Christmas Celebration

 

I. We Celebrate our Savior's Birth. Luke 2:9-14 (NKJV) ⁹  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 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. ¹²  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." ¹³  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ¹⁴  "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" There was 400 years of silence from Heaven between the Old Testament which ended with the book of Malachi and the New Testament beginning in the book of Matthew. We are now no longer under the old covenant of law, but Matthew tells we now have a New Covenant with God through the birth of Jesus Christ. That new covenant is based on the blood of Jesus which He shed on the cross as payment for our sin. Matthew tells us that Now You and I have a Savior. A Savior is one who delivers or rescues one from destruction. The bible says in Romans 3:23 that all mankind has sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Romans 6:23a (NKJV)  For the wages of sin is death, according to this scripture, The wages of our sin is death, eternal separation from God. But the verse goes on to say Romans 6:23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. So we conclude from the previous scripture that all mankind was eternally lost until Jesus came. Jesus came to save us from our sins which had held us in slavery and bondage to the devil. The angels’ message was comforting. The shepherds were told not to be afraid. The message was that “a Savior,” Christ the Lord, was born. This was good news of great joy. Throughout Luke “joy” is often associated with salvation. This news was to be proclaimed to all the people.

II. We Celebrate Jesus as Our Redeemer. He paid the penalty due us for our sins. 1Tim. 2:5-6 ⁵ For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Because of what Jesus did on the cross we can be forgiven our sins against a holy God. Not only do we celebrate His birth, but we also remember His death and His soon return, because it was not only His birth, but it was also by His death & resurrection that our salvation was made complete. No matter what sin we have committed we can be forgiven if we repent and ask for forgiveness and turn from our sinful ways. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Colossians 2:14 says Jesus has wiped out the handwriting of requirements [10 commandments] that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. O what great news the angel brought that night. What a truly Holy Night when Christ was born! We no longer have to carry the burden of the penalty for our sins, we are forgiven in Christ. This is good news of great joy to all people.

III. WE PRAISE GOD FOR THE GIFT OF HIS SON. [Luke 2:13-14]
¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, toward men of goodwill!" Praise means the act of expressing approval, admiration or commendation. Since there were no people to praise God He opened the mouths of the angels and they began to praise God saying ^“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, toward men of goodwill!" We can learn a great lesson about praise from the angels and tonight we praise God for His wonderful gift of salvation for all mankind. We Praise Him for the love, mercy, grace, salvation, and eternal security He revealed to us thru His Son Jesus whom we worship.

Invitation: If you don't know Jesus as your Savior and Lord, now is the time to confess your sins to Him and ask Jesus to forgive you of those sins and invite Him into your life to save your soul for Heaven, and you will enjoy the greatest Christmas ever.

Blessings of the Believer

 

Scripture Text

Psalm 36:7-9

Intro: We who are children of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are the most blessed people on earth. Some envy the wicked, but they are not blessed of God. Psalms 1:6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

I. There is security in the Lord. Psalm 36:7 (NKJV) How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.                                                        A. His unfailing love endures forever. We have the Security of a merciful, loving, kind, caring God. (Psalm 57:1) Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. God’s loyal love is precious, because humans can take refuge in the Lord like chicks taking refuge under their mother hen’s wings. If we are in God’s will, nothing can touch us without His permission.

II. There are abundant provisions. Psalm 36:8 (NKJV) They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.                                                A. The fullness of God’s house. The psalmist here uses the imagery of the temple to say that believers enjoy the provisions of God’s house. (Isaiah 55:1-2) ¹ "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; and you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come; buy wine and milk Without money and without price. ² Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. God invites people to come to Him. The blessings God gives are available without cost. Salvation is a free gift of God; it refers to spiritual redemption and physical deliverance. Both are intended here. The Lord asks how people could be interested in other things besides Himself as He is the only One who can bring genuine satisfaction. Throughout all history people have tried to find satisfaction through many things other than God.

