HOPE Has Come! - Advent 1

“I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel”

Genesis 3:15

On this first Sunday of Advent… we want to focus on HOPE! However…. Its important to realize that the message of HOPE begins in the Garden of Eden with a judgment from God on the serpent (evil) and a promise to the woman of HOPE!

Here in Genesis 3:15… God is distinguishing between those in the world (those who don’t know Christ as their SAVIOR) and those who are SAVED because of the sacrifice of Christ and our faith in Him! Its this difference that gives us HOPE!

What does “The Seed” mean? God addressed the “seed” as something that is passed on… the seed of the serpent (evil, satan) is cultivated in our “flesh” or in the heart of those who don’t know Jesus. The SEED OF THE WOMAN is a prophetic reference to Christ. The seed of the woman will CRUSH the seed of satan and sin will be DEFEATED!

THIS IS THE PROMISE OF HOPE!

When the fullness of time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” Galatians 4:4-5. The Seed of the Woman SAVES US! This is our “BRIGHT HOPE for Tomorrow” as the Old Hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness says!

What have we to fear? God assures the success of the Promised Seed of the woman. The struggle between the righteous and unrighteous will be won by the people of God, both Jew and Gentile, through the work of the Son that was given to us, the Son of God. He will utterly defeat satan!

Christians REJOICE!!! We Have HOPE because of the Christchild who came in the humbleness of a stable so that those who would believe… would NOT perish, but would have everlasting life!!!

On this first Sunday of ADVENT of 2016… Share the HOPE that YOU have because of Jesus in YOUR heart with someone who is still hopeless and lost.

“GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS… LORD UNTO ME!”

Raise The Praise!

“I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise and I have been saved from my enemies.”

Psalm 18:3

Consider the “line-up”

1. The Musicians 2. The Singers  3. The Ark or Presence of God 

4. The Priests and then  5. those in the fight!

II Chronicles 20:15–17 Whatever YOUR battle… God is saying to you…STOP

This is NOT your fight to fight. God will fight the battle on your behalf!

In the “Natural” things will never been seen clearly. When we have the “Mind of Christ”… we see things SUPERnaturally. God says… “I WILL MAKE A WAY!”

Isaiah 43:16-19 God is making a way! Let Him go before you! BUT before you run to the battle… PRAISE!

As we read the Scripture and in particular see the Old Testament “types” about how music and worship were used, it reveals to us that New Testament worship is indeed a weapon of Spiritual Warfare. Just as the application and appropriation of the blood of the Lamb covers and protects us today, our understanding of what is taking place in the spirit realm as we praise God is integral to our victory as well. It could be said that the Christian—who knows the havoc that his or her worship to God is also wreaking on the powers of darkness in that general locale—will endeavor to worship God with all the more vigor! In fact, it is the glory of the saints to inflict damage

on the Devil and his workers!

The person who is experiencing life’s turmoil or spiritual oppression, is the very person who needs more than anyone else to begin to praise God!

When you RAISE THE PRAISE…It is confounding to the enemy and glorifying to God. Plus, it will be a powerful witness to those around you as you walk through the trials with an attitude of praise, giving God the glory for His strength in you.

Oh Be Careful Little Mouth What you say....

“…Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith!”

Hebrews 13:7

Preached Originally by Cameron Williams

“What’s YOUR Testimony?!”

God has done something deemed particularly worth sharing.

Matthew 5:14-16

How you act is the testimony you give — John 3:20-21

People See Everything You Do

If you were ever accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

What testimony are you giving?

Hebrews 13:7, James 3:9-10, Ephesians 4:29

You may be the only Bible someone ever reads. What are you going to do about it?

“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal…It is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendors, await us all.” — C.S. Lewis

Everything you say, everything you do, leaves an influence, either positive or negative. What will your influence be? Will you make people rethink their view of Christianity or let them continue to think we’re all hypocrites?

God is on the Throne

The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The Lord is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength. Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.Your Throne is established from of old

Psalm 93:1-2

During ANY election season… it is imperative that we, as followers of Jesus, keep our eyes on the fact that our authority and leader is God! He is the One who sets the rulers of the world in place and who is doing something much bigger than you or I can understand. – Dr. Billy Graham

This coming Tuesday, you and I have the privaledge of exercising our responsibility to vote in this great country. Many are anxious of our choices and the potential outcome of this election, with good reason. However… we as believers of Christ… MUST set the example for all to see… No matter who is president, JESUS IS KING!

Here are some scriptures to remind us that God is STILL on the Throne

Isaiah 6:1-6 – Isaiah sees a vision of God on the throne and recognizes the he himself is an unclean man. When we understand the HOLINESS and AWESOMENESS of God… we want to follow!

Ezekiel 1:26-28 – Ezekiel sees the magnificent Throne of God and in reverence… falls to his face! Do we revere God and submit (the mindset when bowing or the lowering of one’s face)

Revelation 4:2-3 - From generation to generation, God’s Throne is still God’s Throne. What this is saying is God cannot be moved. There is no power in this world or this universe that can move God.

Psalm 93:3-4 - The floods have lifted up, O Lord, The floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea.

The floods: Baal, false god was supposed to be victorious over the waters.

The Lord is mightier than the sound of water.

No Matter who is president… JESUS IS KING!