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Our God Reigns

Who do the nations of the leaders of nations think they are that they can defy or deny the authority and sovereignty of God? That’s what the psalmist wants to know. The answer is no one. This psalm not only teaches us that God is in control, but that we can fully trust God that nothing will thwart His plans, even when things around the world or in our world seem out of control. The conclusion of the psalmist is that the person who trusts in God’s sovereignty will be blessed. Do the events around the world make it seem like God is not in control? They shouldn’t because He is. Eventually they will all bow before Him and be subject to Him.

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Practical Advice for Sound Living

Life is full of choices. Many of those choices come from those who would give us advice. Psalm 1 is about both a choice and advice. Will you choose to be travel the path of the wise or the path of the wicked? Psalm 1 provides compelling reasons why the person who travels the path of the wise is blessed. It begins with a choice about who you hang out with and about your commitment to God’s Word. What a challenge for the new year.

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The Gift That Keeps on Giving

What does the new year hold? In our passage, we are considering the gift God has given to the church in order for the body of Christ to serve and mature in faith. The result of growing spiritually is serving intentionally. How will you serve the body of Christ in this new year?

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God, the Word – In the Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” To think that God came to live with man so that man might be able to live with God.

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Mary: To Be Venerated or Emulated?

Our text for this message is one in which we learn a great deal about Mary. She leaves us an incredible example to follow in her courage, faith, faithfulness, willingness, servant heart, obedience, and joyfulness. She was willing to obey the Lord and do what He asked of her even though she didn’t quite understand all it would mean. She was willing to be obedient even though she knew what was asked of her would be difficult. She is an example to follow. Are we willing to step out with the same kind of faith? Are we willing to obey, even though it may mean trials and hardships? Are we willing to be used by the Lord and express a worshipful spirit? We need to emulate the life of Mary in our service to the Lord, because it is the Lord who asks us to do it. Because we know that the strength we lack will be given to us by the Lord, whose grace is sufficient to endure whatever we may be asked by the Lord knowing that He who asked us is with us. May we respond as Mary – “I am the Lord servant.”

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How Will You Respond to Jesus?

There is some debate about the historicity of Jesus. Did He really exist. While many discount the Bible for any number of reasons, there is credible evidence from ancient non-Christian sources who substantiate that there was a real Jesus. If that is the case, and He was a real person, what is your response to what He had to say recorded in the gospels? C. S. Lewis said that to think of Jesus merely as human, discounting His deity, then He should be considered either crazy because He had deluded Himself into believing He was God. Or you must consider that He intentionally deceived others about His claim to be God. If that is true, then to think of Him as a good and moral teacher is ridiculous on our part. On the other hand, if His claims are true that He is in fact God in the flesh, then we must consider a response about Him. We are left with only two options – to reject Him or to receive Him. In Matthew’s account there are several responses to the news about Jesus. There is indignation, there is indifference, and there is indecisiveness. If a person chooses to receive Jesus for who He claims to be, that shows genuine interest. As you reflect on the reason for Christmas, what will your response be about? Will you reject Him, or receive Him?

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Hallelujah for the Messiah

Who is the Messiah and why did He come? Isaiah 9:6-7 provide us with some insight through the titles given to the Messiah as to His purpose. Both in why He came the first time and when He will come again, there is compelling reason for us to give a hallelujah.

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A Call to Thanks

David had plans to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem that didn’t go as planned because he didn’t follow God’s instructions on how to transport it. Three months later he obeyed God’s instructions and was able to bring the Ark to rest in Jerusalem. It was a joyous occasion in which David gave a song to Israel to sing in thanks for all God had done for them and would continue to do. In the passage they were to give thanks for God’s character, they were to give thanks for God’s covenant, and they were to give thanks among God’s creation. It’s a reminder to us to give thanks to God because He is great and greatly to be praised.

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A Thankful Heart is a Spirit-filled Heart

What are you thankful for? Our text and message help us to see that a truly thankful heart begins with being Spirit-filled. A thankful heart blesses others. A thankful heart belongs to God Himself. Every day is a day in which to give thanks. Add psalms, hymns and spiritual songs and make melody in your heart to the Lord. You will see your mood change.

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God Makes A Way

To some, the account of Jonah seems rather fishy. However, it is an historical event. The book shows us God’s ongoing compassion for all people as well as revealing how much we are like Jonah. We want to restrict God’s compassion, mercy and forgiveness to those we think are deserving and hope that God will pour out His wrath on those who are undeserving of His love. Yet God is the God of patience who eagerly desires and waits for all people to have the opportunity to hear His message of grace so that they can respond by repenting and seeking His forgiveness. God wants us to demonstrate His compassion to others regardless of who they are because He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.