Daniel 1: The Exile Begins

 Through bible stories we see God's faithfulness played out in people's lives. We can learn so much through much these stories.

Daniel was taken captive around 605 B.C. . He was a teenager. Israel was divided into the 10 northern tribes (Israel) and the 2 southern tribes (Judah). The northern tribes had been taken into exile by the Assyrians 100 years earlier.

Daniel 1:1-2 (ESV) "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim King of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god."

Why would God do this to his people? The people had become so wicked to the point of child sacrifice. The leadership was wicked, there was no justice. They were defying God's law of the sabbath, they were mocking the prophets.

Psalms 106:37 (ESV) "They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons;"

Jeremiah 25:3-11 (ESV) "For twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, to this day, the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken persistently to you, but you have not listened. You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear, although the LORD persistently sent to you all his servants the prophets, saying, 'Turn now, every one of you, from his evil way and evil deeds, and dwell upon the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers from of old and forever. Do not go after other gods to serve and worship them, or provoke me to anger with the work of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.' Yet you have not listened to me, declares the LORD, that you might provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own harm. 'Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: Because you have not obeyed my words, behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north, declares the LORD, and for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. I will devote them to destruction, and make them a horror, a hissing, and an everlasting desolation. Moreover, I will banish from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the grinding of the millstones and the light of the lamp. This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years."

I. God used the wicked to discipline his people. 

He can still do that. We are not promised smooth sailing. We should always examine our lives and repent when we are wrong.

II. God disciplines his people out of love and for their good.

Jeremiah 24:4-7 (ESV) "Then the word of the LORD came to me: 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up."

The exiles would ultimately be blessed. God was wanting his people to love him more.

Proverbs 3:11-12 (ESV) "My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights."

God has a good plan. We may not always see it in the moment, but we will see that his plan works.

Matthew 10:28 (ESV) "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

III. Fear God Most  

We as believers need to fear God the most. We need to respect and honor our leaders but our highest/ultimate allegiance should be to God.

Daniel was taken captive during the first exile. The Babylonians would return twice more and destroy the city and the temple during the 3rd siege. The "land of Shinar" was the location of Babel in Genesis 11:2 and is modern day Iraq. They were ruled by a pagan king who worship Marduk/Bel who was the chief god and accompanied by a serpent/dragon. They took the items from the temple in Jerusalem and used to serve food and wine in the pagan temples. God's plan was to discipline his people and to eventually humble the Babylonians. God is working even when it seems like he is not.

Daniel 1:3-4 (ESV) "Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans."

The boys that were taken captive and sent into exile may have been descendants of King Hezekiah.

Isaiah 39:7 (ESV) "And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon."

Isaiah warned the people of Judah. These boys were nobles and the best of the best. They were handsome, intelligent, teachable. The plan of the Babylonians was to change these boys to fit their society and then influence the other exiles. They tried to take their identity in God and enrolled them into the "University of Babylon" where they stripped them of their identities, changed their names, their diets, and tried teaching them the "ways of the Babylonians" and the Babylonian world view. These boys were taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans, divination and knowledge.

The Babylonians were known for:

- Tracking and plotting of the stars. They believed that the stars could predict things. Some believe that the Magi that came at Jesus' birth were from Babylon.

- They were know to study sheep liver markings to determine the future.

- They kept detailed records of the dreams of royalty and would match them up with events that happened to find a connection. Divine communication.

- God can interpret dreams. He did that with Joseph in Egypt and with Joseph and Mary before Jesus' birth. Here he did that with Daniel. There is no doubt teachings and practices contradicted YHWH. 

- The point of this was to strip the identity and give them a new identity. This is the goal of Satan today through social media, the media to get people to stop identifying with the truth. 

Daniel 1:5-7 (ESV) "The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego."

These boys names were "God honoring" like "God is my judge" and the Chaldeans gave them names in which they twisted them to say the similar thing but to honor their gods Abu, Bel and Nebo. They were stripping their identities and mocking them, their God, their families, their heritage. The enemy loves to confuse and harm youth.

IV. Are we preparing our children for opposition? 

It is real easy to become complacent where we live, because we don't see the threat. Our kids will fight some of these things.

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV) "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."

V. Are we prepared for opposition? 

Are we firm in our faith? It is important to train our children, but also ourselves.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV) "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world."

Ephesians 6:10-13 (ESV) "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."

The best way to prepare is to REALLY know God, spend time getting to know truth and the one who gives truth.

