffer spiritual persecution. His first letter was to a suffering church and he wanted to encourage them to keep the faith, and teach them about God's perspective. Now he writes to what is probably Gentile believers, Keep your lives pure for three very important reasons.

His message in chapter one is because you belong to God and He has called you to Holiness. In the second chapter he reminds them there are many false prophets and teachings that if you do not remind pure and close to the Word of God you will be deceived not only in your life style but salvation itself. And Chapter three he shares because the Day of the Lord is coming to judge and to redeem keep faithful. There is both the promise and the warning.

I want to remind us of these benefits in the weeks ahead and the privileges that are ours as believers saved by Christ.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Tues Jan 11-

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

Believers Have Privileges

Because of my job as pastor I have certain privileges that others do not have. As a minister I have the privilege of a parsonage. No one else here has a parsonage. It is privilege granted to me as part of my position and responsibility. As an ordained minister in the United States I can take housing expenses taken off from State and Federal income tax and not be included as salary. That is a privilege allowed by the law.

When I thought about privileges I remember being at camp as a high school with the position of a Counselor in Training. I had responsibilities, but I enjoyed the privileges that came with some responsibility. I could go to the kitchen anytime when I wasn't working for drinks and snacks. When the kids were in bed the counselor stayed with them and the CITs could have late night freetime. There were privileges granted to me because of my position. After they were all asleep and we returned to the cabins the counselors took off for relaxation.

I saw the lower part of the Metrodome for the first time couple when I served as an evangelism counselor at Promise Keepers. I got a badge and could go where the other men couldn't go. I could buy refreshments more cheaply, as well as get some food for free. I had some privileges because I had a badge.

Peter begins his second letter by acknowledging his authority and responsibility of a privilege granted him by God Himself through Jesus Christ, God’s Son. I am a servant (that is his responsibility) I am an apostle (that is granted privilege and responsibility). Those are his credentials allowing him to be authoritative to the readers of his letter.

But privileges are granted to us all who are in a relationship with God. What is most important in anyone's life is their faith, and on that score Peter is on a level plane with the church. No matter how much authority a believer is given by Christ, he should never forget that the great joy of his life should be that he is saved by faith like all the other saints. No pastor, no apostle, no prophet, no King, no one else has any different privilege of sonship that you or I do because it is faith that is the same. Grace saves sinners.

It is precious. That is the word he wants to use to describe faith. It means priceless with highest honor. It is greater privilege than faith in money, faith in the economy, faith in our nation, faith in our president, faith in our car, faith in our church, faith in the locks on your doors, faith in our doctors. There is a precious faith that is granted to us as believers when it is given to us by God because it is in Jesus Christ to be our Savior and Lord.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds Jan 12 –

Verse 2 Peter 1: 2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Believers have Peace

Grace and Peace are often coupled together in greetings among Christians in the first century. These truths are reminders of the gifts from God. Eph 2 It is by grace that we are saved which is a gift of God not of works so we have nothing to boast about.

Have you received this gift of God? That gift puts you into a relationship with the living God saving from sin and all its consequences and purchasing for you living everlasting with Christ in heaven. It is precious, marvelous, nothing can compare to it.

Faith must begin with knowledge. Without knowledge there can be no faith. "How can they call on one in whom they have never believed? How can they believe in one of whom they have never heard? and how can they hear unless someone proclaims Him?" "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10

Grace and peace are indeed privileges. Because of the gift of God which is grace we have peace with God having accepted His free gift. That is more than just a spiritual greeting in a letter. It was heart felt prayer and hope from Peter that we all will experience more of God's grace and more of God's peace. Grace includes the benefits that are ours without earning them, only knowing about them. And now we need to just realize what it is so we don't remain stagnant in our Christian lives. If you want to enjoy God's peace and be the aroma of his grace in the world, your knowledge of him has to grow.

Grace is a power that leads to godliness and eternal life; The channel of God's great grace is knowledge of God. Through the reading of the Bible comes the knowledge of God and through that grace and peace are multiplied as privileges to us.

People long for a peace with God and often don’t know how to get it. Many people who want to know the Lord have had no one clearly explain to them the truth. Pray that God give you the boldness and opportunity of telling someone this year about grace and peace through Jesus Christ. Give them your faith story. Yes, there might be some people who will rebel against God, and others who will argue, and others who will seem offended about religion, but don't bother with those folks if that bothers you. Ask God to lead you to the people who are ready to know more and want to respond but just haven't had the opportunity. Our job is to let folks know the privileges of grace and peace which can be theirs for the asking and is yours right now for the taking.

I think of the story of a hobo in South Western United states who inherited land with oil on it. Only he continued to live off the streets and eat from garbage cans, because he was unable to be contacted. When people would ask about him to inform him of his good fortune, he thought they were after him, so he ran and hid. He had tremendous benefits, but didn't know it.

I wonder for how many that is how it is?

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thurs Jan 13

Verse- 2 Pet 1: 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Believers have Power

An additional privilege for the sons and daughters of God is the gift of divine power. This power is Gods' which gives us everything we need for life and for godliness. Peter is aiming at eternal life and godliness; moral and spiritual transformation now and hope for life in the age to come. And there is a close connection for Peter between godliness and eternal life. You can't have the one if you reject the other.

God has given us the power to do what He wants us to do. You might think "I want the power to walk on water, just like Peter had." Why? Why was it given to Peter? To increase his faith to trust Jesus.

How many times did Peter walk on water? He certainly didn't try it afterwards. It even says after Jesus resurrection he yelled to the disciples to fish on the other side. When they caught so many fish Peter jumped into the water and swam ashore to be with Jesus. Why didn't he walk or run on the water to Jesus? Didn’t he have enough faith? That was not what God wanted him to do. He only had an original audience of 12 during the storm. God did not want him to use it to show off, for convenience,or for evangelism, he wanted Peter to walk on water to show him to trust Christ to provide whatever Christ wanted to give him to do whatever Christ called him to do.

Christ has the power to give you what you need for life and godliness. If he wants to use you in a great way to give He'll give you money, or the ability to make it. If He wants you to speak He’ll give you words? If to love, he'll give you people. If to show acts of mercy he'll give you hurting people. You have been given the gifts of the Spirit by this divine power. You will even been given the power to perform miracles if that is your calling by Christ, but not everyone is going to have the gifts to do the same things.

