12-25-16 Christmas: It’s hard to believe!

Scripture  Philippians 2:5-11

Children all over the world believe in Santa Clause. A fat guy, hundreds of years old who lives at the North Pole with Elves who make toys all year long. Then on one night a year he delivers personally selected toys to people all over the earth being transported by a group of flying reindeer. He shimmy’s down dirty chimney’s, has milk and cookies and is off to the next house. The idea of a Santa Clause is hard to believe – but still – people believe. The real Christmas story – the one about Jesus, is actually even harder to believe.

God is somewhere distant – heaven – he decides to leave there and come here and become a man. The he serves man and dies for man, rises form the dead and goes back to heaven promising to come back sometime and take us to live with him forever in heaven.  Let’s take a closer look at the journey Jesus made.

NAZARETH VIDEO

(Mary and Joseph went from Nazareth to Bethlehem (from lush wine country to grazing hillsides for sheep) – Jesus went from HEAVEN to Nazareth to Judea to Nazareth to Bethlehem to Egypt to Nazareth to Jerusalem to Calvary to Galilee then back to Heaven. A much longer journey than Mary and Joseph. Mary and Joseph had struggles on their journey from finding out about this pregnancy to leaving the country and raising the son of God. – The struggle for Jesus – it wasn’t more miles that caused him to have a much longer journey – it was where he was leaving and what he was coming to: Heaven TO Earth!

Philippians 2:5-8  (NIV)

          Christ Jesus: being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:5-8 (THE MESSAGE)

          Christ Jesus had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death — and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion.

         

          Imagine the distance Jesus had to travel. In real time and real places. He left heaven 9 months before being born here and it would be years before he was aware of who he was.  We think faith in Jesus is difficult – Imagine how hard it must have been for Jesus to accept who he was. This was not a David Coresh mentally ill ego trip – this was a human being named Jesus who had to accept he was God in human flesh and that he would have to sacrifice his life for everyone around him and all who would come after.

          When he saw sin he must have felt the pain of death. When he saw those who believed it must have strengthened him to accomplish the purpose for which he made this longest most unique journey the world would ever know.

ILLUSTRATION OF INCARNAITON: “If only I were a goose”

There was once a man who didn't believe in God, and he didn't hesitate to let others know how he felt about religion and religious holidays. His wife, however, did believe, and she raised their children to also have faith in God and Jesus, despite his disparaging comments.

          One snowy night, his wife was taking their children to a service in the farm community in which they lived. They were to talk about Jesus' birth. She asked him to come, but he refused. "That story is nonsense!" he said. "Why would God lower Himself to come to Earth as a man? That is ridiculous!"

          So she and the children left, and he stayed home. A while later, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. As the man looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a loud thump. Something had hit the window. He looked out, but couldn't see more than a few feet.

          When the snow let up a little, he ventured outside to see what could have been beating on his window. In the field near his house he saw a flock of wild geese. Apparently they had been flying south for the winter when they got caught in the snowstorm and couldn't go on. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just flapped their wings and flew around the field in low circles, blindly and aimlessly. Obviously, a couple of them had flown into his window.

The man felt sorry for the geese and wanted to help them. The barn would be a great place for them to stay, he thought. It's warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm.

          So he walked over to the barn and opened the doors wide, then watched and waited, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside. But the geese just fluttered around aimlessly and didn't seem to notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. The man tried to get their attention, but that just seemed to scare them, and they moved further away. He went into the house and came with some bread, broke it up, and made a bread crumb trail leading to the barn. They still didn't catch on.

          Now he was getting frustrated. He got behind them and tried to shoo them toward the barn, but they only got more scared and scattered in every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where they would be warm and safe. "Why don't they follow me?!" he exclaimed. "Can't they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm?"

          He thought for a moment and realized that they just wouldn't follow a human. "If only I were a goose, then I could save them," he said out loud. Then he had an idea. He went into barn, got one of his own geese, and carried it in his arms as he circled around behind the flock of wild geese. He then released it. His goose flew through the flock and straight into the barn--and one-by-one, the other geese followed it to safety.

