Priority of Prayer for 2025

Intro: As we think about our priorities for 2025, our top priorities should be of the spiritual nature. Those things that will help us grow in our relationship with God. Our spiritual life controls how we respond to all other things. God is concerned about every area of our lives and wants us to seek Him in prayer for His will, His guidance, His blessings, favor and wisdom in all of our ways. Prayer is one of the of the greatest privileges that we have!

I. One of our top priorities for this year should be prayer. (Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV) 'Call to Me,                                                     A. We have an open invitation from God to call on Him in prayer. Only through prayer can we believers stay in contact with God, know what he wants us to do and the way we should go. God's word is like a map or G.P.S. System giving us guidance as to the right way to go. B. The promise if we call on God is (V:33b) and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'1. He will answer us. We should pray in confident & complete trust in God's word to us. 2. He will show us the things we don’t know. God’s plans for the future are inaccessible to ordinary people. Only God can unlock the answer to the things we don't know. He offered this knowledge to Jeremiah and to every one of us who are children of Abraham by faith.

II. Jesus invites us to call on God in prayer. In Matthew 6:9-13  (NKJV) ⁹  In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed (sacred, holy) be Your name. ¹⁰  Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹  Give us this day our daily bread. ¹²  And forgive us our debts,(trespasses,sin) As we forgive our debtors  ¹³  And do not lead us into temptation, (don't permit us to be temped) But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Jesus had given the disciples and us a model prayer. Now He assures them that God welcomes prayer and urged them to come to Him through their own prayers in His name. Matthew 7:7-8 (NKJV) ⁷ "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Jesus gives us the conditions of prayer. 1. Ask – Continuous and persistent action. Emphasized by the present tense. [keep on] 2. Seek- “keep seeking” - Like seeking some lost treasure that means the most to you. 3. Knock -“keep on knocking” Don't give up on prayer. B. God's promise to us if we do these things faithfully. Matthew 7:⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 1. We will receive. The answers we need to make right choices that will keep us on the right path and keep us faithful to Him, and keep us away from sin and trouble will be given. 2. You will find. We will find God more than ready and willing to help us along life’s journey this year. The people of Israel asked Jeremiah 42:3 (NLT) Pray that the LORD God will show us what to do and where to go.” 3. It will be opened. God promises that the door to His throne room will be opened to us.

III. God's promise to meet our needs when we pray. Matthew 7:9-11 (NKJV) ⁹  Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?¹⁰  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?¹¹  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! A. The Father is willing to answer us because He delights in granting our request. B. He will give us the good things that we need to promote our health and well-being, our prosperity and success in life. Prayer makes sure we live with a humble acknowledgment of our need for His grace and mercy, knowing He is our only hope for staying on course and fulfilling our created purpose. God faithfully rewards those who call on Him.

Conclusion: Prayer shouldn't be looked upon as a burden, but a privilege in which we are able to communicate with the One who created us and who is in charge of the whole universe. Philippians 4:6 in the New Living Translation says “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” For the abundant, stress free, successful life, make prayer one of your top priorities for this year. This is the way of wisdom.

Invitation: First priority in prayer is salvation. If you have never called on Jesus to save you, now is the time! Confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive your sins against God. Then invite Jesus into your life to take charge of you. Be baptized as a public testimony of your faith in Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord.

Christmas, the Celebration of Jesus Christ

 INTRO: Christmas is a celebration of Jesus Christ, who entered time and history through His birth and changed the world as none has ever done before. You and I are proof of that change He brought. We celebrate His coming into this world for the purpose of “Seeking and saving that which was lost.” (Luke 10:10)

I. At Christmas we celebrate Jesus Christ as the Eternal Son of God. December 25th, we celebrate the birth of Christ, His coming to earth as a baby in a human body. But His existence didn’t begin with His birth. Jesus existed before the foundation of the earth. John 1:1 (NKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Psalms 2:7 "I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Romans 1:4 Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

II. We celebrate Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. By His birth He brought salvation to all who would believe in Him. Jesus is a gift of love from the Father for the salvation of the world. John 3:16 (NKJV)  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. Jesus is the one who died for all of mankind; He is our "Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" who gave us citizenship in Heaven. Philippians 3:20-21 (NKJV) 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. As we celebrate the birth of our Savior and Lord, we are eagerly waiting for Jesus' return when we will be changed into His glorious image.