VI. How do we prepare? 

We need accountability. We need to be plugged into Sunday School, plug into groups at church. 

There weren't many that stood firm, but these 4 boys did.

Daniel 1:8 (ESV) "But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself."

If there was ever a time for Daniel to go along to get along in would be at this time, but Daniel did not.

Lord, help us to be faithful, stand firm in the faith, turn from our sin and to you. Let us grow together.

Closing Scripture

Ephesians 6:14-18 (ESV) "Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and , as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,"

New Year's Resolution (For Christians) 12-28-2025

 People have celebrated "New Year's" as long as there has been written (recorded) history. The day in which it has been celebrated has varied among people groups, cultures and locations. 

1. Far north cultures celebrated the "return of the sun" on winter solstice (Dec. 23rd).

2. Vernal (spring) equinox agricultural people celebrated when daytime/night time are nearly equal. 1st day of spring. (March 20-21)

3. January 1st established by the Roman Senate in 153 BC and was affirmed in the Julian Calendar in 46 BC. The Julian Calendar is a solar calendar 365.25 days in a year/leap year.

4. Christian Calendar...if Jesus was conceived in March (25th) and BORN on December 25th THEN circumsized 8 days later....January 1st. He would have been named on that DAY!

I The Celebration 

A. Often takes a religious tone... a petition to the gods for blessings of the coming year. The Roman god Danus (the god of doors/gates) called 2 face...one facing backward and one facing forward...the old year and the new year.

B. New Years is often an excuse to party. To celebrate New Years is natural, but why resolutions? The almost universal notion of a new beginning...a new start especially concerning human behavior. All people have an awareness of the need to do better. 

Romans 2:14-15 (ESV) "For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or  even excuse them."

Christians have and advantage called special or specific Revelation (general Revelation)

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 

Living up to resolutions is difficult for all, but Christian's have an "instruction book" the Bible.

II. Things we need to cultivate in order to live up to our Christian resolutions. 

A. Sensitivity-an awareness/internal recognition of the need to do better. Do not deny the natural call to do better. Call it mind, heart conscience or the Holy Spirit, it is our sensitivity enhanced by...

    1. Exposure to the Word

    James 1:22-25 (ESV) "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

    2. Openness to the Holy Spirit

    John 14: 16-17 (ESV) "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper. to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."

B. Introspection- self examination...a deliberate self-imposed inspection of the internal self. The examination should be done in lite of Scripture not feelings (i.e. follow your heart)

    Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV) "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"

C. Admission- Confession of truth

    1. To self

    2. To God- Homologeo -Greek  Homo means same  and logeo means speak... speak/say the same thing. Confession is you and God saying the same thing. You must admit you are wrong before you can change it

Psalms 51:3 (ESV) "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me."

D. Resolve- to determine to do better. Synonyms for resolve... persistence, endurance, tenacity, stubbornness, determination.

Statistics for New Year's Resolutions

    1. 30% of American adult population made a New Year's resolution in 2024.

    2. 62% felt pressured to do so. It wasn't totally their decision but felt social pressure to do so. 

    3. 79% of those resolutions addressed health and appearance (body image). In contrast with New             Year's resolutions at the turn of the 20th century...young women's resolution were about "doing more     of God's work/ be less self-centered/ be more helpful/ improve my internal character.

    Older people are far less likely to make New Year's resolutions.

    4. 80% of goal setters felt confident they could stick to it and the resolution would last beyond the         coming year.

    5. 91% adults will not follow thru! Most likely day to abandon a resolution...2nd Friday of January!         (dubbed quitters day)

    6. By the end of January 43% have abandoned their goal. Less than 10% make it a year.).

E. Request- for assistance...for help...DIVINE assistance. Holy Spirit convict me...Father help me. Seldom will God "do it for you", but He will assist you.

F. Resilience-the ability to adjust/recover from pressure, stress, change, misfortune, failure. Your going to stumble/fall. Big part of a Christian's life is the ability to get up and continue on. Contrast between Peter and Judas Iscariot. 

G. Acceptance 

    1. Of your Humanness- Don't strive against your fallen nature. Don't let that nature lead you to                  despair and give up.

    1 John 1:8 (ESV) "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

    2. Of God's Forgiveness

    1John 1:9 (ESV) "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Simplify the list....

1.Consider Christ- Give careful attention to His person, teachings, deeds and promises

2. Accept Christ- As Savior and LORD!

3. Follow Christ- be a disciple, a student/learner

These 3 steps lead to GROWTH! POSITIVE CHANGE!