III. There is life in the Lord. (Psalm 36:9a) For with You is the fountain of life; A. Jesus came for this purpose. John 14:6 (NKJV)Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the (life.) No one comes to the Father except through Me. Understanding, joy, and abundant life come from the Lord, our Source. (John 10:10b)

IV. There is light in the Lord. (Psalm 36:9b) For In Your light we see light. A. The light of the Lord overcomes darkness. John 8:12 — Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." Jesus lights our way through the darkest of times. His Spirit guides us.      2Cor. 4:6 — For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion: So in contrast with the corruptions of the wicked, an obedient believer’s life is characterized by security in the Lord, abundant provisions, life, and understanding in God’s presence. This is the promise of God for all His children.

Invitation: If you are enjoying these provisions of the Lord you should give thanks right now. If you are not enjoying all these provisions of the Lord, now is the time to correct that. Simply confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and invite Him into your life. Do it now!

Words to Live By

 

Scripture Text

Mark Chapter 5

Intro: No matter what situation you are in or what you are facing now or what you might face in the future, Jesus has some words of truth that you and I can live by. Jesus’ words will never fail you! He is the same yesterday, today and forever! What He speaks He brings to pass! He can not lie because He is the truth!

I. The problem. Mark 5:22-23 (NLT) ²²  Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet, ²³  pleading fervently with him. “My little daughter is dying,” he said. “Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.” V: 35 (NLT) While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.” Jairus’ daughter was sick and he approached Jesus for help. While Jesus was speaking to the woman who had an issue of blood, his servants came and told him his daughter had died. This was a hopeless situation from a human point of view. I'm sure Jairus was saddened and thought now its too late, I've lost my daughter. Maybe you are going through a hopeless situation or circumstance right now.

II. Jesus reaction to our problems. Mark 5:36a NLT But Jesus overheard them talking. Messengers from Jairus’ house came with the word that his daughter was dead and Jesus heard them. Jesus had compassion on Jairus and was going to help him. He has compassion for us and is willing to help us. He tells us what we need to do. Jesus said to ask, seek, and knock on heaven’s door for all our needs. Luke 11:9-10 (NLT) ⁹ “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 1 Peter 5:7  Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. When we pray, Jesus cares and hears our cry for help.

III. Jesus speaks words of faith. (Mark 5:36b) Don't be afraid,” Jesus knows our first reaction to a problem. Fear and faith can’t exist together. Fear cancels out faith! Fear paralyzes us, drags us down. Fear is all around us each and every day to some degree. How can we overcome fear? Jesus tells us how! “Only Believe.” (v:36b) Hymn we sing! All things are possible, only believe! Jesus says the way to handle our every problem is to have faith in Him and believe. Believe means to have complete confidence in the truth of Jesus' word. He only speaks truth. Believe also means to have a conviction that Jesus will be involved in a given situation. It means to have faith in the mercy, grace and compassion of Jesus. When we bring a problem to Jesus in prayer, we are to have trust and confidence that He has heard us, and He will take care of the problem. James 1:6-7 (NLT) ⁶ But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

IV. Jesus powerful words. Mark 5:41-42 (NLT) ⁴¹ Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!” ⁴² And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed. Jesus demonstrated His great love and amazing power and raised Jairus' daughter from the dead, whereby showing us His great mercy and power. The angel Gabriel told Mary in (Luke 1:37) “nothing is impossible with God.” In Mark 9:23 There was a father who asked Jesus if He could do anything for his demon possessed son. Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."

Conclusion: May these words of truth and faith dwell in our hearts from this day forward. When we face problems in this world and we take them to God in prayer, may we be able to remember the words of Jesus in each situation. “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”

Invitation: Have you placed your faith and belief in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord? If not, confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and save you from hell right now. “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” Invite Him into your life and know the love, peace and joy of sins forgiven!

Remembering

Intro: May 27th we celebrate Memorial Day. It is a United States federal holiday which occurs every year on the final Monday of May. Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It was first observed on May 30, 1868 to honor those who died in the Civil War. Now on Memorial Day, we honor the memories of all those who have died in military service for the United States of America. There have been hundreds of thousands of great soldiers in this country’s history. We want to remember the tremendous price those warriors gave. They gave the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our freedom. As we remember those who have given their lives to protect our freedom, let us also remember the One who gave His life to free us from sin, spiritual bondage and death. While we honor the war dead throughout America's history this morning, another great Warrior comes to my mind. Jesus was the perfect Warrior! We are to remember Him, His life, death, and love for us. We don't want us to forget the tremendous price He paid for us.