Peter saw how the Lord met physical needs on a daily basis. He personally saw the power of God displayed before his very eyes. The Lord took him out on a boat on the Sea of Galilee and taught him how to handle storms. Jesus is the master of stormy situations in our lives. He fed him and others when they were hungry. He broke bread when there was no bread to be had. He taught the disciples that he is the One who knows about their need. And throughout those three and a half years the apostles learned to trust and obey.

I was feeling rather inadequate as a pastor (and still do). I know my limitation more than anyone. We often don't need to point out other's inadequacies, we already know them and try to pretend we don't have them. So I was complaining to God one day explaining that He made a mistake. There are so many more capable people who have gift and abilities that I do not have. Do you know what he told me in my pity party?

"You're right! You are not capable of being the pastor of Stanchfield. You are not gifted in ways you want to be gifted. But I will give you what you need for what I want you to do. If I called you, then I will work through you. You don't have what it takes, but I do”

Peter, James and John didn't have what it took to be an apostle but Christ did. Moses didn't have what it took to lead the people into the promise land, but God did. Faith is allowing God's power to work in you.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri Jan 14-

Verse- 2 Peter 1: 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Believers have Promises

There are not only things that we have right now for what God wants us to do to live for Him, but He has promises for the future. Very great and precious promises! It is to participate in the divine nature and escape corruption in the world. Wow.

Some versions translate that to partake in the nature of God which is to begin to take on the characteristics of God. That is, to love as God loves, to have joy as God has joy, to know peace as God knows peace, to exercise self-control as God exercises self-control. Hebrews 10:12 refers to become a partaker of His holiness. We may sum up by saying that to share in the divine nature is to "become more like Christ (Gal. 2:20)

There will be a day coming when this goal which has started will be complete. The world can't begin to understand the fanfare that will introduce the second coming of Jesus Christ. The world can't begin to understand the horrors of destruction our evil desires lead it to. Some benefits of saved people is they will never have to experience hell. They will never have to be bondage to Satan. They will never have the consequences of sin. They will never have to be captive to the repercussions of victimizations by others. That freedom is yours now when you grow in the knowledge of God.

Don’t misunderstand this verse. There is only one God and I know I'm not Him. This does not teach the New Age belief that we are all gods in ourselves to partake in the divine nature. But we have God in us by the power of the Holy Spirit! Abraham didn't have that privilege, Moses didn't have that privilege, King David didn't have that privilege, Even John the Baptist, the greatest of all prophets, didn't have that privilege. The Holy Spirit may have come upon them for various tasks but not dwell within them as it true for you and me today. We have God in us that hope of our glory. We have the word which gives us instruction that spirit that brings it on home to us. We have the advocate who intercedes for us in words we do not understand.

Madeline L'Engle said "It is a good thing that we are not God: we do not have to understand God's ways, or the suffering and brokenness and pain that sooner or later come to us all. But we do have to know in the very depths of our being that the ultimate end of the story, no matter how many aeons it takes, it going to be all right."

That confidence comes in the growing knowledge of God and belief in his promises that affects how we live today.

Jesus said, "In this world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world" It is the realization of what Jesus has done that gives us confidence of the promises will hold true of what he will do.

C. S. Lewis said, "Men down through the ages when they have needed courage might cry out Billy Budd, help me! and nothing very significant happens. Or if they need wisdom they might cry out "William Shakespeare, help me!" and nothing very significant happens. But down through the centuries men in times of deep and desperate need have cried out "Lord Jesus, help me!" and they have found he never fails."

But we have to remember that we have a destiny that reaches far beyond the few years of life we have in these bodies. God is preparing us for eternity by teaching us now how to walk in dependence upon Him. This means achieving our full potential must wait until we are transformed into the likeness of Jesus himself. In the mean time, weare learning, growing, changing --standing on the promises of our Lord and discovering (sometimes to our utter amazement!) that He is able to keep us from falling. We are learning to escape the corruptible thing sand focus on eternal things. We are sharing in the very life and nature of God as He lives out His life through ours. And we have no excuse for growing to our full potential in Jesus, for when He gave us the Holy Spirit, he gave us everything we need for life and godliness.

Pastor Dale

Preparing for Prayer Matthew 6:5-8

Sermon Nuggets Mon Jan 3 – Preparing for Prayer

Verses- Matt 6:5-8

5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Preparing for Prayer

A few years ago our conference commissioned a prayer commission. Its purpose was to pray and to call our conference to prayer. For awhile at each annual meeting they reserved the day before the conference for a special time of prayer. We were led in prayer through various concerns of the world and at home. Sometimes I thought the procedures didn't exactly fit my style of praying and seemed artificial to me. Yet others found the differing styles to be meaningful. How do we make something personal or corporate real instead of ritual?

This is prayer week at Stanchfield and I have the same problem of seeking to encourage people to grow in their next step in their prayer life, whatever that might be. That is my goal also that I might have insight and learn from the Lord how to re-vitalize my prayers. But what I find meaningful may not fit someone else’s preference.

The disciples were so busy doing ministry as recorded in Acts 6 they didn't have time to pray as they wanted, so they formed a task force and called them deacons. The apostles then could devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. This was an unbending commitment of the apostles to preserve time for prayer.

The apostles were saying "No matter how urgent the pressures are to spend our time doing good deeds, we will not forsake our chief work. We will seek to persist in prayer. If the work we are to give up is a work which requires great spiritual depth and power, then how much more crucial and demanding must be the work of prayer?

There is a movement in our country were 1,000s of people gather in the cities for concerts of prayer. People from various denominations burdened for our country and for the world. They seek revival. They cry for confession. They are praying that God cause a movement of his spirit in an unusual way again. Spiritual awakenings, both historical and present day, point to prayer in humility and faith.

We cannot be effective as a church in prayer unless we are praying at home. How is your own personal prayer life? Jesus gives us some instructions about our Prayer Life. This week we sill look at some things to consider in the above verses. But begin with asking God to lead you into a deeper prayer life in 2011. Then as things come to your mind or heart throughout the day, stop and pray about them.

Although we will not look specifically at the Lords prayer at this time I find the ACTS method a good place to start or continue in your prayers – A- Adore (praise) C- Confess T-Thanksgiving S- supplications .

