February 28,2018

 

Your Life’s Worth

Isaiah 43:4

 

Greater than the Riches of the World

• Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you,
  peoples in exchange for your life.—Isaiah 43:4

Greater than the Dignitaries of the World

• Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you,
  peoples in exchange for your life.—Isaiah 43:4

Greater than the Nations of the World

• Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you,
  peoples in exchange for your life.—Isaiah 43:4

 

January 14, 2018

 

Blissful Ways

Haggai 1:5-8

 

Shun the Pit Misery

• Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways! “You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes.”—verse 5-6
• “Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘This people says, “The time has not come, even the time for the house of the LORD to be rebuilt.”’”  Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying,  “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?”—verse 2-4
• For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.—Luke 9:24
• “He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.—John 12:25

Build God’s Builders

• Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways!  “Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified,” says the LORD.—verse 7-8
• Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.—John 4:34
• I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.—Psalm 40:8

 

December 31, 2017

 

The Highest Experience

Trusting the Unseen

• In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ—verse 6-7
• Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.—John 16:20
• “Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”—John 16:22

Living with Joy

• and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory—verse 8
• Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” —Nehemiah 8:10

December 24, 2017

The Grandest Message

Luke 2:1-21

Delivered in Plain Simplicity

Sheepish Audience

• In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.—vv 8-9

Simple Message

• But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” –vv 10-12

Short Praise

• And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”—vv 13-14

Received in Full Certainty

Risk of Endangerment

• When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. –vv 15-16

Risk of Rejection

• When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.—vv 17-19

Real Perfection

• The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.—v 20

 

December 17, 2017

The Paradox

Finding Favor with God

• And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.—Luke 1:28

Encountering the Presence of God

• And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.—Luke 1:29
• Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? .—Luke 1:29
• For with God nothing shall be impossible.—Luke 1:37
• And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.—Luke 1:38
• At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear.—Luke 1:38
• What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?—Romans 8:31