I. We remember Jesus' life and mission. Luke 19:10 (NLT)  The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Jesus left the glories of Heaven and came to this earth as a man to give salvation to as many as would receive Him and then He gave them the right to become children of God so all who believe could spend an eternity with Him and the Father in Heaven. He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10b) He came to show us the love, mercy, grace, and compassion of the Father toward mankind. John 1:16 From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.

II. We remember Jesus' death. Matthew 27:45-51 (NLT) ⁴⁵  At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. ⁴⁶  At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” ⁴⁷  Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. ⁴⁸  One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. ⁴⁹  But the rest said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.” ⁵⁰  Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. ⁵¹  At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Jesus died a horrible death as a common criminal in our place as our perfect sacrifice so we could be saved from the penalty of our sins and made right with God. Jesus died so we could have peace with God through Him. (Rom. 5:1) It's very important we remember His death on the cross for us because His death opened the way to God’s throne and Heaven. He paid the ultimate price for our sins so we might be saved and healed. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Christ bore the punishment for our sins. God made Jesus, who was completely innocent and perfect, to bear our sin so He could take it away and make us right with God.

III. We remember Jesus' love. John 15:9-13 (NKJV) ⁹ "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. We remember that Jesus proved His love for us in leaving the glories of Heaven to come to earth to live a perfect life in our stead. He completely fulfilled the law of God for mankind. By living the perfect life, He became the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all mankind when He died on the cross to pay the price for our sins against a Holy God. In love He gave up His life on the cross for us that we could be free from God’s judgment and wrath. There is no greater love than Jesus had for us when He laid down His life for us and called us His friends. Revelation 1:5-6 Jesus loves us and has washed us from our sins in His own blood, ⁶  and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Jesus loves us as the Father loves Him. John 15: ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. What a Savior and God we have.

Conclusion: We must continually remember what Jesus has done for us so we will remember to give Him the priority in our lives and live for Him because He is truly worthy.

Invitation: Jesus loved you so much, He died on the old rugged cross to be your Savior and Lord. If you do not know Jesus as your Savior and Lord, now is the time to confess your sins to Him and ask Him to forgive and save you from the penalty of your sins.

Jesus will hear your earnest prayer. He will save you and prepare you a place in Heaven.

WORD OF GOD

 

Intro: God’s word is the primary means by which He is present and working in the world. We can't see God with our physical eyes, but He acts in this world by means of His word. He becomes personally known to us through His word. His word tells us His will. His word is powerfully creative. He spoke everything into existence and sustains it by His word.

I. God's word and its purposes are irresistible. [Isaiah 55:10-11] ¹⁰ "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, ¹¹ So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. The meaning of these verses is plain. The hearts of people without God's word are what the earth would be without the rains of heaven—barren and sterile. How would we know about God and the truth if not for His word? God says in these verses that his truth shall accomplish an effect similar to that produced by descending showers. The rain never descends in vain. It makes the earth fertile, beautiful, lovely and causes it to produce. So it is with God's truth in the spiritual world. When God's word enters your heart it will produce spiritual life and growth. The comparison of truth with descending rain is a beautiful metaphor. Anyone who follows the teaching of God's word becomes fruitful and prosperous in the way rain refreshes the new grass and tender plants causing growth. The scriptures are a proclamation of God's will, it is a description of His character and works. Anyone who gives serious consideration to the word of God, and puts their trust in Him, can expect to enjoy a blessed and abundant life. Psalm 1:1-3 (NLT) ¹  Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. ²  But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. ³  They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

II. God’s word is totally dependable and everlasting. [Isaiah 40:8] The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. God's word represents His everlasting commitment to mankind. In contrast to the grass and flowers, God's Word never fails but it endures forever. This truth greatly comforts and encourages those who read God's words and live accordingly. We cannot depend on the words of others but we can put full trust and confidence in the word of God. When we read it, hear it and respond to it, God's word meets the deepest needs in the human heart and provides joy, satisfaction, and confident direction for our lives that can be achieved in no other manner. Luke 4:4 Jesus answered the devil saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'" Just as our bodies can not live without bread, neither can our soul live and prosper without God's word.

