Church 11/27/2021
Offertory scripture:
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
Psalm 1:1-3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%201:1-3&version=NKJV
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:16-21 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians%203:16-21&version=NKJV
Sermon message:
God loves people with broken dreams (Christmas series)
Point #1: The Christmas story says God loves people with broken dreams
Heaven is a wonderful place. There is no sin in heaven. Sin itself cannot enter into heaven. We realize we don’t have credentials on our own merit to get into heaven. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Therefore because of sin we cannot enter into heaven with it. But God made a way: a price had to be paid. Jesus paid that price by shedding His blood on the cross. This is God restoring our dream of being able to walk into heaven. That’s what the Christmas story is about.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%203:16&version=NKJV
Jesus: I want to restore that dream that you have of getting into heaven.
The entry passcode is “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus”
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2010:9&version=NKJV
Point #2: the Bible shows God loves people with broken dreams
Consider the story of Joseph in the Old Testament. Broken dreams after broken dreams. But Joseph stayed with God and continued trusting Him.
Consider the story of the woman who was bleeding who touched Jesus’ cloak and was instantly healed.
Consider also the story of the woman the Pharisees had caught in the act of adultery, and had brought her to Jesus. Jesus acquitted her.
Point #3: A story within the Christmas story says God loves people with broken dreams
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.
Luke 1:5-7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%201:5-7&version=NKJV
Point #4: Don’t stop doing what is right
So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zechariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
Luke 1:8-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%201:8-12&version=NKJV
A note:
God meets us when we are serving Him. Satan meets us when we’re not.
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Luke 1:13-17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%201:13-17&version=NKJV
Point #5: It’s important what we believe and what we say
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
Mark 9:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Mark%209:23&version=NKJV
For with God nothing will be impossible.”
Luke 1:37 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%201:37&version=NKJV
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
Mark 11:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Mark%2011:23&version=NKJV
And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
Luke 1:18-20 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%201:18-20&version=NKJV
Sometimes it is better to not say anything at all, than to say the wrong thing. This is what happened with Zechariah.
Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her. So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zechariah. His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.” But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.
Luke 1:57-64 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%201:57-64&version=NKJV
Don’t blow the deal, especially when God wants to bless you. Even when it appears impossible, God makes it possible.
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%2046:1&version=NKJV
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2011:28&version=NKJV
Jesus and His free gift of salvation is what Christmas is all about.