He stood silently for a moment as the words he had spoken a few minutes earlier replayed in his mind: "If only I were a goose, then I could save them!" Then he thought about what he had said to his wife earlier. "Why would God want to be like us? That is ridiculous!" Suddenly it all made sense. That is what God had done. We were like the geese--blind, lost, perishing. God had His Son become like us so He could show us the way and save us.

          As the winds and blinding snow died down, his soul became quiet and pondered this wonderful thought. Suddenly he understood why Christ had come. Years of doubt and disbelief vanished with the passing storm. He fell to his knees in the snow, and prayed his first prayer: "Thank You, God, for coming in human form to get me out of the storm.”

Another place in scripture we clearly see this Unique Journey of Jesus coming from Heaven to Bethlehem.

VIDEO: The true miracle of Christmas (Word became flesh)

          You would think that seeing the real physical - born of a virgin - Messiah would cause people to believe – but it isn’t believing in a man (like every religion in the world) it is believing that God became man and gave His life for us.

John 1:10-13

The Word/Jesus was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

          Speaking to Nicodemus, Jesus tells us how we can now make our most Unique Journey from earth to heaven: John 3:3 Jesus declared, I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.  John 3:5-6  No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.  John 3:13-17  No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven — the Son of Man.   Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Saint Nicholas and he was born to a wealthy, elderly couple in what is now Turkey in the 3rd century AD. When his parents died, he was left with a large inheritance and gained a reputation for generously giving to the poor. He entered a monastery and eventually was ordained Bishop of the coastal city of Myra. Nicholas was known for miraculous answers to prayer, confronting pagan “Diana” worship and being cruelly imprisoned during Roman Emperor Diocletian’s persecution of Christians. When Constantine ended the persecution, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea and helped write the Nicene Creed. Saint Nicholas died on December 6, 343AD. Early American writer Washington Irving, creator of Rip Van Winkle and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, was instrumental in transforming Saint Nicholas into jolly ol’ St. Nick!

As hard as it was for him, Nicodemus believed that God had become man and his name is Jesus. St. Nicolas inherited great wealth and used that wealth in the name of the one in whom he put his belief – his name is Jesus. It’s fun to believe in Santa clause – It’s hard to believe in Jesus. When someone puts their belief in Jesus, that is the true miracle of Christmas.

12-24-16 What Child is This?

Scripture     Luke 2:1-20

What Child is this?

Luke 9:18-22

Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God."

          Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."

What Child is this?

John 10:30-33 - Jesus said, “I and My Father are one.”

John 8:58 - Then Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

John 14:6-7 - Jesus said, “I AM the way, the truth, and the Life…”

John 20:28 - And Thomas answered and said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”

Acts 4:12 - “Nor is there salvation in any other than Jesus, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Philippians 2:5-7 - Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Colossians 2:9 - For in Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

1 Timothy 3:16 - And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

Revelation 22:13 - “I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”... 22:16 - “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches.”

Luke 2:9-11 - An angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds and said, "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

John 1:1-3 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made... 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,

Matthew 1:23 - “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

What Child is this?

          William Chatterton Dix (150 years ago) England.  He managed a marine insurance company (selling insurance for ships).  His true passion was poetry.

Dix became seriously ill, and was confined to his bed for an extended period of time.  He underwent a true spiritual crisis during this illness, and spent much time in prayer and the reading of Christian literature.  During this time he wrote several hymns, one of which is “What Child is This?”

It was first published in 1865 in Britain. The song begins in the manger with the child sleeping on Mary’s lap, accompanied by angels and shepherds.  But the second verse asks why he would be lying “in such mean estate.” or humble place? It goes on to speak of Jesus’ purpose— to plead for the salvation of sinners—and alludes to the nails and the cross that he will face as a man.