III. God's word is powerful. [Heb. 4:12]Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. The word powerful translated means to energize. It means to say that God’s word is living and it energizes. Because it is the powerful, word of God, it can not be defeated in its purpose. The Bible has all the essentials of the life and power of God to do His work! Not only that, its penetrating power is greater than any double-edged sword and cuts to the innermost being of a person so that it exposes and judges the thoughts, attitudes and motivations of the heart. It is able to discriminate between what is spiritual in man and what is merely human because (it penetrates even to dividing of soul and spirit and joints and marrow. Joints represent the soul and marrow represents the spirit. It separates a proud soul from a humble spirit. It separates a sinful soul from a righteous spirit. It separates a rebellious soul from an obedient spirit. The inner life of a Christian is often a mixture of motivations, both spiritual and human.

It takes a supernaturally discerning agent such as the Word of God to sort these out and to expose what is of the flesh and what is of the spirit.

Conclusion: We can never hope to know God or the truth and be successful in this life apart from His word. Our spiritual life would starve and die thereby bringing only defeat and misery. Jesus said a Christian does not live by bread alone but by every word of God. [Luke 4:4]

Invitation: God's word says a man must be born again to see the kingdom of God. Have you been born again? You can be born again by confessing your sins to Jesus and asking Him to forgive you and Invite Him into your life as your Savior and Lord. If you have not done this, now is the perfect time! Don't put it off!

Look to and Trust in God

 

Scripture Text

Proverbs 3:5-10

Intro: Solomon instructs us that to have favor and success with God and Man we need to look to and trust in God and His word.  Just as people in haste can reach out to the wrong set of answers looking for their needs to be met, we too, can hastily reach out to answers which are insufficient and outside of God's best for our lives.

1. When You Face Life's Challenges Trust in God. Proverbs 3:5 (NKJV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart And lean not on your own understanding; Heart in Hebrew refers more often to one's intellect (understanding, discernment, and will.) To trust in the Lord wholeheartedly means one should not (lean) or rely on his own understanding. Human insights are never enough. God sees things from His perspective and His ways are not our ways. Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV) ⁸  "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. ⁹  "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. He is always trustworthy. All the wisdom a person may acquire here on earth can never replace the need for full trust in God's superior ways.

  2.When You Reach for Life's Answers Look to God. Proverbs 3: 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. There are many places a person can turn for life's answers but the place that never fails is God and His wisdom. In (all) your ways, recognize the existence of God, truth of God, and the facts of God. A person who puts His trust in the Lord and His wisdom and has an intimate knowledge and recognition of God in all his ways, finds that God directs or makes his paths straight. This means more than guidance; it means God removes the hindrances and sin, making a smooth path or way of life, bringing one to the correct answer or goal. Direct your paths means God will assist and bless all your endeavors and keep you from the paths of sin and destruction.
 
3. When You Look for Wisdom Turn to God. Proverbs 3:7 (NKJV) Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. People who acquire God's wisdom need to remember that they did not become wise by themselves; wisdom comes from God. A heart awareness of and proper response to God keeps us from evil. The fear of the Lord occurs 11 times in Proverbs. Fearing the Lord, Solomon wrote, is the beginning of knowledge. "Beginning" in the Hebrew means "the start." Fear as used here refers to a deep respect, reverence, and awe for God. It is used to describe the attitude of a person who recognizes God’s power, majesty, and holiness. The “fear of the Lord” is also associated with His wisdom and knowledge. One cannot gain knowledge of spiritual things if he begins at the wrong point, refusing to fear the Lord. To recognize God's character and respond by revering, trusting, worshiping, obeying, and serving Him help prevent the evil of pride and sin.

4. God's wisdom brings healing. Proverbs 3:8 (NKJV) It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Seeking and following God's wisdom instead of your own will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. As a result of fearing God and turning from evil, you will have health and vigor. Health in one's bones, mentioned several times in Proverbs suggests that spiritual and physical health are related.

5. Life's Priorities Start with God. Proverbs 3:9-10 (NKJV) ⁹  Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; ¹⁰  So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. In Israel, honoring the Lord with their wealth and the first fruits of all one's crops was a way of expressing gratitude to Him for His provisions. They gave a tithe of all they earned and all their crops. It was a way of acknowledging, honoring and thanking God for His help. In return, God then promised to fill the barns (with grain) and the vats... with new wine. ("Freshly squeezed grape juice"). Honoring God first results in gain and brings prosperity, spiritual and material. (Matt. 6:33) Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these shall be added to you.