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Tues Jan 4 Public Prayer

Verse Matt 6:5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

Considering Public Prayer.

Jesus accused others of killing prayer because they prayed for the purpose of being seen by others. Jesus tells us do not pray like the hypocrites who love to be seen by men. Prayer is conversation with God. It was common for people to go to the temple to pray and some attended at 9 , 12, and 3 o'clock. It was easy for man to be at a busy street corner, or in a crowded city square so that all the world might see with what devotion, dedication and commitment he prayed. It was easy for a man to halt on the top steps of the entrance to the synagogue and pray lengthily and demonstratively so that all people might admire his piety. He would stay with hands stretched out, palms upward, head bowed. Such prayer that seemed to impress people is not prayer at all. It is play acting. If he gets praised by men for all his piety that his all the reward he will get.

I remember growing up there was one pastor that made it a practice coming out of his study to the platform Sunday mornings. He would get on his knees at his chair pray before the service. I always thought he was very devout, much more godly than the previous pastors because he prayed on his knees before all the people. He also ran off with our church secretary.

Now do not misunderstand. Jesus is not teaching that Public prayer is wrong. Indeed there are many examples of public prayer in the Bible, including Jesus. Corporate prayer is prayer offered to God in the hearing of believers, who can agree and affirm it. It can bring us to unity as one represents the people in their prayer. It enlarges the vision of what we are praying toward. Others learn to pray by listening to others. Passion is contagious.

But the problem with public prayer is that people often are not really praying to God on behalf of the people, but rather for others. Many fear praying publicly because they might say the wrong words. People are afraid they might not do it right. Hence there is the problem that you are praying for men instead of talking to God on behalf of others. Praying public prayers, like the hypocrites, makes it easy to drift into flowery, abstract language that prayer has almost no substance. Some pray for the infirmities of an anguishing and distraught humanity rather than Mrs. Brown and her broken rib.

When you pray in public or with others, allow those around you to listen in on your conversation with the Lord but keep your attention on Him. When you are with others affirm in their prayers what you are thinking and feeling, and if you have other thoughts and concerns use that time in your quiet prayer to talk with Him.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds Jan 5 – Personal Prayer

Verse Matt 6: 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Considering Personal Prayer

Notice the center of concentration is on God. He is the focus of our prayers. Jesus uses the word Father. That term for God is a personal one as we have a relationship with Him. This is not a prayer for non-Christians. If a person has not been born again he cannot approach the throne of God calling him Father.

Just as a young child is dependent on his father, so effective praying is focused on our Father. We are completely dependent upon Him.

An unsaved woman once told a minister that she had no need to go to church or read the Bible She did acknowledge, however that before she went to bed at night she would pray this simple prayer, "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep..." Noting the preacher's surprise, she explained, "I can take care of myself when I'm awake, but I want protection when I'm asleep."

Many Christians would never say that but by their practice that is what they do. Whenever things are going well they feel self-sufficient and seldom pray more than token prayers. When circumstances are out of their control, they cry out to the Lord for help.

The Lord finds pleasure in listening to His children who come to Him in a spirit of humble dependence.

Ned Holmgren, former pastor here at Stanchfield, wrote on prayer in the Standard a number of years ago. I liked the way he made it so personal.

"Oh to feel the urgency of prayer! Like watchmen placed High atop the city wall, High enough to sound the call, While Godward to plead Persistently to plead- in Prayer.

Oh, to know intimacy in prayer; With Jesus kneel, Sharing deeply in his love, Crying out to Him above, With longing feel The Masters closer touch- though prayer.

Oh to find Creativity in prayer, With every thought Growing, shaping in the mind. In the Holy Spirit find God's answer brought, Effective and complete- by prayer.

Oh, to learn Authority in prayer Through the unleashed power of the risen Lord. Power none can e'er afford, Save in deceased Authority of self- by prayer.

Oh, to shape A constancy in prayer, By sheer resolve, coupled with a growing love For the living Lord above, Thus to involve consistently each day -More prayer. "

How's your personal prayer life? Is it an intimate discussion with a friend? Intimacy of communion with Christ needs to be recaptured in personal quiet times. Call it what you want quiet time, personal devotions, morning watch, individual worship. These holy minutes explain the inner secret of Christianity. Without it there is little vitality in the relationship.

From Moses to David Livingston, Amos to Billy Graham every person who ever sought to serve God mightily needs to spend times alone with God. Use a devotional like this one to start if that helps. But I also find just taking the Bible and meditate on His word brings to my mind things to pray about. I do have prayer lists so I might tract the results of prayer and remember people and situations I want to regularly pray about. What do you find most helpful in your walk with the Lord

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thurs Jan 6 Private Prayer

Verse Matt 6: 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Considering Private Prayer

The best preparation for praying in public is, of course, praying in private. It is there that a person really gets on speaking terms with his Lord. Prayer can flow naturally when God is not a stranger.

I am not as concerned over the one who has private prayer and never prays in public as I am for the one who has public prayer but never prays in private. The idea of the closet or the room is a time of private time each of us needs to spend with God. There is value in husbands and wives praying together, there is need for family prayers, there are times when the church body comes together and prays, there are times when 2 or 3 gather in the name of Jesus and agree together in prayers. But there is also a time when God wants time with you privately. This is a time to reflect over your life, make confession, express praise and thanksgiving, intercede for others, to pour out your heart, to tell Him of your love and talk about the things that concern you for the day.

The point of Jesus’ remarks is contrasting sincere prayer from public display before men. Secret prayer is special because of the relationship that is personal. It is special because one knows of the work of God in one’s own life. There are things that only God knows and some things that ought to be prayed that only God hears.

Someone sent to me these comments, "Tell God all that is in your heart, as one unloads ones heart, its pleasures and its pains, to a dear friend. Tell Him your troubles that He may comfort you; tell Him your joys that He may sober them; tell Him your longings, that He may purify them; tell Him your dislikes that He may help you to conquer them; talk to Him of your temptations, that He may shield you from them; show Him that wounds of your heart, that He may heal them; lay bear your indifference to good, your depraved tastes for evil, your instability. Tell Him how self love makes you unjust to other, how vanity tempts you to be insincere, how pride disguises you to yourself and to others.