The third verse moves to a joyful tone, asking us to bring Jesus incense, gold and myrrh.  The reason is simple.  The King of kings has come to bring us salvation, so we should respond joyfully in his honor.

The tune “Greensleeves,” had been around for 100 years and applied to the poem to create the hymn as we know it. “Greensleeves” was written in a minor key, which gives it a sad feel in the first two lines.  However, while the key remains minor, the last two lines take on an enthusiastic, joyful character that contrasts nicely with the earlier lines.

What Child is This?

What Child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ, the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!

Why lies He in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.

This, this is Christ, the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, come, peasant, king to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings; let loving hearts enthrone Him.

This, this is Christ, the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!

What Child is this?

DRAMA:

Luke 2:1-20

(Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus enter up C isle from back)

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

          And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; (Mary is seated holding baby Jesus, Joseph stands behind/side them) because there was no room for them in the inn.

          And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. (looking up at angels) And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings 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. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

          And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. (Joseph sit beside Mary) And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

          And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary (Mary snuggle Jesus close to her) kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

SING: What Child is This?

What Child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ, the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!

Why lies He in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.

This, this is Christ, the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!

(Joseph rises and lights a candle form the Christ candle and returns to standing behind Mary / unless baby Jesus is too fussy, then Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus can exit up C isle at this point. Otherwise, the pastor will light his candle form Joseph’s at the end of the song)

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, come, peasant, king to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings; let loving hearts enthrone Him.

This, this is Christ, the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary!

Candle lighting and singing Silent Night!

12-18-16 My son was born just before Christmas

Scripture  Luke 1:5-80

          In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; (A priest of the 8^th division of 24, the division of Abijah and served at the temple for two one week periods a year. There were 18,000 priests. A priest only served at the sacrifice once in his lifetime – this was my one time.) his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years. 

          Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. (As the officiating priest, it was Zechariah's job to place incense on the heated altar and then prostrate himself in prayer. The incense represented the prayers of the people. Outside, the people were reciting this prayer during the incense offering: "May the merciful God enter the Holy Place and accept with favor the offering of his people.")

          Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.   Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous — to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time." 

          Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. 

          When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."

          In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God." "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. 

          At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers." Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home. 

          When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

          On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, "No! He is to be called John." They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who has that name." Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone's astonishment he wrote, "His name is John." Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God. The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, "What then is this child going to be?" For the Lord's hand was with him. 

          His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."   And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.

12-11-16 What are you expecting for Christmas?

Scripture    Haggai 2:6-7

          I love the expectation of Christmas. I always have. STORY: As Children we woke up, lined up and dove under the tree.  The later we got to go to Dad’s for more.

          I expected to see Maw and Paw from Toledo. I expected to go to downtown Lazarus and see the window displays and Santa and do secret Santa and eat at the counter at Woolworths.

          I expected to put Christmas lights on the house. I expected to see Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)  A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)   How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)  Frosty the Snowman (1969)

          Then I had expectations of the reality that this holyday was about the birth of God’s son. Then I had expectations of the joy of my children and now a grandchild.  Christmas is a time of expectations. Some expect it to be a time of financial stress – family issues – the missing of loved ones – depression and loneliness. No matter how you look at it; Christmas has always been, is and will be a time of great expectations. What are you expecting for Christmas?

CHARLES WESLEY

In 1744, Charles Wesley considered Haggai 2:6-7 (“This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord Almighty.”) The hymn writer Wesley looked at the situation of orphans in the areas around him. He also looked at the class divide in Great Britain. Through this train of thought, he wrote a prayer at the time which had the words:

"Born Your people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now Your gracious kingdom bring. By Your own eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone; by Your all sufficient merit, raise us to Your glorious throne. Amen."  Wesley adapted this prayer into a hymn in 1744. He wrote with the Advent and Nativity in mind as well as having people prepare for the EXPECTED Second Coming of Christ.