Conclusion: We should prioritize God in our lives and be sure that our ways belong to God and His wisdom if we want to be successful in this life.

Invitation: God's wisdom says that to enter His kingdom you admit you are a sinner and confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you. Then invite Him into your life to save you from hell and guide you with His wisdom. Be baptized as a public testimony to your faith in Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord.

We Remember Jesus' Suffering!

Intro: As Easter approaches, we take time to remember what Jesus did for us more than 2,000 years ago when He gave His life on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. After His last Supper, Jesus made His way to the “Garden of Gethsemane” where He would pray for Himself. He prayed for the strength to fulfill the father's will for Him. No one ever suffered like Jesus!

1. Jesus suffers agony in the garden. After Jesus and His disciples had observed the Passover meal celebrating the exit of the Israelite's from Egypt. At the end of the Passover meal, Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper. Then Jesus and His disciples made their way to the garden of Gethsemane. There Jesus' would be suffering great agony and pain and would be forsaken by His disciples that He loved as He made His final steps to the cross. As the Lord's Resurrection Day approaches, we need to take time to once again remember that severe agony, pain and humiliation Jesus suffered for us on His way to the cross. We must never forget what Jesus suffered for us! Luke 22:39-46 (ESV) ³⁹  And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. ⁴⁰  And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” ⁴¹  And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, ⁴²  saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” ⁴³  And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. ⁴⁴  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. ⁴⁵  And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, ⁴⁶  and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” These verses tell us what happened as Jesus prayed there in the garden. He was in such agony the angels came and ministered to Him, strengthening Him as He sweat drops of blood. There while He was praying, His disciples went to sleep on Him. They could not stay awake to pray for strength to go thru what was ahead. May we not sleep but pray!

2. Jesus was betrayed by one of His own disciples. Luke 22:47-48 (ESV) ⁴⁷  While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, ⁴⁸  but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”

3. He was forsaken by His disciples. Matthew 26:31 (NKJV)
³¹ Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' Not one disciple stood by Him. Jesus walked the road of suffering to the cross all alone.

4. Peter denied Him 3 times, the last time with a curse. Matthew 26:74-75 (NKJV)
⁷⁴  Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵  And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out and wept bitterly.

Peter had confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God, and had seen Him work many miracles that only God could do, still denied Jesus. How that hurt Jesus!

5. No fault could be found in Him. Luke 23:13-16 (NKJV)
¹³  Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,¹⁴  said to them, "You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; ¹⁵  no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.
¹⁶  I will therefore chastise Him and release Him" Jesus was falsely accused and denied a proper trial before the religious leaders and Pontius Pilate.

6. Jesus was condemned to die unjustly. Luke 23:18-24 (NKJV) ¹⁸  And they all cried out at once, saying, "Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas"--¹⁹  who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city, and for murder. ²⁰  Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them.²¹  But they shouted, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" ²²  Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go." ²³  But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. ²⁴  So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. Even though Jesus did no wrong, He was unjustly condemned to die on a cross by His own people the Jews.

7. Jesus forsaken by the Father the cross. Matthew 27:45-46 (NKJV) ⁴⁵ Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. ⁴⁶ And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" He was even left alone by the Father God while He bore our sins in His body. We remember how Jesus endured that cross, hanging there in agony with His arms outstretched in love until He gave His Life and shed His precious blood to pay the penalty for our sins.

8. Jesus finished everything needed for our salvation. [John 19:28-30] ²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" ²⁹ Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. ³⁰ So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. The payment for mankind's sin was now paid in full. Hallelujah to the Lamb of God! Let us just take a minute to bow our heads and each of us personally thank Jesus for what He has done for us. In conclusion, may we always show our love, honor and respect for our Savior and Lord because of what He has done for us. May He always have first place in our lives. Let us leave here to live for Him daily!

Invitation: If you have never taken advantage of what Jesus' suffered for you, Do it now by confessing your sins to Jesus and asking Him to forgive you. Then invite Him into your life to take charge of you and His love and salvation will flood your soul forever.

VETERANS DAY

 Friday the 11th will be Veterans Day. It is an official United States holiday that honors people who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, also known as veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed every year on November 11. Veterans Day celebrates the service of all living U.S. military veterans.