If you thus pour out all your weaknesses, needs, troubles, there will be no lack of what to say. You will never exhaust the subject. It is continually being renewed. People who have no secrets from each other never want for subjects of conversation. They do not weigh their words, for there is nothing to be held back; neither do they seek for something to say. They talk out of the abundance of the heart, without consideration they say just what they think. Blessed are they who attain to such familiar, unreserved intercourse with God." Francios Fenelon 17th Century.

It is such meditations of the private heart that we grow.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri Jan 7 Pretentious Prayer

Verses- Matt 6: 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Considering Pretentious Prayer

It is easy to think if God wants us to pray then the longer the prayer time the better he will think of us. The length, the place and the position of our praying is not as important as the manner and the intention. Short prayers, if real, honor God. One man prayed, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” And went away justified.

Yet Jesus spent all night in prayer. But you can bet it wasn’t a ritual, it was real.

As a chaplain I saw an older man spend much of his day praying the rosary and counting his beads repeating his prayers. He was worried that God would not forgive him his sins, so the more he prayed the more he was seeking to justify himself. Penance is not going over a formula repeatedly. If there is ever a problem with misunderstanding of prayer it is in vain and continuous repetitions that many practice. Buddhists have a prayer wheel, Catholics uses beads, some think they are praying have a cross in their pockets, some have repeated table graces.

I remember for me it was a humorous incident when I was by myself carrying out duties around the house and I was conversing in my mind and heart with the Lord. You know you can also pray that way. While you drive or work or do dishes, just open your heart and mind to God and talk things over with him while your work. It certainly makes the time fly quicker too.

I was fixing breakfast and talking with the Lord all the while. As I sat down, I caught myself saying, "Excuse me Lord, I need to say table grace then I'll be right back." I bowed my head and started to pray. Then I was by myself laughing. Here I am talking to God while preparing breakfast enjoying personal communion with Him while working, but I had to stop communicating to say a table grace. That was babbling and although is could have been a good habit, it meant nothing since it was a ritual without heart. I wondered as I ate how many times I said grace and never talked to God because the words were babbling repetitions. Liturgy can be meaningful it can also be meaningless.

God listens to the heart, not to the words. If we are afraid of not saying the right things or saying something wrong God isn't the least bit afraid. Say it! Don't worry about your words. Use wrong grammar, make mistakes, and don’t worry about putting your personal, private prayer in special terms. But be sincere.

Wise professors will recognize that verbiage doesn't necessarily mean a thing when they read papers. God is neither ignorant so that we need to instruct him nor hesitant that we need to persuade him. He is our Father who loves and knows our needs even before we ask. We are changed. He wants us to talk with Him. He wants to talk with us. Beware of pretense in praying.

Pastor Dale

Like a Tree Psalm 1

Sermon Nuggets Mon Dec 27 Like a Tree Planted

Verses

Ps 1:1-6

1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Like a Tree Planted

What brings happiness? One wealthy woman had a nanny for her young child. She heard her youngster crying for something and kept it up. Finally wanting silence the woman shouted to the Nanny. “Give that child whatever she wants.” The Nanny protested. “You heard me, give the child whatever it is that she is crying for.” After a moment the child was really wailing, for she had been given the bumble bee she wanted to pet.

So often people think things they want will bring happiness. Some will participate in sinful behavior thinking this will bring happiness. Later they find a bitter sting. Many seek pleasure in homes, jobs, recreation, hobbies, drugs, sex, and money. So often though there is a gnawing feeling that something is missing.

In the Movie, Bruce Almighty, who is given divine powers for a week is so fed up with all the requests that people pray for that he decides to answer yes to every one of them. All the people got what they prayed for. He discovers why it’s impractical and unhealthy for God to grant every request. The selfish lusts of people lead to being out of control. For instance 1,000s of people are praying to win the lottery but are very unhappy when they only get $17.00 a piece. People who get what they want don’t necessarily get what they need and what they think brings happiness produces the opposite.

As we begin a new year this coming weekend, it is good to go back to the basics as to what will make your new year happier. It focuses on the truth for the Word of God. We will look at some of the details of Psalm 1 as a recipe from the Bible for happiness.

Make is a resolution that you will have some type of daily and personal devotions that includes Bible reading. Some may be challenged to read the Bible through during the year. You can do that by commitment 15 minutes a day. I took the challenge, but preferred to spend more time in thought and notes and read it through actually in two years as I decided to read it through chronologically instead of starting through since some of books are not in chronological order. Pick a method that is right for you so you can listen and read what God has inspired.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Tues Dec 28 Happiness

Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

Happiness Excludes some things.

In the Hebrew language happiness and blessing are used interchangeably in translation. The Psalmist David tells us we exclude 3 things that hinder happiness.

First keep from walking in the counsel of the ungodly. I prefer the KJV translation ungodly which broadens the definition of only a wicked or evil person. Wicked people are certainly to be shunned. However the ungodly are not just evil people but rather people without God. Most people are ungodly. Most folks live without including God at all.

Now we are not talking about going to a mechanic who doesn’t know the Lord. He might give great advice on how to fix my car. An unsaved doctor might know a lot about fixing a broken leg. When the Bible talks about walking in ungodly counsel it refers to going by a different worldview or way of looking at life.

Friends, there are two different worlds that surround us. There are two different kingdoms. To walk in one is to turn your back on the other. To attempt to walk in both leads to destruction from within! How many decisions you make without seeking Gods’ will? How many personal goals to do you have for which you have not even thought of God’s direction? People will not be happy when counsel and life exists without the one who brings real happiness.

Our society exists without any concern or even awareness of God. The Park Service of the Grand Canyon made plans to return 3 bronze plagues of Psalms to the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary, who donated them over 40 years ago to recognize the awesomeness of God. These plaques have inspired many of the awe-struck beholders to admire and acknowledge the Creator of this majestic landscape spread before their eyes. It is another example of a state trying to deny the existence of God. In order not to offend ungodly people increasingly functions as if God has no place outside of church.

The more we look to man made solutions alone to face the problems of the world unhappiness results. People have trusted man centered politics to give them a better world. Scientists can claim insight in how the world was created without any appreciation of a creator. Education has not liberated us from crime, pollution, poverty, racism and war. Relativism is the philosophy that says you do what you want and I’ll do what I want and we’ll respect each other’s truth. That is ungodly counsel.