So where are you today.....?

Closing Scripture

Isaiah 40:28-31 (ESV) "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

Luke 2: Good News of Great Joy for All People

 When Jesus came he changed everything...even the calendar...B.C. to A.D.

Luke 2: 1-4 (ESV) "In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinus was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,"

Christ was born into a dark time. Spiritually the Jews had not heard from God in 400 years. Politically, Israel was under Roman occupation. The ruler was Agustus Caesar who was the adopted son of Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar was deified. Agustus was often called the "son of a god". Agustus means exalted one. They built temples honoring him and some called him a living god and referred to him as "the present deity" and "savior of mankind". He was a false Christ. He had power and exploited the people, was cruel.

In contrast the Baby Jesus came into the world in a quiet manner. He wasn't exalted. He was born in a lowly manger in a small town. He wasn't the son of a god, but he was the Son of the God!

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV) "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV) "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this."

Christ's Kingdom only grows, it is never taken away. It never ends, his peace is eternal. He was born to lowly Galileans. In a stable without fanfare.

I. God uses even evil people to accomplish his plan.

Because of Caesar Agustus' census each had to go to his "home" town to be counted and taxed. This was an act of great disrespect and oppression of the Jews. In Acts 5:37 Luke discusses an insurrection because of one of these census'. The people hated them because they were being taxed. This census fulfilled God's promise 700 years earlier.

Micah 5:2 (ESV) "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days."

Did Mary and Joseph realize what was happening? It was a long trek to Bethlehem and the timing of Jesus birth.

Hosea 11:1 (ESV) "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son."

Later Herod sought information about the Messiah and sent soldiers to kill the baby boys in Bethlehem, but Mary and Joseph were warned and fled to Egypt. Out of this evil empire the Christian church began and spread like wildfire.

Luke 2:4-7 (ESV) "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."

II. God uses the humble and lowly to accomplish his plan. 

It was important that he came from the line of David. Mary and Joseph were ridiculed, young oppressed, poor (we know this from vs 24 where they had doves or pigeons for sacrifice instead of a lamb). They had an amazing job to do. They were humble people.

Jesus modeled humility. He washed the feet of the disciples, he humbled himself even unto death.

Philippians 2:8 (ESV) "And being found in human form, he humbled himself to the point of death, even death on a cross."

God worked through other humble people...David, Gideon.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (ESV) "For consider your calling, brothers; not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'"

God uses humble people.

James 4:10 (ESV) "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."

Luke 2:8-10 (ESV) "And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.'"

What a scene it must have been! The shepherds were terrified. Can you imagine? The heavenly hosts appeared to them and the glory of God shown around them...was it a light, a cloud of fire? Why shepherds: They weren't praised in society, they were humble. David began as a shepherd boy, Moses was a shepherd before leading the Israelites out of Egypt.

1 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV) "Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed."

John 1:29 (ESV) "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

III. Jesus' Birth is Good News for All People 

Luke 2:11-14 (ESV) "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'"

IV. Jesus' Birth is Good News for those with whom God is pleased 

It is Good News for all people...who God is pleased with.

Galatians 3: 25-29 (ESV) "But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise."

Father Abraham-Gen. 12 describes his descendants as a great nation. All the families of the earth are descendants, they are as numerous as the stars. Jesus is the shepherd of them all.

John 10:16 (ESV) "And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd."

We are being built into a spiritual house, a temple, a kingdom and there is 1 king, and it is for those whom God is pleased...How do you please God? 

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

Only by faith in Jesus Christ.

Simeon and Anna, the prophetess worshipped and fasted at the Temple. They recognized who he was. But many did not accept him and submit to him. Don't let that be you. Do not harden your heart. Worship Jesus this Christmas season.

Closing Scripture:

Luke 2:27-38 (ESV) "And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 'Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people in Israel.' And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, 'Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many hearts may be revealed.' And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem."

God with Us 12-7-25

 Christmas...we celebrate the Advent...the first coming of Jesus. There are a lot of this time including several Old Testament scriptures. We get a glimpse of God's heart through the example of Jesus.

Hebrews 1:2-3a (ESV) "but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power."

Jesus came into a dark world. A prophet of God had not spoke in 400 years. Politically-Rome occupied Israel. Herod was an evil king. He heard about the prophecy of a "savior" and he ordered all the baby boys killed in and around Bethlehem. Herod also had one of his wives killed, a Mother in Law, a Brother in Law and 3 sons killed. He ordered the execution of thousands. The people (Jews) were looking for  a Messiah. The book of Daniel pointed them to a savior. Gamaliel (a Jewish leader) spoke about false Christs (Acts 5, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 4:1).