III. We celebrate Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who fulfills Old Testament prophecy. John 1:29 (NKJV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! The Lamb of God recalls the Passover Lamb, in [Exodus 12:1-14] whose blood was applied on the doorpost of the Israelite's houses to protect them from the death angel during the Exodus from Egypt. We celebrate Jesus as the Passover Lamb of God, who shed His blood as an offering to take away the sin of the world. We were washed clean by His precious blood when we confess our sins and ask Him for forgiveness. 1 Corinthians 6:11 (NKJV) You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. He is our Passover Lamb. He protects us from spiritual death and eternal separation from God. His salvation includes the resurrection of our bodies. 2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!                                                                    Invitation: You must know Jesus as your Savior to make it to heaven. If you are not sure about your salvation, you can make sure right now by confessing your sins to Jesus and asking Him to save you, and then Jesus will provide you a home in heaven. 

A Son is Given

December 25^th we will celebrate the birth of Christ. Next to Easter, Christmas, the birth of Christ, is one of the greatest holidays of all. Isaiah 9:6-7 (NKJV) ^{6 a} For unto us a Child is born, — He was born for the salvation of the Jews first, and then us Gentiles. The bible says we were all sinners before God and needed a Savior. This prophecy of a Savior was made hundreds of years before it was fulfilled by Mary’s baby in a manger. Luke 2:10-11 (NKJV) ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Isa. 9:6b Unto us a Son is given; God's gracious gift to Jews & Gentiles which no man deserved, but this Son that was given came as Savior to all who would receive Him, to as many as believed on His name, He gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12) John 3:16 (NKJV) 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. 2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! Jesus is not only Savior of mankind, but He is the soon coming King to rule overall. Isa. 9:6c And the government will be upon His shoulder. This refers to His kingly rule over all the nations of the earth. (Rev. 19:16) says On His robe will be the title “King of kings and Lord of lords.” Jesus will rule over God’s people according to (Micah 5:2) and over the whole earth. Zechariah 14:9 (NKJV) And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be-- "The Lord is one," And His name one. As King, He will be responsible to govern the nations. In Isaiah’s day Judah’s leaders were incompetent in governing the people. All governments are incompetent to govern properly. But the Messiah will govern properly, righteously.

Isa. 9:6d His name will be called Wonderful, - pleasing, great, brilliant, and perfect.

Counselor, - trial lawyer, advocate for the people. Go between for man before God.

Mighty God, - He will rule with all the power and authority of God.

Everlasting Father, - He will rule with all the love and care of a father.

Prince of Peace. – He will be the ruler and leader of real lasting peace. Ther is no peace without Him. Isa. 9:7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it (kingdom) with judgment. (righteous decisions ) and justice (fairness, honesty, integrity) From that time (when He takes over) forward, even forever. The zeal (eagerness, enthusiasm) of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Hundreds of years later the beginning of this prophecy began to be fulfilled when: The angel told Mary in: Luke 1:31-32 (NKJV) ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name Jesus. ³² He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. ³³ And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." Daniel prophesied that Jesus’ kingdom would come during the days of the anti-Christ's reign.

Daniel 2:44 (NKJV) And in the days of these kings (of the anti-Christ), the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

Fulfillment of this prophecy will be at the end of the 7-year tribulation period when Jesus comes back to rule and reign over the whole earth. It will not be a kingdom of mere might, and triumph of force over enemies, but it will be a kingdom of righteousness, honesty, integrity, and fairness attainable only in and by Messiah. We live for the day when the proclamation will be made in Heaven.

Revelation 11:15 (NKJV) And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" Revelation 19:6 (NKJV) And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thundering's, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!  The Lord Jesus Christ, who came as a baby Son born of the virgin Mary, is going to reign in sovereign power upon this earth and He is going to reign forever and ever over the new heavens and earth. He is going to reign in omnipotent power, supreme over all. The prayer of God's people, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” is about to become a living reality upon earth forever and ever as Jesus the Son that was given finally begins His “Reign” over all the earth.

Invitation: Have you received this Jesus as your personal Savior? If not, there will never be a better time than now in this Christmas season. Confess your sins against God to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and save you for His kingdom and ask Him to take charge of your life from this day forward. Be baptized as a public testimony to your faith in Jesus as your Savior and Lord. It will be your greatest Christmas ever!