Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” Matthew 2:1-2 ESV
 
     Since we began our journey of Jesus in all the books of the Bible, we have seen one consistent theme. Man sometimes starts well, but he usually doesn’t end well, and sometimes there were even some who didn’t start well at all. One other theme also holds true through out our study …. God is faithful to all that he promised. While man continually fails, God remains faithful. That is encouraging because if all depended on our abilities, we would be doomed. I have often heard it asked, “If God is such a good God, why does he let so many bad things happen in the world?” To which I reply, “You are asking the wrong question.” The real question is, “Why are you here to even ask that question?” Based on that logic God would have destroyed Adam and Eve, and neither you nor I would be here to even ask that question. While God withholds His judgement that will come one day addressing all the evil in question, let us look at what He has done. He sent His Son Jesus to be the “King of kings and Lord of lords.” (Revelation 19:16) King David wanted to build the temple so that people would have a place they could worship near the presence of God, but David’s son, Solomon, actually built the temple and made this place of meeting between God and man. Then in remarkable power, King Jesus came and made it possible for the temple to be in our hearts. To all who go by the name Christian, King Jesus is the King who is worshiped in our hearts. So how do we worship?
 
REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
     Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV …. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 ESV
 
LET WORSHIP BE INTENTIONAL
     Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with song and praise! Psalm 95:1-2 ESV …. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Psalm 95:6-7 ESV
 
WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH
     But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father is Spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:23-24 ESV
 
     In conclusion, let me address once more the fact that God has done something concerning the evil in the world. He sent Jesus; and if man would worship Jesus as King, following him faithfully, evil could not thrive. It is only when man refuses to worship God and honor Jesus, that evil continues. God also created you and me to be his hands, feet, and voice of this good news. Let us live as temples for the Spirit of God, proclaiming intentionally the good news with joyful singing and worshiping in Spirit and truth AND make known this gospel to the world. As I once heard and believe, Wise men still seek Him that they may worship him; he is born King of the Jews.
 
Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

     Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. 1Chronicles 16: 23-25 ESV
 
     From the beginning of time when man sinned, there was a need for a Savior. God, in his love, mercy, and grace, made a plan to restore us unto himself. When reading 1 Chronicles, it may seem difficult to understand the importance of going through the genealogy of every generation of God’s chosen people. We must remember; God is a God of order and promise. When the angel appeared to Mary and foretold the birth of Christ, it is important to remember, that from the line and throne of King David, Jesus would come. (Luke 1:32) The Bible teaches many will come, saying, “They are the Christ.” (Luke 21:8) Because God made a clear road map in the genealogies of His people, we can know for sure. Also through the history and failures of those who are listed in this genealogy, we see there was no one who was perfect enough to fulfill all that was needed to restore man to God. It is also encouraging to see how God uses us, in spite of our imperfections, to accomplish His perfect will. The perfect will of restoring us to relationship and worship of Him alone is needed. How is this restoration applied?
 
THE PERFECT SACRIFICE FOR SIN:
     When John the Baptist was baptizing and preaching by the Jordan, Jesus came to be baptized. When John saw him coming, this is what he said, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 ESV  The Lamb of God was God in the flesh, in order to be the perfect sacrifice needed to redeem/restore us unto himself. You were ransomed …… not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19 ESV  This was necessary, for we know that there is no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood. This also shows the seriousness of sin and death, for the only antidote for sin is blood. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 9:22 ESV  Jesus paid the price for our sins with his own blood on the cross.
 
CONFESSION AND BELIEVING:
     If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10 ESV  There are many who think all they must do is live right and do good to experience restoration, but this would imply that they did not need a Savior as provided by God. It was asked by some religious individuals in the Bible, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them,“This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” John 6: 28-29 ESV This is the first and greatest work a person can do. In doing so, you confess that there is salvation in no other. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved Acts 4:12 ESV
 
     Let us never fail to make known how God has restored us through His Son Jesus. May we live daily 1 Chronicles 16: 23-25……. Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.
 
Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

Honor your father and your MOTHER Exodus 20:12 & Ephesians 5:2
 
     We do not know much about the early life of Jesus. We know of his birth, when the wise men found him, when his family fled to Egypt and returned, and when at twelve years old he was found in the temple by his parents, and he commented to his mother, Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Fathers house? Luke 2:49 ESV We also know as he grew that Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52 ESV But what kind of son was he to his mother? Without a doubt he was perfect. Perfect because we know He was the perfect Lamb of God sent to redeem us from our sins. To have been anything less than perfect would have proven He was not the Son of God who was conceived by the Holy Spirit. There are three glimpses in scripture showing how Jesus honored and cared for his mother.
 
