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A Christmas Story In the Old Testament
Gen. 22:1-14 Intro: Earlier this year when I read this familiar story, it suddenly occurred to me what a similarity there was in the Incident of Abraham and Isaac and the glorious story of Christmas. I. A Father’s Sacrifice “Take now thine only son Isaac and offer him up...” What a request; actually a demand! What a response: Immediate- he rose up early Deliberate- he made all necessary preparations: took Wood, Fire, Knife, Rope Complete- there was no balking; no hesitating; no half hearted effort. It was serious obedience- immediate action- deliberate action- complete action. Abraham took all the necessities; made the long journey; didn’t stop along the way; didn’t take a detour; didn’t try to find a way around God’s command or a way out of the responsibility placed upon him. It’s hard to imagine a Father being willing to sacrifice his own son; willing to give him up II. A Son’s Submission “They went both of them together...” Isaac went along with his father. You might say, “Yes, but he didn’t know what was planned for him...” That may be true, still Isaac went along with his Father’s plan without complaint. He was Willing to be Burdened The wood was laid upon Isaac! He submitted to carrying the wood on which he was to be offered as a sacrifice. He was Willing to be Bound This is VERY important in the story. Isaac was willing to be bound. Remember, he was not a toddler; not a child; not just a young teen, he was young man. He was fast enough to run away; strong enough to resist; old enough to refuse. Still he did not Fight against his father; did not refuse to be bound; he submitted his Father’s will. III. A Soul’s Salvation “Lay not thy hand upon thy son...” Abraham was stopped at the last moment by the angel of the Lord; then he saw a Ram caught in the thicket behind him and the Ram became the sacrifice. Isaac was saved; his life was spared by a substitute. Now, think with me about the key ingredients of the Christmas story. There was a Father’s Sacrifice. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son... In the fulness of time God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the law to redeem them that were under the law. God made all the preparations to sacrifice his Son. Mother to Carry Him Manger to Cradle Him Messengers to Confirm Him Ministry to Complete His Mission Nothing was left undone- God worked out a Complete Plan. The Father was willing to sacrifice his own son. There was a Son’s Submission I mentioned in regard to Isaac that he probably didn’t really Know ahead of time what was planned for him up on the mountain but he was willing to submit anyway. In this case, Jesus Christ KNEW exactly what was planned and he was willing to go through with it Anyway! He was willing to be Burdened. He carried the sins of all mankind. He was feeling the weight of this horrible burden in the Garden of Gethsemane and began sweating as it were great drops of blood. He was feeling the pressure of Sin, the spiritual attack of Satan, the dread of death BUT he was willing to be burdened. He not only carried all of our sins, He Carried the Wood; he carried his own Cross. He was willing to be Bound He was bound not with cords of Rope and not with rusty Nails. He was Bound by his Love for Mankind-YOU, ME! He stated plainly to his disciples that NO man could take his life from him; he would Lay it down. He told Pilate that he could call for angels from heaven to come and deliver him, but he refused to so. He was Guilty of no Sin; guilty of no wrong doing; guilty of no Crime. An old song declared that he was “Guilty of LOVE in the first degree.” When Jesus reached his place of sacrifice there was NO Voice from heaven to interrupt the proceedings; no Divine Command stopped his crucifixion; the hands of his executioners were not withheld. FOR Jesus WAS not only the SON, he was also the Substitute- he was there taking My Place- he was there taking YOUR place. It was His Life for Ours; his life for yours. Oh, yes on Mt. Calvary there was a Father’s sacrifice; a Son’s submission; and thank God there was a Soul’s Salvation. My soul; your soul; our souls; the souls of our families, our children, our loved ones, our friends. John declared that Jesus was the Propitiation or Payment for the sins of the whole world. Peter declared that we are redeemed with the Precious Blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. Heb.2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death...that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 14 ...as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. How about YOU? Are you saved? Are you redeemed by the blood of Jesus? Have you been delivered from the bondage of sin and fear of death? Do you know that you have passed from the darkness of sin into the glorious light of salvation? The only TRUE way to celebrate the Christmas season is to not only Know about the birth and death of Jesus, but to believe on Him as your Savior and your Lord.