It is wisdom from the world controlled by Satan and our society buys it hook line and sinker, but friends the Bible says it will lead to unhappiness.

Godly counsel seeks to be founded on the Word of God. Let that be your guide in the coming New Year.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds Dec 29 way of the sinners

Verse- Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

Stand in the way of Sinners

To be happy or blessed from the Psalmist’s point of view excludes some things. W are also to exclude being one who stands in the way of sinners. Do not take your stand with sinners. It will not bring happiness. The company we keep affects how we live. It is not saying we cannot live in this world, but taking our stand with those who sin puts us in their camp. Do not act like the crowd.

If “walking in the counsel of the ungodly” demonstrates buying into the philosophies and the mindset and worldview of the kingdoms of this world, to stand in the way of sinners is speaking of the practical ways in which we live. Sin will always destroy us no matter how much fun it may seem at the time. Ignoring God’s laws may not have any immediate consequences, but we pay for it later and wonder how we could be so foolish. We can prevent so many mistakes by saying no to sin.

A recent study came out on happiness in relationships. Does it surprise you that according to research those who have been married to the same man or woman and not had any affairs or divorces were happier contented people than those who were never married but lived with boyfriends or girl friends and had sexual relationships with various people? God created us for love in a married relationship and people wonder why they feel so empty used and abused when they did what they felt like doing. There are people within the church that take their stand in sin and their walk with God suffers. Doing things our way instead of God’s way.

Then we also need to exclude sitting in the seat of the mockers. Notice the digression- the one who “sits” with the scornful, or the sinner has become acclimated to the world system on some level. He is “comfortable” and able to “hang out” with the ungodly, turning a deaf ear to those who scoff at the things of God.

The mockers are all people in rebellion against God. In our day mockers or scoffers seem to be becoming more and more plentiful. On many television sitcoms and other shows, Christianity is ridiculed. They are people who laugh at religion, who joke over the sacred, who scoff at morality and decency. People enjoy it and are entertained by it instead of becoming ashamed and convicted. The world finds this very clever and witty but it’s a symptom of those who have rejected the law of God as the guiding principle of life. Such a person has a negative, critical, gossiping, ridiculing, sarcastic, attitude tearing down others. If you want to be unhappy then sit with those people.

We need to realize how evil that is because those people are not just making fun of us, they are often making fun of God. Bruce Almighty represented most folks that see God as their personal gum-ball machine. They live self-filled lives and rebuke and mock God when they want the magic genie to make life just the way the want it to be. The roads are lead to money, sex, and power and folks are surprised when they come to the dead end.

Friends, rebellion against God will not bring happiness in this life and certainly will not bring it in the next. This is not the path that we want to take if we are looking for happiness, and we should not join people who are going in that direction.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thurs Dec 30- Bible

Verses- Psalm 1: 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Happiness Includes some Things.

Sometimes we may read the passage and think that is some type of monk or religious fanatic. Blessing comes to the one who has learned to delight in the law of the Lord. He is speaking of God’s inspired word. He is thinking about the ways of God and the revelation of the word of God and he is filled with joy that is different than enjoyment in outside things.

He takes his DELIGHT in the Law of the Lord..,it is a constant source of encouragement and peace, of wisdom and instruction. How can anyone take delight in the Law of the Lord? Aren’t laws about rules and regulations? Aren’t laws repressive and punitive?

The "Law of the Lord" in David’s day referred to the whole counsel of scripture which was had been delivered by God at that time, primarily the Pentateuch, the law of Moses.

The Psalmist tells us that in the scriptures, he receives a completely different view of life than in the world. He receives the very mind of God, the counsel of the holy. This view of life is diametrically opposed to the counsel of the ungodly, they way of sinners and the seat of the scornful!

Not only does God’s Word give the man the truth about his life, it gives him the power to live in the counsel of God. It shows him that he is powerless, and that the power to live is available to him in the Holy Spirit! The "law of the Lord" is freedom! The Law of the Lord, the Counsel of the Holy is the path to life. (Heb 4:12-13)

He meditates on it day and night. I’ve never met anyone who reads the Bible constantly, twenty-four by seven! I’ve never met anyone who wears headphones all day long listening to scripture readings! But when the Word of God dwells in you, it means that you guide your life, your parenting, your work, your recreation by the principles of God’s truth. You live what you say you believe. You find out more how to turn all areas of your life over to God.

Jesus is referred to in John’s gospel as the Word. He is the Word incarnate. We have the blessing of not only the scriptures but the life and example of Jesus. Add to that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit since Pentecost. He guides, leads, illuminates the Bible for the believer.

Solomon reminds us “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.”

Next week during prayer week we are emphasizing the importance of experiencing a daily fellowship with God by prayer and reading of the Bible. Jeremiah said “I ate thy words, O God and they were unto me joy and the rejoicing of my heart.” So the ingredient after knowing God is to study his word. That is why we need to meditate on it day and night and think about it. Realize it teaches us about life and how we might apply God’s principles to our particular situations in life. It talks about finances, communication, relationships, it speaks of a proper understanding of government, of science, sociology, psychology. The Bible allows us to understand truth from lies, and by his Spirit’s protection from the evil one.

Disciples of Jesus have discovered that one who knows God and walks with him intimately can give the truth that comes not from within ourselves but from above.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri Dec 31 – Fruit

Verses – Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Happiness Concludes some things

A person becomes a Christian by faith in Jesus, trusting in His atoning sacrifice on the Cross. Just as a tree can’t plant itself, so a person becomes a Christian, not by doing good or trying to improve oneself, but by God’s action of planting His Spirit in us as we come to Him in repentance and faith. He compares a tree by the river to chaff. Three results of the person who seeks to live by the book.

Ray Steadmen tells of a conversation he had with a young man as they were sitting under a tree talking about doubts. He asked him “What do you see in this tree?” “Strength and beauty” why? Because of the root system. He got the point. If you want strength and beauty in your life it comes from the roots, which you can’t see. It comes from what God is doing inside you, but that food comes from him. We conclude first then like a tree you will be strong as you feed on what God has provided for your spirit.

Your soul will be nourished. You will have purpose in your life you will be full and not empty.