I. VETERANS ARE COMMITTED TO A CAUSE: Our veterans have demonstrated a heart of courage committed to a cause:  The cause of freedom from oppression, and love of country. They are committed to the cause of Constitutional self-government. a. Jesus Christ was committed to a cause! Luke 19:10  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” He wanted to save the world through the cross, not save Himself from the cross.  Just as our veterans are committed to a cause, so Jesus was committed to a greater cause of saving the lost! Let me ask you a question: Are you committed to His cause of reaching others? For what cause would you risk your life? For what purpose would you dedicate your energies…your finances, your time? We honor our veterans. But we worship our Commander in Chief, Jesus. We owe our liberty to our veterans. But we owe our eternal lives to Jesus Christ. We salute the flag! But we kneel before the Christ of the cross. 

II. VETERANS ARE DEDICATED TO CHANGING THE COURSE OF THE FUTURE: What would have happened if it hadn’t been for the dedication of our veterans? Yes, we still live in a corrupt and twisted society, but who knows what powers might have dominated, if it were not for the commitment of our veterans?  Truly, in each war, they changed the course of the future.  a. Jesus was dedicated to changing the course of mankind’s future. Colossians 2:13-14 (NKJV) ¹³  And you, being dead in your trespasses and sins of the flesh, God has made alive together with Jesus, having forgiven you all trespasses, ¹⁴  having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Because of Jesus' sacrifice for us, the course of mankind's future was changed. The penalty of sin and its power over believers was miraculously destroyed by Christ on the cross. Through faith in Christ, believers are forgiven and found not guilty, before God, their judge. Because of Jesus’ dedication to save us, the course of our future has been changed from hell to Heaven. We owe all we are to Him! What are you dedicated to do for the future of this country …For this church… …for your own family? Our nation’s history may have been much different…Without the contribution of our veterans. Our lives would have been much different without the change Jesus made in our lives through His death on the cross as payment for our sins. 

III. VETERANS ARE WILLING TO PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE: Our veterans are dedicated and willing to pay the price for freedoms sake: They give up the safety and peacefulness of being at home. They leave their friends and families. Some surrendered their personal plans for education and career. Some suffered the loss of sight! Some forfeited their limbs! Many were terribly physically disabled. Many actually paid the price of their very lives. Our veterans pay the ultimate price for our freedom.  a. Jesus was willing to pay the ultimate price of all He had for us. Luke 23:44-46 (NKJV) ⁴⁴  Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. ⁴⁵  Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶  And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last. Jesus became our substitute. No greater price has ever been paid than that Jesus paid for us! Jesus paid in His blood for the salvation of those who couldn’t have cared less. Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Jesus didn’t shrink back at the point of death. Jesus gave His all for us that we might be saved. Countless young men and women, in the bloom of youth, have been willing to pay the price, however great, in order to protect and change the course of the future of this nation.  As they pay the ultimate price for our freedom, so Jesus paid the ultimate price for our spiritual freedom. He has saved us from the penalty and power of sin. And as a result, we have become an eternal monument to the riches of His mercy and over abundant grace. He paid the ultimate price, His life and precious blood. What price are you willing to pay, to maintain our spiritual freedom? Will you vote? What price are you willing to pay to fulfill the purpose Christ has called you? What prices are you willing to pay to rid yourself of all that robs you of God’s will for your life? 

CONCLUSION: Veterans’ Day is an opportunity for us to thank those who love us enough to give their lives in service for us. There are monuments that stand today in honor and memory of our brave soldiers. This Tuesday is election day. More than half of the Christians in America don't vote. It is our sacred duty to vote for the candidate who stands for the things that the bible says are right. Know what the candidates stand for and vote the bible. Some veterans and Jesus died to give us freedom to vote. If we fail to exercise our right to vote we will soon lose that right and our freedoms. The cross is a permanent monument that speaks of freedom to all who will hear. We should thank our veterans for their contribution toward our freedom and thank Jesus daily for paying the ultimate price to redeem not only our souls, but also our bodies.

Invitation: Have you taken advantage of Jesus’ shed blood as payment for your sins? If not, confess your sins to Christ, ask Jesus right now to forgive you and save your soul for Heaven.