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God’s Generosity
Titus 3:3-7 I. Our Past. (Vs. 3) We ourselves WERE: A. Foolish- without understanding- one who refuses to believe in God- one who refuses to Fear God- one who refuses to Obey God. The Most foolish life possible is life without God. It is a Life of darkness & disappointment; selfishness & sin; guilt & grief; sorrow with no hope; storms with no peace; life without God’s Grace now and without God’s Glory in eternity. The Bible declares the foolishness of the life without God: - The way of peace they know not (Is 59:8) - They know not the way of the Lord (Jer.5:4) - They know not to do right (Amos 3:10) - They understand not God’s counsel (Micah 4:12) - They are ignorant of God’s righteousness (Rom. 10:3) - Eph 4- their understanding is darkened; alienated from God thru ignorance; suffer blindness of heart. What a pitiful condition for the Lost- Foolish! B. Disobedient- living in rebellion to God and his Word- rejecting his Son- refusing his Way- disobeying his will. “Serving divers lusts” Slaves to many different lusts, desires, pleasures- In bondage to these evil desires. Living in Malice (hostility)- Envy (jealousy)- Hatred (anger, rage) We were Foolish, Disobedient, and ... C. Deceived- Led astray by our own lusts- led astray by Satan’s schemes- The Bible warns us about a way that seems right to a man but is really the way of death- deceived! Oh, the tragedy of thinking all is well when it is not; Thinking I am OK when I am not; Thinking I can enter heaven when I am destined for Hell. What a Terrible and Tragic Past! II. Our Privilege. Here is where we meet the Generosity of God. (Vs. 4,5) - The Kindness of God our Savior Appeared. - The Love of God appeared- “love here is not agape but philanthropia- used only twice in Bible; once in regard to the “kindness” showed to Paul when he and his companions had been shipwrecked; and Here “love”- means generous benevolence- abundant loving kindness) The Generous Kindness and Generous Love of God appeared; Oh! The Generosity of God! Just in these three verses (4-6) Paul writes about His Generous Kindness- His Generous Love- His Generous Mercy (vs. 5)- His Generous Outpouring of the Holy Ghost. By the Generosity of God we are blessed with: - Regeneration- being born again- experiencing a new birth- becoming a new creature- new creation - Renewing of the Holy Ghost- renewed a right spirit in us- renewed our mind- renewed our inward man- Made NEW in Christ Jesus. Paul reminds us that these blessings came, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy and by the Holy Ghost (which he shed on us abundantly) According to his Mercy- HE Saved US!” III. Our Position. (Notice vs. 7) A. Justified by his grace we are cleared of all charges that were placed against us- Cleansed of all sin- made holy. The old hymn talks about The Old Account that Has been Settled; “And My record’s Clear today for he washed my sins away” B. Adopted- “made heirs” We were Drawn by his Spirit and Accepted in Jesus Christ; we were Adopted into the Family of God; we were made Sons and Daughters of God and heirs with Jesus Christ. Rom. 8: 14-18 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint–heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. C. Glorified We now have the great Hope of Eternal Life; The promise that we will Live forever in the presence of God. Remember, if our only hope was in this life we would be Miserable! But, Thank God for his Generosity! By his generosity we have inherited abundant life now and eternal life beyond this earth. Thank God for his Generous Kindness; his Generous Love; His Generous Mercy and His Generous Outpouring of the Holy Ghost! The Christian Life According to the 3:16's of Scripture
John 3:16 Intro: In my reading I ran across a reference to how both John 3:16 and 1 Jn 3:16 talked about the great love of God that provided salvation. It piqued my curiosity and I decided to go through the NT and see what other gems of truth were found in the various books at the address of 3:16. My search turned up some great truths concerning the Christian life. I. The Christian Life Flows from the Love of God. Jn 3:16 is probably the most recognized and memorized text in the entire Bible (even more than Jesus Wept, lol). AND for Good Reason. I don’t suppose any one verse proclaims the Gospel Message like this one does. - God Loved the World! - God loved the people of the world So