Jesus came and changed everything. You can look back at a message preached on 4/6/25 titled "What difference did Jesus make?" You can also read "Under the Influence" by Alvin Schmidt.

I. God is actively and personally involved. )

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV) "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV) "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

God is not some hands off god. He cares about his creation. If Jesus did not come as God we are wasting our time. If you don't believe in the virgin birth and the deity of Christ, why do you bother?

Mary understood what a virgin birth meant. Joseph understood what born of a virgin meant. God came down and met us in our darkest time. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego thrown in the fiery furnace...who was the 4th man in their with them. I like to believe it was Jesus.

God is not a far off God. He is with us. He was big but not distant.

II. We ought to be the same way. 

Don't let it stop... our community shared the burden of loss this week. Our people ministered to people hurting in our community. Don't stop caring and comforting one another. Look for opportunities to do something this week to encourage one another.

III. God loves people. Let's do the same. 

1 John 4:7-12 (ESV) "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."

God showed great love to us by sending His son. He came and was like us, tempted, suffered to reconcile us to God.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (ESV) "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."

IV. God keeps his word. 

Micah 5:2 (ESV) "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days."

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV) "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

Hosea 11:1 (ESV) "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son."

Herod brought in experts to search the scriptures for evidence of where the Messiah would come from. Because God kept his word with the first coming of Christ, He will also keep His word for the second coming of Christ.

Revelation 21:3-4 (ESV) "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away'"

At the second coming of Christ everything will be made new.  Imagine all the good in this life without the bad. We live in a corruptible, fallen world, nothing remains the same.

Salvation is for the righteous and is hand in hand with judgement for the wicked. Mary's song found in Luke 1:46-55...she gets it. Salvation is sure, so is judgement. 

Revelation 21:7-8 (ESV) "The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

If this week hasn't made you realize that this life is temporary, it is fragile, I don't know what will. The time is now. There is no better time than now to accept Christ. Do not go another day without making a decision for Christ.

Closing Scripture

Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV) "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this."

Christmas...A Time of Mystery and Wonder 11-30-25

 For kids there is a lot of mystery surrounding Christmas, but the greatest mystery is around Jesus.

Matthew 1:18-23 (ESV) "Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet. 'Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel' (which means, God with us)."

Luke 1:35 (ESV) "And the angel answered her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy-the Son of God.'"

The Mystery of the Incarnation 

John 1:14 (ESV) "And the Word became flesh and dwelt 2among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the father, full of grace and truth."

Colossians 2:9 (ESV) "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,"

The fullness of deity is imbodied in Jesus Christ. He is all man AND all God. There are a lot of mysteries in this world that we do not understand and yet accept we have a hard time comprehending the incarnation, even though we believe that the earth is round, the ability to split atoms to create a nuclear bomb, that the universe has no end.

I. But why the Incarnation? 

A. He came to be the sacrifice for our sins 

    Matthew 1:21 (ESV) "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

The Jewish system was a "sacrificial systems". In Hebrews 10:4 (ESV) "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." Jesus was a type/shadow of the sacrificial system.

Thru His sacrifice we have...

1. Redemption- bought back/paid for/purchased

2. Forgiveness- wiping away the debt. God is merciful but also just

3. Reconciliation- the bridge illustration- through Jesus' sacrifice we are reconciled to God.

4. Access- Ephesians 2:18 (ESV) "For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father." Hebrews 4:16 (ESV) "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  We have access to the Father. Before Jesus access was limited to the High Priest/Priests/Levites. The veil was torn from top to bottom so that all have access to God. You can come before God with confidence.

5. Eternal Life-

6. Eternal Inheritance-

All of this is accomplished thru the Incarnation!

B. He came to defeat Satan 

By man (Adam and Eve) we lost paradise (Eden) and access to God. By a man (Christ) access to God is regained.

Hebrews 2:14-15 (ESV) "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that trough death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery."

Revelation 20:10 (ESV) "and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever."

C. He came to defeat Death!

1 Corinthians 15:25-26 (ESV) "For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death."

1 Corinthians 15: 54-55 (ESV) "When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.' 'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?'"

Revelation 20:14 (ESV) "Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire."

D. He came to identify with us 

Jesus suffered, he experienced fatigue, hunger, thirst, pain, emotional tension, stress, heartache, grief, loss and DEATH

Isaiah 53:1-3 (ESV) "Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not."