The hymn became popular across Christian denominations in England through the popular Baptist preacher, Charles Spurgeon. Spurgeon preached a Christmas sermon in London in 1855 when he was 21 that included sections of "Come thou long expected Jesus" to illustrate his point that very few are "born king" and that Jesus was the only one who had been born king without being a prince. Not that he was born…and became a king – He was already the King eternal…who was then born. WOW no-one was expecting that for Christmas. Some expected that a person would be born and anointed by God to be the messiah, much like a prophet or king. No one could have even considered that God would become the messiah – the pre-incarnate anointed one.

TEMPLE GLORY

Haggai moves the people to compare the glory of Solomon’s temple built with costly materials to the current temple built with available materials. The previous is far greater than the current. It is the time of year when the temple is to be ready for the greatest feasts of the year; and it is not ready. Haggai makes the people see it is not the structure that brings it glory, rather the one who dwells there and that the glory is as strong now as it was then and even greater in this new day although the physical structure may not be as glorious, the reality of God’s presence can be more so in the people who will obey Him.

Haggai calls a disgruntled, discouraged community to work with renewed strength and without fear. The presence of the Lord Almighty consumes the majority of the text and gives them hope to finish the rebuilding of the temple.

The Great expectation of the first Christmas was that the messiah was coming to dwell on earth. The expectation of this Christmas ought to be just as strong of an expectation that the messiah is coming to dwell in people – and not just the people he already dwells in but always in newer temples. Jesus is always looking for another manger – another temple in which he can take up residence and fill that space with His Glory!!!

Mary expected Jesus

Luke 2:4-7

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The crowd expected Jesus (Jairus)

Luke 8:40-41

Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him.

More Crowd Expectations of Jesus

Matthew 11:1-5

After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.”

Do we expect Jesus to come again?

Luke 12:39-40

But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Hanging in the US National Gallery of Art in Washington DC is a series of four paintings by Thomas Cole. The series is called “The Voyage of Life”. Each painting depicts a stage of life: childhood, youth, manhood and old age.

(*) The first painting is of childhood. It shows a mountain with a dark cave at its base and a river flowing out of the cave. A beautiful timber boat glides out of the cave into a world of lush vegetation, flowers in bloom and a peaceful, gentle surface on the water. Inside the boat is a laughing baby with a Guardian Spirit standing right behind. The painting shows childhood as a time of wonder and joy.

(*) The second painting is called “youth”. We see the same boat now travelled further downstream. The baby has grown into a teenage boy. He stands in the rear, confidently steering the boat towards a majestic white castle off in the distance. The riverbanks are still lush and green and the Guardian Spirit stands on those banks, watching the young man boldly chart his course. The painting shows youth as a time of dreaming and absolute self confidence that nothing can hold me back.

(*) In the third painting the scene has changed dramatically. The youth has become a man, the river has become a raging torrent, and the sky has become dark and threatening. The castle of dreams is nowhere to be seen and the boat’s rudder has broken. Up ahead lie treacherous rocks, with white water crashing all around them. The man in the boat is caught up by forces he can’t control. With the rudder broken he cannot steer his boat. All he can do is look up to the sky and pray. Meanwhile the Guardian Spirit sits hidden in the clouds. Cole is picturing adulthood as a time when the joy and wonder of childhood have been tamed by the difficult and tragic experiences of life, when the confidence, boldness and expectations of youth have been swept away by the harsh realities of life.

(*) The final painting is called “Old Age”. The battered and weathered boat has finally reached the ocean. The dark clouds remain but the water is still. The boat’s occupant is now an old man, and his gaze is fixed firmly on the clouds out there in front of him, clouds pierced by the glorious light of heaven, the light pierced by angels coming to and fro. For the first time in his life the man sees the Guardian Spirit that has accompanied him on his journey. It comes, takes him by the hand and prepares him for his journey into the heavens.

In each of these stages of life, the man in the boat had expectations. Sometimes the expectations were wonderful and full of promise, other times they were fearful and full of dread. What should our expectation be this Christmas and into a new year? The glory of Jesus in and through us for the sake of others!