Much, he was willing to give his only Son to be the Sacrifice for Sin and the Savior of all men. - Anyone! Anyone! Who believes in Jesus and receives him as Savior will NOT PERISH! Everyone who believes in Jesus and receives him as Savior will Inherit Eternal Life. Talk about a Powerful Verse! The Christian Life flows from the Love of God. We are told elsewhere that we only Love God because He First loved us. Then also in 1 Tim 3:16 we read about what Paul calls the Mystery of Godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. God’s Great Love brought Jesus Christ from heaven to the earth as a man. As a man he suffered the sorrows of human life; as a man he was rejected and reviled; as a man he was crucified and buried; BUT As the Son of God he, by his death, paid the price for man’s sin and then rose from the dead, alive forevermore! II. The Christian Life is Founded Upon the Word of God. 2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. The foundation of the Christian life is NOT man’s opinions; not the world’s philosophy; not the religions of men. The only foundation of the Christian life is the Word of God. It is Inspired by God. (It’s subjects are inspired; its thoughts are inspired; its words are inspired; the theological term for this is Verbal, Plenary, Inspiration) Therefore, it has No Errors. (When there seem to be errors, the fault is our interpretation or in our understanding, not in the Bible) The Bible is the foundation for all True Doctrine. The Bible is the basis for all Instruction in Righteousness. The Bible has the authority to Rebuke and Correct any life. Peter wrote that the Scriptures came to us by “holy men of God who were moved by the Holy Ghost.” You and I can rest safely on the Word of God! III. The Christian Life Finds its Fulness by the Spirit of God. Our life in Christ is founded upon the inspired Word of God; upon the Facts presented there; upon the Virgin Birth of Jesus; his Sinless life; his sacrificial death; his glorious resurrection! BUT these Facts alone do not make us a True Christian! The Fulness of the Christian life comes by the Supernatural Power and Work of the Holy Ghost. It is the Spirit of God that convicts us of our sin. It is the Spirit of God that Converts and Regenerates our spirit. It is by the Spirit of God that we are Born Again, become Partakers of the divine nature, and are changed into the Image of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: 1 Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; - Jesus Himself though he was the Son of God was anointed and empowered by the Holy Ghost. - John preached that Jesus would baptize his followers with the Holy Ghost and with fire. - Paul wrote twice that when we become Christians, we become the Temple of God and the Holy Ghost dwells IN us. - Then Paul wrote that it is the Holy Ghost that Strengthens Us in our Inner Man. The fulness of the Christian life comes by the Spirit of God. So the Christian life flows from the love of God; is founded on the Word of God; finds its fulness by the Spirit of God and ... IV. The Christian’s Life will Bear Fruit by the Power of God. 2 Thess 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 1 Pet 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 1 Jn 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. So, just in those 3:16 references we are told that the Christian life will be filled with Peace by the Lord of all Peace; the Word of God will dwell in us bringing us Wisdom and Joy for we will sing Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs with Grace in our hearts; we will have a Good Conscience and Good Conduct; we will love each other like Christ loved us. The final 3:16 is in Revelation and it warns us not to be lukewarm but on Fire. We are told that if our Christian life becomes lukewarm, Jesus will spew us out of his mouth. What a tragic end for someone who at one time was On Fire for God! Don’t become lukewarm. Let God’s Love Flow through you. Let God’s Word by your firm Foundation. Let God’s Spirit bring Fulness to your Life. Let the Power of God bear Fruit in your life. The Christian Life according to the 3:16's of Scripture. Intro: We live in a Troubling World; troubled by International strife (war in Israel and Middle East; Russia & Ukraine); troubled by our own National situation- the political; the economic; the social; the moral;Troubled at times by our own Family situations and our own Personal situations.
