December 9th 2018
If Jesus said, Some People Believe I Am An Angel, Some A Prophet, "But What About You?" He Asked, "Who Do You Say I Am?"
Hebrews 11:3 (NIV)
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Nothing – then after four days there is the universe, no big bang was heard or remembered! The Bible tells us that “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command.” Nothing could be remembered until the sixth day of the creation week, when Jesus created Adam! Then we have God’s Word that When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. (Genesis 5:1b). God knew that in the future mankind would become confused about how and when the earth was created, so He gave us verification at the point in time when He was giving us His selected top Ten Commandments for us to follow in this lifetime. So, He had Moses write an affirmation of how long creation took to complete. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:11). God rested after He had completed His work of creation, thus He rested on the seventh day, and told us to do the same during our lifetime. This is the way our seven-day week was launched and observed from that time forward.
During this advent season we are once again celebrating the fact that Jesus Christ came into this world as a human baby. This idea of Jesus coming into this world as a baby is only considered a fact by a couple of religious groups, and only those practicing the Christian faith believe Jesus is the Savior of the world! Some religious groups believe Jesus was just a prophet, and others believe Jesus was just an angel created by God. What do YOU believe? Joshua tried to get the Israelites to choose to follow God, as their means of salvation through animal sacrifices. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15). Joshua made his choice, and he and chose to follow the LORD! As, Joshua wrote,” as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Habakkuk lived in rather turbulent times when the Israelites had turned from worshipping God to worshipping idols they had made. Therefore, they had been taken away from their promised land, and there was very little evidence that they once prospered in their land. Yet, Habakkuk still clung to his belief in God, and that He still was going with His people into the land in which they were being taken. Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. (Habakkuk 3:17-18). Trust in God’s providence regardless of your circumstances was what Habakkuk was clinging to and still trying to see God being available to his people even in their capture by enemies and thus being transported into another land.
Today we have a distinct advantage over Joshua and Habakkuk, as we know the Christmas story to assure us that Jesus Christ has come into this world as the Savior for all mankind. Yet, we often complain about our circumstances in that we are not as rich as others who live in the freedom offered by citizenship in the USA! During the sermon at the church of my choice last Sunday, the Pastor asked us to look for evidence of Jesus presence in our midst, and to listen for the voice of God! If you heard the voice of Jesus, would it make you happy, or would it cause you to feel fear? When God was giving Moses the Ten Commandments He wanted to speak to His people! How did they respond? The LORD spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain. (At that time I stood between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain.) And he said: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Deuteronomy 5:4-6). When God wanted to speak to His chosen people face-to-face, they were afraid!
Repeating myself a bit here, today we have a distinct advantage over people who lived during Old Testament times, as we know the Christmas story to assure us that Jesus Christ has come into this world as the Savior for all mankind. Paul wrote to Timothy about the power we can gain through our belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2Timothy 1:7-10). What Paul wrote here would likely not be a good ad to give to someone to convince them to become a Christian. As Paul wrote.” join with me in suffering for the gospel.”
Yes, I know it is the advent season, but it is important to acknowledge the necessity of being born again, and that did not become possible until Jesus died and arose from the dead! However, we do believe the whole biblical story as contained in the New Testament. Nicodemus asked Jesus about salvation and wondered if Jesus was the Savior the Jews were waiting for? Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no-one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (John 3:1-3). Nicodemus wondered if Jesus was yet another prophet or was Jesus really the Savior the Jews were waiting for?
One day Jesus was walking with some of His disciples, and He asked them, who people believed He was. When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven." What about you, if Jesus would speak to you and say, some people believe I am an angel, some believe I am a prophet, "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" How would you respond?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Hebrews 11:3 (NIV)
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Nothing – then after four days there is the universe, no big bang was heard or remembered! The Bible tells us that “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command.” Nothing could be remembered until the sixth day of the creation week, when Jesus created Adam! Then we have God’s Word that When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. (Genesis 5:1b). God knew that in the future mankind would become confused about how and when the earth was created, so He gave us verification at the point in time when He was giving us His selected top Ten Commandments for us to follow in this lifetime. So, He had Moses write an affirmation of how long creation took to complete. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:11). God rested after He had completed His work of creation, thus He rested on the seventh day, and told us to do the same during our lifetime. This is the way our seven-day week was launched and observed from that time forward.
During this advent season we are once again celebrating the fact that Jesus Christ came into this world as a human baby. This idea of Jesus coming into this world as a baby is only considered a fact by a couple of religious groups, and only those practicing the Christian faith believe Jesus is the Savior of the world! Some religious groups believe Jesus was just a prophet, and others believe Jesus was just an angel created by God. What do YOU believe? Joshua tried to get the Israelites to choose to follow God, as their means of salvation through animal sacrifices. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15). Joshua made his choice, and he and chose to follow the LORD! As, Joshua wrote,” as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Habakkuk lived in rather turbulent times when the Israelites had turned from worshipping God to worshipping idols they had made. Therefore, they had been taken away from their promised land, and there was very little evidence that they once prospered in their land. Yet, Habakkuk still clung to his belief in God, and that He still was going with His people into the land in which they were being taken. Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. (Habakkuk 3:17-18). Trust in God’s providence regardless of your circumstances was what Habakkuk was clinging to and still trying to see God being available to his people even in their capture by enemies and thus being transported into another land.
Today we have a distinct advantage over Joshua and Habakkuk, as we know the Christmas story to assure us that Jesus Christ has come into this world as the Savior for all mankind. Yet, we often complain about our circumstances in that we are not as rich as others who live in the freedom offered by citizenship in the USA! During the sermon at the church of my choice last Sunday, the Pastor asked us to look for evidence of Jesus presence in our midst, and to listen for the voice of God! If you heard the voice of Jesus, would it make you happy, or would it cause you to feel fear? When God was giving Moses the Ten Commandments He wanted to speak to His people! How did they respond? The LORD spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain. (At that time I stood between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and did not go up the mountain.) And he said: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (Deuteronomy 5:4-6). When God wanted to speak to His chosen people face-to-face, they were afraid!
Repeating myself a bit here, today we have a distinct advantage over people who lived during Old Testament times, as we know the Christmas story to assure us that Jesus Christ has come into this world as the Savior for all mankind. Paul wrote to Timothy about the power we can gain through our belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2Timothy 1:7-10). What Paul wrote here would likely not be a good ad to give to someone to convince them to become a Christian. As Paul wrote.” join with me in suffering for the gospel.”
Yes, I know it is the advent season, but it is important to acknowledge the necessity of being born again, and that did not become possible until Jesus died and arose from the dead! However, we do believe the whole biblical story as contained in the New Testament. Nicodemus asked Jesus about salvation and wondered if Jesus was the Savior the Jews were waiting for? Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no-one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." (John 3:1-3). Nicodemus wondered if Jesus was yet another prophet or was Jesus really the Savior the Jews were waiting for?
One day Jesus was walking with some of His disciples, and He asked them, who people believed He was. When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven." What about you, if Jesus would speak to you and say, some people believe I am an angel, some believe I am a prophet, "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" How would you respond?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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