WEEKEND WORSHIP MESSAGE
December 21 & 22, 2024
{LX 571-51}
DECLARATION
For [we are not] ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. { Rom 1:16-17 KJV}
SABBATH MEDITATIONS :
VAYESHEV (And He Lived)
Genesis 37:1-40:23, Amos 2:6-3:8, Romans 8:18-39
"Jacob lived (yeshev) in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan."
SUNDAY MESSAGE:
"John & Mary"
Luke 1:5-45; 57-66, 80
"THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THE ANNUNCIATION OF MARY"
OPENING PRAYER
Almighty God and Author of all creation, with great humility we thank-You for gathering us in fellowship to worship Your Holy Word. May our ears, hearts and souls be opened to the Word and be granted the ability to apply the lessons to our daily walk before You. In a few days we will celebrate the birth of our Savior and on this Holy Day in HIS precious name JESUS, we pray, AMEN
MESSAGE
The message, JOHN & MARY is a preview of wondrous events that will overtake and change, forever, the world and universe in which we live:
"THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THE ANNUNCIATION OF MARY"
We open our Bibles to the Gospel According to Mark 1: 1-4; The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, [John] who will prepare your way” - “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” And so John the Baptist will appear in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Let us start at the beginning...
Turn with me to Luke, Chapter One and begin in verse five:
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.
So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,
according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the same time. It was during these hours that the Temple was empty, no one but the priest was allowed inside while these sacraments were being accomplished.
With no pre-warning what-so-ever, an Angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias standing on the right side of the altar. Being startled, fear swept over him. {Luk 1:11 NKJV}
But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. [God would pre-ordain John to be a Nazarite from birth. Blessed and selected to prepare the way for the Lord of Lords, The Messiah, Jesus.] {see Nazarites Numbers Chapter 6} He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." {Luk 1:13-17 NKJV}
Being absolutely overwhelmed with what his eyes were seeing and his ears hearing, Zacharias probably displayed some "attitude" toward Gabriel, the Angel of the Lord, and was promptly made mute. Zacharias could not speak! A month or so later, his bride Elizabeth became pregnant, and JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS ON THE WAY!
According to the Bible, Elizabeth was about six months along in her pregnancy when the Angel of the Lord, Gabriel, brought "glad-tidings" and Awe to this young woman of about 15 years of age a virgin:
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"
But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"
And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible."
Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. {Luk 1:26-38 NKJV}
SUMMARY/APPLICATION
Now Elizabeth's full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son.
When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.
So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. His mother answered and said, "No; he shall be called John."
But they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name." So they made signs to his father--what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, "His name is John." So they all marveled.
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea.
And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, "What kind of child will this be?" And the hand of the Lord was with him. {Luke 1:57-66 NKJV}
The stage is now set through the will of God himself. Two precious souls selected before their substance was, and given the privilege of being the first of the flesh to prepare and bring forth the Son of God. Our job is to make our hearts and souls ready to receive Him, Love Him, Worship Him and Obey Him for ever more!
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, Three days from now we will all gather with our family and friends to celebrate the birth of Your Son, Jesus the Christ, The Messiah. Open our eyes and hearts to the reason we gather as we do. It is not about the gifts, or the trees, or the lights, or the music. It is all about the greatest gift to mankind of all time. The fulfillment of the promise of a Savior who offers Eternal Salvation to those who receive Him. In this peaceful celebration, let this be the reason for the season in the name of Jesus, our Savior and God, AMEN.
THE CALL
If you have never invited Jesus to be your Lord and savior, or, if you have in the past yet remain unsure of salvation and forgiveness of sin, Please pray with me now: Lord Jesus I need to fill a hole in my life that follows me where ever I go. I am a long-time Sinner and I CONFESS and REPENT of all my sins. I believe that You JESUS are the Lord, that you were hung on a cross and died. I believe that you were raised back to life by God, Your Father, ascended into heaven and presently sit at the right hand of The Almighty. Please come into be, clean me, take me and make me Yours and let me serve from this day forward and forever, Thank-You Jesus, AMEN
If you sincerely prayed with me, your salvation has been assured. {Rom 10:9 KJV -That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. }
Waste no time in finding like minded folks, to fellowship with, who also know the lord Jesus. Be introduced to a church that preaches the BIBLE. Email me. Begin the journey that you will never tire of; the discovery of the Majesty, Beauty and loving Power of Jesus the Christ. Welcome to the family!
Chaplain Gary
DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, Ye heav'n-ly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen
BENEDICTION: Num 6:24-26 The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.'AMEN
Christ go with you now...until we meet again
Christ go with you now...keep praying on till then
It really doesn't matter what the weather...
Just as long as we all are TOGETHER...
Christ go with you now...Till we meet again!
SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE: Gen 32:3-36:43, Oba 1:1-21, Eph 4:1-32, Isa 42:1-13, 52:6-7, 13-15, 53: 1-12, Num 6:24-26
WEEKEND WORSHIP MESSAGE
(Published every Friday evening)
CHRIST ETERNAL SENIOR MINISTRIES
HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?
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