Secondly, you will demonstrate character traits that are characterized by the fruit of the spirit. It will show. John 15 speaks of Jesus as the vine, we are the branches. All we must do is remain in Him. There we will be watered and cultivated. Christian, don’t give up! Take heart! The One who began that work in you, He is faithful to complete it! Keep your eyes on him, and far away from this present world of darkness!

We conclude that like a healthy tree bring forth fruit according to the type of tree it is and the season that it is in. A good tree has evidence of life. Many Christians are not producing because they are not nurturing themselves. Fruit is the fruit of the spirit (love joy peace patience goodness, kindness, etc.) We don’t have those qualities innate within us, but God does and He produces them by His spirit. It takes time, practice, and trust.

A third conclusion is a leaf does not wither, whatever he does shall prosper. Some trees die quickly. If you are planted by the waters and taking nourishment you will thrive even in times of draught. And you will not wither and dry up only for short season, but consistently. Prospering refers to happiness that extends beyond the material prosperity or the riches of those around us. Spiritual prosperity reminds us you still cannot take it with you. Prosperity is not the one with the most toys at death wins. It is inward peace.

Another main conclusion is that the ungoldy are NOT SO. Those two words make a very big difference. They do not have that root system they do not have fruit, they do wither, there is no inner prosperity. Indeed they are described like chaff. They don’t have security and substance. There is nothing to them, the wind blow them away. They don’t have that comfort and stability and peace that the godly have.

That person is not only "chaff" but also "like chaff that the wind blows away." One can visualize a pile of chaff but then a puff of wind comes and it’s blown away. The psalmist is telling us that sin has so distorted mankind that there’s no governing principle to life. Unlike a tree, a heap of chaff has no roots, it’s formless, it’s insecure. The Apostle Paul found the same thing when preaching to the sophisticated people at Athens. They "spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas" (Acts 17:21). Nothing has changed over the years - if it’s not Eastern Mysticism, then it’s New Age religion or experimenting with drugs.

There’s one more important contrast between a tree and chaff. There’s no life in chaff, it will never change, grow and produce fruit. Human beings have been on this planet for thousands of years. Yes, there’s progress in learning and amazing developments in technology but it’s done nothing to cure our sinful nature.

The Psalmist ends with the truth of reward and judgment. For after all is said and done the final word on the matter is God’s will prevails. People can protest all they want God’s will prevails. The Justice system can pass all kinds of verdicts, but God’s ways prevail. There can be popularity polls, and dictatorships, there can be riches obtained legally and riches obtained illegally, but in the end there is judgment and there is reward. But praise to God the end has not come yet and if you are outside of Jesus Christ, don’t be foolish. If you are not living for God, don’t be foolish. If you are living a defeated life don’t be foolish.

Friends, we need to stop allowing ungodly people to influence our thinking and actions. As a pastor, it disturbs me when I see good Christian people walking in the counsel of the ungodly. I know Christians whose opinions on various issues have been formed by watching Oprah, reading Time Magazine, listening to a college professor, or talking to a next-door neighbor. Am I saying that Christians should isolate themselves and not listen to any of these? Of course not. What I am saying is that because these are often not godly sources of counsel, we need to screen them very carefully before we allow them to shape the attitudes of our hearts and minds. As Christians, we need to make sure we have a biblical worldview. The way we look at reality, our opinions on all sorts of issues, should not simply reflect that we are part of 21st Century American culture, but should show that we are people to whom God speaks through His Word and who desire to honor Him in what we think, say, and do.

Happy New Year

Pastor Dale

Christmas Through the Eyes of God- Gal 4:4-7

Sermon Nuggets Week of Dec 20^th Christmas Through the Eyes of God

Sermon Nuggets Mon Dec 20- Christmas

Verses-Gal 4:4-7

4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."

7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Christmas Through the Eyes of God

A couple of years ago on America’s Funniest Home Videos, a young boy was shown on Christmas morning. He came down to see a large present beside the tree and ran over to tear it open to see what was inside. The paper went flying and suddenly he broke into a dance and jumped around the room saying, “Wow Just what I wanted I really love it. Wow ” After awhile he went over to look at it again and said with a puzzled look on his face, “What is it?”

On that first Christmas the angels announced the birth of a new child. The heavens were opened and all broke into praise. Shepherds went racing to Bethlehem to see what it was all about. And for two thousand years we have been jumping up and down saying, “Just what I wanted exactly what I needed. I love it ” But in the next breath we look again inside the stable and ask, “What is it?” Maybe there is more than the world thinks.

“Do you see what I see?” Certainly, we know how much the world focuses its attention on spending money to stimulate our economy, music, TV specials, movies, glitter and glamour as well as enjoying time with friends and family. Many churches gather for special services. That’s what Christmas looks like through our eyes.

This morning I read an unsettling report from US Today how Christmas is an officially secular holiday. Most people do not care about Jesus. Most homes celebrate Christmas as coming home, sharing gifts, and partying. Even families from religious homes no longer come to church as the adult church have given up the faith and it isn’t worthy the family hassle to make them come to church.

Atheist are happy to celebrate Christmas without Christ. Many young adults resent the fact that some Christians are making a campaign that stores say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holiday. In fact that gives them a sour taste against Christianity because of no one should force their religious belief upon another.

Some Christians recognize the events of December 25^th were rooted in paganism and refuse to celebrate at all.

As we approach Christmas this week it is good to reflect on Christmas through the eyes of God. The passage I am choosing to use is Galatians 2:4-7 It begins with 4,5 “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

This is a redemption mission. The more I see our society and nation rejecting things of the Lord, the more I see us walking in darkness. God wants us to share this message not just in the church but in the world. We are the ones who have been enlightened to shine.

Pray with me this week that God will give us opportunities to discuss Christmas and our personal beliefs that it is more than presents and family.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Tues Dec 21 – Sovereignty

Verses- Gal 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."

7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

(Some of the thoughts I want to share this Christmas week came from a sermon I read from John MacArthur, Grace Church in California.)

Christmas is not About the Sensational, It’s about His Sovereignty

I remember when our German foreign exchange student was here at Christmas. He had seen all the houses decorated and lit up, he comment was, “Why do you do this?” It is rather gaudy, isn’t it?” He was looking at Christmas through different eyes.