He Was Submissive
     And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. Luke 2:51 ESV I cannot imagine what it must have been like to have been the mother of Jesus. Everyday as you watched him grow you remembered the words spoken to you by the angel Gabriel. “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you! Luke 1:28 ESV……. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son Of the Most High. Luke 1:32 ESV……. And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be since I am a virgin?” 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 Luke 1:36 ESV Everything had transpired just as the angel had said and now each day you were living in the amazement that you were watching the Son of God grow up in your house. He was perfect in every way. He was never disobedient and always submissive to whatever you asked him to do. He lived exactly the way he commanded every child to live- to be submissive, which shows honor towards your mother. Honor your father and your MOTHER. Exodus 20:12… Ephesians 5:2 ESV
 
He Honored His Mother As An Adult Child
     The second chapter of John tells the story of a wedding that Jesus, his disciples, and mother attended. A dilemma occurred while they were there; the host ran out of wine. How was it that Mary knew Jesus could fix it? What had she seen over the years that gave her this confidence? We don’t know, but she said to the servants at the wedding to “do whatever my Son tells you to do.” (vs5) Jesus honored his mother by making the water into wine. Not just any wine, but premium wine, better than what was available at the beginning of the wedding. Do you suppose the servants looked at Mary and then her Son and said thank you? Perhaps the bridegroom came over and thanked them profusely. But this is for sure; he honored his mother by doing what she knew he could do.
 
Jesus Cared For His Mother At His Death
     In the day when Jesus lived, widows and orphans had a very difficult life. (James 1:27) On the cross when Jesus was dying, He basically said to his disciple, “ Take care of my mother.” When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. John 19:26-27 ESV
 
     Jesus has shown in every aspect of life how we are to live. Even how we should live in relation to our parents, and on this day, especially our mothers. So today we want to honor and bless all those mothers who gave us life. For the sacrifices which are never known by many children because moms just do what moms do. For all the things we may have taken for granted over the years. May we give you the honor that you are due, not just today, but everyday, just as I believe Jesus did for His mother. Thank you for loving, giving , and caring. You are a blessing that will influence generations until Jesus returns. May we never forget…. Happy Mother’s Day!!!!!
 
Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David

     There were two prophets in 2 Kings, Elijah and Elisha, who walked with God and spoke to the people as instructed by God. They worked many miracles by the hand of God. One with leprosy was healed; life was breathed back into one who had died; food multiplied for a widow who needed to pay her debt; waters were healed; fire was called down from the heavens; and many other dramatic events surrounded them. Elijah was actually introduced in 1 Kings, and we can read the many things he did as God’s spokesman. Elijah ascended into heaven (2 Kings 2), and Elisha succeeded him as a prophet of God to His people. Elisha did not ascend into heaven but died and was buried. (2 Kings 13:14) These two men were greatly used by God to reveal his ways, instructions, and warnings to His people to worship God alone. Neither of these men could do what was needed to redeem man to God. These two prophets were not perfect men because they were conceived in sin just as every other person was on the face of the earth. However, there was one foretold and born who was not conceived in sin but by the Holy Spirit. Jesus, God’s only Son, was the one foretold by the prophets of old, who would take away the sins of the world. Jesus, being totally man yet totally God in the flesh, was the Perfect Prophet who came into the world, enabling us to be made right with God. Not only did Jesus perform many miracles and instruct us as to how we are to live before God, but He also restored and indwelt us by the Holy Spirit. In doing so Jesus made it possible to walk with God and have the relationship that was lost because of sin. What does the Perfect Prophet look like?
 
HE HAS NO SIN
     For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who in every respect has been temped as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 ESV The priest in the Old Testament would go before God on behalf of His people offering blood sacrifices for their sins. These priests were not perfect men, but men set apart for this purpose. The Bible teaches there is no forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood. (Hebrews 9:22) This should make one understand the seriousness of sin before a Holy God. Jesus was the perfect Lamb of God sent for the purpose of taking away our sins. John the Baptist introduces him by saying, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” John 1:29 ESV To be the perfect Lamb of God, He had to be sinless; and of course, He was, because He was God made flesh.
 
HE PERFECTS OUR FAITH
     Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God. Hebrews 12:2 ESV What is the perfect faith for us? It is the faith by which we are saved in grace. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 ESV What makes faith perfect before God? It is the redeeming blood of the Lamb and the faith to believe He can save you from all your sins. Believing you can be forgiven of your sins is to recognize you are a sinner in need of saving grace, by faith which he perfects in us.
 
HE HAS PERFECT PATIENCE
     But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:16 ESV Paul, before he was a believer, was blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent of Jesus; however, he received mercy because he acted in unbelief. Yet he received mercy by grace because Jesus had come to save sinners, which describes every one of us. That is just how much He loves us! (1 Timothy 1: 13-15)
 
     Today you may think you could never live the Christian life, so why try? You would be right in your thinking except for one thing. JESUS !!! He is the perfect Lamb of God who will work in you good works and accomplish what you can never do on your own. This is why so many become frustrated in the Christian walk. We try to be perfect; which is exactly what we are to be, but not by our abilities, but by the work of Jesus on the cross. When you believe and trust in Him as Savior, repent and ask forgiveness of your sins against Him, He forgives you and begins working (sanctification) a work in your life until that day when He will graduate you to heaven. Remember, as Christians, because of our Perfect Prophet, He will complete what He has begun. And I am sure of this, that he who has began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 ESV
 
Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David