Hebrews 4:15-16 (ESV) "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."

E. He came to Reveal God.

If God is transcendent, how can we imagine God or know about Him...except thru SELF REVELATION...thru Jesus Christ.

John 1:18 (ESV) "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known."

Colossians 1:15 (ESV) "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation."

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV) "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,"

If you see Christ, you see God.

F. He came to show us how we should live.

As Christ lived. We fall short, but Christ is the model/the goal. This is what we should strive for.

Christmas is a time of great mystery/wonder/awe, but the greatest mystery/the most awesome thing is the incarnation! Because Jesus/God became man we can be confident of forgiveness/salvation/eternal life/eternal inheritance etc. This is called Christian Hope/Christian Expectation and a reason for celebration, to stand in awe and WORSHIP!

If He came and did all of that for you what should your response be? He didn't do it for mankind...He did it for ME! 

Our response should be to serve Him...to worship Him.

Closing scripture

1 Timothy 3:16 (ESV) "Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory."

Why are there so many ingrates? Luke 17:11-19

 America didn't invent Thanksgiving, but we do it the best. Christians have been giving thanks for centuries. We are so blessed and yet we complain so much. We are materially rich, but spiritually poor.

Luke 17:11-19 (ESV) "On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he was entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.' When he saw them he said to them, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests.' And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, 'Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?' And he said to him, 'Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.'"

I. When we have it good we forget about God.

Deuteronomy 8:11-14 (ESV) "Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery."\

When we get all the things we sometimes forget about God. When you get to the "Promised Land" don't be surprised when God has to remind you how you got there. The Israelites did this many times after they left Egypt. God would save them and in no time they would think they could make it on their own. Christians today do the same thing. When times are good don't forget who helped you get there...God.

II. Physical health is a poor substitute for eternal security

10 men were healed, but 1 man was saved. The Samaritan man knew what was really important...his spiritual healing. Christians should care about their physical health, but their spiritual  health is much more important. The Samaritan man was not worshiping how he should have been, but he was the 1 man who came back and gave thanks. Every true gift that we have is not deserved. Our salvation is an undeserved gift. 

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV) "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Americans gather around the table and generically give thanks but do we truly give thanks? We tend to gripe about the meal, a game or someone also sitting around the table. Are we really thankful? 

III. You can't truly be thankful unless you know who to thank!

James 1:17 (ESV) "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation of shadow due to change."

Our greatest need is our salvation. God's offer of grace is for everyone.

Galatians 2:20 (ESV) "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

IV. Thanksgiving/gratitude is a mark of spiritual maturity.

Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV) "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."

Seek to grow in gratitude everyday. Practice gratitude. Start every day with prayer and end everyday in prayer. Make it a habit. 

ACTS Prayer

A...Adoration

C...Confession

T....Thanksgiving

S...Supplication

Write out your prayers. Keep a prayer journal. It helps you stay on task and you can see your answered prayers. Walking outside while praying, pray before eating.

V. If you're truly thankful...it should flow out to others.

The Pilgrims who came over on the Mayflower were not perfect. They faced tough times, but they were trying to honor God. They were separatists. 102 set sail on September 6, 1620. The first Thanksgiving was in the fall of 1621. Almost 50 died before the fall of 1621, yet they gathered to give thanks. Their numbers grew and grew. New arrivals came and they were fruitful. They numbered in the thousands in just 71 years. They then merged with the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1691. They were Puritans and the two groups would form what would become Massachusetts. 10 million of the 340 million Americans are descended from those on the Mayflower. They suffered but God blessed them.

Closing Scripture

Psalms 67:1-3 (ESV) "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be know on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the people praise you!"

The Ministry of Encouragement 11-16-25

 People tend to avoid the word ministry. Most believe that ministry only applies to pastors, preachers, church officials and clergy, but ALL Christians are called to minister. 

The definition of ministry- to attend to needs/to give aid/serve/assist

Philippians 2:3-7 (NIV) "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of  others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

Matthew 23:11 (ESV) "The greatest among you shall be your servant."

Jesus came to minister and we are called to minister as well.

1 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV) "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."

To this you are called....For this you are gifted. Everyone is given a gift and you are called to share it.

Today we are focused on a ministry, a much needed ministry, a ministry that EVERYONE can do...The Ministry of Encouragement.

The English word "encouragement" comes from 2 French words "en" which means to put in and "corage/coeur" which means the heart. Put together it means to put into the heart.