There is much in this world to cause our hearts to be troubled. Some time ago I read again a book by David Wilkerson from the early 70's, the Vision. He told of a Dramatic Vision he had concerning America and some other parts of the world. He described the terrors that would begin to take place; not only natural disasters, but terrorism and war; lawlessness right in our own nation; the collapse of our economy; the trampling of morals and the acceptance of perversion like homosexuality; Talk about a Sobering book; Scary; Depressing even. The final chapters were titled: God’s Message for the Unprepared; then God’s Message for the Prepared. Well, I consider myself to be one of the Prepared. How About You? So- I turned expectantly to see what he said was the main message God had for his own people in light of the horrible things that had already been discussed. Bro. Wilkerson said that as he prayed about these terrible things coming on the earth, he asked God, “what message do I give to your people?” God spoke to him and said give them a Message of HOPE- not to be Afraid- to remember that God is Still on the Throne. There it is- Don’t be Afraid- Don’t Let your heart be troubled- God is on the Throne- God Will REMAIN on the throne. So Jesus told his disciples- Let not your hearts be troubled- Don’t be Afraid; Don’t be Fearful; Don’t be Terrified; Don’t be Anxious or Worried. I. Untroubled Hearts Jesus used two factors in teaching his disciples that they could have and should have untroubled hearts: A. Faith- You believe in God; Believe also in Me. BELIEVE- you have had faith; you have expressed faith; you do believe in God; Now let that Faith take you to a new Level- Believe in ME, Jesus said. It’s important that we not only Believe that God Exists but that he Became a MAN and lived on the earth; that he was born of a virgin; raised in a carpenter’s home; anointed by the Holy Ghost to preach the gospel; to deliver the captives; to mend the broken hearted; to set at liberty those who were bound; That he was Arrested, Tortured and Crucified; BUT that he Rose from the Dead; that he Ascended in to Heaven; that he Sits NOW at the right hand of God the Father- [who is On the Throne by the way] Believe that he Prays for us; intercedes for us; is our advocate; our mediator; our go between. BELIEVE- if you really believe in God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son and the precious Holy Ghost you will have an Untroubled Heart. B. Facts Jesus did not only appeal to their faith; to what they did and would believe. He placed FACTS before them that they did not know. He told them that in his Father’s house were many mansions- that if it weren’t so he would have been up front and honest with them and told them so. In this familiar statement that we so quickly read over there are Three Very Important Facts: 1) God Really Does Exist- he Lives; he has a “House” a dwelling place; a home 2) His Home is Heaven- there really is a Heaven; it is an Actual Place; it is a Beautiful Place; it is a Prepared Place 3) In that Place, there are Mansions; homes for God’s People; Jesus was actually going to Prepare a Place for each of his children. WOW= what tremendous Facts to base our Faith on! II. Unfading Hope Jesus then goes on to say that he is going away and that he Will Come Again and Receive us unto Himself that where he is there we may be also. We can have Untroubled Hearts because we have an Unfading HOPE: Jesus is coming back to take his children to their Heavenly Home. Not fiction; not fantasy; not some made up story; TRUE When you KNOW that Jesus is coming to take you to your Heavenly Home- When you have this Unfading HOPE you can have an Untroubled Heart. There is Hope for us In This World. Jesus is preparing a place right now for us; He is already making plans to come and receive us to himself; he already sent the Holy Ghost to be our Comforter and Guide while we are living in this world; there is Hope for us right now in this world. There is hope for us in the World to Come. Where he is there will we be also; we are going to be IN his presence; right there where he is; we will See him as he is; we will walk with him; talk with him; fellowship with him; worship and praise him; honor and magnify him. We have an Unfading Hope! Later in the chapter Jesus said to his disciples: Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you; Let Not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Talk about an unfading hope; we have not only Peace WITH God; we have the PEACE OF God. Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. In John 20 in the appearances of Jesus after His resurrection, 3 times Jesus said to the disciples, “Peace Be unto You.” In Phil. 4:7 Paul declares that we can have the “Peace of God” and says it is “Peace that passes understanding.” Albert Barnes- The Christian who commits his way to God, and believes that God will order all things right, has a peace which is nowhere else known. Nothing else will furnish it ...No confidence that a man can have in his own powers; no reliance on his own plans or on the promises or fidelity of his fellow-men, and no calculations which he can make on the course of events, can impart such peace to the soul as this simple confidence in God. I believe that you and I can have Untroubled hearts because we have an Unfading Hope. Don’t Be Fearful; Be Faithful. Don’t Be Scared; Be Strong in the Lord. Don’t Panic; Pray Don’t Cower in Fear; be Courageous in Faith. God is on the throne; Jesus is coming for us; Heaven is our Home. Faithful to the Finish