Psalm 5:1-3

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

 "The feast of Saint Andrew invites us to ponder his response to Christ’s call: "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. At once they left their nets…" (Mt. 4:19-20). With his brother Peter, Andrew immediately left his fishing nets to catch souls for the Kingdom.

     Are we hesitating to respond to Christ this Advent because we have a low expectation of what God can do through us?

Haggai 2:6-7 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord Almighty.”

12-04-16 To Jeff: My true son in the Faith

The Installation Service for Dr. Jeff Cooper as pastor of Ashland Church. Guest speaker: Blythe Ann (Hitch) Cooper. The service may be seen on video at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYYVPfGQwwo

11-27-16 Who is going fishing this Christmas?

Scripture   Philippians 2:6-11 

Who is going fishing this Christmas?

All my life I have seen pictures of fish shanties (1) on Lake Eire with people braving the cold stuck in a tiny shack on top of the ice hoping to catch some fish.  Nothing could be less appealing to me than trying to catch fish through a little hole in the ice while it is freezing outside. It’s bad enough going to the cold section of the store to pick up some already fileted fish.

HOWEVER,

Let me suggest that fishing at Christmas is one of the best times of the year to do so. People are more likely to accept an invitation to come to church at Christmas or Easter than at any other time of year. Even the most unchurched people have an idea that Christmas has something to do with the church.

In view of our theme, God sent His son out into the deep to let down his nets for a catch. Listen to this Christmas text and how it describes Jesus going into the deep to let down his nets for a catch – even in the midst of difficult uncomfortable cold ice fishing:

(2) Philippians 2:6-11  Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (How deep did he go from being God in heaven to being a human on earth 2000 years ago?) (Now, watch him go fishing and see the results) And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Simply put, the entire Christmas event (Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels, Herod, Wise Men, a stable and a manger) all of it was God the Father sending His son on the biggest fishing trip known to man. The goal was to go out into the deep, let down his nets to catch as many fish as possible to bring them back home with him. Here’s the thing; Jesus had to return home but the fishing trip still continues. He has asked us to keep fishing and keep filling the boat because he doesn’t want a single fish to flounder. 

At First: Gen 6:17-18  I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish.

And Then: Gen 9:11   I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."

And Now: 2 Peter 3:9   The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

THEREFORE (another great Christmas verse) (3) John 3:16   "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Let’s look at those who serve as an example of sharing the good news that God has sent his son Jesus and does not want any life to go to waste, but all to receive eternal life. This is truly GOOD NEWS.

In the Christmas story who was first to announce the good news?

The Star = appeared before the birth of Christ which told the wise men a king was being born.

Then the angels = Luke 2:10-12 I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Then Mary and Joseph = (would have shared their story with the shepherds.

Then the Shepherds

Then Simeon and Anna

Then Herod’s priest’s and teachers of the law (The Christ is to be born in Bethlehem)

It seems that everyone in the Christmas story, everyone who encountered Jesus, shared this good news with others. In other words, they all became fishers of men. When I think about the shepherds, what did they do after their encounter with Jesus? They spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen.

          They went back to work and to their homes. As they went, the shared the good news of Jesus. Jesus wants us to simply do the same – (4) 2 Cor 5:17-20   Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors/fishermen, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Get into the net/Be reconciled to God.

          When we revisit our theme – “Go into the deep and let down your nets for a catch”, there is one problem: People are not sitting around waiting for us to tell them about Jesus or invite them to church. One reason we don’t fish is that we know people avoid the net at all costs. But that is how it has always been. As sweet as we make the Christmas story – (5) JESUS CAME UNINVITED INTO THE WORLD.

Into this world, this demented inn, in which there is absolutely no room for Him at all, Christ has come uninvited. He cannot be at home in it, because He is out of place in it, and yet He must be in it, His place is with those for whom there is no room. His place is with those who do not belong, who are rejected by power because they are regarded as weak, those who are discredited. With those for whom there is no room, Christ is present in the world. He is mysteriously present in those for whom there seems to be nothing but the world at its worst…, for whom there is no room.