The decorations in neighborhoods seems to grow every year. Many on a street will compete and give prizes to the one with the most impressive lighted decorations. It is the American way to wow people with the spectacular. I put up lights again this year. It is our way of making things look festive. But to compete as to who has the most sensational decorations is a goal to impress others.

But through God’s eyes it’s not about the sensationalism of the season, it’s simply about coming to gripes with who He is. It is recognizing His sovereignty. If we cannot understand that He rules over all things we don’t understand why Jesus came.

Christ’s coming to earth is well planned and timed, but it seems to lack in the publicity of getting the crowd out. The attendance was pathetic. But this was when it was suppose to start, “In the fullness of time.” The fulfillment of time is an important concept, because it shows God's sovereign control of time in order to bring His promises to pass. Only the Lord knows the times and seasons for fulfillment. Everything that needed to be completed was now ready

Why the world should have remained in darkness for four thousand years, why it should have taken that length of time for the church to attain her full age, we cannot tell; but this we are told, that Jesus was sent forth when the fullness of time was come. Our Lord did not come before his time nor behind his time: he was punctual to his hour, We see this timing of God throughout the Bible and especially in Jesus life on earth. Jesus continually stated that His hour, or time, had not yet come; it was to be fulfilled when He was crucified. In fact, when Jesus came into Jerusalem in His triumphal entry, He stated that Israel should have known the time of the visitation of the Messiah Jesus' death was prophesied in the Old Testament and the fulfillment of this was seen in His death at the appointed time

Solomon wrote an insightful passage Eccl 3:1-11, which declares, "There is...a time for every purpose under heaven." This passage goes on to note that there is a time for birth and death, mourning and dancing, keeping and throwing away, silence and speaking, and war and peace. Man’s times are in the Lord's hands (Ps 31:15).

Jesus told a parable of a man who was into the sensational of his houses and barns and buildings and making a fortune, and he was called a fool. Do you know why? Because tonight his soul was required of him before the sovereign God. His time ended.

It was the sovereignty of God that realized we cannot move toward him. So he moved toward us and sought to save us. Everything that Christ did was done by commission and authority of his Father.

John’s Gospel makes it very clear that Jesus existed from the beginning. He had a part in Creation. Jesus had to be pre-existent in order to be sent from heaven to earth. He was sent from his glorious and sovereign form to humble Himself into a vulnerable baby.

Christianity is not first about teachings or principles or religious rituals, though all of those things may have a place. Our faith stands or falls on who Jesus Christ is. He is the Son of God. He is divine. What he said mattered, because of who he was. John 1:14 said. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” 14, he announces, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Just like his birth, crucifixion, burial and resurrection were all at the appointed times so will be His coming again. That time is known only by the Sovereign Lord, who will once again send Jesus from Heaven with a host of others joining Him.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds Dec 22 Simplicity

Christmas is not about the Superstars, It's about Simplicity

I had seen a TV report of Christians in the market place selling music, books, movies and religion. Mel Gibson was turned down by all the Hollywood producers when they found he was doing the “The Passion of Christ movie’. You know he financed it by himself and it end up being among the top 10 best selling movies in history. Now what do you think the merchants of this world started doing? Sell religion. What do you think Hollywood started doing? Making religious movies. What do you think the stores did? Sold Christian merchandise. And like the blessed sheep in the temple the moneychangers galore will become religious and think of creative ways to market the gospel, fashions and music and we are in a dilemma. How do we sell Jesus?

We not only make things sensational, but develop superstars in all areas of Christianity. We love celebrity status. Christian athletes and musicians sell well. As I was channel surfing last night I came upon a Christian TV show where the “star” was in perfect lighting, gyrating to the Christmas song and dressed with most expensive clothing. My mind went to the ungodly stars who do religious songs this time of years because it makes them money and has nothing to do with their testimony or faith.

If someone becomes popular there are marketers and agents who want to make them superstars. The book industry knows that popular ministers sell books and they continue to publish even trite because it makes them money. The financial charges from Christian superstars are unbelievable. I have commented before on the importance of proper support of those for whom this is their life income, but once again our focus is on that first Christmas and the God of the universe world is contrasted with the god of this world- materialism and super status.

It isn’t about the hype, it is about the heart. And that is only what God looks at this Christmas. He does not give a rip about sales, or crowds, or what is popular or what isn’t. He is only desires of truth and the carrying out of his plan.

Steve Brown tells of a famous painting by Brueghel entitled “The Census.” It is a picture of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve two thousand years ago. The painting captures the scene of a busy village filled to overflowing with visitors called to town for the Roman Census. In the center of the painting is a government booth and flowing from it a long line of tired travelers waiting their turn to fill out the imperial papers commanded by Augustus Caesar. If you look close you can see all kinds of people, rich and poor, young and old, powerful leaders and minor servants. They have all returned to the City of David to be counted. But down in the lower right corner of the picture almost out of site and sure to be overlooked by the casual viewer, just barely visible is a man tugging on a donkey and on top of the donkey a very pregnant woman.

It was God’s design to display His sovereignty in a baby born of a woman. It was His plan to send an angelic choir to a few humble and anonymous sheepherders. That Christmas God came to the humble, and the simple. It was in quiet Bethlehem not popular Jerusalem; it was to the rural area in the outskirts, not to palaces and nobility.

Why a stable? Why was there no room in the inn? Why to a carpenter? Why to foreigners? It was the simplicity of the sovereign that makes this Christmas thing confusing. It’s not in the sensational, but in the simple that God chooses often to carry out his work and his ways.

God sent forth his Son born of a woman and in so doing it was the most defenseless of creatures a baby that requires everything at the hands of humans. Human babies take the longest to develop and care for in the animal kingdom. Yet here is how God came, not with superstar status which He deserved but unassuming carpenter’s home

The Spirit of Christmas is in humility, in simplicity, in meekness when the Master over all came for those who have been given eyes to see.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thurs Dec 23 Spirit

Gal 4:6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."

Christmas is not about self its about the Spirit

A pastor had met a parishioner in a store following Christmas and asked her "Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?"

She answered, "No, I did not. But then, it wasn't my birthday, now was it?"

Good response.

