Advent of Promise

“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off,
even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” ~ Acts 2:39

        

As we come to this Special Holy Occasion, may our hearts turn toward God with great appreciation. It is the Birth of our Salvation. Jesus is the Advent of Promise! It was Promised of old by the Prophets of God that He would send forth a Saviour, born of a Virgin. We are the “receiver” of this Great Gift! Since it is the season of Gifts, let us give thanks for the many Gifts that came with our Salvation. The Gift of Mercy, The Gift of Grace, The Gift of forgiveness, The Gift of Love, and the Gift goes on and on … And then Jesus imparts to the Church and His People the Gift of the Holy Ghost! What a glorious season of Gift Giving we experience on a daily basis. Today we hear the grand old songs of the Church, the stable, sincere, Songs of Worship, that celebrate this season of our Lord’s Birth. We hear the instruments as they give glory to God and bring His Joy to the listener! Special Solo’s and then the Children’s moments to express the Birth of Jesus! We are small in number but sincerely mighty in Spirit and we celebrate with hearts full of Thanksgiving for God has sent His Son to Redeem us! One might ask, that is if they don’t know Jesus, why did He send His Son? The Word of God gives us the Answer! John 3:16-17 “God so Loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be Saved.” And therein we have the Greatest Gift to mankind, Eternal Life! So Come Let us Adore Him, Christ the Lord!  Love Pastor

Thou Did Leave Thy Throne

    Thou did leave Thy Throne and Thy Kingly crown
Then Thou Came to earth for me;
In Bethlehem’s home no room was found
For Thy Holy Nativity:
O Come to my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for thee!

Thou came O Lord, With the Living Word that should
set Thy people free; With mocking scorn,
And with Crown of throne, there is room at my side for Thee!
Emily E.S. Elliot ~ Timothy R. Matthews

The BENEDICTION

What Blessed moment in our History, the day Jesus Christ was born and delivered us from the Law. We give thanks for the Law, therein we see the Revelation of all the Prophets, a Virgin has conceived, and we are a receiver of so Great a Salvation. Oh Lord we ask for our families today, that you would draw them with cords of Love that they might know you! We give thanks for Your Birth Lord Jesus and we give thanks for Your Resurrection as the man sent from God to Redeem us. We Bless Your Birthday today, and we sense the power of Your Promise to return for Your people!  We await the Day of Your Coming again, may we all be ready! We ask these things in the Name of the Father, His Son, and the Power of the Holy Ghost!  Amen

“Advent of Joy & Eye Witnesses!”

 “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with Power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him. And we are Witnesses of all things which Jesus did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:”  ~ Acts 10:38-39

How Important do you think a Witness is??? Stop and give this some thought – the importance of a Witness!  It is hard for mankind to receive the Message of Christ, yet there were a multitude of “Witnesses!” – Eye Witnesses!  Consider the Witnesses that saw Christ heal the sick, the lame, and the moment that He cast the devil into the swine.  Think of the Witnesses that saw Him on the Cross – The Witnesses that saw Him alive after death!  Nothing about God was done in secret, it was open and Witnessed! And today we are His Witnesses, for He has Commissioned us - Acts 1:8  “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” This Precious Gift has been sent to those who will receive it – it is the Power of God that gives us boldness in our Journey of Faith, it requires Obedience to push forward and receive it, It is the Power of the Holy Ghost! Today we look at the First Witnesses who saw Jesus beside His Mother and Father. The Angels of heaven look on as this Holy Occasion begins to open … An Angel of the Lord is sent to give the Message to the Shepherds. They are quietly watching their flock by night when the Angel appears with the Message: “Fear not, for, Behold I bring you good tidings of Great of Great Joy, which shall be to all people! For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord!” The Shepherds were frightened as the Angel appeared and the glory of the Lord shone round about them … Soon there was a multitude of the heavenly host Praising God, and saying Glory to God in the highest, and on earth Peace, Good will toward men.” Thus we have the first Witnesses, “Eye Witnesses” to the Christ born in the Inn, & laid in the manger. We also have record that a star appeared in the East and Kings are on their way to Worship the New Born King. Christmas is a season of “Great Joy!” I want to encourage the saints to not be ‘tempted’ about ‘things’ in this Holy Season, but to experience a fresh Joy of the Holy Ghost! O saints hear  this -- Acts 2:28 “Thou has made known to me the ways of life; Thou shalt make me full of Joy!”

Wishing you a “Joyous” Christmas,   Love Pastor

An Advent of Faith

“The Grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant
with Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus.”  ~ I Timothy 1:14

There is so much to be said about “Faith!” When you pursue “Faith” in the Scripture, there are 247 mentions of “Faith!” As we think on Advent and the decisions that were made by Mary and Joseph, we recognize the Power of Faith that moved them.  It was the Holy Ghost at work. There are so many teachings out there in this area of Faith, that I must muster of Faith to bring forth this “Advent of Faith!” Often there seems to be a mystery that surrounds “Faith” but today we look at simplicity of simply believing in God, Trusting His Word and walking out our life for Him. Faith to me is a walk, not so much a commanding, if you understand what I mean. Again we look at Mary as this Advent unfolds. For a moment let us follow Mary as she begins her walk of Faith toward the Birth of Christ. There usually seems to be a “conformation” when we take on a Faith Walk for the Lord. It might be a huge conformation, or it might be a small Word of God in season coming out of nowhere, like a friend, or a statement in a sermon, we turn to a Passage of Scripture that pops out and speaks to us, etc. Mary’s conformation came when she visited her Cousin Elisabeth. Miraculous things were happening to Elisabeth, she was older and had been barren when the Angel of the Lord appeared unto her husband. We’re talking about an Advent filled with the Power of the Holy Ghost! It is an Advent of Faith, Faith to believe in God’s Promise, even to us! What glorious Miraculous season of Advent. Holy Ghost is at work! Zacharias, Elisabeth’s Husband was a Priest and He was standing at the Alter when the Angel Gabriel appeared unto him with a powerful Message. Interesting; The Angel said: “Thy Prayer is heard: they wife shall bear a son and thou shall call his name John.” Hear Zacharias response: I am an old man, and my wife is well stricken in years! This leads me to believe the Prayers they had prayed was some time ago. Now these Prayers were happening!  Sometimes we think God does not hear us but be assured He is always listening, and in His Timing and according to His Will our Prayers will bear fruit!  This is a perfect example of God’s timing. John would be the one who proclaimed to masses, “Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world!” The Conformation: When Mary arrived at her Cousin’s and Elisabeth heard her greeting: “The babe leaped in her womb; Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: she spake out with a loud voice … Blessed art thou among women, and Blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? All these things are a part of a Glorious and Miraculous season of Advent!  Loving U, Pastor