New testament Greek has several words that are translated encourage/comfort/console/strengthen. Many of these words are also translated Exhort which is encouragement on steroids.

Synonyms of encouragement.... strengthen/ comfort/ console /urge forward/ inspire/ assure/ reassure/ nourish/ mature/ stir up/ provoke to better things/ assist/ motivate/ bold confidence.

To create or develop a sense of self worth.

Everybody needs encouragement at some point. Some people need it desperately...those going through a rough time, overwhelmed, beaten down. These people need encouragement to keep going, to push ahead. Anybody can do this. You can either be an encourager or a discourager.

God encourages His people

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV) "fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Hebrews 13:5 (ESV) "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

His people are called to do the same thing!

1 Thessalonians  5:11/14 (ESV) "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." "And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all."

2 Timothy 4:2 (ESV) "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching."

Throughout Acts Paul and Barnabas and the other apostles were encouraging believers.

Go deeper....

John 14:15-17a (ESV) "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him or knows him."

Jesus is going away. He has had a fabulous ministry but it was limited to space and time, but when he goes away, he will send a "helper" to continue his ministry- the Holy Spirit, who transcended time and space. The Holy Spirit can go anywhere at any time.

The Greek word for Holy Spirit is a compound word "para" (alongside) and "kaleo" (to call). i.e. the Holy Spirit is "called alongside to help". Also translated counselor/ comforter/ advocate/ helper/ intercessor/ strengthener/ stand by.

When you encourage you are doing the same thing as the Holy Spirit. You are not replacing the Holy Spirit, but you are allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you.

1 Peter 4:10 (ESV) "As each has received a gift, use it to save one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace"

Some people are gifted at encouragement, it comes easily, but you can do it even if you are not gifted. Barnabas was his nickname, means encourager. His real name was Joseph.

One Another's in Scripture (New Testament)

Love one another, greet one another, encourage one another, edify one another, bear with one another, serve one another, admonish one another, confess (your sins) to one another, forgive one another, pray for one another. Also be devoted to one another, honor one another (above yourself), prefer one another, live in harmony with one another, stop judging one another, accept one another, be kind to one another, be compassionate with one another, submit to one another, offer hospitality to one another.

Summary verse... Romans 13:8 (ESV) "Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law."

One Another's NOT found in scripture... criticize one another, ridicule one another, make fun of one another, put down one another, belittle one another, ignore one another, discourage one another

Obviously it is not just Christians need encouragement. When properly (Biblically) encouraged lost people are more likely to consider Christ.

I. To Encourage 

1. To instill a sense of self worth. (significance)

2. To build confidence. (not ego) Biblical hope

Philippians 1:6 (ESV) "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

3. To urge forward. (onward/upward)

Hebrews 10:23-24 (ESV) "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,"

4. When you encourage someone you make a difference in them and it will make a difference in YOU!.

II. Ways to Encourage (beyond cards, calls, cakes and candy)

1. Notice- sensitive to others not just self.

2. Be present- don't avoid people with serious problems, because you don't know what to say.

3. Listen- encouragement is about them, not you. Pour into their heart.

4. Assist- in small things, medium things and big things.

5. Be patient- it takes time to heal

6. WHEN APPROPRIATE offer biblical advice. There is a time for offering Romans 8:28, make sure it is the right time.

III. Helpful things in developing a ministry of encouragement 

1. Sensitivity- watch for signs of abuse

2. Sincerity- not flattery, sincere and honest complements

3. Intentionality- you may not be gifted at encouragement, you have to work at it.

4. Practice- it can become second nature

People are more apt to be encouraged if they have multiple people encouraging them at the same time.

IV. Octavia Baptist Church should develop a "Culture of Encouragement 

1. Attendance- It is encouraging to walk into a full church or see a full parking lot.

Hebrews 10:24 (ESV) "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works"

2. Greet guests- You might not think you are good at that, but how hard is it to offer a handshake and a "glad to see you" "A Holy Howdy"

Granted some people won't be encouraged, but most people welcome it and benefit from encouragement. You cannot encourage everyone, but you can encourage someone.

V. Options 

1. Pour into (Encourage)

2. Take out of  (Discourage)

3. Do nothing (Ignore the needs of others and focus on self)

It can be life changing and it can be ETERNALLY changing for someone.

Closing Scripture

Mark 9: 33-35 (ESV) "And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, 'What were you discussing on the way?' But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, 'if anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.'"