I recalled the time years ago when the church staff was going to put on a surprise birthday party for me. They had it all planned out. Unfortunately, I had gotten called away on a chaplaincy call from the hospital. Back at the church the staff wondered what they should do without my not being there. Ron Gullman got a video camera and began to film the party for me as if I was there. People came out of their hiding places and said surprise. They went through the food line and gave me cards via the video and afterward sang Happy Birthday and blew out the candles and read a poem.

While they were watching the video I came upon them and “surprised them”. We laughed and watched their creativity of putting on a party without my presence.

I thought of how often we are surrounded at Christmas time with things that concern us and forget the party is for HIM. Many Christmas celebrations exclude Christ. Even those who sing and participate in religious activities are filming without His presence. There is something missing.

We see in the life of Jesus that the Son glorifies the Father, the Spirit glorifies the Son, the Father sends the Spirit into us to glorify Himself with a personal relationship that is so intimate we can call Him “Da-da” “Abba”, the first sounds a young child makes trying to say Daddy. As a child we recognize our father and delight in him. When the Spirit comes into our lives it is for the purpose of changing everything from God’s perspective.

Earlier in this letter Paul writes, ”I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20

Certainly Christmas is the time to think of others. Salvation Army receives millions of dollars in donations to help those in need. Toys for Tots has a successful campaign of collections for kids who might not otherwise receive gifts at Christmas. There are mittens made for the homeless, Christmas meals passed out, and cards and money distributed to folks we seldom connect with the rest of the year.

But statistics show increasingly people without any faith celebrate Christmas and in order to do so without any guilty conscience the courts now have officially declared Christmas to be a secular holiday. Our neighbors do not need Jesus to celebrate, have parties, and even concern themselves with those less fortunately in charitable ways.

But the guest of honor is left outside. The Spirit is given for a personal relationship whereby we not sing about the babe of Bethlehem, but cry Abba Father made possible by His coming into our world. The heart of God is to love us into his kingdom but can be done no other way that break that barrier of sin and pride and we receive the Spirit by grace through faith. We become Christ followers for the long haul. Then something is suppose to happen. Our outlook begins to change. To love God and love others isn’t from us, it is through us by the Spirit. Will we trust and obey?

Our culture is bombarded with adult toys so we can have everything our own way. I-pads and i-phones want to so personalize all our wants in music, friends on Facebook, news stories, sports teams, hobbies and interests. The multitude of choices is overwhelming as our tastes and interest not only change but are changed by those who influence us, including the Christmas marketers.

Let’s face it, we like people with whom we are compatible because we like people who are like us. We may think we love others when we are simply feeling good about them loving us. For the sake of a real relationship Christ came to live among us into our sinful and selfish world to give us His Spirit. It is to see the larger pictures of the kingdom of God. He infinite became finite, the sinless among sinners; the lover among the resentful. He became a servant and wants to serve others through us. That is the spirit at work.

To do so requires us to become more interested in what interests Jesus. That might include contacts with people who love Jesus but not love our style of music. Folks who do not love Jesus but need to- the immoral, idolaters, rebels, and so forth. It means making friends with people who don't seem very useful to him: the severely disabled, those wasting away in as shut ins or in nursing homes. It means joining with others who are not just like ourselves who together under the spirit’s leading become the hands and feet and truth of the reason we celebrate. That is the church Christ loves. We are the people to whom the Spirit is given for His glory and honor.

What interests Jesus? After all, its His party.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri Dec 24 – Salvation

Verses- Gal 4: 7 Gal 4:4-7 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."

So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Christmas is not about the Stuff, It’s about Salvation.

The context of the book of Galatians is that we need saving from sin and we need saving from slavery and bondage. When the law came through Moses it was set up not only to keep us form sin, but to show our hearts are in need of change. The law was unable to save us. It became a symbol of the immature children who come to a time of growing up in their lives when they no longer need the law, because the love of God is in their hearts. That is only possible because the Son of God. He was the only one righteous enough to live a life without sin and acceptable to take our punishment to satisfy the law. Justice required sin to be paid by death. Mercy motivated God to make that sacrifice on the cross for our salvation. This Christmas thing through the eyes of God is bringing us salvation so anyone can come to know God in a personal way.

He created mankind as an object of his love, but from the very start that love has been spurned. From the beginning of his attempt to have fellowship with his creation he has met with rejection.
Pastor Rodney Buchanan in one of his sermon reminds us it was not easy for God to give us Christmas. It was not easy to keep loving and coming after a creation that had continually rejected him and his love. It was not easy when he realized what his Son would have to go through, especially the cross. The Christmas story is not as cute as it is profound. A child born to die. A child destined for suffering, abuse and misunderstanding. A child whose life was in danger shortly after his birth. It is a story of a God who gave until it hurt. Christ gave up his position and place in glory that we might have Christmas. It began in a dirty manger and ended on a dirty wooden cross. He was born in a borrowed stable and was buried in a borrowed tomb.

God had one thing in mind from the beginning of the world: to rescue and save his creation; to redeem the human race; to save us and bring us into his eternal kingdom; to put an end to evil and rule the universe. And by so doing he would establish his rightful place on the throne over all creation. God sends a baby who seems to be so vulnerable, but turns out to be the King of the universe.

The Son of God has come under the law. He was the Law-maker and the Law-giver, and he is both the Judge of the law and the Executioner of the law, and yet he himself came under the law. No sooner was he born of a woman than he came under the law: this voluntarily and yet necessarily. He willed to be a man, and being a man he accepted the position, and stood in the place of man as subject to the law of the race. When they took him and circumcised him according to the law, it was publicly declared that he was under the law. During the rest of his life you will observe how reverently he observed the commands of God. Even to the ceremonial law as it was given by Moses he had scrupulous regard. He despises the traditions and superstitions of men, but for the rule of the dispensation he had a high respect.

Now the law is no more. We are blessed to experience grace. He met the requirements. Now instead of the stuff we need Him. Instead of the stuff of what we buy and what we provide we come to understand that Christian isn’t about what we have to offer, it is what he has to offer. Even now, as believers he wants to give us more of himself. In so receiving Jesus to follow Him and accept Him as the complete authority in our lives we are given not only His Spirit and Salvation but the right to become His children, his sons and daughters. We are family.

At the right time Jesus came to reveal His Glory to you and all who will believe. It's not about what we have to give, but what we need to receive.

Merry Christmas

Pastor Dale