Sharing the good news of great joy is what God did…is what He wants us to do…what we must do. It is not welcome, which is exactly why we do it.

1974 Christmas was my favorite. 11-4-74 I was swimming and swam into His net and he brought me into the boat. That made that Christmas the most special for me…

11-20-16 Faith is NOT enough!

Scripture                                                     Luke 17:11-19

Luke 17:11-19

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" 14 When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him — and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"  19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

11-13-16 Riding the waves of Thankfulness!

Scripture  1 Thessalonians 5:18

1 Thessalonians 5

Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. #blindside – people will be stunned at what is happening!

          But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

          12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

          16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

          19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.

          23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

          25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

          28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Are you dying toward the return of Christ or are you living toward the return of Christ?

Praise and Thanksgiving are not the same – 1^st cousins

Psalm 100:4

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

Psalm 100:4 shows the distinction:

Thanksgiving – Thank God for things (Thank parents for a car – Praise parents for their generosity)

Praise – Praise for who God is

Every day this week write down four things: I thank God for (something I have) I thank God for (someone in my life) I thank God for (something He has done/is doing/will do) I praise God for (aspect of who He is). Bring that list to church next week

5 slides here:

       1) I thank God for SOMETHING I HAVE

       2) I thank God for SOMEONE IN MY LIFE

       3) I thank God for SOMETHING HE HAS DONE/IS DOING/WILL DO

       4) I praise God for A QUALITY OF GOD

        5) (list all four above on one slide)

Here is an example of a man who knew the secret of thanking God even through trials. When he was 7 years of age, his family was forced out of their home, and he went to work. When he was 9, his mother died. He lost his job as a store clerk when he was 20. He wanted to go to law school, but he didn't have the education. At age 23 he went into debt to be a partner in a small store. Three years later the business partner died, and the resulting debt took years to repay.

When he was 28, after courting a girl for four years, he asked her to marry him, and she turned him down. On his third try he was elected to Congress, at age 37, but then failed to be re-elected. His son died at 4 years of age. When this man was 45, he ran for the Senate and lost. At age 47 he ran for the vice-presidency and lost. But at age 51 he was elected president of the United States.

The man was Abraham Lincoln, a man who learned to face discouragement and move beyond it. Did you know that it was Abraham Lincoln who, in the midst of the Civil War, in 1863, established the annual celebration of Thanksgiving? Lincoln had learned how important it is to stop and thank God in the midst of great difficulties.

CONCLUSION

When you are going through trials you don’t need to be all spiritual and say, well I know this is good for me – in fact this is where people so often misinterpret Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:31-39

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 

          Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Example of praise and thanksgiving while in struggle but not related to the struggle.

Acts 16:22-32

The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

          About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"

          The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

          They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household."

11-06-16 Martha…Martha…Maarrtha!

Scripture  Luke 10:38-42

Example: mint dill cumin – don’t neglect but pay attention to more important things [one is ‘gooder’]

Luke 10:38-42

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

          41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Here’s the story, of a lovely lady,

who was busy making food for her Lord.

She made fish, bread and cheese, like her mother,

And poured some wine to drink.

Here’s the story, of her sister Mary,

who likes sitting and talking with her Lord.

Just the two of them conversing all day

She never felt alone.

Till the one day when Martha got upset

And she said “Jesus make her help me now!”

He said, Martha you are too distracted,

And Mary’s chosen what is right!

What is right

What is right

Mary’s chosen what is right!       

                                                            BY JEFF COOPER Nov. 4 2016

John 11:1-47

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."  (Lois Lane getting news to Clark Kent that Jimmy Olsen is hanging off the empire state building by his fingers which are about to come loose and Superman needs to come quick and save him)

          4 When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it."  5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

          7 Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea."

          8 "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"

          9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. 10 It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light."

          11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up."

          12 His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

          14 So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."

Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

          And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied.

Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

          So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"  The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

John 12:1-11

Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

          7 "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.