Many great names have spotlighted world history, but the name “Jesus Christ” outshines all others. Earth, the stage of world history, was created and is sustained by this same Jesus. It is written of Him in Colossians 1:17 “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law” (Galatians 4:4) The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was the first event of His earthly career as the incarnate (means literally “in the flesh”) Son of God, even though He had existed before that event. Christ, like the Father and the Holy Spirit, had no beginning. He has always existed (preincarnate). John 1:1 says (referring to Jesus) that the Word was “in the beginning.” This means that when creation’s time began its course (Genesis 1:1), the Word (Jesus) already existed. The greatest event in world history—the birth of Jesus—took place without the world noticing. However, announcements of His birth were given to certain individuals before it happened. Knowing the truth is knowing what is said in the Bible to be true. The knowledge of the scriptures affects our attitude toward the present and the future. The more we know about what God has done in years past, the greater the confidence we have about what He will do in the days ahead. We should read our Bible diligently to increase our trust that God's will is best for us. "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." (Romans 15:4 NIV) The Bible is the living book of God's words that reveals to us not only the past but the truth of all that is happening around us now and what is to come in the future. Through the Holy Spirit, we are able to discern who the adversary is and his agenda. God's truth is the light that shows us the enemy's devious works, and by that Light they are destroyed. (Listen to entire sermon below.) If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS.
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Remember, it’s one thing to be convinced of the need for the new life, but it is an entirely different thing to acquire the new life! The fruit of the Spirit of God is the key in this whole thing! The fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit are not the same…the fruit of the Spirit is what we ARE and the gifts of the Spirit are what we DO. No one can be or do what God desires without the indwelling of the Spirit. Go ahead; ask Him to come inside…your whole life will change! If you have never put your complete faith in Jesus Christ for your eternal salvation, why not believe what God's word says and call on Jesus Christ to save you right now? Click here and let us show you how you can KNOW JESUS. Long before His miraculous birth on earth, Jesus was involved in the creation of all that we see on earth and what we cannot see in the universe and the expanse beyond. He was with the Father in the beginning and Hebrews 1:1,2 tells us that “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, Whom He appointed heir of all things, through Whom also He made the world.” John wrote about His beginning. “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the word of Life–” (I John 1:1) The Ancient of Days, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, Jesus Himself declared to a group of self-righteous Jews, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” (John 8:58) How marvelous and gracious that our heavenly Father had a plan from the beginning, through Jesus, to redeem those who confess Him as Lord and Savior. Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 file.)
Personal Testimonies: Prior to the morning's message, Pastor Mark opens the floor to life testimonies. It is great encouragement to hear how the Lord is working in each of our lives. Click the forward button below to play the personal testimonies of Pastor Mark and others and/or download mp3 file.)
Approximately 700 years before the birth of Christ, Isaiah declared, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.” (Isaiah 9:2) In verse 6 he continued, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Every soul on earth not walking with Jesus, walks in darkness, without life, and without hope, for Jesus told us, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12) Zacharias (father of John the Baptist), filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied about Jesus and said, “Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78, 79) Dayspring means rising of the sun; the dawn. What illuminates your life–the world with its darkness or the light of the Dayspring? Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 file.)
Personal Testimonies: We had a wonderful blessing at the end of our service today. One of our young members walked in as Pastor Mark was finishing the morning’s message. Seaman Josh Turner, United States Coast Guard, just finished his basic training in New Jersey and returned home for a week before his new assignment in Seattle begins on the USCG Cutter Mellon. Listen as he tells how God is blessing his life. Pastor Linda Pugsley and Ted Marshall commend Josh on his service to God and country. (Click the forward button below to play the personal testimonies and/or download mp3 file.)
In God’s vast and unfathomable love, He has given to mankind a means to inherit eternal life through the birth, death, and resurrection of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. It is important and encouraging for us to reflect not only on the magnificent and miraculous advent of Christ’s birth, but on God’s ancient and graceful plan to redeem mankind ever since the beginning of days. We can read about Christ before Christmas in several passages. In John 17:5, “And now, glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.” Also in John 1:1 and 2, “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” In Hebrews, we are told that Jesus laid the foundation of the earth and that the heavens are the work of His hands. (Hebrews 1:2, 10) May you be blessed and enriched with hope to see God’s plan revealed and fulfilled through Jesus—before, during, and after His birth—for His years will not come to an end. (See Hebrews 1:12 and Revelation 1:17, 18) Audio: (Click forward button below to play audio of sermon and/or download mp3 file.)
Personal Testimonies: Prior to the morning's message, Pastor Mark opens the floor to life testimonies. It is great encouragement to hear how the Lord is working in each of our lives. Click the forward button below to play the personal testimonies of Pastor Mark and others and/or download mp3 file.)
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