2 Timothy 4:6-8 Intro: I was sitting in a repair center waiting patiently (well, not Real patiently) for our van to be fixed so we could get Home! The shop was decorated with Finish Line Flags. Everywhere I looked I saw those Black and White finish line flags. It caused my mind to go to the Spiritual Race we are taught about in the Bible; the Race that every person is supposed to Run; the Race that every Christian IS Running. I. The Start Which is Exciting The start of this Race to Heaven is certainly exciting! I thought of Paul, who was still known as Saul, as he journeyed to Damascus to persecute Christians. A bright Light from heaven shined down on him and he heard the voice of Jesus Christ. He was smitten with blindness, was convicted of his sin, and was convinced that Jesus was Alive and really was God the Son. Saul/Paul was SAVED. He was changed from being Religious to having a Relationship with Jesus- A Child of God. The Start is Exciting! Remember? Do you remember when you first felt conviction? Do you remember when you first repented and surrendered to the Lord? Remember when your sin was forgiven and cleansed away? Remember when the guilt was removed? When your heart and spirit were Born Again by the Holy Spirit of God? When you became a new creation in Christ Jesus? Have you ever heard someone who has just been saved say: “Everything is Brighter” “ I Feel as Light as Feather” “ I Love Everybody” “ I’m so Happy, I just can’t describe it.” Uncle Bud Robinson, a early Holiness preacher, said it like this: “It was like Heaven kissed the earth and I was right in the middle of the smack.” One of our favorite songs says, “When I was drifting out in sin, I had no peace, no joy within, BUT Jesus came & made me Glad, He’s the dearest Friend I’ve ever had.” Another song says, “What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought since Jesus came into my heart. I have joy in my soul for which long I had sought since Jesus came into my heart”. There is no greater experience than Salvation! The Start of this race is exciting. II. The Suffering Which Must be Endured. Paul says in the text, I had a Course to Finish; I had a War to Fight. More than most Paul knew from the very start that this Race had suffering. When Ananias was sent by the Lord to pray for Paul he was told that God would show him “what great things he must suffer” for the cause of Jesus Christ. AND Suffer he did! He suffered shipwrecks; beatings; stonings; poverty; weariness; afflictions; sorrow in relationships; grieving over the back sliding of dear friends and fellow laborers. Not just Paul but Every Christian in this Race faces Suffering! We all have trials of life; sickness & disease; family troubles; financial difficulties; sorrow in relationships; lost loved ones; the back sliding of friends and associates... But, we must Endure! No one has an Easy Life; not Saints; not Sinners. No one has a Trouble Free Life. No one has a Life of Roses with no Thorns; a Life of Sunshine with no Storms; Life of Abundance with no Lack. We must CARRY ON! You probably heard about the Olympic runner who broke his leg while running his quarter mile lap with the relay team. He ran for over half the lap with a broken leg! There was one runner from South Africa who had had both legs amputated at the knee and was fitted with steel braces. It’s amazing to think about that: he was not just walking but running; not just running but running Races; not just running any race but running in the Olympics! The Start which is Exciting; The Suffering which we must Endure, and: III. The Salvation Which is at the End. When the suffering gets bad; when you are so overwhelmed with trouble that you are about to give up; WAIT! Remember the salvation which is at the End! We are not running a pointless race. We are not running just for the sake of running; or because we have nothing else to do. We are Running to Heaven! Paul was excited when his race began and he committed himself to preach the gospel of Jesus for the rest of his life. He soon found out that this race brought suffering. Still, he endured and persevered. He wrote to the Philippians and told them that he did not consider himself to have already won his race. Also, he was not giving up either in frustration or in self satisfaction. He was Forgetting the things that were behind; He was Reaching Forth to those things which were before; and He was Pressing toward the Mark for the Prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Forgetting- Reaching- Pressing That’s a great recipe for Victory! Keep Your Eyes on the Finish Line; There is Salvation at the End. We know right now the joy of salvation and the joy of sins forgiven. Then we will know the Fulness of our salvation for not only our spirit and soul will be saved, but our body will be saved also. We hear Paul rejoice in the fact that there is a Crown of Righteousness at the Finish Line with his name on it. We rejoice with Paul that there is one waiting at the Finish Line with OUR Name on it. Jesus said, “He that endureth to the End, the same shall be SAVED.” A song said, “It’s not the one who runs the swiftest; or the one who shines for a day; but the one who endureth to the end, he shall be saved.” Finally, the words of yet one more song: “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus, Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ; one glimpse of his dear face all sorrows will erase; so Bravely Run the Race till we see Christ Be Faithful to the Finish! |
Bro. Dwain GaliherPastor of JHPC Archives
May 2025
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